Bertram was leading some archaeologists throughout the mountains of the Skarloey Railway, to find something related to old Sudrian history.
The leader of the expedition was an adventurous woman named Mrs. Billington.
"Today we will search for artifacts. We'll search high and low, and we'll never give up," she said proudly.
"Good job ma'm. Adventure! Suspense! All the things this railway needs!" grinned Bertram.
The search had lasted for a couple of weeks.
It was now the final day, and so far the expedition found nothing.
Mrs. Billington was worried.
"If only we can find something!" she said to Bertram and his crew, "I've found loads of things over in the United States, but for some reason everything seems to be gone here."
"Don't worry ma'm! It's completely possible that we'll soon find some dinosaur bones in the next hour and then we'll be amazing!"
Mrs. Billington got her confidence back.
"Indeed Bertram, but it's not the popularity. It's the proud achievement of benefiting this amazing island."
She climbed back into the carriage and Bertram puffed on to what appeared to be a mine shaft that was blocked, on a siding.
"Well, lookie here!" exclaimed Bertram as he puffed forwards, "I've seen this before but never thought much of it."
"Careful," warned his driver, "It looks dangerous."
Suddenly they heard the sound of clanks.
Bertram looked behind and saw some runaway trucks, heading towards him.
"Bust my buffers!" he cried as he raced out of the siding and onto the main track. His driver pulled a lever and switched the points.
Some trucks flew by him and crushed the wall of the mine shaft, causing some dirt to fall. The trucks crawled into the mine, but came to a sudden stop as they hit something.
Bertram was surprised just as Skarloey backed down alongside, cab-first.
"Oh deary me! Sorry Bertram! These trucks broke away! Is everybody alright?" asked Skarloey.
"Yes," said Mrs. Billington, "and thanks to you Skarloey, I think we may have found something."
She grinned as she went inside the mine and saw some bones. Mrs. Billington dusted them, and saw they were in good condition.
"Goodness! We found a Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton!" said Bertram.
Skarloey was surprised. "Really? Well, how about that!"
"Yes," replied Mrs. Billington, "And we wouldn't have found it without your runaway trucks!"
Skarloey was both happy and surprised.
Rheneas arrived with a crane to lift the bones into a van to take to the Transfer Yards, where Neville would take it to the Sodor Museum.
He wasn't really surprised of the situation.
"With Bertram, you can find anything," he joked.
"Well, I am the Old Warrior," said Bertram proudly as Rheneas set off.
Rheneas had to be careful; these bones were millions of years old and he had to go slowly.
"Careful now, slowly now." cautioned his driver.
"That's alright with me. I'm old, and I prefer going slow anyway."
At the mountain, Rheneas had to stop for a banker.
He waited and waited.
"Well whoever it is, it's going to be a while before this engine gets here," muttered the driver.
The only engine that wasn't doing any work was Duncan.
His whistle blew in the distance as he whooshed up the hill.
"Oh no..." groaned Rheneas, knowing the trouble the "rock n roll" would cause.
Duncan screeched to a stop just behind the brakevan.
"Well, what ye waiting for? Get moving!" huffed Duncan.
Rheneas grunted crossly and he puffed on, while the driver applied the brakes so they wouldn't go too fast down the hill.
But Duncan wouldn't allow it.
He pushed the heavy bones on and they caught up to speed.
"Wee!" he yelled as they raced down the hill, "Faster, faster!"
"Stop!" cried Rheneas and his driver braked harder than ever.
At the shed, Duke was snoozing when the two whistled by. Duke woke up with a start. "I'm awake! I'm awake!" He looked around.
"Impenitent scalawags..." he fumed and he closed his eyes again.
Suddenly Rusty tooted his horn.
"Now what..." yawned Duke crossly.
"Nothing. Except you're supposed to be at Ulfstead Castle with your stone by now." replied Rusty.
Duke was shocked and raced off to the Blue Mountain Quarry.
Neville was up ahead at the Transfer Yards with the van for the bones when he heard two narrow gauge whistles.
"That sounds like Duncan and Rheneas!" he puffed cheerfully, unaware of the runaway.
Rheneas and Duncan rushed into the yard, now both applying their brakes.
"Wee! Hooray! Woo hoo! Now this is an adventure!" cheered Duncan.
Rheneas wasn't so keen.
"Stop it Duncan! We're going to crush the dinosaur bones!"
Duncan snorted.
"It's ancient history, who cares?"
"I do!" said Mrs. Billington, who had been in Rheneas' cab for most of the journey, "And I demand you stop this nonsense right now!"
Duncan sighed and his driver could finally brake.
Then there was trouble; the runaway siding was up ahead.
"Oh noooo!" cried the engines and they braked so hard their wheels were shaking.
The buffers drew nearer, and Rheneas shut his eyes for impact.
The two engines stopped just before some buffers.
Neville watched in amazement.
"Wow! That was a close call indeed!"
"Wait, so I'm not off the rails?" Rheneas thought.
He opened his eyes to find that both he and the bones were alright. "Yes! Thanks driver!" he said, relieved.
The driver chuckled and reversed to the platform.
Another crane lifted the bones into Neville's van.
"Thanks!" puffed Neviile.
'"But before you go, let's take a picture with all of us!" suggested Mrs. Billington, "To celebrate another piece of Sudrian history."
So Bertram, Skarloey, Rheneas, Duncan, and Neville lined up in a row for the picture.
The camera snapped and everybody cheered, even Duncan.
"I just wanted to say sorry, Rheneas," whispered Duncan, "For all the trouble I have caused you with the dinosaur. I was a very reckless engine."
"It's alright," replied Rheneas.
"And we're off!" cheered Neville as he puffed out of sight.
"Well, I told you we were full of adventure, didn't I?" asked Bertram.
That night in the shed, the Thin Controller came to see his engines.
"I am very pleased to report that Neville got to the Sodor Museum. And I'm also pleased with Bertram, Rheneas, and even you Skarloey."
Skarloey was still puzzled about his role in the adventure.
"But my trucks could've caused a serious accident."
The Thin Controller chuckled.
"That is true, but they didn't and they played an important role in it."
Skarloey was pleased.
"Thank you sir."
"I am pleased to have you three as my engines. I don't know what Sir Topham Hatt calls his engines, but I call you all 'Gallant Little Engines.'"
The narrow gauge engines whistled in delight. Even Duncan had to grin.