Thomas & Friends: Union Iron
Chapter 2: Crystal's Big Break
It was a beautiful sunny day on the Island of Sodor. All of the engines were hooting and tooting, and clickety-clackiting on the Fat Controller's railway. That morning, Crystal was waking up at Knapford Sheds and was ready to start the day. The Fat Controller arrived that morning as well. He was most disappointed. Crystal was most surprised to see him.
"Good morning Crystal, I am afraid I have bad news, Gordon went off the rails and ran into a ditch, and Rebecca has a broken piston rod that needs to be mended at the Sodor Steamworks," said the Fat Controller, Crystal was shocked this news. She was worried about Gordon and Rebecca. She knew that Gordon and Rebecca like pulling the express.
"But Sir, if they can't pull the express, who will?" she asked,
"Well, you are," answered the Fat Controller, Crystal gasped,
"Me? Sir, my couplings won't work on Gordon's coaches," Crystal puffed,
"That's why you have your coaches waiting for you," said Sir Topham Hatt,
"Now Crystal, I need for you to go to Vicarstown Station to go and pick up your coaches, you will be pulling the express until Gordon and Rebecca are mended," said the Fat Controller, and left on his way. Crystal was nervous. She hasn't pulled coaches since she first arrived on the island. Murdoch was coming to the station. He overheard the news.
"Gordon's not going to like this when the other engines tell him," said Crystal,
"Don't worry, Crystal, you'll do fine," said Murdoch with a beam,
"Thanks Murdoch, now let's do this," she said with a puff of confidence.
Crystal made her way to Vicarstown Station to pick up her coaches, very special coaches. Her coaches had green paintwork, and came all the way from America so Crystal can be really useful on Sodor. She wheeshed steam, and her driver rang her bell to signal her arrival at the station. As Crystal was coupled to her coaches, there was a little problem.
"I don't know where to go on Gordon's Express line," puffed Crystal,
"Nether do I, I was transferred over from the Norramby Line," said her driver,
"That's a good start, looks like we're going to have to wing it," Crystal replied,
The passengers shuffled into her coaches, and the doors were closed. With a blow of the whistle, it was time for her to go. Crystal was nervous as she went steaming down the tracks. Neither she nor her driver had any idea on where they were going, "Even if we don't know where we're going, let's try to give our passengers a good trip," Crystal puffed,
"That we can do," agreed her driver, and they puffed along the rails passing by other engines that were being just as useful as she was. Crystal was happy to be back on the rails, and doing what she loves. Crystal got to see the seaside, Ulfstead Castle, and other areas and landmarks on Sodor. Her driver happily tooted her whistle as she raced by.
"We're not going to get in trouble for this, are we?" Crystal asked her driver,
The Fat Controller went to Knapford Sheds. He was cross, "Crystal!" he snapped,
"I'll take that as a yes," murmured her driver with a gulp seeing Sir Topham Hatt,
Crystal felt her boiler go cold seeing the Fat Controller, "Hi...Mr. Controller?"
"Crystal you silly great engine! You have caused confusion and delay, you were supposed to take your passengers on Gordon's Express Line, not where ever you please, how useful can you be if you cannot do the tasks given to you orderly and properly!" The Fat Controller scolded angrily at her, Crystal felt silly for not following Gordon's Branch Line.
"Sir, this is partly my fault," said her driver, "neither of us knew where to go,"
"Or what to do...we thought we might as well give'em a ride," puffed Crystal,
"Well, next time if you have a problem, ask for help," said the Fat Controller, "you're still new on Sodor, but I believe you show a lot of potential Crystal, you're a strong engine, and you have good behavior, and I know you can really useful," the next day, Crystal still had to pull the express. Gordon and Rebecca were back on the rails and ready for work.
This time, Crystal's driver had a map for help, "Hi Gordon!" beamed Crystal,
Crystal is not as fast as Spencer, but she has speed, "My word!" gasped Gordon, this time around, Crystal made it on the right branch-line and made it to all the stops along the way. She even made it up Gordon's Hill without the need of a backing engine. With the improvements Crystal has made, the Fat Controller decided it was time to make a change
Gordon and Rebecca were given back the Express, but the Fat Controller had something special for Crystal when he went to the Knapford Sheds that morning, "Crystal, it's good to see you're making the necessary adjustments, but I have decided to transfer you over to the Norramby Line, I think we can use some really useful engines on the branch line"
Crystal was very excited by the news, "Thank you so very much, Mr. Controller!"
"Maybe this time your driver will have a better sense of direction," He joked,
With the help of her driver, Crystal was shown the way to the Norramby Line. Gordon was back to pulling the Express, and Rebecca was being really useful in any way that she can help out. The next morning was the start of her days on a new branch line for her. Her driver was ready to work. Crystal had her coal and a full head of steam, "Let's do this!"