The Railroad Stories
Book 8: Brook the Blue Engine
Written by: ThomasZoey3000/Locomotive Request by: GreatWestern1522
Greeting Readers,
Following the events of the last book, not much really happened on the Island. Alison was repaired and put back to work, and the island did it's best to keep the snow off the tracks. Happily, as the snow started to melt, activity really began to pick up especially as Robert, Mr Harrison and Mr Willits continued their search for more locomotives. It was hard to believe that it was Mr Willits who found...but I better stop here, or I'll spoil the entire book for you.
The Author
Tales Included:
-Choices
-Phantom Lights
-A Beer Load of Problems
-Return of the Blue Comet
Choices
Water dripped down from the roof of the big station as two people walked over to the only meeting room in the station. Kelly and Albert had at first loved their time off from searching, but soon grew bored with doing nothing. So when they got the call from Robert to come to the big station, they hurried over, without breaking the speed limits of course.
They walked into the room to discover everyone there, "seems we're not the only ones to be called back to work," Albert whispered.
His mother nodded as they took their seats at the back of the room. Robert got up from his seat and spoke to all the workers.
"Welcome back everyone, I hope you have enjoyed your holiday season, cause from this point onwards, at least till the next winter season, our search for locomotives is back on." He walked over to the chalkboard and pulled a big white sheet down, revealing photos of the railroad's locomotives. "During 1956, we were quite lucky to find all these wonderful gems; from Rebecca to Jack, they all have proven their worth in more ways than one. But while they have been doing quite well, there are still engines out there that are looking for salvation."
"We're going to need them, especially since we're heading to Morgan's Gorge right now. Remember, any locomotives, regardless of size can be useful for the railroad, and if they are the same class as engines we've gotten before, that's fine too." He walked around the room passing pieces of paper to all the workers, "this year, you will be heading to different locations to help in our search, these pieces of paper will tell you of where to go."
Steven raised his hand, "but what about the scrap-yards we've visited before? We can't go to those places to search for engines?"
"If you are close enough to those areas, then you're more than welcome to go there. Plus, we did promise our current fleet of engines to return and buy many of those other locos. One more thing," he pointed out, "if you happen to see Mr Willits there, don't get into a bidding war with him. He's doing his part to preserve the locomotives of the world, and while he and I don't always see eye to eye, I rather see these engines come here to be safe, not to remain wherever they are to rust or worse."
"Alright, now that you have your assigned locations and you know what to do, I wish you all the best of luck, be careful out there and we'll talk later when you find an engine, or engines, depending on your searches. Dismissed."
On that note, all the employees left the meeting room, except for one. As it turned out, Mr Willits had heard about the meeting and wanted to hear everything, "that was quite the meeting there Robert, though I must ask, why don't you and I see eye-to-eye?"
"You know why Willits, you think it's better to keep the locomotives locked up in a museum, that and you've taken engines we've wanted for our line. Remember 773 and 580?"
"I do remember them, but I let you keep 772 remember?" Robert eyed Mr Willits firmly. "Look, it's a new year and I really don't want there to be any resentment aganist us, so I got a little something that may smooth things over with us. Come with me."
Robert sighed and followed Mr Willits over to the docks. When they arrived, they found alot of locomotives sitting on the tracks. Nearby stood Mr Mason.
"Bryan, what are you doing here?" Robert asked.
"Mr Willits asked for me to come here," he answered. "He said something about one of these being for us."
Robert looked at the collection on the dockside, which consisted of four locomotives. One of which was Southern Pacific 4412. The dull black paint looked faded and there were signs of rust all over. The other three locomotives all came with trains of passenger carriages, and all had the same paint job. Right away, Robert recongized them, "you got the Central of New Jersey's Blue Comet trains?"
"Indeed I did," nodded Mr Willits. "All three were doomed to be scrapped, so I made a deal with the scrap dealers and bought all three. However, I only need two of them for the museum, as well as 4412, so I'll let you decide on which Blue Comet you'll want to have for your railroad."
Both Bryan and Robert began to inspect the locomotives and their trains. But halfway through their inspection of the second locomotive, 4412 spoke with Robert, "if I may speak freely Sir, I have something to say."
"And what would that be?" Robert asked.
"May I suggest using 831 and her train. She's been wanting to run for so long, so I think it'd only be fair if she returned to steam."
Mr Mason came forward, "one of the first two would be perfect as they can be restored quickly, and put back into service."
Robert turned to him, "now hold on a second Bryan, let's check 831 first. I want to see what she's like."
831 was in far worse condition than her sisters, and her coaches were in terrible shape too. Mr Mason shook his head, "it'll take us months to repair her and her train, she won't do."
Robert looked up to the locomotive, who looked sad. He walked up to her cowcatcher, climbed onto it like he did with Rebecca and looked the engine straight in the eyes, "do you want to run again?"
"I would Sir, but I'm in terrible shape, my sisters were kept in sheds while I was left outside. You'd be better off getting one of them."
Robert looked to the other two locomotives, but they didn't look as interested in running. Right away, he knew what his choice was going to be. He climbed down and walked over to Mr Willits.
"So, which one would you like Robert?" he asked.
Robert lifted up his right arm and pointed at 831, "that one right there."
831 gasped while Mr Mason shook his head in shock, "Robert, I just said it'd be better to get one of the other two. This one is in really bad shape."
"Perhaps Bryan, but it doesn't matter what condition the locos are in, as long as they're willing to work, then they are worth having on our line. 831 here shows that she wants to work, while her sisters wants to go to the museum." He turned to Mr Willits, "so, do we have a deal then?"
Mr Willits nodded, "indeed we do Robert, she's all yours." And they shook hands on the deal.
Sometime later that day, the engines were greeted by a whistle 4412 knew too well. He smiled as Jessica came up, "4458, you're looking quite well, and with working brakes too I can see."
"Indeed dear brother," she smiled, "and it's Jessica now. They gave me a name. Now, are you all going to the museum?"
"All except for 831, she's going to your workshops for overhaul."
"Ahh I see," she smiled, then looked to the rusty 831, "Rebecca will come by shortly to pick you up." Jessica moved 4412 and the two other Blue Comet trains together, then started off for the museum in McKenna.
831 sighed as she looked around. It was sunny out, and the waters were calm, it felt peaceful to her.
"Are we really going to be returning to the main line?" asked the lead baggage coach.
"Indeed we are, once this Rebecca comes to get us."
Out on the main line, people came by the dozens to see the long train rattling past. They cheered at seeing them, "it's good to be admired again," smiled 4412, "and to be safe. By the way, you were painted black last I saw you, when did they repaint you?"
Before Jessica could answer, there came a shout from the back, "FIRE! FIRE!"
Without a second to waste, the train was slowed to a stop. Mr Willits and the crew ran out of Jessica's cab to the source of the cry, but they hadn't gotten far before they found the souce. They saw thick smoke coming off one of the wheel sets of the coaches, one of them had run hotter than the rest, thus causing it to catch fire. Luckily, there was a home nearby and with the help of the home-owner, they were able to put the fire out.
"I've never known that to happen with our coaches," said the second Blue Comet loco.
"Perhaps, but at least we were able to stop the fire before it got worse," sighed Mr Willits. "I sure hope Robert doesn't have this same problem with his train set."
To be on the safe side, Mr Willits rode in the coach with the troublesome axle-box as they started off again.
While this was going on, Rebecca had arrived at the docks to collect 831 and her train. "Come along Friend, it's time for a revival." She was coupled up and towed the entire train to the workshops. Unlike the museum's trains, these coaches didn't have any fire problems and they reached the workshops in no time.
Rebecca whistled good-bye to 831 and puffed back to the yards for more work.
"Well you won't believe this," said Robert as he walked in, "but one of your sisters had a fire on the coaches' axle-boxes, nothing serious, but it seems," he smirked, "that we picked the best one of the group."
"Well I hope to make you proud Sir."
"Just call me Robert, and I know you will dear engine." He patted her gently on her cowcatcher and began walking away.
"Uh Robert, I have one more thing to say tonight."
He stopped and turned back to 831, "what would like to say 831?"
"I would like to have a name, like the other engines, and I think I have one; Brook, after my old engineer's daughter, who loved me to pieces."
Robert nodded, "good, Brook it shall be." And with that, he left as Mr Mason and his crew began their work on the newest locomotive.