=|=|=| Episode 2: Tim & Riptide Help Out |=|=|=
Tim was even happier than before now that he had achieved his dream of becoming a train driver. To him, it was fun working on a railway. Getting to ride and drive an engine, shoveling coal into it and helping out the railway. Riptide was happy too, since he now had a name, a new number, a new coat of paint and some upgrades to some of his parts. Together, Tim and Riptide helped out on The Leafy Line.
Right now, Tim and Riptide were forming a line of coaches. Mr. Fred had told them that they had to take a passenger train this morning. As Riptide shunted the last of the coaches onto the train, the shunter fastened the coaches' couplings. Then, Tim and Riptide took them to platform 1.
When Tim and Riptide shunted the coaches towards the platform, Tim looked for some tracks he could use to put Riptide in front of them. When Tim saw a route he could use, he switched some points and drove Riptide around the coaches before stopping in front of them. Then, Tim made Riptide reverse and buffer up to the train.
*Engine buffering up sounds!*
When Riptide was buffered up to the front coach, the shunter fastened his coupling to it. When the signal dropped, the guard blew his whistle. Tim made Riptide whistle back and made him start.
Once Tim and Riptide were cruising further down the line, thay started chatting to each other to pass the time.
"So Riptide, how do you feel about having a new name, number, color and some upgrades on your parts?"
"I feel wonderful! I can't believe I got all those things on my first day on the railway!"
"Well, you deserved those things. After all, you saved a man from being sucked into the waters by the riptide."
"Yes. So, how's your job going for you?"
"Getting this job was the best thing that ever happened to my life! I've always wanted to become a train driver. And now that I am, I can finally fulfill my dream."
"Good for you!"
"Y'know, The Leafy Line is nice. But I would like to explore more of it."
"We'll explore this railway when we have time."
"Alright."
While Riptide was puffing down the tracks, Tim talked about how he wanted to explore more of The Leafy Line. Riptide replied saying that he and Tim would explore The Leafy Line when they had the time. The problem was, there was no one to show them around. They might get lost or end up somewhere they weren't supposed to be. For the next stretches of rail, Tim and Riptide thought about how they would get to explore The Leafy Line. And who would show them around.
A few minutes later, Tim and Riptide stopped at a small platform. The passengers on their coaches started getting out. When Tim and Riptide looked to their right, something caught their attention. It was an engine. But not just any engine!
The engine was a TLL A3, TLL meant the The Leafy Line. The TLL A3 is an original design of locomotive made by The Leafy Line people themselves, not copied from other engines. It was a 2-6-0 (I'm using Whyte notation here.) tender locomotive with curves in both the front and back of it's running board. It's tender was big, almost as big as the engine itself. And had 4 wheels supporting it.
The TLL A3 that was next to Tim and Riptide was colored black with some purple to match the color of the sky before a thunderstorm. It had lightning streaks all over it, white linings, a running board that was colored like outer space and the number 27 on the side of it's cab. It's tender was also colored black and purple with white linings, had the letters TLL on the sides of it and the running board also also outer space colored.
There was also a nameplate on the side of the engine's head, it read "Lightningstreak". It was given that name because it was fast. Tim and Riptide looked at the engine for a little bit longer, then Tim said "Hello!".
"Hmm?" Lightningstreak said as he looked at Tim and Riptide, then he said "Oh hello you two. Strange, I haven't seen the both of you before.". "That's because we're new here." Tim replied. "So you and that engine are the new engine and driver that I've been hearing about. Tell me, what are your names?" Lightningstreak said with a smile.
"I'm Tim, and this is Riptide." Tim said as he introduced himself and his engine. "I'm Lightningstreak. Nice to meet you two." Lightningstreak said back. Then, something caught Lightningstreak's attention. "Hey, how come your number is 1? And why does it have two zeros behind it?" he asked. "Oh, Mr. Fred allowed me to give Riptide his name. Then, he was also taken to the works to have a new coat of paint, some upgraded parts and the number 1. Mr. Fred let Riptide keep his new paint,
upgrades, name and number as a reward for saving a man who was trapped in a riptide. He also gave me extra money at the end of the day." Tim answered.
Lightningstreak chuckled. "Riptide eh? Fitting since he saved a man from one." he said. "That's where I got his name." Tim replied. Lightningstreak chuckled a bit more before asking "So, what're you two doing?". "We're pulling a train." Tim answered pointing at the coaches behind Riptide. "I have passengers of my own too." said Linghtningstreak looking at his coaches. They were brown, had white oval buffers, white roofs and had 4 wheels supporting them. And they looked elegant too. "Wow, nice coaches." said Tim. "Mmm-hmm." replied Lightningstreak as he smiled.
"Lightningstreak, after we do our jobs can you show us around this railway?" Tim asked, "Sure. I'll ask Mr. Fred." Lightningstreak replied. Tim and Riptide smiled, they were now going to have a chance at exploring The Leafy Line. "Thank you!" said Riptide, "No problem." replied Lightningstreak. Then, the guards on both Tim and Riptide's and Lightningstreak's sides of the platform blew their whistles. Signalling for the two engines to go. "Well, I better be off now. And you should too." said Lightningstreak, "Yeah, thank you." replied Tim. "No problem." Lightningstreak replied back as he, Tim and Riptide got out of the station.
As Tim and Riptide cruised down the line, they talked about how they'd finally get to explore The Leafy Line.
"Finally! We're going to see the whole railway!"
"I can't wait! I never got to see much of this railway because it would've been too long of walks for me, mom and dad when I was young."
"Oh, well you'll get to see the whole railway soon!"
"Indeed."
As Tim and Riptide continued to ride across the line, they kept on chatting. This went on for a few minutes until they finally reached their destination. Another station. Once Tim and Riptide stopped there, an employee of The Leafy Line talked to them. He told them that Mr. Fred was waiting for them at platform 1.
"Hey you two! Mr. Fred is waiting for the both of you back at platform 1! Please go there."
"Ok."
Tim agreed, before the shunter uncoupled the coaches from Riptide. Once they were uncoupled, Tim blew Riptide's whistle and headed off to platform 1 where Mr. Fred was waiting for him and his engine.
When Tim and Riptide got to platform 1, they found Mr. Fred waiting for them on the platform. But they also saw something- -or rather- -someone else too. It was Lightningstreak. "Oh hello you two, Mr. Fred said I could show the both of you around the railway." Lightningstreak said, Riptide blew his whistle in delight!
"YES!" said Tim as he pumped his left fist. Mr. Fred chuckled and said "I think the new ones want a tour of the railway now.", "Of course. Come on Tim and Riptide, I'm going to show the both of you the whole railway." said Lightningstreak. Riptide whistled in delight some more, before Lightningstreak started off. Tim made Riptide follow him from behind.
Of course, in showing something you usually start with the beginning of what you're going to show. So Lightningstreak showed Tim and Riptide the engine sheds, where the engines were kept. It also served as a place for them to rest.
Next was Aquaria Docks, where ships and other water vehicles came to and fro. Deliveries of lots of different things and whatnot were sometimes brought here too.
After Aquaria Docks, it was the quarry. Workmen, quarry engines and quarry vehicles worked here delivering stone and other things found in the quarry.
After the quarry were four big platforms under a big roof, this is a place where engines can wait if they have passengers to take.
After the platforms was the mine railway, engines, vehicles and workers here gathered coal and other things found in the mines. Sometimes, mine carts would be used to do jobs here.
Since there are so many places and things in The Leafy Line, I'm just going to describe them in a big sentence clump. After the mine railway were platforms, a long way after the platforms was just a dirty and sooty part of the railway with some buildings and a long way after the dirty railway were even more platforms. There's so much more things in The Leafy Line, too much that I can't fit them all in this sentence clump. I guess the rest of the things in The Leafy Line will be mentioned when needed.
After Lightningstreak showed Tim and Riptide the whole railway, they came to a part of it that just led to dry lands of nothing. There was a sign that said "You are now leaving The Leafy Line. Come again soon!". "Oh look I guess it's the end of the railway." said Riptide, "Mmm-hmm." replied Lightningstreak. "Wow, the whole railway is so big!" Riptide added, "Yeah!" said Tim. "Well then, now that I've shown you both the whole railway... shall we go back?" asked Lightningstreak, Tim and Riptide agreed.
When Tim, Riptide and Lightningstreak got back to platform 1, Mr. Fred was already there. "Hello you three, I suppose all of you had a good time?" said Mr. Fred, "Yes, it was fun finally getting to see the whole railway." Tim replied. "Good, good." Mr. Fred said replying back, "Now then. Tim and Riptide, I want the both of you to arrange the rolling stock in the yard. And make trains for the upcoming engines." he continued. "Yes sir." Tim and Riptide both said as they went off.
Tim and Riptide pushed and pulled rolling stock to and fro, there were a couple of other engines working with them so the work wasn't too hard. However, one of the trains that Tim and Riptide arranged was getting a bit late. The engine which was an LBSCR B4 didn't arrive. The passengers of that train didn't like it, this made Mr. Fred worried as he tried looking for another engine to replace the B4. But none were available. Mr. Fred thought about how he was going to get the B4's train to move. Then, he had an idea. But he had some doubts on it as well. He could call Tim and Riptide to pull the train, but it would be a bit heavy for them as the coaches had a bit more weight in them. Mr. Fred thought and thought about this idea, having no other choice he finally just decided to give Tim and Riptide the job anyway. So he told an employee to tell them about it.
The employee ran over to where Tim and Riptide was, he found them arranging more rolling stock and trains. "TIM! RIPTIDE!" the employee yelled, "Huh?" Tim and Riptide said as they saw him. Tim stopped Riptide as the employee ran over to them. "Is there a problem?" asked Tim, "Yes, one of the trains you arranged hasn't moved yet. The engine that was supposed to pull it didn't arrive. Will you and Riptide pull that train?" the employee asked. "Of course." said Tim, "Great! It's on platform 1." the employee added. And with that, Tim and Riptide went over to where the train was.
Meanwhile, back at platform 1 the people of the B4's train were getting a bit impatient. They were worried they might not arrive to their destinations on time. Then, they heard a whistle in the distance. It was Riptide and his driver Tim! They were going to pull the train. Tim made Riptide run around the coaches, then he made him back up and buffer up in front of them.
*Engine buffering up sounds*
When the people saw that their train was going to be pulled after all, they went inside the coaches. The shunter fastened Riptide's coupling to them, and when the guard blew his whistle Tim started Riptide and made him chug along the line. However, the coaches were a bit heavy. "These coaches are heavier than the normal ones." said Riptide, "It's okay Riptide, you can do it since you can pull it." said Tim. Riptide just decided to agree and continued to pull the coaches.
At first, Tim and Riptide were doing fine. But as the journey went on, Riptide's wheels started slipping a bit. "My wheels are slipping a bit." said Riptide, "Keep on pulling. You can do it!" said Tim as Riptide kept up his pace.
Riptide was able to keep up his pace, but his wheels kept on slipping. Tim would shovel big scoops of coal occasionally to give Riptide more power.
Soon, Tim and Riptide were nearing a difficult part of the railway. It was called the Loop-de-Loop mountain, the Loop-de-Loop mountain is a big mountain with rails that ran to the side of it. It was very big, and very steep too. Any engine would need lots of power to cross this mountain, there have been times when an engine got stuck there and wasn't able to move unless someone figured something out or help came.
As Tim and Riptide started to climb up the Loop-de-Loop mountain, Riptide started to find it a bit harder to pull his train. It got harder, and harder, and harder, and harder until Riptide's wheels were slipping even more!
"I don't think I can pull this train anymore!" said Riptide, "Hold on!" said Tim as he shoveled more coal into Riptide's firebox. Riptide got extra power from the coal, but the mountain was still too steep! Riptide struggled and struggled, his wheels kept slipping even more! The passengers were starting to wonder why the train was slowing down a bit. Then, as Tim shoveled some more coal into Riptide's firebox Riptide started to gain more and more power. Riptide was starting to pull the coaches well when...
*SCREEEEEEEEEECCCCCCCCCCHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!*
Tim applied the brakes! "Hey, why'd you apply the brakes?" said Riptide, Tim pointed at a big tree branch that had fallen on the line. "Oh." said Riptide, Tim then got out of his cab and went towards the tree branch before starting to try to push it.
Tim groaned as he pushed with all his might, but the tree branch was too big. So Tim had a hard time pushing it. "Come on... come onnnnn..." Tim groaned more as he pushed harder. At last, the tree branch started rolling. Tim made it roll even more until finally he was able to push the tree branch into the bottom of the mountain. The tree branch fell and the line was now cleared.
"You did it Tim!" said Riptide as he whistled, "Yeah, now let's get this train moving again shall we?" said Tim as he clambered aboard Riptide's cab. But as he tried to start the train back up again... Riptide found it difficult to move! Since Riptide stopped, the force he had on pulling his train was gone. And it was hard to get back any since the mountain was too steep for him to start.
"I... I can't go forward!" said Riptide, "What?!" asked Tim in disbelief. Riptide tried to start back up again, but his wheels wouldn't turn. Tim tried adding more coal but it was no use! "Come on Riptide!" said Tim as he tried to make the engine start up. But he couldn't.
"Oh dear, we'll never be able to pull the train now." said Riptide, Tim started thinking to himself. He thought of ways on how to get the train up and running again. Then, he remembered a thing that Mr. Fred taught him about. Sandboxes. Locomotives have sandboxes, sandboxes are used to drop sand on the rails. The sand can be used for the engine to get a good grip on it. "I know! I have an idea!" Tim said excitedly, "And what's that?" asked Riptide. "We can use sand to help you get a good grip on the rails!" replied Tim, "Oh yes! Good idea!" replied Riptide back. Tim clambered aboard Riptide's cab and made him start to drop sand on the rails.
*FWWWWWWWSSSSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHH!*
Little by little, the grip of Riptide's wheels increased. He got faster, and faster, and faster, and faster until he was chugging along the mountain again. Then, Tim started to sing an honestly very fitting song.
"We'll be chuggin' 'round the mountain when she comes, we'll be chuggin' 'round the mountain when she comes..."
Riptide laughed, and started to sing along with Tim too. It wasn't long before they reached the top of the mountain. "Hooray! We've reached the top of the mountain! We can go faster now!" said Riptide as he sped along the tracks. "We did it Riptide!" said Tim, "Indeed, now let's keep going!" Riptide replied as he continued to puff across the line.
When Tim and Riptide finally got to a station, they smiled. They had managed to cross through a very steep mountain. "Well, we did it Riptide. We're here." said Tim, "Indeed." Riptide replied as he and Tim watched the passengers get out of the coaches and step out onto the platform.
When Tim and Riptide got back to platform 1, Mr. Fred was waiting for them. "Well done you two." he said. Tim and Riptide smiled. "Now then, I need the both of you to collect a freight train from the docks. Can the both of you do it please?" Mr. Fred asked, "Of course." Tim and Riptide both said. "Good." replied Mr. Fred as he walked off.
Today was another great day for Tim and Riptide, first they saved a man from a riptide, and now they managed to cross through a very big and steep mountain. Looks like working on the railway is getting fun for Tim and Riptide, don't you think?
