Chapter 7

Narrator: When Matthew woke up the next morning, he was still worried about what the diesels at Bethlehem Steel had said. He was worried about what the other engines on the Reading Railroad would say. But, he knew that the best thing to do was to keep working. So he did. That day, he had to go to Bethlehem again. He was to take another load of coal to the furnaces. He was not too excited about the diesels and what they would say to him.

Matthew: I sure hope that those diesels do not do anything bad to me. I am just a very young engine that is looking to have a long life.

Narrator: When Matthew went into the yard, he saw the yard foreman waiting for him. The yard foreman spoke up.

Yard Foreman: Matthew, you have to take a train of hoppers to our interchange with the Lehigh Valley Railroad. They are going to the Lake Superior region to be loaded with Ore for the Bethlehem Steelworks.

Matthew: Why are they taking hoppers from around here? Couldn't they get some from up there to carry the Ore down?

Yard Manager: I am sorry, but there is a shortage of hoppers from the Pennsy, so we need to take some hoppers from our yard.

Matthew: OK.

Narrator: So Matthew went to the freight yard and collected a string of 60 coal hoppers, and took them to the station for them to receive a caboose and for Matthew to run around them to pull them away. Once Harry was coupled to the front of the train, he started off. Soon, he was rolling along through the countryside and making good time. Then, after a few hours of traveling, he reached the interchange with the Pennsylvania Railroad. As he got there, he saw several engines with a 2-10-0 wheel arrangement there waiting for him. He spoke up.

Matthew: Hi there, who are you?

One of the 2-10-0 locomotives: I am Joseph, I and my brothers are Pennsylvania Railroad I1 steam locomotives. We are the engines that handle most of the coal traffic on the Pennsy.

Matthew: Oh, nice to meet you.

Joseph: I am honored to meet you too. I heard that you are one of the new T1s that the Reading Railroad has just built.

Matthew: Yes, I am. I am an engine that handles the coal traffic on the Reading Railroad. Anyway, here are the hopper cars you are waiting for.

Joseph: Yes, we will be very happy to get them loaded with Iron Ore for the Bethlehem furnaces.

Narrator: Joseph and his brothers pulled away with the coal cars, and Matthew then set off back to Reading. As he went, he ran across crystal pulling a passenger train. She was stopped at a signal. He told them about what the diesels had said.

Crystal: They are just trying to make you scared. They just don't like steam engines. They think that they are superior to us.

Matthew: Yes, but I just don't like what they say.

Narrator: Just then the signal showed green, and Samantha had to go.

Matthew: I hope that you are right Crystal, and that there is no danger of us being scrapped.

Narrator: When Matthew got back to the yard, there was Nick. He was doing some switching around the yard. Matthew spoke up.

Matthew: Say Nick, have you heard about the diesels at Bethlehem Steel and what they have said about steam engines?

Nick: Yes, just don't get too worried about what those diesels say. They are just full of hot air.

Narrator: Then Nick puffed away with his cars. Matthew then said something to himself.

Matthew: I am sure that those diesels will take over the railroads some day. I am going to be prepared for it when it does happen, though.

Narrator: Just then Samantha came along. She had just come back from taking some commuters between stations in Reading. Matthew decided to speak up about the diesels at Bethlehem Steel.

Matthew: Say Samantha, do you think that what those diesels at Bethlehem Steel say is going to come true some day?

Samantha: No, Matthew. We steam engines are far better than them. We have been around for over 100 years, and have advanced in technology a lot more than them. They are only brand new, so I doubt that they will advance in technology for a long time.

Matthew: I sure hope not. But I am sure that it will happen some day.

Narrator: Then Samantha puffed away to go finish delivering the commuters to the stations leaving Matthew all on his own. He then said to himself

Matthew: I sure hope Samantha is right.

Narrator: After that Matthew puffed back to the roundhouse. When he got there he rolled into his berth and went promptly to sleep.