Great Northern the A1 Pacific: Chapter 12
Sleeping Beauty's Return
It had been a few years since Skarloey and Rheneas' 100th birthday. It was on that day that a special party was thrown for the two engines. Everyone that was anyone had all gathered together at Lakeside to celebrate the two very old engines. The most important guests happened to be The Skarloey Railway owner, Sir Handel Lloyd Brown II, The Fat Controller Sir Charles Topham Hatt II, and The Thin Controller, Sir Peter Sam. But there was also an important fourth guest as well, the Duke of Sodor himself, Sir Robert Norramby.
There had been a slight altercation thanks to Peter Sam after asking the Duke whether he was real or not. Thankfully, Sir Robert took it in his stride and said that he was, in fact, very real and was proud of the owner, Sir Handel Brown and wished many more happy years to come for both Skarloey and Rheneas. After the party, Peter Sam had been reprimanded for his outburst and was asked why he had said such a thing to the Duke himself. It was then that Peter Sam and Sir Handel talk about their old friend from The Mid-Sodor Railway. Duke the Lost Engine.
After that, all of Duke's stories of him, Stuart and Falcon during the days of the Old Mid-Sodor spread. The Skarloey engines told Mr. Hugh. Mr. Hugh told The Thin Controller. The Thin Controller told the Owner. The Owner told the Duke. The Duke told The Small Controller. The Small Controller told The Thin Clergyman. And the Thin Clergyman told the Fat one.
That's why one morning, the two clergymen and The Small Controller, were looking at maps covering the northern region of Sodor.
"Our railway," said The Small Controller, "is laid on the bed of the Old Mid-Sodor. But swings around to end at the roads south at that village of Arlesdale. The old line went straight on. It went north of Arlesdale and then to the mountains and onward to Peel Godred. The maps show the works of the old station. If Duke is anywhere, he's there."
Later that day, the three men stood in front of Rex, Mike and Bert at the sheds. The engines spoke to The Thin Clergymen
"Are you writing another book, sir?" they asked.
"Yes, but not about you," he smiled at their downcast faces. "Cheer up. This new book is about a nice old engine who was lost, but if you're good, the artist may put you in the pictures."
"Oh, thank you, sir!"
So, the clergymen told the three small engines about Duke, Falcon and Stuart.
"So, you see," he continued. "Poor Duke was left alone." Rex, Mike and Bert sighed sympathetically. "But we want to find him and mend him, and make him happy again. Your Controller wants to help, but he can't if you're being naughty."
Rex, Mike and Bert promised to be as good as gold.
The three men spent days and days at the old station. They came up every morning from Bert's train. He always whistled good luck as they walked up the track but had nothing in the evening except for scratches and torn clothes. They didn't give up though.
"Duke's there somewhere," they said.
The Fat Clergyman found him in the end. Scrambling over a hillock, he trod on something which wasn't there, crashed through a hole, and landed legs astride on Duke the Lost Engine's saddle tank.
"AHA! Our 'Sleeping Beauty' himself!" he shouted to the other two men on the surface.
The Thin Clergyman and The Small Controller, peeked through the small hole above The Fat Clergyman and Duke. Unfortunately, Duke was none too pleased about being woken up, never mind having his shed invaded or a man landing down on his boiler.
"Excuse me," said Duke with a stern look. "Are you a vandal? Driver told me that vandals break in and smash things."
The Fat Clergyman ruefully felt his bruises. "Bless you, no," he laughed. "I'm quite respectable. I only dropped in because I couldn't find your door."
Then he told Duke about Falcon and Stuart, and their new life on The Skarloey Railway. Duke was delighted and very thankful.
"So, they did remember," Duke said softly, a tear threatening to come out of his eye. "Erm, does His Grace approve?"
"Why, yes. He's coming."
"To see me? How kind. But I'm all dirty, and that'll never do. Please clean me."
So, the men set to work. And by the time The Small Controller had sent for His Grace, Duke was by far the cleanest of anyone in the shed. Early next morning, Mike brought down the way gang with workmen and tools. They enlarged The Fat Clergyman's hole, lifted Duke out and put him on a low-loader to take him away by road.
Duke felt uncomfortable. "I'd be ashamed," Duke protested, "to travel by road. It's... It's... It's undignified."
"I'm terribly sorry, Duke," said Sir Robert Norramby. "But the Small Railway has no suitable trucks to take you to The Skarloey Railway."
Duke relented then. But with some many people that came out to greet him and see him off, made the old engine feel much better.
"So, they do remember me!"
By the time the low-loader and Duke arrived at Arlesburgh, Donald was waiting with a well-wagon and everyone cheered, engines from The Small Railway and those from The Little Western were there to see him off too. Before he left, Duke got a chance to speak to Rex, Mike and Bert.
"I still cannot believe they were actually able to run a railway after what happened to my own," he said, very impressed. "Tell me, what does your railway offer that the Mid-Sodor did not?"
"Well, for one thing, we bring mine waste down from the hills and use it as ballast," Rex began. "We've heard of the big railway engines saying that it is the best kind of ballast. The way gangs agree too."
Duke was amazed. "Waste from the mines as ballast? Why didn't we think of that? Oh, that certainly would have been a good idea at the time."
"Not only that," Bert cut in. "But we bring the farmer's wool from all over the countryside to market here at Arlesburgh. And that trade certainly does help with the profits of our railway."
"I have no doubt of that," Duke said, now feeling as though he should kick himself in the tender for not coming up with these solutions decades ago. But there was something else on his mind about The Small Railway too. "Tell me, do you have a passenger service?"
"Yeah, we do," Mike answered, barely able to stop himself from groaning. "We take passengers on a sight-seeing tour throughout the valley with our special kind of coaches. Personally, I prefer goods trains myself, but I know that passengers are important for our railway too."
"They are indeed," Duke replied gravely. "The major reason for my old railway shutting down was because the decrease in our passengers that came to visit. Still, I fondly remember the days of my old picnic trains. Oh, those were the days." He then looked to the three small engines. "Rex, Mike, Bert, I do wish you all the best of luck with your work and who knows, maybe someday, your railway will reach just as far as my own one. I'm sure that it will happen sooner or later."
"We'll certainly try," The Small Controller chuckled as Donald began puffing away as more cheers erupted from around the station for Duke on the last stage of his journey to his new home.
Duke enjoyed his run down The Little Western. He had only seen the tracks of Arlesburgh during his time with his old railway and The Mainland and Sodor Railway before the NWR was formed. He was treated to a lovely scenery of the open water, the smell of sea and the seaside villages dotted all along the western coast. He also enjoyed a lovely conversation with Donald, learning all about the major events on Sodor that had happened recently during his absence. He was disheartened to learn about The End of Steam on The Other Railway but was thankful that Sodor had no plans for Modernisation.
"Tell me, Donald," Duke began. "What makes these diesel engine engines different from steam engines like you and me."
"Well, for one thing, they don't run on coal and water like us," Donald answered. "They run on diesel fuel nowadays. British Rail thinks they're more economical than you or me. They've taken over the whole Mainland and sent many good steam engines to the scrapyard."
Duke was most disheartened. "I see. Dear, oh dear..."
"Aye. It's because of them diesels that me and Douggie escaped Scotland and came here to Sodor. They took our jobs and one of us were goin' to be withdrawn. But not all diesels are bad though. Daisy, BoCo and Bear are very nice diesels and they're a credit to the railway. They even considered steam engines back on the Mainland to be their mentors."
Duke smiled at this. "I'm glad to hear that, Donald. I guess there are diamonds in the rough nowadays, aren't there?"
"There are indeed," Donald chuckled.
"So, Donald, are there any diesels on The Skarloey Railway?"
"Och aye, but only one. His name is Rusty. He usually handles the maintenance and odd jobs around The Skarloey Railway. He's a hard worker too. I'm sure you'll get to know him well."
"So long as he works harder than Stanley, I'm sure I'll get along with him just fine."
In no time at all, Donald and Duke were thundering down the Mainline. Duke watched happily as he saw engine after engine passing them by. He even saw Bear pulling the down Limited from Barrow. Duke had to admit, these diesels sort of looked like boxes on wheels. Then again, he had been called a steam kettle on occasion too.
Eventually, Donald arrived at Crovan's Gate on time and shunted Duke onto one of the platforms nearest to the Skarloey Railway sheds. No one was around at the time, so Duke thanked Donald for the trip and went to sleep again for another nap. He wasn't alone for long though. Peter Sam and Sir Handel were on early turn that morning and peeped out of the shed.
"He's there!" they whispered. "Shh! Shh!"
Duke heard them and opened his eyes. "You woke me!" he grumbled. "In my younger years, engines were..."
"...seen and not heard, Granpuff! Remember?" the two tank engines laughed.
"I remember," said Duke, "two idle, good-for-nothings called Falcon and Stuart."
"Good for you, Granpuff! We've glad you've come, we can keep you in order now."
"Keep me in order?!" Duke spluttered. "Impertinence! Be off with you two!"
Peter Sam and Sir Handel puffed away, well content and happy to see their old Granpuff once more after so many years.
"Impudent scallywags," murmured Duke, watching as the two engines left for their work. But his old eyes twinkled and for the first time in years, he smiled as he dozed in the sun. "It's good to see them again, even if they are still cheeky."
A little while later, Duke was then placed down onto the tracks of The Skarloey Railway as Rusty pulled into the sheds along with a coach. Two men departed from the coach and greeted Duke. They were none other than The Thin Controller, Sir Peter Sam, and the Owner, Sir Handel Brown.
"Welcome to the Skarloey Railway, Duke," The Thin Controller began. "How are you liking it so far?"
"I certainly like the look of your railway already, sir," Duke replied. "This junction station of Crovan's Gate looks marvellous, and I cannot wait to see the rest of this railway. Although, I am very glad to see Stuart and Falcon again too."
"And we've heard that they are thrilled to have you back," added the Owner. "Duke, as much as we want to put you to work straight away, I'm afraid that we need to send you to the works for routine maintenance before you're allowed to pull a train up the line. I hope you understand."
Duke completely understood. "Not worry, sir. I understand completely. Better to be safe than sorry, that's what I always say."
The Owner grinned. "Now, there's a wise engine in front us, Peter. It's good thing Fergus, Wilbert and Teddy found Duke when they did."
"I can only agree, sir," The Thin Controller nodded as he turned to Duke. "Duke, this is Rusty. He will be taking you to the works to be repaired."
Duke looked to the little diesel. "So, you're this Rusty I've heard of from the big engines, are you?"
Rusty was surprised that Duke had heard of him. "You... know about me?"
"Why, yes. They say you're the maintenance engine on this railway, are you not?"
"Yes, I am!" Rusty answered proudly. "Keeping the line clear and safe is of utmost importance. It's a lot easier now since we've got some great quality ballast from up north."
"You mean the ballast from the small engines?" Duke asked, chuckling. "I've met them. Lovely chaps they are."
"Small engines?" Rusty asked. "Aren't we small engines?"
Duke chuckled. "Yes, we are. But there are a trio of engines up north that run on half the gauge size track that we do. But they're quite efficient."
"If you say so..." Rusty replied, unsure of what Duke was telling him. "Shall I shunt you to the works, Duke?"
"Oh, yes please."
With that, Rusty coupled up to Duke and took him to the works. A group of workmen quickly got to work as they checked Duke all over for any repairs necessary. Surprisingly, Duke was in a pretty good shape, despite being stuck inside of a shed for two decades. All he really need was a good clean out and oil up before he emerged out of the works under his own power. Duke practically beamed once he was out, his paint was spotless, and his brass shone.
"I feel like a young engine again," Duke said once he was out of the works.
"That's what many of our engines here say after being looked after by our boys," a familiar voice called out as Duke looked down to see The Thin Controller in front of him.
"Oh! Good morning, sir."
"Good morning, Duke. I trust you are feeling well?"
"I am indeed, sir. I haven't this good in over... well, twenty years actually."
"I'm glad to hear it. Now then, myself and the Owner have organised a special train for you to take today up to Lakeside, Duke."
Duke, at hearing this, was very intrigued. "A special train, sir? What kind of train would that be?"
"I believe that you are familiar with a certain picnic train back on the Mid-Sodor, were you not?"
Duke was delighted. "Oh, sir! Thank you, sir! Where do I begin?"
"Just be ready at the station platform next to the NWR's line. Skarloey will shunt your coaches into place behind you. These particular coaches are very precious to this railway, so please, do be careful."
"Of course, sir," Duke agreed. "No true engine would ever treat coaches badly. As I've tried to tell Falcon many times."
"Well, it seems to me that it still hasn't gotten through," The Thin Controller chortled. "Old habits die hard, I suppose. Now, you'd better get to the station, Duke. Gordon will be here soon with the Wild Nor' Wester from the Mainline."
"Right. Away we go, driver!" Duke called as his new driver opened the regulator. Duke felt his wheels move and couldn't help but grimace a little. "Oh, my. Stiff. I'm so stiff!"
"Not to worry, old boy," said his driver. "Once you've had a good run, you'll be fine."
"I sure hope so."
Soon, Duke backed down into The Skarloey Railway's platform of Crovan's Gate. He waited patiently for his coaches to be shunted in behind him while his driver sorted out the necessary head-code. Skarloey then shunted four coaches and one brakevan of which were well-known on The Skarloey Railway. They were none other than Agnes, Ruth, Lucy, Jemima and Beatrice.
"Come along now, my dears," Skarloey hummed as he buffered up behind Beatrice the brakevan. "You've got an important train today."
"Important train?" Beatrice asked, yawning. "What would that be, Skarloey?"
"A picnic train," Skarloey answered. "You're going to have many important passengers along for the trip too."
"A picnic train?!" chorused Ruth. "Oh, how delightful!"
"Where are we stopping?" asked Lucy. "Glennock? The Causeway? Please tell me we're actually going to stop at the picnic area, aren't we?"
"It's been years since we've been part of such an important train!" Jemima beamed. "I simply cannot wait!"
"Now, now, girls," Agnes cautioned. "We still don't know which engine will be taking us all. Heaven forbid should it be that dreaded Sir Handel."
Skarloey couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, Agnes. Pessimistic as ever, I see."
"I'm am not being pessimistic, Skarloey dear. I'm being pragmatic, thank you very much!"
"Oh, calm down now. The engine taking you all isn't Sir Handel. It's Duke."
The coaches went silent for a moment before tittering amongst themselves.
"Do you think he means it, dears?" asked Jemima.
"Impossible!" spat Ruth. "Peter Sam said that Duke was lost long ago. There's no way he could be back now!"
"But would our Skarloey lie to us after all these years?" Lucy questioned. "What if they have found Duke?"
"I highly doubt it," Agnes sniffed. "Why, I bet our Skarloey is getting our hopes up before we meet... HIM!" Agnes cried suddenly as the coaches were shunted up behind Duke. "Girls, it's him! It's really him!"
Duke was caught off guard. "Him? Who's him?"
"She means you, Duke," Skarloey chuckled as he pulled up alongside Duke. "They didn't believe me when I said that you would be taking them up to Lakeside with this picnic train."
"I can imagine why not," Duke grinned. "After all, I was asleep for twenty years." He looked back to the coaches. "Now then, my dears, it is a pleasure to meet you all. My name is Duke."
"O-Oh, we know that!" Beatrice tittered. "We've heard all about you from Peter Sam and Sir Handel."
"You have? Well, I hope my reputation proceeds me," Duke chuckled. "Now, as I was saying, I apologise in advance if I do happen to bump you fine ladies on this journey. I won't mean it, I just haven't pulled a passenger train in a very long time."
Agnes began batting her eyes. "Oh, I certainly won't mind if you did, Duke," she cooed.
"Agnes!" Lucy gasped.
"There's no need to be so vulgar!" Jemima scolded.
"I wasn't being vulgar!" Agnes pouted. "I was just reassuring Duke, that's all! Right, Dukey?"
Duke didn't reply as he looked over to Skarloey as the coaches continued to argue. "I take it they're always like this?"
"More often than not, yes," Skarloey sighed. "They're very chatty. But they'll come quietly so long as you treat them right."
"Not to worry, I know how to handle coaches. I just hope I'm not too rusty. Beg pardon, but who are you, my good engine?"
"I'm Skarloey. The No. 1 engine of this railway. I must say, I still can't believe I'm talking to Duke himself. Peter Sam and Sir Handel always spoke highly of you in their stories."
"Peter Sam and Sir Handel? You mean The Thin Controller and the Owner?" Duke was still having trouble with Stuart and Falcon's new and preferred names. "Oh! You mean Stuart and Falcon! I do apologise, I've still yet to get used to their new names."
"That's alright. I understand. I'm sure they won't mind if you do call them by their old names anyway." Skarloey then heard a familiar whistle off in the distance, as did Duke. "Oh. That must be Gordon with the Wild Nor' Wester now."
Sure enough, Gordon pulled into the big railway's platform of Crovan's Gate with the Wild Nor' Wester in tow. In no time at all, a crowd of people disembarked and made their way to the little engines' platform. Within the crowd were none other than The Fat Controller, The Small Controller, His Grace, The Thin Clergyman and The Fat Clergyman. The men were also joined by The Thin Controller and the Owner as they and the rest of passengers all boarded Duke's picnic train. The guard then waved his green flag and blew his whistle.
"Right away, driver!" called the guard as he scrambled into Beatrice.
"Good luck, Duke!" Skarloey shouted as Duke began pulling out of the station.
"Thank you, Skarloey!" Duke said back. "Cheerio!"
And with that, Duke began making his way up the line with some very happy and very full coaches trailing behind him. Needless to say, Duke was very impressed as he made his way up The Skarloey Railway. To him, it had to be one of the nicest railways he had ever seen. On his way up to Lakeside, he dropped visitors off at various locations. One at the Whispering Waterfall. One at the picnic area itself. And another just after the Sodor Castle Causeway. Duke was both impressed and little apprehensive.
"Tracks over the middle of a lake?" he said. "Seems a little dangerous for my liking. But it's still quite a nice view."
Soon he dropped off another group off before the Viaduct and the campsite after Rheneas Station before continuing on to Skarloey Station and Lakeside to finish the first part of the trip. Duke was feeling very happy with this trip but was pleased for the rest and was surprised when he saw Peter Sam pull up alongside him with a passenger train of his own.
"Hullo, Granpuff! Enjoying your picnic train?"
"I am indeed, Stuart," Duke acknowledged. "I'm so glad you and Falcon found such a beautiful railway to work on."
"And we're both glad to have you back with us, Granpuff. It'll be just like old times, and there's far less of a chance of our railway being closed down too."
"Ah-Ah!" Duke snapped suddenly. "It saying things like that which will have the opposite of the desired effect. Murphy's Law, Stuart. Don't you remember me teaching you that?"
Peter Sam only laughed. "Oh, Granpuff. After all this time, you still believe in superstitions and jinxes! Never change, Granpuff. Never change."
"All the same, better to safe than sorry. That's what I always say." As Duke scolded Peter Sam, he noticed the two coaches behind him. Duke had seen those coaches before, they were both bogie coaches but were now painted blue with cream window surrounds. "Gertrude? Millicent?!"
"Duke!" exclaimed the former Mid-Sodor coaches. "It's so good to see you again!"
"Likewise," Duke smiled. "Tell me, how did you two get here?"
"The Thin Controller was in need of rolling stock and he bought some from the Mid-Sodor. Luckily, he found and bought us. You should have seen Peter Sam and Sir Handel's faces when they saw us."
"I can only imagine," Duke smiled as a voice was heard from one of the sidings nearby.
"Keep your buffers off him! He's mine!"
"Agnes! Quiet!"
"No! Dukey is my engine, not theirs!"
"Don't you mean ours?"
"Oh, whatever!"
Peter Sam was stunned. "Was that... Agnes?"
"I'm afraid so," Duke sighed. "I swear, that coach is infatuated with me or something. Actually, I think all of those coaches and that brakevan like me a little too much."
"Consider yourself lucky, Granpuff," Peter Sam snickered. "Those five are quite stern when they meet new engines, but it looks like they're completely different around you."
"Lucky me..."
Just then, the guard's whistle blew.
"Peter Sam!" called Millicent. "We'd better get going."
"Right you are, Millicent!" Peter Sam called back. "Wouldn't want to be late for Henry."
Duke was curious. "Who's Henry, Stuart? Do you two have a history?"
"Oh, we do," Peter Sam chuckled. "But I'll tell you about it later on tonight, goodbye!"
And with that, Peter Sam left the station with Gertrude and Millicent rattling behind him. A couple of hours later, after a short rest, Duke also departed with his picnic train down the line. Once again, he stopped at every place where he had let off the passengers to have their picnics and was pleased to see that they had come back on time just as he had asked. Soon, Duke pulled into Crovan's Gate with Donald waiting on the NWR's platform. The passengers disembarked and thanked Duke for a lovely ride and day for a picnic. Duke couldn't have been happier.
The Thin Controller then met Duke at the sheds. "Duke, I must say, I am very proud of you and your work today."
Duke beamed. "Thank you, sir. Today has been absolutely thrilling, if not nostalgic too."
"I'm glad to hear it. I'll be organising other picnic and passenger trains for you to take in the near future. I trust you will be happy with that?"
"You'll get no argument from me, sir."
"Splendid! Thank you again, Duke. And I hope you have a good night's sleep."
"I will, sir. Thank you, sir. Good night, sir."
And with that, The Thin Controller left for home while Duke yawned and went to sleep. Or at least he tried when two familiar tank engines backed down into the sheds with their whistles blaring, startling Duke.
"And just what do you two think you're doing?!" Duke spluttered.
"Surprising you!" laughed Sir Handel. "So, how was your first day?"
"Did anything else happen with Agnes, Ruth, Lucy, Jemima and Beatrice?" asked Peter Sam.
Duke couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Back in my day, young engines like you were..."
"...seen and not heard!" the tank engines laughed.
Duke wanted to scold Peter Sam and Sir Handel like many times before. However, he couldn't help but laugh along with them. Duke might have been a new railway with his new lease of life, but at least he had some familiar faces and some new friends to help him along the way. And for that, Duke was very grateful.
