It's me again Guys. Enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 25 The Downfall of the Number Two
Since the Northwestern Railway exists since 1915, some of the engine working there are almost or already over a hundred years old. On regular railways engines wouldn't get older then 30 years. But the NWR was always a safe haven for steam. One of his oldest residents, Edward, was currently waiting at Knapford. He was over 110 years old and only engines like Skarloey, Rheneas and Stephen were older than him. Some engines sometimes say he should retire. But Edward doesn't listen to them. As long as he get his jobs done, he won't quit working.
Anyways, he waited for Phillip to arrange his Coaches. He needed to bring them to Brendam docks, where they get loaded onto Top Hats' Railway Barge. He also delivers passengers over to the Isle of Man. The little boxcab diesel shunted the coaches behind him and waited for him to leave." Your train is ready." He said cheerfully as they got coupled to the blue engine.
"Thanks Phillip. See you later." Edward said thankfully and left as soon the guard blew his whistle.
Phillip then started to arrange another train. This also goes to Brendam and he's going to pull it. The train was mostly just ballast trucks and Oil Tankers. But because the trucks where assholes as usual they decided to pull a prank on the NWR's number 68.
It was still Winter and the rails were at some points icy and frozen. Engines could slip easily. The trucks wanted to use that and make him crash. Phillip left soon and headed towards Wellsworth to switch onto Edward's Branch line.
The little diesel dashed down the branch line after he drove onto it. He liked to use the slippery track to get faster. And soon he saw Brendam in the distance." Wow. I never went that fast before. But I better stop before I crash." He said and tried to brake. The trucks prevented this by pushing with all they got." No. Stop pushing me. I wil cause an accident." Phillip shouted at them.
But they didn't listened. They continued with their mischief and didn't even think about stopping after they arrived at the docks. But the worst was about to come.
Edward rested on a siding, in front of a buffer at the end of a quay. He saw that the little boxcab diesel headed right towards him." Phillip! Stop! You're going to fast!" The K2 cried.
"I can't stop. Please someone switch the points." Phillip shouted in despair as he went with an incredible speed closer and closer to the blue tender engine.
He tried and tried to brake, but every attempt to stop failed. He crashed into Edward, wo smashed through the buffers and fell into the cold sea water. Phillip luckily stopped before he also fell off."Oh god. What have I done." He shouted as he realized what happened.
After a while some cranes lifted the tender engine out of the water. Edwards tender had a lot scratches and dents. His front buffers and wheels badly bent and he had small holes in his boiler." I'm sooo sorry Edward. I couldn't stop and the trucks pushed me...and...and." Phillip said hastily bit was quickly interrupted by the blue K2.
"Calm down Phillip...uhg...it's not your fault. Please bring me to the Steamworks...i don't feel so good." Edward coughed weakly. The little diesel coupled up to the flatbed he was loaded onto and brought it to Crovans Gate.
Victor examined the damage as they arrived." Oh my Edward. I don't really see you often here. It's been a while since you've had your last accident." He said.
"I know. It's been over half a century. Say Victor, can you fix me." The K2 asked.
"I'm not really sure. I need to look if we find parts that fit your class." The Cuban engine answered unsure of the situation." But your not our worst case in all these years. Engines like Hiro or Glynn were in a worse shape than you're right now. I had almost the same damage when I accidentally fell into the sea. We'll fix you in no time."
"Thanks Victor. But who will take care of my jobs during my absence." Edward wondered.
"You'll better ask the fat controller about it when he arrives here. And I better say Geoff that he has to go to the Crewe works and ask if they have your parts." The red narrow gauge engine stated and left to find the blue and yellow works diesel.
This evening some engines arrived to look after the damaged Edward. Henry, Gordon and James were the first." Hey buddy. How's it going." The red engine asked calmly.
"Well, except a few scratches and dents...and some other serious injuries, everything's fine." He answered.
"Look. We're really sorry for you about your accident. And we hope that you get better as soon as possible." Henry said.
"Well. Who knows if I return, when I'm done."
"What do you mean by that." Gordon asked curiously.
"Well...it's my first accident after fifty years. I'm not the youngest anymore and another one could be my last. Maybe I should retire like you always said Gordon." Edward said weakly.
"Stop thinking such nonsense Edward. You're still useful as back in the old days. Yes, I know we used to say such things back then. But you always have proven that you're still able to surprise us all. But if you're feeling like you can't pull your usual trains then talk to the Fat Controller about lighten your loads." The blue A0 said sternly.
"By the way, we had more accidents in the last year's then you in your entire life. And we never thought about giving up and retire after one. So you shouldn't do either." James said, sounding a bit cross.
"Well. We have to leave. We have to do some jobs tomorrow and don't want to be late." Gordon said and the three left.
After a while Thomas, BoCo, Bill, Ben and Amethyst arrived at the works." Well old chap. I guess everyone has his time to have an accident. And Destiny decided that it's yours now." BoCo chuckled. Edward had to smile a bit.
"Well. I guess. After so much time I wondered when I'm gonna crash again. But It feels kinda defeating. I guess I forgot how it felt to have accidents."
"Gordon told us about your thoughts of retirement. I mean you would totally deserve it. But you're a inspiration for everyone on this railway. So I would better think about it again." Thomas said.
Then Bill and Ben spoke up." Please don't retire Edward."
"Your the only one who keeps us and the trucks in order." They said.
"I'm thinking about it. I don't know if they even are able to fix me. They don't produce my parts for decades." Edward said.
The four engines left and only Amethyst were there." Hey Eddie." She said a bit sadly.
"Oh. Hey Amethyst. I didn't see you because you stood behind the others." He said a bit surprised.
"Yeah. Well I've come here to say sorry." The purple saddle tank engine explained.
"Sorry? For what? You didn't do anything wrong in the last years." Edward stated confused.
"Well. Remember when I arrived here and didn't listened to you when you taught me and Percy how to handle the rolling stock here. And I blamed you everytime I made a mistake." She said.
"Oh yeah. But that happened over 50 years ago and I'm not mad at you since we've stopped Cecil. What happened with him anyways. I didn't saw him since he was turned into a generator, like Alfred." Edward asked.
"Oh that guy." Amethyst chuckled." Funny story hehe...i killed him."
Edward was shocked: "You did what?" He exclaimed.
"I pushed him and his flatbed into a mine and a explosion, made by dynamite, shredded him into pieces." She said calmly.
"But...but why. I know he tried to kill Marco but he still could have been useful."
"You know how it feels to have a few building mistakes. I'm way smaller than other engines of my class. He said that he will insult me each and every day I will work in the Anopha quarry and then I blew a gasket and well...gave him a real punishment." Amethyst explained which shocked the blue K2.
"Did Mavis knew about this. Did you told her about him." He asked.
"No. She's a really nice diesel and she's a good friend of mine. I never told he because I don't want to risk our friendship." The purple engine said. Then she reversed out of the works." Anyway, get well soon Eddie. See ya." Edward still was shocked. The little purple saddle tank engine who worked over 60 years at the quarry at the end of Thomas's branch line, was a murderer. With this thought he was left alone in the Steamworks.
At Knapford, the fat controller was really stressed out. With Edward in the works, an maybe close to his retirement, nobody did his jobs." What should I do? What should I do? Somebody has to do his jobs but it seems like everyone else is busy doing other jobs." He said to himself while walking impatiently around on platform 1.
Then Carlos and Behemoth stopped at the station." Sir, I maybe have a solution for this." The red tank engine said.
"What's your idea Behemoth." Sir Topham asked him curiously.
"Well, my driver called the controller of my railway and asked if we had a engine to spare for you. And well, a year ago some railway enthusiasts and fans of the Railway Series reconstructed a Furness K2 tender engine, like Edward. Of course he is stronger than a regular K2, so that he can handle American rolling stock. But well he's doing absolutely nothing important since he was build, so you can have him and he can do Edward's jobs." Behemoth suggested.
"Oh well. Thanks that you took care of it. But he wouldn't be earlier here than in three days. So I still need one to do the jobs in that time." The Fat controller said.
"That's why I'm here." Carlos exclaimed." I also have nothin big to do so I could work on Eddie's line until that guy's here."
"Very well Carlos. But make sure to work properly and be in time. Edward always does his best on his line." The obese man explained.
"I'll try to do my best sir." The Mexican engine said and left for Wellsworth.
Carlos did his best on Edward's branch line and was always punctual with his passenger trains. But after the three days the K2 from the Tri-State railway arrived at Brendam docks and he was again bound for goods trains. Cranky lifted him from the boat onto the track.
The engine had the same shape as Edward, but he was a little bit bigger than him. He was painted white with black lining. Also he had the number 19 painted on his tender."Ahoy there matey. You're that fella from the TSR right?" Salty greeted him.
"Uh yeah. I'm Carl by the way." The new engine said eagerly. He was very excited to be on the island where the stories from the RWS were inspired of.
"Well Carl, you better go to the Steamworks to get checked before you start your duties." Porter said, while shunting some flatbeds.
"Okay...where are the works exactly." Carl asked.
"Follow this line till the end. You'll reach Wellsworth. Switch on the mainline, go eastward until you reach Crovans Gate station and then you'll see the works in the distance." Cranky explained and soon the White K2 left.
After a hour Carl reached the works. He was quite surprised to see another K2 hanging from the sealing."Oh. Who are you. I thought that all the K2 were scraped except me." Edward asked him.
"I'm Carl. I'm doing your work while you get fixed. By the way don't be surprised but I'm based of you." The white engine explained.
"I see. You're from the same railway like Behemoth right?" The blue engines guessed.
"Indeed. Although I'm not really did much over there. I was a banker engine at Highcloud." Carl explained.
"Well. Enjoy your work here. I guess it's gonna take a month until I'm fixed." Edward said and soon the American K2 left. Ha was a bit happy that someone did his work during his absence. But he was also concerned that he'll get replaced by Carl permanently