Tomorrow's my twelfth birthday. Yet another awful year of my life gone. Well, I'm not gonna waste another year of my life her anymore! Gonna give myself the present I want most. I'm leaving tonight. That's right, I'm getting outta her. Good-bye orphanage and good riddance!!

I made it! I'm free! I left last night and now I'm a good distance away. It's great to be on the open rails! At first, I was traveling on my own. Then, a steam engine with a Freight train came along. Asked him if I could ride with him and he agreed. His name's Smokestack but he allows me to call him Smokey The Freight are a great bunch of guys too. My kinda guys! I think - no, I know I'm gonna like riding with these guys.

Been with the guys for an entire week. Buck, the brick truck, is a riot. Even though I'm nine years younger than he is, he treats me as an equal. The others all treat me as a trainlet. Especially Smokey.

We pulled into Cliffwood Station today. We'll be here for three days. Cuz of this, Smokestack allowed us to go do our own things. Course he insisted I be watched. Buck offered to be the one. The three boxcar brothers went to the diner and the big hopper went off alone.

Buck and me headed for the post office. He's coupled to who he says is "the most beautiful coach in the world." Being on runs, he don't get to see her much so he writes to her. Must be nice to have someone who cares for you like that.......

Second day at Cliffwood. Buck treated me to lunch at the diner. talked to the dining car that was working there. She called me "adorable"! I'm not "adorable"! She wouldn't listen so I gave it up. She was pretty though...

After leaving the diner, Buck and I met a sleeper just outside. She got Buck's attention and started hanging all over him. Course Buck is coupled and wouldn't have none of that. Gypsy, that's the sleeper's name I found out, started talking to me. She began to ask me questions and slowly moving closer. I was beginning to kinda get uncomfortable. Guess Buck could see that cuz he told Gypsy that I was only a trainlet and to lay off me, and she left. Normally, being called a trainlet bugs me, but it didn't when Buck used it just then.

No! It can't be! I won't let Smokestack do this to me! While staying here, someone recognized me as a runaway from Hilton Orphanage! I overheard him telling Smokestack. Later, the steamer came to me and told me straight out that he was taking me back. I can't go back! Told Smokey that I couldn't go back there... His excuse was that I was too young to be riding on a run let alone with Freight. Smokey doesn't get it... I. Can't. Go. Back!

Buck came into my room tonight. Said he had heard the news. Before he left, Buck had also said that if he had room for me he'd take me on as his own. I'd like that...... However, it's not gonna happen.....

I can't go back!

We're a morning's ride from Hilton and have stopped for the night. I can't go back!

I could run away again....but with me not being an engine, Smokestack would easily catch me... What am I gonna do? I can't go back! I gotta do something!..... I gotta.......

I derailed Smokestack just as we were pulling into Hilton Station. The boxcars are okay. So's the big hopper.

The repair truck working on Smokey says he won't be able to run the rails on his own anymore...

......Buck isn't doing too good. They say he's in "critical condition"...

Someone's watching him every second...

I want him to be okay...

Please Buck.......

What have I done?! What caused me to do that yesterday?!

.......Buck's dead........

He died this morning....

What will his coach think when she gets the news that a small, red 'boose killed her train?

I'm sorry Buck..........

I didn't mean for this to happen.....