Australian Dalmatian
an Oliver and Company fanfic, starring Dodger, Oliver, Francis, Tito, Einstein, Rita, Georgette, Jenny and many others.

Chapter 4: Aus Steam '88

The very next morning finally arrived. Ryan and his friends, minus Georgette, were walking down the sidewalk heading towards "Spencer Street Station", with Winston and Jenny holding their leashes. Word of Rita's pregnancy had gone out and soon the whole gang were talking endlessly about it. They requested that she would stay at the hotel incase the puppies came today, but she refused to leave Ryan's side this time. Despite Ryan begging her to stay at the hotel incase that happens, she too discarded the idea of going back to the hotel. If Ryan was going to be made fun of again then she would talk to the person head-on. Plus she too wanted to have fun with her mate.

A couple minutes of walking later, Spencer Street Station came into view with thousands and thousands of people crowding the station. Either going to their trains or seeing the special event. There were even a couple of dogs roaming around with their masters too, who were holding their cameras around their necks. The gang walked towards the platform and Ryan's eyes lit up like Las Vegas at Christmas time. There, standing at the platforms, were a bunch of old steam engines. They were shiny and clean, with visitors scattering around them like bees. There were colorful steamers and not so colorful steamers, each on different gauges of track. They were happily chatting with each other as visitors gathered around them. But then, one engine caught Ryan' eye more than ever. His jaw literally hit the floor upon seeing a familiar green engine.

"IT'S FLYING SCOTSMAN!" screamed the Dalmatian with every ounce of joy he has! "Sir William McAlpine must've come down to see his engine! oh I'm literally stunned right now!"

Ryan shyly walked over to the big engine, who was smiling for the cameras. The big green engine's paint scheme glistened in the station light as thousands of people took pictures and videos of the engine. He chuckled upon seeing Ryan shyly walking up towards him.

"hahaha, don't be shy little fella!" said the big green engine, "I won't bite ya!"

Ryan began to stutter. "M-M-M-Mr. Flying Scotsman... I-I-I'm a huge fan."

Scotsman chuckled, "well an honor to meet a fellow fan of mine. I'm sure you've read a lot of books about me haven't you?"

The Dalmatian squealed and nodded happily. "yes I have! I've read your USA tour book, which is one of my personal favorite books of all time!"

"ah yes, my American tour" smiled the A3. "rather a close shave for me being saved from scrap for the 2nd, but nice to tour the US. I wish I can do it again, but I highly doubt that'll ever happen. I certainly don't want my owner be bankrupt like my old owner."

"could you tell me how you went 100 mph Mr. Scotsman sir?" asked the Dalmatian.

Scotsman was delighted.

Meanwhile, Tito and the others were looking at the other engines down the platform. Francis was looking at a rather pretty looking engine. She had 4 large driving wheels, a green boiler, a tall smokestack and a brass dome. She was arguing with a small tank engine named Puffa.

"but yeah Puffa" she said to the female tank engine, "you're lucky we weren't late getting here. If you had big wheels like mine we could've gotten here earlier than anyone else."

Puffa was taken aback. "wha-me? well it's not my fault I was design like this! I'm not use to high speed running unlike Victor and Victoria over there." She gestured to the 2 large broad gauge Hudsons nearby. "besides Megan, you were pulling me all the way here!"

"it's not my fault, I was designed to go fast unlike you little Puffa!" Megan snapped. She jumped when she felt Francis sniffing her wheel. "ugh! do you know who you're sniffing at?!"

Francis jumped back. "well uhh... no."

"I am a New South Wales Government Railway Z12" beamed Megan with pride, "I was the engine that pull the first train in Canberra in 1914! Restored by a group of volunteers and hauled several rail tours!"

"and we are impressed, aren't we fellas?" Dodger said sarcastically.

The others nodded as they kept looking around, leaving Megan snarling with Puffa. They walked over towards a 2-8-0 with big red smoke deflectors, who was looking rather cheerful than any of the others.

"check it out man" Tito said and gestured to the red smoke deflectors, "these guys here have ears."

The Hudson infront of the 2-8-0 snorted quietly. "ears?! ohhh the indignity!"

"those aren't ears Tito, those help prevent smoke from getting into the engine crews' faces" Rita corrected the small Chihuahua.

Dodger chuckled lightly. "sounds like Ryan would say. where is the excited dog anyways?"

Rita pointed down the platform where Flying Scotsman was standing. Ryan was still talking to Scotsman like old friends. They were laughing and chuckling as they talked about a lot of stuff. Even Flying Scotsman's owner, Sir William McAlpine, fed the Dalmatian a lump of bread. "he'll catch up, eventually" she giggled.

"hey lady" called a voice to Rita.

Rita jumped and looked to where the voice came from. The voice belonged to the 2-8-0 with the red smoke deflectors.

"I can't help but notice that you seem a little... fat" said the 2-8-0.

Rita blushed slightly and looked at her paws. "I'm not fat!" she said, "I'm pregnant! me and my mate Ryan down there are going to be having puppies any day now!"

The 2-8-0, known as J515, chuckled with delight. "well then congratulations! welcome to Aus Steam '88!"

"well thank you sir" Rita smiled slightly, "my name is Rita. these are my friends Einstein, Francis, Dodger and Tito."

J515 smiled even more. "haha, my name is Jerry! since you guys are kinda new here, allow me to introduce you to some of the members here. That Hudson infront of me is R707, or City of Melbourne. we just call her Victoria. She maybe a little snobbish like Megan, but she's still nice." Then Jerry gestured to a red steamer, D3 639, right behind him. She was smiling for the cameras as happy as she can be. "that red engine over there, we call her Macey. she loves all the attention, but she can't have all of it because of Flying Scotsman and the others here."

"reminds me of Georgette" Rita whispered to Dodger, who nodded quietly.

"K153 infront of Victoria" Jerry continued, "we just call him Moe. he's pretty smart, wise and gentle as a fly, but sorta a grouch sometimes. Victoria's brother, Victor, also known as R761, is another member of Victoria's class that's preserved. We also got C38 3801, also known as Lighting because she's fast since she's got streamlining. Then we got a couple of friendly diesels here and there, and I'm sure you know who Puffa is."

The canines looked at where Jerry was gesturing to. There was quite a lot of engines then they have ever seen. More like a huge group of them to be exact. Before they could say anything else, Ryan happily walked up towards them with a smile as big as Texas. He gave Rita a kiss on the cheek.

"isn't this place cool or what?!" he squealed.

"whoa whoa whoa" soothed Rita before chuckling, "what's gotten you excited?"

Ryan sighed happily. "I got a free ride with Flying Scotsman the day after tomorrow! can you believe that? he even allowed you to come with me too Rita!"

Rita wagged her tail happily. "that's great Ryee-baby" she said with joy, "I'm sure we're gonna have a great time together."

Ryan's excitement filled his entire body. A ride onboard a famous locomotive had been a dream come true. He was so excited, he let out a loud howl/whistle that echoed through the whole station. All the engines jumped in surprised, so did their crews and the visitors. Everyone looked at the Dalmatian in surprise, making him feel nervous and embarrassed again. He was expecting people laughing at him, but to his surprise the engines and their crews smiled brightly.

"wow, that was amazing!" Jerry said in amazement.

"indeed" said Macey, "I never knew a dog could howl like a train. that kid got style!"

"yeah I'll say!" Flying Scotsman beamed with pride. Then he had an idea. "here comes some inspiration!"

The other engines smiled and began to sing a song about whistles while blowing their own. They sang and sang with their hearts can bare. Ryan thought it was very catchy, but was too shy to join in on the singing. That is, until Scotsman whistled to Ryan.

"come on kid, whistle with us!"

Everyone cheered and cheered as all the engines whistled loudly and Ryan howled louder. Rita and the gang barked happily. This made the Dalmatian beam with pride. Soon after they finished singing, engine crews and visitors began to gather around him and pet him happily. Ryan happily licked their faces and was enjoying all the rubs and love he was getting.

"aww you were a great performer Ryan" Jenny said happily as she scratched the Dalmatian's head.

"hey kid, what's your dog's name?" asked Lighting's driver.

"Ryan, mister."

Lighting's driver smiled even more, "well then, how would he like to ride on the parallel run tomorrow? would you like that boy?"

Ryan barked happily.

"great! come by here tomorrow morning!"

The Dalmatian smiled as big as his own face. Later, when he and his friends were suppose to go back to the hotel for lunch, the engines said "goodbye" and "thank you" to everyone as Ryan and his friends headed back to the hotel. Just as they left, a V/Line T class diesel rolled in, making some of the steamers moan.

"oh dear lord, please not this bitch!" Victoria sighed.

"hello filthy steamies!" the diesel growled in his oily voice.

"hello Rusty" groaned most of the steamers.

Rusty was one of the several diesels that worked at Melbourne, mostly used on the branch line leading to Seymour hauling both passenger and freight trains. He had a dislike to the steam engines, especially Victor, because they were smoky, loud and annoying to him. The diesel never liked working with them and wished they would all go away and let him sleep peacefully.

"what is with all the singing here?! I'm trying to sleep!" snapped Rusty.

Flying Scotsman smiled, "oh just having a good sing-along with Ryan. boy did he sing like an angel."

"Ryan?" said Rusty confusingly, "who's Ryan?"

Victor gestured to Ryan, who was just walking out of sight. "that's Ryan. boy you should have heard him sing and howl like a train. his whistling was so loud, it would've made me deaf probably."

Rusty was surprised. "you mean that dog could howl like you steamers?!"

"oh he couldn't, he can!" Jerry wheeshed proudly.

The diesel just rolled his eyes. He wasn't entirely impressed. "so what? a smelly dog howling like you filthy steamers is a big deal to you all? huh. I am sooooo 'impressed'."

The engines were furious. They whistled loudly at the diesels as he trundled away. They didn't stop until their crew members told them to stop.

Flying Scotsman - LNER 4472
Victor - R761
Victoria - R707
Jerry - J515
Macey - D3 639
Moe - K153
Lighting - C38 3801
Megan - NSWGR 1201
Puffa - NSWGR 3112
Rusty - T334