Chapter 11

Narrator: The next day, Matthew woke up to find some workmen coming over to repair him. He was wondering what these men would do to him, and how long it was going to take them to fix him. He decided to speak up.

Matthew: Excuse me, but do you know how long I will be here at the works?

Workman: It will take a couple of days, but you will be back in traffic soon.

Matthew: Alright.

Narrator: Just then, Matthew saw a small 0-6-0 tank engine approaching him with a flatbed of parts. He decided to speak up.

Matthew: Hello there what is your name?

0-6-0 tank engine: My name is Ian. I am the reading railroad shops switcher. I move all of the parts around the shop, and move broken and unfired steam engines around the repair yard and engine terminal.

Matthew: That sounds like a boring job. It must be very boring not ever going out on the main line.

Ian: Not really. I am kept busy doing all of the switching around here, and I get to talk to all of the engines that come here for repairs. It is really interesting to talk to all of these engines. It is quite interesting.

Matthew: So you must hear a lot of good stories from all over the system.

Ian: Yes. I do. Well anyways, I had best be off. I have to move some other engines to the coal tipple and water tower.

Narrator: Just then, Matthew thought of something.

Matthew: Say, wait a minute, isn't Zack the normal switcher around here?

Ian: No, I am the normal switcher around here. He is kept here for when it gets too busy for me alone. Well, I will be late soon if I don't take off.

Matthew: Alright, I will see you another time!

Narrator: As soon as Ian left, the workmen began repairing Matthew. They began to survey the damage. A smashed cowcatcher, a busted off coupler, a bent support for the front end of his running board on both sides, two dented cylinders, and a bent frame on the pilot truck. Then, the workmen began to remove the broken parts and replace them with new ones. They removed the frame for the pilot truck and took it away to another place in the works to be fixed. They then unbolted the support beams for the running board, and put new ones into place. Then it was lunch break, and the workmen went away to have lunch. Matthew was once again left alone in the works. He wondered how long it would take for the workmen to come back and finish his repairs. After about 30 minutes, the workmen came back and continued work. They removed the dented cylinders, and took them away for the dents to be banged out in another part of the workshop. Then, they took the broken coupler away to another part of the workshop. Matthew thought that it would take no more than a few hours to get that sorted out, but as soon as they went away, someone else walked up to Matthew, and told him that it would take until tomorrow to get his coupler back on, because the coupler was too banged up to be fixed, so they were going to fabricate a new one. After a few hours it was time for the workmen to go home. Matthew said goodbye to them.

Matthew: Goodbye, all!

Workmen: Goodbye to you too Matthew!

Narrator: Then, After that, Matthew went to sleep. The next day, Matthew was just waking up when the workmen came back, and started working on him again. Matthew spoke up.

Matthew: What time will I be out of here today?

Workman: You will be out of here in a few hours.

Matthew: Well, that is a relief.

Workman: Yes, it is.

Narrator: Just then, Ian pulled up with Matthew's cylinders, and they began putting them on. After a few hours, they had Matthew's cylinders back on, and they then turned their attention to the pilot truck frame. One of the workmen spoke up.

Workman: Now Matthew, as soon we will have your pilot truch on in about amn hour, then after that you will get your coupler on and you can get out of here.

Matthew: That is a relief.

Narrator: Then, the workmen started lifting Matthew up so that they could put the pilot truck under him. A little while later, they had the truck attached to Matthew. Then they began to put the wheels on. They moved the wheels under the truck, and then lowered Matthew onto them. Then put the covers on. The workman then spoke up.

Workman: We just have to put you coupler on and you will be out of here.

Matthew: Thank you for the good work you did to me.

Workman: You are welcome.

Narrator: After a few minutes, they had Matthe's coupler on, and he was pulled to the ready track by Ian, and was fired up under low pressure. They then moved him to the roundhouse, and put him into his stall. Matthew said goodbye to them, and went to sleep.