Rusty Goes Backwards
Rusty is a diesel engine who works on the Skarloey Railway. He is a friendly diesel engine who helps others in distress. Rusty is everyone's friend. Rusty is also everyone's friend, too. One of Rusty's favorite jobs was repairing the railway. He always keeps it neat and tidy from any debris. One day, Rusty came home from repairing the tracks near the old mines.
"Right and clean, not broken," he said. The rest of the engines were impressed. Just then, the Thin Controller talked to Rusty. "There has been a mudslide near the bridge," he announced, "You must take a plough and clear it immediately. Be careful, it is really sticky."
"I'm going there," Rusty said and he rushed off. He got a plough and race to the bridge. When he got there, a large pile of mud covered the tracks. "Let's go!" shouted Rusty and he charged at the mud. But then, as he hit the mud with his plough, it got stuck.
"What this about?" he cried. Rusty pushed and pushed but the mud pile wouldn't budge. Just then, Rusty's engine suddenly coughed up. Smoke billowed from it. "Help!" cried Rusty. Then there was a spark. Rusty's engine stopped. His driver examined him. "That mudslide is too dry," he said, "So a plough won't clear it off the track. We'll have to shovel it ourselves."
Rusty couldn't do anything. Soon, Jack and Alfie cleared away the mud pile. Then when Rusty was free and the line cleared, he tried to start. But when he did, he had gone backwards. He tried to go forward, but he couldn't. "What's this?" he cried, "Help!" Rusty managed to stop.
His driver examined him. "Your engine has been damaged," he said, "Looks like you'll have to do your jobs going backwards, I'm afraid." Rusty was upset. And if his friends see him going backwards, they'll laugh at him. "I must be careful," he said.
So he did his jobs, but going backwards and avoiding his friends. Everywhere he had gone. He took his trucks to the slate mines and quickly got out before anyone saw him. Later, Peter Sam was pulling a passenger train alongside the valley. But then he came to a hill.
Peter Sam knew his train is too heavy. So he had to wait for help. Rusty was nearby. He could see Peter Sam waiting for help. Rusty knew he couldn't abandon him. So he rolled backwards towards Peter Sam's train.
Peter Sam saw Rusty and thought he was about to leave him. But to his surprise, Rusty was going backwards towards him. Rusty buffered up to Peter Sam's train and he pushed. Then the train started up the hill. Rusty continued to push Peter Sam up the hill.
He was instantly sparking and coughing as he struggled up the hill. Peter Sam wondered what was wrong. But Rusty continued to push and push. More sparks blew out from his engine. At last, Peter Sam was over the hill. "Thank you," he called out. As Rusty's engine stopped sparking, he rolled forwards down the hill.
Rusty couldn't believe it! He can go forwards again! "By pushing Peter Sam up the hill," said his driver, "It somehow allowed you to go forwards again." Rusty was excited. He headed home later that day. He told the other engine about his backwards day.
"I don't understand why you think we would laugh at you," said Skarloey. "I thought you would since I was going backwards," said Rusty. "But I would find it funny," said Duncan. "I'll tell you the time Duncan pulled a train backwards," said Peter Sam. And so he did. Rusty felt proud, but Duncan felt embarrassed.