The Other Railway Series (Not Canon)

Waltzvalde's Determination

~1968~

It was coming to middle of winter on Thesang, and snow storms were coming in. Sometimes they would sweep into the mountains during the day, making the engines want to go back to their sheds.

But railways need to keep on running, and during the biggest snowstorm, you can see Waltzvalde puff along his branch between valley of tall hills, heading back to his shed in Wiskward.

"Bitter cold, bitter cold," murmured the old terrier to himself.

Because of him being the only engine on the line, Waltzvalde would take mix-trains most of the time and today he had his his three small coaches at the front with two vans and three open wagons following behind him. His break van, Joshua tailing after him.

"Don't worry Mr Waltzvalde!" called Joshua from the back. "Soon, you'll be in your nice warm shed once we get to Wiskward!"

Waltzvalde smiled at that. But suddenly, he saw a farmer by the line waving a red flag.

"That's Mr Calsfringe," said Waltzvalde and his driver screeched the old terrier to a standstill.

"What are you doing out here sir!" called Waltzvalde, "Get inside please!"

The engine glanced over to see Mr Calsfringe' stark next to the line. Waltzvalde would sometimes stop here to bring either supplies and cattle, or take them to markets. His line was different to the others, since he was the only engine running the line, he was allowed to have people get off where ever they want. Since there the towns and farms were very isolated and these rules are very strict.

"My sheep are in danger," explained Mr Calsfringe, "They are cut off by the snow and have no way out."

"What can we do?" asked the driver.

"I've asked for a vet and a special team of snow diggers to come and help me rescue the sheep, please take me to Wiskward where they are."

Waltzvalde agreed and took Mr Calsfringe all the way to the top station.

An inspector was waiting there for the terrier as he arrived at the station.

"You must be here for Mr Calsfringe?" asked the driver.

The inspector nodded and Mr Calsfringe came out of one of the coaches and joined the inspector.

"The special diggers and vet will be going along the road to get to your farm," explained the inspector, "They're waiting for you outside the station building."

Me Calsfringe nodded and joined the team and vet. They had a massive lorry, loaded on it was a tractor with a flatbed and a small van was right behind it. Mr Calsfringe got inside the van and the vehicles took off.

But what they didn't expect was the snowstorm to get more harsh up the hills. Both lorry and van did there best but after fifteen minutes, they gave up.

"We'll have to go back," said the leader, "Otherwise we'll be snowed in."

All members of the operation had no choice but to agree and they a headed back to Wiskward. Waltzvalde was still at the station trying to stay warm as possible when the team came back into the car park.

The terrier was surprised.

"We tried," said the leader, "But the snow was too much for our lorry and van to handle up in the hills."

"Then what shall we do?" asked the fireman, "We can't just give up and leave the sheep to freeze."

They all began to ponder. When Waltzvalde got an idea. "What about me!" he said, "I don't go up the hills like the road does and I've just been down the line already."

"But you can't just take an entire train there," sighed the inspector.

"Then just let me take one coach and the tractor on a flatbed then," said Waltzvalde.

The inspector thought for a second. Looking at the engine and his crew, the special snow diggers, the vet and the farmer and sighed. "One coach, one flatbed for the tractor, and one break van," said the inspector.

Waltzvalde was pleased, was quickly turned around, got his snowplough readjusted for the journey and arranged the train whilst the tractor was taken off the lorry, and on to a flatbed. Soon the train was arranged. The coach behind the engine, flatbed in the middle and break van at the back. The team of special diggers and in one coach, whilst Mr Calsfringe join Waltzvalde's crew in the engine's cab. Even the inspector joined the operation with going inside Joshua with the vet and guard. Soon everything was set, and Waltzvalde set off to the farm.

"Good luck!" called the remaining coaches.

"Yeah!" yelled the trucks, "Go and save those sheep!"

Waltzvalde gave a friendly. "Peep peeep!" in response.

Waltzvalde powered through the snow. His snowplough swiftly cut through the newly bedded snow.

The tractor was impressed. "Soon," he said, "Soon will be at the farm, this engine knows what he is doing!"

A bridge laid over an ice cold river. The bridge was badly designed and want strong for engines heavier than an LBSC A1 Class tank engine. But because of the weather, it was slowly becoming unstable.

Waltzvalde has his speed dropped by his driver luckily at this point for he did not trust the bridge and he was right. The bridge groaned as they began to go over it. Nobody did not dare to move or speak as the train went slowly over.

The inspector even jumped when a loud cracking sound came from outside of Joshua for the tension was that much.

"This engine does not know what he is doing!" exclaimed the tractor, all of a sudden.

But to his surprise and to everyone else's relief, the bridge didn't collapse as the entire train ran slowly over it, and on to the other side.

***

Mrs Calsfringe was waiting at the farm. She had only just got the message that the team was coming in by train and was waiting anxiously at the wooden platform.

Then from out of the fog came the lights of Waltzvalde's lamp code and the terrier came to a swift stop. The tractor was quickly unloaded and the operation went full swing.

Mr Calsfringe and special snow diggers got the sheep freed from snow and took them back to the barn where the vet and Mrs Calsfringe checked them over. Luckily none were severely hurt or court a serious decease and by next month, all sheep were healthy again.

Soon, spring came and the snow was taken away by the glimmering sun. The sheep started lambing, and soon enough, Waltzvalde came for a special visit one evening to see the lambs.

"I can't thank you enough," said Mr Calsfringe, "If it hadn't been for you, these lambs won't be here today."

Waltzvalde only blushed.

"But there's one thing I would give advice to your railway," said Mr Calsfringe.

"Oh," said Waltzvalde, "What's that?"

"Get rid of that silly old bridge!"

Waltzvalde just bursted into laughter at that.