MOLLY'S ROUNDUP

Written by Zack Wanzer

Set during series 12

Since the restoration of Great Waterton, the town had seen a great increase in traffic, and many events were being held there, so the engines were often kept very busy bringing visitors to Great Waterton. Among those engines were Arthur and Molly, who ran the Norramby branch line.

One morning, Molly was taking some passengers to Great Waterton via the new bridge crossing over the main line. As Molly was making her way along the new extension, she spotted some people horse-riding across a field not too far away from the rails.

"Those people look like they're having fun horse riding," Molly smiled. Then, as the riders galloped closer, the yellow engine could get a closer look at them. "Oh, look, driver! They've got these strange hats on their heads and are playing with lengths of rope, twirling them about!"

Then one rider cleverly threw the loop on the end of his rope over a wooden pole in the ground as he rode past. He caught the pole and pulled it over.

"Oh, wow!" exclaimed Molly. "That was a very clever trick he just pulled, driver!"

"That rope they're using is called a lasso, Molly," explained her driver. "That rider is a cowboy!"

"A cowboy?" asked Molly curiously. "I haven't heard about them before."

Molly soon reached Great Waterton station and saw Rosie there with trucks of supplies.

"Hi there, Molly," the lavender tank engine greeted. "Have you seen those cowboys out in the field?"

"Yes, I have, Rosie," said Molly. Then she noticed a big poster on the station wall. "'Wild West Show'?" she read with ever-increasing curiosity. "What's that all about, and what do those cowboys have to do with it?"

"Cowboys lived in the old American West years ago," explained Rosie. "They were called that because they looked after cattle or cows. The show is to be put on by a group of people who enjoy dressing up as cowboys!"

"That does sound like a lot of fun," said Molly. "I bet it must be a lot of fun to watch."

"Especially the horses," agreed Rosie. "I know my driver's daughter will be coming here to watch. She loves horses."

Later that evening at the sheds down at Norramby, Molly was telling Arthur all about the upcoming Wild West show.

"Rosie says that there'll be cowboys riding horses and doing tricks with their lassos," the yellow tender engine was saying. "I don't know a whole lot about all of that myself, but it sounds like it'll be great fun."

"Probably not if there's a bit of danger involved when it comes to playing with ropes while on horseback," said Arthur worriedly. "What if one of those cowboys dislocates an arm or a leg?"

"They're trained professionals, Arthur," assured Molly. "So long as they know what they're doing, they'll be fine."

"I certainly hope so," said Arthur, unconvinced. "I'd hate to see any of them land on the rails should they fall off of their horses."

The following morning, as the two engines were getting ready for work, Sir Topham Hatt had come to the sheds with one of the cowboys for the show.

"Good morning, sir," said Arthur. "It's not very often we see you here on our humble little line."

"Indeed not, Arthur," chuckled Sir Topham Hatt. "I've spoken with the head organizer of the Wild West show, and he's asked for one of my engines to partake in it."

"He has, sir?" asked Molly with surprise. "I'm not sure if any of us here, possibly except for Rosie, would look the part for something that's very American."

"Nonsense! It ain't gonna be that big a problem," chuckled the head organizer. "Ah've requested to Mr. Hatt that y'all take part in the show, Molly, cause ya've got the same wheel arrangement as many engines did back in the Old West."

"M-me, sir?!" exclaimed Molly. She was surprised by this bit of news.

"You'll have to be given some modifications so you look more like a Wild West engine," said Sir Topham Hatt. "What do you say, Molly?"

"Go for it," whispered Arthur. "You've shown some interest in the show; this is a once in a lifetime opportunity!"

"Well… alright, sir," smiled Molly.

"That's a good engine!" smiled Sir Topham Hatt. "Victor shall be waiting for you so you can receive your modifications."

Molly didn't have to travel very far to Crovan's Gate; she switched onto the main line at Ballahoo and arrived within half an hour at the Steamworks. Once she had arrived, her fire was dropped so that the workmen could safely add her modifications.

"Ah, hello, Molly," said Victor. "We've been expecting you. It must be exciting to be a part of the Wild West show at Great Waterton."

"Thank you, Victor," said Molly. "What shall I be expected to wear?"

Before Victor could reply, there was a loud banging noise from behind, followed by a shout of, "Sorry, boss!"

"What was that, Victor?" asked Molly, also surprised by the noise.

"That's just Kevin," explained Victor. "He arrived not too long ago from a dockyard on the mainland." As Victor was speaking, a little yellow road crane with three wheels drove up to the little red engine.

"Sorry about that, boss!" remarked Kevin. "I couldn't see that crate of parts in front of me!"

"That's alright, Kevin," said Victor. "It was just an accident. Now, can you go and pick up the parts Molly needs for the Wild West show?"

"Yes, boss! Right away, boss!" And then Kevin sped off to pick up what Molly needed for the show.

"Well, he's a pretty eager sort," the yellow tender engine chuckled.

It wasn't long before Molly had been fitted with a cowcatcher on her front buffer beam with her front coupling hook removed for authenticity. A bell had been placed between her dome and funnel, which was later removed so a different one could be placed along with a headlamp. Just then, Kevin rolled up to Molly with a strangely shaped funnel; it was very wide on top before it narrowed down, stopping more than halfway.

"This is your temporary funnel, Molly!" Kevin called out before coming to a sudden stop. "Whoa!" The funnel had slipped right off of Kevin's hook and landed on top of Molly's smokebox, with two workmen having to keep the funnel from falling off onto the ground.

"Easy, Kevin!" called Victor. "We don't need time wasted on a few dents!"

"Sorry, boss!" said Kevin. "It was just a slip of the hook."

"That's the strangest funnel I've ever been fitted with," remarked Molly. "At least it'll be until the Wild West show is over."

"Well, it does look good on you, my friend," smiled Victor. "All that's missing now is a headlamp."

"I'll go get it!" cried Kevin, racing away to pick it up. He returned to Molly rather quickly, once again stopping too suddenly and nearly causing the headlamp to break as it landed on her smokebox.

"Oops! Sorry, Molly! Just a slip of the-"

"Hook. I know," sighed Molly as her temporary headlamp was fitted in place. At last, her modifications had been completed. A workman held up a mirror so Molly could see herself with her Americanized appearance.

"By Morley's name!" exclaimed Molly. "I hardly recognize myself with these modifications!"

"Well, Ah must say, ya'll look really nice here, Molly," said the head organizer. He had just walked into the Steamworks to see how Molly was getting on.

"Well, thank you," said Molly, "but when is the show taking place?"

"Why, today, of course!" said the head organizer. "Sir Topham Hatt's even got some coaches ready for y'all to take to Great Waterton!"

Molly looked over to where the head organizer was motioning towards; a pair of flatbeds had been given temporary shells and seats to resemble passenger cars from the Wild West to match her modifications. She was coupled up to the coaches and once the head organizer had boarded her cab, Molly set off for Great Waterton, whistling goodbye to Victor and Kevin.

Rosie was waiting at Great Waterton station with her driver's family when Molly puffed into view, clanging her temporary bell.

"Molly, is that you?" remarked Rosie upon seeing the yellow tender engine.

"Yep, that's me, alright," Molly confirmed.

"You really do look a bit like an engine from the Wild West," said Rosie. "It looks good on you."

"Thanks, Rosie."

"Howdy, Molly," greeted one of the cowboys who'd been standing on the platform. "Are y'all ready for the show to start?"

"I am indeed," Molly smiled.

"Well, ring yer bell, darlin', cause the show's about to start!" The yellow engine's temporary bell rang loudly, indicating the start of the show.

For the first part of the Wild West show, the cowboys and cowgirls taking part did lots of rope and riding tricks. Molly, Rosie and Stanley watched from the sidings and were impressed by their skills with the lasso and what they could do on horseback.

Then there came the part of the show in which some cowboys and cowgirls would act as train bandits, chasing after Molly to rob some passengers dressed in Wild West costumes before being captured by the sheriff. Everyone knew that it was just for fun and the crowd cheered when the last bandit was captured.

At last, the show came to an end, and a few cowboys and cowgirls came to speak with Molly.

"Thanks for takin' part in the show, Molly," said one of them. "You sure helped out a lot to make our show a great success."

"Always happy to help out," smiled Molly.

"Three cheers for rootin', tootin' Molly!" a cowgirl shouted. "YEE-HAW!" Everyone cheered loudly while Molly rang her bell.

THE END

Author's Comments

A surprise posting from me! It's another magazine adaptation, this being from 1994's "Rootin', Tootin', Thomas!" (issue #176), featuring Molly in the lead role. Alongside her, I've given Kevin the crane his premature debut before the events of Hero of the Rails, and even gave Rosie a small role that foreshadows what's to come for Rosie and the Runaway Horse. Not much else to comment on here, although I will say that editing Molly's image to resemble her temporary American look was a pain to get right, given that I had to use CGI elements against a model screenshot.

More stories to come!