Well my friends, after a few delays and getting over writer's block for this series, I'm finally proud to present to you all the next installment of the Railroad Stories. This book once again returns us to the Little Haulers where we'll meet a new engine, who was suggested by D.J. Scales, though I would like to point out, this book doesn't reveal everything about this engine, but I can't say anymore or I'll spoil the upcoming volumes for you. Enjoy!
The Railroad Stories
Book 9: More Engines of the Little Haulers
Written by: ThomasZoey3000/Special Thanks to D.J. Scales for Locomotive Suggestion
Greetings Readers,
Following Brook's introduction, I thought the next locomotive to arrive on the Island would've been for the Freedom Line, but I was proven wrong as she told me the next engine to arrive was for the Ltitle Hauler's Line. The newest locomotive looks a bit like Mak, only missing the smoke deflectors. From what she told me, Rayne's a former JNR C12 tank engine, and when she arrived, she was in an awful state. Oh true she could run, but her understanding of english was...well, just read on and you'll find out for yourself.
The Author
Tales Included:
-Rayne the New Engine
-Bumper to Cowcatcher
-The Trouble with Cocoanuts
-Stupidity Vs Determination
Rayne the New Engine
Special Thanks to D.J. Scales for Locomotive Suggestion
If you were to ask anyone in Big Jim's Town of how they would describe reliable and duriable, they would tell you to look to the Little Hauler's Line. The three narrow gauge engines; Mak, Alison and Freddie had proven themselves time and time again with their work ethic and attitudes. True there had been more than a few hiccups along the way, but by the Spring of 1957, the little engines had shown everyone of how good they were. So much so in fact that two more towns was calling upon them.
"Rosie's Hallow will be our next stop on the line," said Mr Harrison to the engines and crews. "As a bonus, we'll be expanding past Gilbert's Lane and going off to the town of Betsy."
"A double expansion, boy that's one heck of a project Sir," said Freddie. "Will we be able to do that, as well as doing our jobs?"
"Indeed we will Freddie, because I'm bringing in another engine to join this fleet." He paused as he looked to Mak, "I would like you to teach and help this new engine."
Mak was confused, "why me Sir?"
"This engine will need to learn alot from you, especially on how to speak English."
It suddenly dawned on Mak, "Sir, are you saying that you found another Japanese steam locomotive?" Mr Harrison nodded, which brought about a huge smile to Mak's face, "I haven't seen any of my siblings or cousins since I left Japan."
"Well given how well you've worked, I couldn't just pass up another chance to get another hard worker from Japan. Though I will say it's a class above yours."
"What's that suppose to mean?" Alison asked, thinking it sounded offensive.
But Mak knew, "I was known as the C11s on the Japanese National Railways, and the class above us were the C12s. They look similar to us, but didn't come with smoke deflectors and had a wheel set of 2-6-2."
"So Prairie wheel arrangement then?" Freddie asked.
"Hai, I mean yes, you got it right Freddie." Mak turned her attention back to Mr Harrison, "I promise I'll help this engine in any way I can Sir. You can count on me."
"I know I can Mak," he smiled. He turned happily and headed back to his office.
As the sun rose the next morning, Freddie was waiting by the Transfer Point. He was waiting for Jessica to bring in some freight from the docks. He looked down the tracks of the Freedom Railroad, seeing it going off into the distance and heading for Morgan's Gorge. He often wondered what it'd be like to travel that far.
"Maybe one day our line can make it's way out there, but it depends on what Mr Harrison thinks," Freddie thought to himself.
His thoughts were intrupted by a whistle in the distance. Much to Freddie's surprise, it wasn't Jessica coming in. Instead, it was Brook the Blue Comet engine.
"Brook? What brings you here? I thought Jessica was bringing in freight for us."
"Oh she is, but that shipment wasn't ready yet. This one however was," she looked back to her train. Freddie looked too and gasped to see a small tank engine on the flatbed, "she's been screaming alot, and Robert thought it was best to get her here as soon as possible."
The little engine was indeed screaming, and the words that came out weren't English, it was Japanese.
"Better call for Mak, we're going to need her," Freddie said to his fireman. The fireman nodded and ran off to get Mak.
The little black tank engine continued screaming as she was lifted off the flatbed, and continued this as she was lowered to the tracks. Her eyes darting in every direction, and within the screams, Freddie could tell that she was in a panic.
"She's from a different country," Freddie explained to Brook, "and she doesn't know English yet."
Brook understood perfectly. At last, Mak came up and sized up the situation. After a bit of talking in Japanese, the new engine calmed down enough. Mak spoke with Brook and Freddie next, "she apologizes for screaming, but since no one could understand her, it was the only thing she could think of. She does thank you for the run though."
"Oh it was my pleasure," smiled Brook. "I love to learn more about this engine, but I have a passenger train to collect, so I must be off."
With blasts of her whistle, Brook puffed off back to the station for her coaches.
"I feel so ashamed," the little engine said to Mak in Japanese, "I arrive at my new home, yet I pull a fit and probably gave everyone a headache. I feel like a Baka."
"It's fine, I had trouble understanding English when I first came here, but you'll learn in due time."
At that moment, Mr Harrison came up, "uh Mak, I see you've met our newest engine."
"Well actually Mr Harrison, I had to be brought over," and she explained about the whole situation. She turned her attention to the new engine, "that's Mr Harrison, he's our manager." The engine spoke to Mak, and she translated for the engine, "she says she's happy to meet you Sir, and hopes one day to say that to you."
Mr Harrison smiled, "tell her I'm happy to meet her, and she can take all the time she needs to learn." Mak translated it all for the new engine. "Now, does she have a name?"
The little engine spoke to Mak, and she translated those words, "she says her name is Rayne. She was named after the wife of her Driver...er, I mean her engineer." Mak chuckled and spoke with Rayne, "not even I speak perfectly all the time." This brought about a chuckle from Rayne.
"Guess it saves you time on deciding a name then, eh Sir?" Freddie asked.
"Indeed it does. Now Mak, I would like you to take Rayne with you on your passenger runs today. Your freight works will be handled by Freddie. Alison will be helping with the expansion to Rosie's Hallow."
"Hai, er I mean, yes Sir."
Once Rayne had a good fire going, and Mak introduced her to her crew, the two engines collected their coaches and waited for passengers to arrive from the Freedom Railroad. Mak took the time to explain about the Little Haulers and the Freedom Lines. By the time she finished on Brook's stories, the Blue Comet engine herself arrived with many happy visitors.
"All sorted out?" she asked.
"Indeed, and she's called Rayne," Mak answered.
The visitors all took the time to look at Rayne. They spoke in English of course, but after Mak translated alot of what they were saying like 'what a splendid looking engine', and 'bet she could give those diesels a run for their money', Rayne felt better. One man though didn't look too pleased with the engine, "that's all this railroad needs, another foreigner. Why can't the manager just get American engines for crying out loud."
Rather wisely, Mak decided not to translate the words to Rayne.
Once everyone was on board, the conductor gave the high ball signal, and the train departed from the station.
All went well at first. Rayne followed Mak's instructions, and listened as her Japanese friend explained about their current locations. Of course, all words had to be said in Japanese, which bothered one person, the rude person at the Transfer Point. He grumbled the entire time, but said nothing. Yet.
As they puffed along Clover's Hill, Mak told Rayne about the time Alison crashed along this line. At last, the man had enough, "WILL YOU SPEAK ENGLISH YOU GOD AWFUL ENGINES!"
Hearing the shouts, Rayne's brakes came on. Mak put on her brakes too, and the train stopped before the switches to the mines.
"Rayne, are you alright?" Mak asked in Japanese.
But before Rayne could speak, the rude man spoke again, "did I not say to stop speaking that awful language?!" Hearing the voice, Rayne broke down in tears and sobbed. She never felt so un-welcome in all her life.
Mak was upset too, but her emotions were different, "how dare you speak to my cousin like that!"
"Well if she can't speak English, she should go away, and a proper engine should be brought in."
"Mak and Rayne are proper engines," Kyle snapped in defence, "it's just that right now, Mak has to speak Japanese to Rayne due to the fact she's learning how to speak English."
"And judging from her crying expression, I doubt she'll want to learn it right now," added Tom.
"How would you feel if you were in another country and someone said that to you?" Mak asked angerily. The man opened his mouth, but no words came out, "I thought as much."
"And despite your thoughts on these engines, they are very reliable!" shouted one of the passengers. "I know of the Japanese steam locomotives, and I know they are tough little engines. So stop speaking that garbage and quit holding us up with your words." All the rest of the passengers agreed. Mak smiled and translated the kind words to Rayne.
The man huffed and remained quiet as the train started again.
He was still speechless when Mr Harrison heard and gave him quite an earful. He also stated that if he spoke like that again, he would not be welcome back on the Little Haulers, and would have him banned from the Freedom Railroad too.
"He deserves to be banned after saying all that," said Alison. "No engine should hear garbage like that." She looked to Rayne, "take no notice of idiots like him, they always get what's coming to them. Just keep on learning and you'll be fine."
After Mak translated the words, Rayne spoke, but not in Japanese, "thank...you...Alison."
Alison and Freddie stared in surprise. Mak smiled, "she's got a way's to go yet, but I think she'll fit in just fine here."
