The Abandoned Mines

Peter Sam had finished delivering a trainload of coal to the loading bay. "There," he said to himself, "All done." Then Peter Sam returned to the main yards, just in time to see a new engine arriving. "Who is that?" asked Peter Sam to himself.

Mr. Percival, the thin controller introduced the engine.

"This is Kaitlin," he said, "She is new to this railway and I want you to make her feel like her home." "Yes, sir," answered the engines. Duke and Bertram puffed up to her. So did Mighty Mac and Fearless Freddie.

"I see that you're our kind," said Duke, "You've got a wonderful tender." "Oh, thanks," smiled Kaitlin, "I've come from a railway similar to yours." "I see," said Duke. "Come on, Mighty!" Mac said, "Let's play with her!" "Not yet," replied Mighty, "We've got to show her around first."

"I agree with Mighty," said Skarloey, "All right, Kaitlin, "Are you ready to see our beautiful railway?" "Yes, Skarloey," answered Kaitlin. "Then let's be off now!" said Skarloey and Duke. Skarloey and Duke looked at each other.

"You go first," said Duke. "Right," answered Skarloey. So they did.

"I would like to help," said Peter Sam, so he followed Skarloey, Duke, Mighty Mac, and Freddie. "Wait, Peter Sam!" Rusty called and he chased after Peter Sam.

While Kaitlin learned about the Skarloey railway, Peter Sam ended up in a place where he had never been to before. "What's this place?" asked Peter Sam.

"Not sure," answered his driver, "But lets take a look." So Peter Sam chuffed forward. "Hmm," he thought, "Looks old and worn down." Then a horn startled him. "Peter Sam!" the voiced called. It was Rusty. "What are you doing here?" asked Rusty, "Peter Sam, you had no idea where you are going!"

"Oh, sorry, Rusty," replied Peter Sam, "I was following Duke and Skarloey and then I ended up here." "Well, we should get back," said Rusty. "Ok, but what is all this?" asked Peter Sam.

"An old mine," Rusty thought, "Looks like a steel mine to me." "Can we take a look first?" asked Peter Sam. "Well," Rusty thought for a moment, "All right. Let me take a look in there first."

Rusty moved forward into what appears to be a tunnel. "Yep," thought Rusty, "It is a mine." "Oh," thought Peter Sam. Then a small rock landed on Rusty's cab.

"ARGH!" Rusty cried, honking his horn loudly. "What's going on?" asked Peter Sam. "Something," said Rusty just as a loud rumbling noise happened. "The entrance!" Peter Sam shouted and he charged forward. He pushed Rusty out of the way just as the entrance collapsed.

Both engines were trapped inside the mines. "That was close!" shouted Peter Sam. "I think I've started a cave in," Rusty said, "With my horn." His driver looked back.

"Now we're stuck in here," he said, "We need help now!" "But how?" asked Peter Sam, "Were trapped!" The engines could do nothing about it. Then Rusty took another look inside the old mines. "Actually," Rusty thought, "This is an old iron ore mine."

"Iron ore mine?" Peter Sam repeated. "Steel is made from iron ore," Rusty explained, "Iron ore is mined and it later melted down to be made into steel."

"I see," said Peter Sam. "But I should have been careful at the entrance," said Rusty. "Then," Peter Sam began. "Sorry," Rusty said, "I've jumped too far ahead."

"No, I'm sorry," said Peter Sam, "I'm the one who came to this place in the first place." "Anyway," said Rusty, "We have no choice, but to wait for help." "Right there with you," said Peter Sam. Then something caught Peter Sam's attention.

"What's that?" asked Peter Sam to Rusty, puffing towards it. "Wait!" Rusty called out, but Peter Sam had already reached it. "It looks like a train of old trucks," said Peter Sam.

His driver coupled Peter Sam to the train and he pulled it slowly out of the siding. "And it's full," said Peter Sam. "Ok," said Rusty, "We'll get a better look when we're out of this place." "Right," agreed Peter Sam.

At the same time, Skarloey, Duke, Mighty Mac, Freddie and Kaitlin were puffing together nearby, returning home. "Thank you for showing me your railway, everyone," smiled Kaitlin. "It's our pleasure," said Duke. Then Kaitlin noticed something. "What's that?" she asked. Skarloey turned to see the blocked passageway.

"Hmm," he thought, "Let's investigate." So they approached the blocked entrance and Skarloey whistled, saying, "Anyone in there." To their surprise, they heard a whistle and a honk in reply. "We're here!"

"Rusty? Peter Sam?" Skarloey said in surprise, "What are you doing behind these rocks?" "We're trapped," explained Rusty, "I've made a mistake!"

"Don't worry," Skarloey called, "We'll get you out of there!" "But how?" asked Duke. "We can bash it!" called Mighty Mac and the two charged towards the rocks.

"No, don't!" shouted Skarloey. Mighty Mac stopped before they hit the rocks. "Don't do that!" Skarloey said, "Bad idea." "I agree," said Mac. "We need to think of another idea," said Freddie.

Then the engines heard a chugging sound. "Who's that?" asked Kaitlin. Although muffled, Rusty knew who it belonged to.

"Thumper," he thought. It was Thumper. "What are you doing here?" asked Skarloey. "I was just wandering around," answered Thumper, "So what do you need?" "We need you to break these rocks apart," said Skarloey.

"Yes, do it," said Freddie. "If you say so," replied Thumper. "So stand back Rusty and Peter Sam," Skarloey called. So in no time at all, Thumper destroyed the blockage and in no time at all, Rusty and Peter Sam were free.

"Are you all right?" asked Skarloey. "Yes," answered Rusty and Peter Sam together. The two engines chuffed out of the old mines with the long train of iron ore.

"Looks like we've found an iron ore train that is still full of iron ore," said Rusty. "Then let's make a special delivery first," said Duke. "I'm up for my first job," said Kaitlin.

So together, Skarloey, Duke, Mighty Mac, Freddie, Peter Sam, Rusty and Kaitlin delivered all of the iron ore at a loading bay, then they've returned home.

"Thanks, for getting us out of there," Peter Sam and Rusty said to Thumper at the end of the day. "No problem," said Thumper. "And Kaitlin," Rusty said to the new engine, "Welcome to our railway."

"Thanks," smiled Kaitlin, ""I'm glad to be here, ready to start my new life." "But," said Rusty, "Let's not go into anymore unknown places." "Agreed," replied Peter Sam.