The Narrow Gauge saga

Gallant old engine

Duncan wouldn't stop grumbling. He grumbled that he wasn't polished enough. He grumbled that he was overworked. Most of all, he grumbled about the passengers. "I'm ashamed of you, Duncan," said Skarloey, "You should think more of your passengers." "Passengers are annoying," groused Duncan, "they's always complaining." Skarloey was shocked. "That's no way to talk," he said. "Passengers are the other kinda coal n water. No passengers means no trains. No trains means no railway, Then we'd all be scrapped. Perhaps Rheneas could teach you some sense when he comes home." "What has Rheneas to do with this problem?" "Rheneas saved our Railway," said Skarloey. Please tell us about it," begged Peter Sam. "Well," said Skarloey, "it was before you came here. Things were very bad. Rheneas and I had to keep the trains running or our railway would close. We wuz on our last wheels. The Conductor had to do everything else, and the Drivers n Firemen had to mend us in the shed." "How awful!" said Peter Sam. "I tried hard," continued Skarloey, "but I couldn't do much cuz my old wheels ached. Rheneas understood. 'It's my turn now,' he said, 'You should rest for a while.' He was often short of steam, but he always struggled to a station and rested there until it was time to move again. 'I mustn't stop between stations,' he'd say, 'the passengers wouldn't like it.' That's the most important thing with passengers." "Pshaw!" exclaimed Duncan. He had stopped on the viaduct and hadn't cared at all. "Passengers," continued Skarloey," always expect to stop at stations where they can walk around, so they get cross if you stop at the wrong places. They'd say we're a bad railway, and never come back. Rheneas stopped at the wrong place without meaning to once. Here's what happened: One wet and windy afternoon, he was heading home with a full train. There were even passengers in the breakvan. It wasn't comfy at all. His wheels slipped on the steep hill after the first station, but they gripped at last. 'The worst is over,' he thought, 'now let's go.' But things weren't over. 'OWOWOWOWOW! I'VE GOT A CRAMP! I'VE GOT A CRAMP!' he screamed. And Rheneas stopped on the loneliest part of the line, unable to move. The driver and fireman examined him carefully. The passengers watched and waited. 'I'm fine-AYE!' Rheneas yelped to the passengers, 'It's just a little-GOH!' At last the driver stood up. 'Your valve gear on one side has jammed,' he said, 'so we unfastened your rods and tied them up. Now we just need to get to the next station. Can you pull us there on one cylinder?' 'Sssure?' groaned Rheneas, 'but the next station is the wrong one. Will they be okay with that?' 'They watched us patch you,' said the fireman, 'I'm sure they got the idea.' the crew sanded the rails, passengers from the breakvan pushed the back, and the driver gently eased out the regulator. The train jerked and began to move. 'Shamone! Shamone!' groaned Rheneas. 'Sir Topham Hatt's relying on me. If I fail, the railway will close. I's gunna get there or kick the bucket!' Everything blurred. He was too tired to move; but he did. He kept rolling until he reached the station tired but triumphant. 'I made it,' he coughed. All he remembered about the journey down was having to go on going on. 'Thank you for getting us home,' said the passengers, 'We'll come again with our friends.' His driver was delighted. 'You're a gallant little engine, he told Rheneas, 'when you're rested, we'll mend you so you're ready for tomorrow.'" "Was Rheneas always ready for tomorrow?" asked Peter Sam. "Yes he was," smiled Skarloey, "whatever happened, he always pulled his trains." "Thanks for telling us about him," said Duncan, "I was wrong. Passengers are important after all." The next day, Rheneas came home. All the engines were there to greet him. Edward pushed his flatbed to the siding where he was lifted onto the rails. This was the signal for a chorus of whistles from steam locomotives big and small. Sir Topham Hatt, Rheneas, and other important people made speeches, and the band played. Everyone was happy, but Rheneas was the happiest of all.  "Y'know," he whispered to Skarloey, "this helps a little engine to feel that at long last he has really come home."