Mr. Fergus Duncan, the manager of The Arlesdale Railway, was in his office. He sat at his desk and was counting up the money that he kept in a small metal can when he noticed something.
Mr. Fergus Duncan: I...I don't believe it! I've raised enough and then some! Woohoo!
He was celebrating so loudly that he woke up Rex, Bert and Mike, who were in their shed as their drivers prepared them for the day's work.
Rex: *yawn* Mr. Duncan seems happy.
Bert: Yes indeed. I wonder what the occasion is.
At last, the shed door opened and Mr. Duncan walked in with a big grin on his face.
Mr. Fergus Duncan: Good morning, you three!
Rex/Bert/Mike: Morning, sir!
Bert: We heard you cheering inside your office just now. Care to explain why you're so happy?
Mr. Fergus Duncan: Well, Bert, for years, I wanted to go back and visit my relatives on The Mainland for Christmas. But the timing never seemed right and when it did, I never had enough money to go. Mainly because I'm always spending it on things for the railway. I always put it first, after all...
Bert: Yes, you certainly do.
Mr. Fergus Duncan: But this year will be different! I have enough money to go and the timing is just right! Isn't that great news?
Rex: That is great news, sir! When do you leave?
Mr. Fergus Duncan: The Sunday right before Christmas. But there's a lot of work to do before any of us can have a rest. Bert, you'll be taking the first passenger train today, Mike is to go to the halt to collect wool and Rex will collect ballast from the mine and bring it back here. That is all.
As Mr. Duncan left the shed, the small engines felt happy for him.
Bert: Mr. Duncan does so much for us. It's nice that he'll be able to see his family while also getting a well-deserved rest.
Rex: Although, it would be nice for us to return the favor and do something for him before he leaves.
Mike: Maybe you can go the whole day without getting into an accident. Surely, that'll please him. Haha.
Rex rolled his eyes and chuckled. He left the shed, collected some empty hoppers and hurried off to the ballast mine. As he did so, he could tell that puffing along the line was going to be a challenge. Snow and frost that had fallen the night before had made the tracks very icy and slippery!
Rex got to the ballast mine and wasted no time moving his hoppers to the right places so they could be loaded up. At last, he was done and got ready to start his return journey. But the cold weather had frozen the points leading out of the mine. By the time they were functional again, Rex was very late.
Rex's Driver: Oh, dear. We'll need help getting this lot back quickly.
Rex: Rubbish. I can get this lot back to Arlesburgh West in double-quick time all by myself. Besides, Bert's probably still busy with his passengers and knowing Mike, he's most definitely stuck somewhere or stuck behind something.
The driver was hesitant at first, but knew that the ballast would be even later if they didn't leave right away.
Rex's Driver: Alright, alright...
Rex backed down onto his long and heavy consist, dropping sand along the rails as he did so. He was coupled up and pulling hard, he got the train moving. But on the way back, an icy wind made its way across the island and strengthened the frost that had settled onto the line earlier!
Rex found himself constantly slipping and jerking forward. He had always had problems with traction and usually found the rails difficult to grip anyway, but the frost was making it nearly impossible, no matter how much sand he threw onto the tracks!
Rex: Oh dear, I can barely grip the rails!
But Rex's troubles were only just beginning. He had barely made it up the hill where Bert had caused a shower of water from the trees above to splash a visitor and his own driver when, without warning, the heavy ballast hoppers banged into each other, sending Rex down the hill at a dangerous speed!
Rex: Oh, no! Help, help!
Rex threw more sand onto the rails in the hopes that he would eventually grip them, but to his horror, his sandboxes were now empty! So he applied his brakes and shut his eyes as he screeched back into Arlesburgh West! Bert and Mike were there and they were very surprised by what they saw!
Mike: Is that...Rex?
Bert: Yes, it is! And he's coming in way too fast!
Then everything happened at once! The turntable that was at the end of the line was facing away from the track that Rex was on! With a loud crash, Rex fell smokebox first into the turntable well with his hopper cars derailing and piling up into a heap behind him! Ballast was everywhere!
Anyone and everyone that was nearby ran over to Rex, their faces full of concern!
Mike: Flatbeds and well wagons! Are you ok, Rex?!
Rex: Uh, yeah...I think so...ow...
Because Rex was now blocking one way out of Arlesburgh West, Mike and Bert had to travel along the part of their railway that went through Arlesburgh Harbor so they could help with rescuing Rex properly.
But because the line going back to Arlesburgh West was single track on one end, Bert stayed behind while Mike went ahead to help the workmen haul the derailed hoppers back onto the rails. Mike then pulled them to the passing loop at Arlesdale Green. Once he was there, Bert came along and hauled Rex out of the turntable well.
The green engine's brakes, wheels, front buffers and running plate had all been damaged in the accident. That night in the shed, Mr. Duncan came to see his engines. Rex feared that The Small Controller would be angry at him. But thankfully, Mr. Duncan only had sympathetic and kind words to say.
Mr. Fergus Duncan: What happened today wasn't your fault, Rex. All that frost on the rails caused your accident.
Rex: Thank you, sir. Although, I suppose I am partially responsible for not paying attention to my traction problems and being impatient to start my return journey.
Mr. Fergus Duncan: Never mind that. The important thing is that you're safe and that you're getting repaired as we speak.
Bert, in an attempt to lighten the mood, decided to change the subject.
Bert: So...have you started preparing for your trip, Mr. Duncan?
Mr. Fergus Duncan: Yes, but...after today's events, I think it'd be best to forget about the trip and use some of the money I raised to pay for Rex's repairs.
Rex's heart sank upon hearing this.
Rex: Oh, sir, now I feel even worse.
Mr. Fergus Duncan: Please don't, Rex. I would've felt guilty if I went on the trip and left you damaged until I came back. Fixing you is much more important. And besides; I can always go and spend Christmas on The Mainland next year...providing everything plays out in my favor.
And with that, Mr. Duncan walked back to his office. The small engines and their drivers were silent for some time after that. The only sounds that could be heard came from the workshop at the back of the shed, where Rex's driver was doing what he could to fix his engine.
Bert: Do you think Mr. Duncan would mind spending Christmas in our shed with us? He's done it before.
Mike: Yes, but he seemed so eager to go see his relatives for the holidays.
Rex: But instead, I ruined his Christmas plans...
Mike: Well...yeah, but it was an accident, Rex. And I think seeing that you were safe and not irreparable was the best present Mr. Duncan could ever ask for.
Rex grinned. He and Mike loved teasing each other, but they also knew when to be supportive towards one another. At last, Rex's driver got up and walked back to Mike and Bert. But Rex called out to him.
Rex: Wait, so...how bad is the damage?
Rex's Driver: Pretty bad. You'll have to stay in the shed for a couple of days so you can be fixed. In the meantime, I'm gonna go and tell Mr. Duncan what new parts you'll need. Hopefully we can get them from The Steamworks or something...
On the way out, Rex's driver turned to Bert and Mike.
Rex's Driver: Mike and Bert, can you two manage the work alone? It's only for a few more days until we go on Christmas break.
Bert: Of course we can! We've proven that we can work through tough situations before and we can certainly do it again!
So over the next few days, Bert and Mike did their work and divided Rex's between them. It wasn't easy, but the passengers and workmen didn't mind. They knew that the two little engines were doing their best.
When Mike met up with Willie at the halt later that day, the farmer could quickly tell that something was wrong.
Willie: Hello, Mike. You do look glum and tired.
Mike: That's because I am glum and tired...
And the red engine explained everything.
Willie: Oh, dear. Well, I'm sure Mr. Duncan will be able to get all that money back, even after he's done paying for Rex's repairs. And if you can do it all before Christmas and still get Mr. Duncan to The Mainland, then...well...you can add that to the list of amazing things that you little engines have done!
Mike: Thanks, Willie, but...we can't think of anything that'll help regain all that money besides running our trains. And goodness knows if we'll make enough to pay for both between now and Christmas. Not to mention me and Bert also have to do Rex's jobs as well as our own.
Willie: Well, every little bit counts. Speaking of which…
Willie handed Mike's driver a small amount of money before proceeding to load Mike's cars with the wool bales.
Mike's Driver: What...what's this?
Willie: This is part of what I made last week at the farmer's market. I want Mr. Duncan to have it.
Mike: Oh, you don't have to do that, Willie.
Willie: You're right. I don't have to. I WANT to. Besides, I think I owe Mr. Duncan after I spilled all that wool onto the line some time ago.
Mike: Heh, fair enough. Thank you, Willie.
And with that, Mike's driver put the extra money into his pocket and began helping Willie load the wool into the cars. Once they were done, Willie got onto his tractor and drove back to his farm. As he did so, Mike's driver checked the delivery notice.
Mike's Driver: Uh, oh. Willie brought us too many bales. We're supposed to have ten, but he gave us twelve. Willie, stop; you gave us too much!
Willie: No, I didn't; every single bit of that money is for Mr. Duncan! No need to thank me!
Mike's Driver: No, Willie, you gave us too many…wool bales…
But it was too late. Willie was already out of sight and out of earshot.
Mike's Driver: Welp. Now we're in a fix.
Mike: I know, right? He said not to thank him, but I already did that...twice! Also, since when was his tractor able to go that fast?
Mike's Driver: Mike!
Mike: Oop. Sorry. Now what are we going to do?
Mike's Driver: We'll have to take these extra bales with us. We can't just leave them here.
So the extra bales were left in its car and Mike set off. The extra load didn't affect the journey at all, but Mike and his driver wondered what the store manager would say when he got more than he ordered.
When they arrived at Arlesdale Station, the store manager was waiting at the platform. Mike and his driver explained what had happened, but the store manager only smiled.
Store Manager: There's no need to worry. Wool is especially important during this time of year and I need as much as I can get!
Mike and his driver were relieved. But then they heard something that really made them happy.
Store Manager: In fact, I'll be paying a little more for the extra wool. I heard about what happened to Rex and how that affected Mr. Duncan's trip. Because of that, I'd be happy to help you in any way I can.
Mike was so surprised he thought his boiler would burst. All of a sudden, the solution to the money trouble had shown itself.
Mike: Do you think if we did extra jobs, we could raise enough money in time for Mr. Duncan's trip?
Mike's Driver: It's worth a try…
Mike hurried back to Arlesburgh West and told Rex and Bert his idea. They also thought it was brilliant and were eager to help out. And when the passengers and workmen heard about the plan, they wanted to help, too!
In between their regularly scheduled runs, Mike and Bert pulled extra passenger and freight trains. The extra trains made extra money and once Rex's repairs were done and paid for, he wasted no time helping his friends.
Everyone was very tired at the end of every night that week, but they knew it would be worth it in the end. At last, the end of the week finally arrived and the drivers piled all of the money together. And wouldn't you know it? It was just enough to pay for Mr. Duncan's trip!
That night, Mr. Duncan visited the sheds before going home, as he usually did. He had heard something about the engines doing work that he never assigned them, but he really knew something was up when he saw all three engines, all three drivers and even Willie staring at him in the shed with big grins.
Mr. Fergus Duncan: What's been going on? First, I see you three pulling extra trains that I don't remember assigning you and now you're smiling as if your faces are made of clay or something...and Willie is here for some reason...?
Mike's Driver: Well, there's a very good reason for why we're all so happy...and for why Willie is here. We all know how upset you were about not being able to afford that trip to The Mainland after all that had happened, so we did some extra jobs to raise more money for you.
Mr. Duncan was so surprised that he dropped his clipboard.
Mr. Fergus Duncan: You mean that...
Bert's Driver: Yep.
Bert's driver handed Mr. Duncan a jar with the extra money inside of it. Mr. Duncan was speechless for a while and his eyes began to water from happiness. At last, he found his voice.
Mr. Duncan: You lot really didn't have to do all this. Thank you so much.
Rex: You're right. We didn't have to do this. We WANTED to do this. You've done so much for us that we thought it was time to do something for you.
Willie: And to think this all happened because I accidentally gave Mike some extra wool to deliver!
Everyone had a good laugh and cheered for Willie as well. At last, the day came for Mr. Duncan to start his journey beyond Sodor. Everyone who could arrived at Arlesburgh West to see him off.
Mr. Duncan: Before I leave, I just want to thank Rex, Bert, Mike, their drivers, Willie and all the other people that travel and work along our line once again for putting forth the effort into raising the money so I could go off on holiday despite all that had happened. Once again, you've all proven yourself to be really useful and I'll be sure to tell my family about all that you've done!
And with a chorus of cheers and whistles filling the air, Mr. Duncan made his way inside Old Slow Coach and Duck took him away to start his holiday…