DANGER CROSSING
Sir Topham Hatt came to see Coco the very next day. He was pleased to find Donald and Douglas had returned to their work quite quickly and were busting about the yard as if the argument they had had the previous evening had never happened at all. The other engines were out working at the Big Station, so Coco was left alone in the sheds. His driver and fireman had come early to get him ready for his first full day of work.
"Good morning Coco", said Sir Topham Hatt as he approached the circus engine's shed, "I'm glad to hear that you are fitting in well"
"Yes sir", simmered Coco, "Everyone here is so nice and welcoming"
"I am glad", smiled Sir Topham Hatt, "This morning I'd like you to help Duck with the shunting in the Mainline Yard. It's a tricky job, even for the experienced engines. Our Duck is among the few who can get the job done without fuss. The trucks tend to be a true annoyance for my engines"
"Don't worry sir", said Coco, "I've handled trucks before"
"That's a good engine. Now run along to the yard. Duck should be waiting".
*
Coco arrived at the Mainline Yard a short while later, steaming happily and looking excitedly around. The place was full of trucks, vans, tankers, hoppers and all kinds of goods rolling stock. The yard looked extremely untidy and many empty wagons sat on the siding, waiting impatiently to be loaded. Duck steamed around the corner and pulled up alongside the excited Coco.
"Hello", he whistled in his friendly manner, "You must be Coco. I'm Duck the Great Western Engine. I'm glad you've come to help out. Are you sure you'll be alright working here? The trucks can be a real nuisance"
Coco peered around. The trucks were eyeing him in a suspicious way. They were not used to new engines. They began to stir and plot ways to annoy him. This didn't frighten Coco at all.
"We'll show them", he smiled to Duck and steamed off into the sea of untidy wagons.
Duck was worried that the trucks would give Coco a bad time, but he soon found out that he had no need to. Coco handled them with ease and profession. He steamed up and down the yard, taking long lines of trucks with him, arranging them into sidings and into their proper places. They were too shocked to cause any hassle for him. Next, he arranged the unloaded trucks into a long line, ready to be taken to the depot for loading. Duck was very impressed by mid-morning when the job was finally complete. "How do you do it Coco?", he asked with praise, "I've never seen any engine tackle such a job so professionally"
Coco blushed and looked with his buffers. He had had a very enjoyable morning working in the yard. He liked shunting and he had become good friends with Duck. The two of them exchanged long, detailed conversations about their past lives. Duck fascinated him with tales from the Great Western Railway and Duck was equally impressed with his tales from the travelling circus. However, unknown to the two engines, James, Henry and Gordon had been waiting from the shed nearby.
"Just look at him!", snorted Gordon.
"Working away and pleasing everyone!", grumbled Henry.
"It's a disgrace!", added James, fuming, "Why the Fat Controller agreed to let him work here is beyond me!"
"Who wouldn't feel sorry for such an odd looking engine?", sniffed Gordon, eyeing Coco as he and Duck continued to chat as both their crews took a break at the signal box, "Look at him! I wouldn't be seen on the rails with that paint! Pale red!"
"He belongs back in the circus where he came from!", snorted Henry, "We can't work alongside clowns!"
"We should get rid him and send him back as soon as possible!", muttered James, "He's taken credit for all our work so far!"
"Pulling my coaches!", put in Gordon, "Donald and Douglas' trucks! Whatever next?"
"Soon he'll be pulling the Flying Kipper", shivered Henry, "I can't allow it! It would be a disgrace! A circus engine, pulling my train!"
The three engines shuddered uncomfortably. They had taken a deep disliking for Coco, simply because he had come from a travelling circus company. They saw him as inexperienced and immature. Just then, James had an idea.
"I've got it!", he said at last, "I have the perfect plan on how we can sent Coco back to the circus! It'll be easy! He'll be gone by the end of the week!"
"That's too long for me!", muttered Henry.
"It's good enough", snapped Gordon, "Go on James..."
James whispered his plan. They simmered mischievously, broad grins upon their faces.
*
It was nearly time for Duck to leave for the depot with the unloaded trucks. He backed down at the front of the train and was preparing to leave.
"I hope we can work together again some time Coco", he called, "It was a pleasure meet you"
"You as well Duck!", tooted Coco happily. He felt overjoyed that he was making so many good friends so quickly. He knew he would miss them all when the fortnight was over and he would have to move on to the next location with the circus.
Duck was about to leave, when James came backing into the yard. Behind him trailed a long line of dirty, empty, wooden goods vans. Large words had been painted on their sides, reading 'SCRAP'.
"What's all this?", asked Duck suspiciously.
"A special train for the scrap yard", announced James, as if the dirty vans were a privilege to pull, "The harbour master asked me to take them right away. But the problem is, I have a train to pull in about fifteen minutes, and we can't leave these dirty things on a siding to rot even more. Would one of you be so kind as to take them for me?"
The villainous grin upon James' face told Duck that something wasn't quite right. He eyed James suspiciously.
"I'll take them", said Coco happily, "I'm heading back to the Mainline station anyway"
"It's alright Coco", cut in Duck hastily, "I'll take them. Just shunt them to the end of my trucks and I'll take them once I've finished at the depot"
"Don't worry Duck", smiled Coco, "I'll take them. I don't want to tier you out"
Duck tried to argue, but he felt uncomfortable doing so. James continued to smirk with delight.
"Thank you kindly Coco", he said sarcastically, "I must be going now"
He gave them a friendly whistle before scuttling away. Duck watched him disappear behind the long line of trucks.
"Something's up", he thought.
But before he could do anything else, Coco buffered up behind the long line of goods vans, eagerly ready to set off.
"Be careful", warned Duck, "They aren't as easy to handle as they seem"
"I'll be fine", assured Coco, "They can't be as bothersome as those trucks" Duck thought otherwise. He groaned uncomfortably as Coco set off down the line, the long trail of scrap vans clanking along in front of him. As he shunted them across the yard, they began to make straight metallic sounds.
"That's strange", he thought, "I never thought vans made those kind of noises"
The vans were very old and worn. Their wooden panelling was rotting and their framework was rusting away. Their brakes no longer worked and their buffers had been banged so much that they were permanently dented. They had once used as part of the Flying Kipper, but had recently been replaced with newer, better cargo vans. These ones had rode their last rails. But Coco didn't know this. They continued to groan and creak in a complaining way.
"We don't want to move!", they groaned, "Leave us where we were!"
"Nonsense!", huffed Coco, as he began to cross the points, "Your scrap now!"
Duck had warned him earlier that day to be very careful when crossing points, especially when pushing a train from behind when you couldn't see in front. But Coco was too distracted by the clanking noises from the vans. He couldn't see ahead, only his driver could direct him as they crossed the points.
"Be careful fella", he called from the cab, "These points can be a handful"
All of a sudden, the rails beneath Coco began to feel slippery. His wheels were loosing their grip and he found them spinning uncontrollably.
"What's going on?", he cried.
"The points must be splashed with diesel oil", called his driver, "Just hold tight. Keep the vans back. We're in a tight spot. If they break loose, we'll be done for"
Coco was trying desperately to keep his grip on the rails, whilst controlling the long line of old cargo vans. They groaned and tilted as they continued to cross the points onto the Mainline. Coco was having extreme difficulty. Suddenly, there was a loud SNAP from up ahead.
"That's done it!", cried the driver, "One of these stupid things has snapped it's brakes. We'll have to stop before there's an accident"
The driver tried to apply Coco's brakes, but it failed. The rails were just too slippery. Slowly but surely, he continued to slid along the rails. There was a disturbing clang as the van at the front of the long line jumped the rails.
"Stop!", cried Coco, but it was useless.
The van derailed itself completely and tumbled over onto it's side across the tracks. It smashed into smithereens as the second van made contact. Coco's driver quickly shut off steam, bringing his engine to a final stand still. "Oh dear! Oh dear", thought Coco, "I hope it's not too serious!"
The situation was extremely awkward. The front four vans had come completely off the rails. The first two had been reduced to miles of rotten wood and rusty frame, littering the points crossing. It was an incredible mess, and now the line was blocked from the wreckage. Coco looked sadly around at the mess. Duck pulled up alongside.
"Never mind Coco", he soothed, "Those vans were on their last wheels anyway. It was an accident that could have happened to anyone. We'd better get it cleared before it gets any worse"
Coco's driver uncoupled him from the vans and he backed silently away from the wreckage he had just caused. He wanted to get away, fast and quickly, returning to his shed, his tender facing outwards so that nobody could see him. He felt terrible.
"What will Sir Topham Hatt say?", he thought sadly, "It's my second day and already I've caused an accident. I'll be sent back to the circus for sure"
Meanwhile, Gordon, Henry and James chucked with ghoulish delight.
*
Sir Topham Hatt came to see Coco the very next day. He was pleased to find Donald and Douglas had returned to their work quite quickly and were busting about the yard as if the argument they had had the previous evening had never happened at all. The other engines were out working at the Big Station, so Coco was left alone in the sheds. His driver and fireman had come early to get him ready for his first full day of work.
"Good morning Coco", said Sir Topham Hatt as he approached the circus engine's shed, "I'm glad to hear that you are fitting in well"
"Yes sir", simmered Coco, "Everyone here is so nice and welcoming"
"I am glad", smiled Sir Topham Hatt, "This morning I'd like you to help Duck with the shunting in the Mainline Yard. It's a tricky job, even for the experienced engines. Our Duck is among the few who can get the job done without fuss. The trucks tend to be a true annoyance for my engines"
"Don't worry sir", said Coco, "I've handled trucks before"
"That's a good engine. Now run along to the yard. Duck should be waiting".
*
Coco arrived at the Mainline Yard a short while later, steaming happily and looking excitedly around. The place was full of trucks, vans, tankers, hoppers and all kinds of goods rolling stock. The yard looked extremely untidy and many empty wagons sat on the siding, waiting impatiently to be loaded. Duck steamed around the corner and pulled up alongside the excited Coco.
"Hello", he whistled in his friendly manner, "You must be Coco. I'm Duck the Great Western Engine. I'm glad you've come to help out. Are you sure you'll be alright working here? The trucks can be a real nuisance"
Coco peered around. The trucks were eyeing him in a suspicious way. They were not used to new engines. They began to stir and plot ways to annoy him. This didn't frighten Coco at all.
"We'll show them", he smiled to Duck and steamed off into the sea of untidy wagons.
Duck was worried that the trucks would give Coco a bad time, but he soon found out that he had no need to. Coco handled them with ease and profession. He steamed up and down the yard, taking long lines of trucks with him, arranging them into sidings and into their proper places. They were too shocked to cause any hassle for him. Next, he arranged the unloaded trucks into a long line, ready to be taken to the depot for loading. Duck was very impressed by mid-morning when the job was finally complete. "How do you do it Coco?", he asked with praise, "I've never seen any engine tackle such a job so professionally"
Coco blushed and looked with his buffers. He had had a very enjoyable morning working in the yard. He liked shunting and he had become good friends with Duck. The two of them exchanged long, detailed conversations about their past lives. Duck fascinated him with tales from the Great Western Railway and Duck was equally impressed with his tales from the travelling circus. However, unknown to the two engines, James, Henry and Gordon had been waiting from the shed nearby.
"Just look at him!", snorted Gordon.
"Working away and pleasing everyone!", grumbled Henry.
"It's a disgrace!", added James, fuming, "Why the Fat Controller agreed to let him work here is beyond me!"
"Who wouldn't feel sorry for such an odd looking engine?", sniffed Gordon, eyeing Coco as he and Duck continued to chat as both their crews took a break at the signal box, "Look at him! I wouldn't be seen on the rails with that paint! Pale red!"
"He belongs back in the circus where he came from!", snorted Henry, "We can't work alongside clowns!"
"We should get rid him and send him back as soon as possible!", muttered James, "He's taken credit for all our work so far!"
"Pulling my coaches!", put in Gordon, "Donald and Douglas' trucks! Whatever next?"
"Soon he'll be pulling the Flying Kipper", shivered Henry, "I can't allow it! It would be a disgrace! A circus engine, pulling my train!"
The three engines shuddered uncomfortably. They had taken a deep disliking for Coco, simply because he had come from a travelling circus company. They saw him as inexperienced and immature. Just then, James had an idea.
"I've got it!", he said at last, "I have the perfect plan on how we can sent Coco back to the circus! It'll be easy! He'll be gone by the end of the week!"
"That's too long for me!", muttered Henry.
"It's good enough", snapped Gordon, "Go on James..."
James whispered his plan. They simmered mischievously, broad grins upon their faces.
*
It was nearly time for Duck to leave for the depot with the unloaded trucks. He backed down at the front of the train and was preparing to leave.
"I hope we can work together again some time Coco", he called, "It was a pleasure meet you"
"You as well Duck!", tooted Coco happily. He felt overjoyed that he was making so many good friends so quickly. He knew he would miss them all when the fortnight was over and he would have to move on to the next location with the circus.
Duck was about to leave, when James came backing into the yard. Behind him trailed a long line of dirty, empty, wooden goods vans. Large words had been painted on their sides, reading 'SCRAP'.
"What's all this?", asked Duck suspiciously.
"A special train for the scrap yard", announced James, as if the dirty vans were a privilege to pull, "The harbour master asked me to take them right away. But the problem is, I have a train to pull in about fifteen minutes, and we can't leave these dirty things on a siding to rot even more. Would one of you be so kind as to take them for me?"
The villainous grin upon James' face told Duck that something wasn't quite right. He eyed James suspiciously.
"I'll take them", said Coco happily, "I'm heading back to the Mainline station anyway"
"It's alright Coco", cut in Duck hastily, "I'll take them. Just shunt them to the end of my trucks and I'll take them once I've finished at the depot"
"Don't worry Duck", smiled Coco, "I'll take them. I don't want to tier you out"
Duck tried to argue, but he felt uncomfortable doing so. James continued to smirk with delight.
"Thank you kindly Coco", he said sarcastically, "I must be going now"
He gave them a friendly whistle before scuttling away. Duck watched him disappear behind the long line of trucks.
"Something's up", he thought.
But before he could do anything else, Coco buffered up behind the long line of goods vans, eagerly ready to set off.
"Be careful", warned Duck, "They aren't as easy to handle as they seem"
"I'll be fine", assured Coco, "They can't be as bothersome as those trucks" Duck thought otherwise. He groaned uncomfortably as Coco set off down the line, the long trail of scrap vans clanking along in front of him. As he shunted them across the yard, they began to make straight metallic sounds.
"That's strange", he thought, "I never thought vans made those kind of noises"
The vans were very old and worn. Their wooden panelling was rotting and their framework was rusting away. Their brakes no longer worked and their buffers had been banged so much that they were permanently dented. They had once used as part of the Flying Kipper, but had recently been replaced with newer, better cargo vans. These ones had rode their last rails. But Coco didn't know this. They continued to groan and creak in a complaining way.
"We don't want to move!", they groaned, "Leave us where we were!"
"Nonsense!", huffed Coco, as he began to cross the points, "Your scrap now!"
Duck had warned him earlier that day to be very careful when crossing points, especially when pushing a train from behind when you couldn't see in front. But Coco was too distracted by the clanking noises from the vans. He couldn't see ahead, only his driver could direct him as they crossed the points.
"Be careful fella", he called from the cab, "These points can be a handful"
All of a sudden, the rails beneath Coco began to feel slippery. His wheels were loosing their grip and he found them spinning uncontrollably.
"What's going on?", he cried.
"The points must be splashed with diesel oil", called his driver, "Just hold tight. Keep the vans back. We're in a tight spot. If they break loose, we'll be done for"
Coco was trying desperately to keep his grip on the rails, whilst controlling the long line of old cargo vans. They groaned and tilted as they continued to cross the points onto the Mainline. Coco was having extreme difficulty. Suddenly, there was a loud SNAP from up ahead.
"That's done it!", cried the driver, "One of these stupid things has snapped it's brakes. We'll have to stop before there's an accident"
The driver tried to apply Coco's brakes, but it failed. The rails were just too slippery. Slowly but surely, he continued to slid along the rails. There was a disturbing clang as the van at the front of the long line jumped the rails.
"Stop!", cried Coco, but it was useless.
The van derailed itself completely and tumbled over onto it's side across the tracks. It smashed into smithereens as the second van made contact. Coco's driver quickly shut off steam, bringing his engine to a final stand still. "Oh dear! Oh dear", thought Coco, "I hope it's not too serious!"
The situation was extremely awkward. The front four vans had come completely off the rails. The first two had been reduced to miles of rotten wood and rusty frame, littering the points crossing. It was an incredible mess, and now the line was blocked from the wreckage. Coco looked sadly around at the mess. Duck pulled up alongside.
"Never mind Coco", he soothed, "Those vans were on their last wheels anyway. It was an accident that could have happened to anyone. We'd better get it cleared before it gets any worse"
Coco's driver uncoupled him from the vans and he backed silently away from the wreckage he had just caused. He wanted to get away, fast and quickly, returning to his shed, his tender facing outwards so that nobody could see him. He felt terrible.
"What will Sir Topham Hatt say?", he thought sadly, "It's my second day and already I've caused an accident. I'll be sent back to the circus for sure"
Meanwhile, Gordon, Henry and James chucked with ghoulish delight.
*
