Abigail's Goods Train
The next evening found the BR standard class locomotives in the sheds discussing what their next move was by reviewing all of what happened that day and adding all the previous events that they had seen to it.
Penny: Okay so last time we were here we just discussed Gabi's performance with the Orient Express. Now it's time to turn our discussion to Abigail's Goods train. The shocking part was how easily she made it look considering it was her very first time pulling a goods train. Parcels and mail don't count but Abigail has been on the front of said trains. The other issue was that she made it out unscathed.
Alena: Penny's right. Goods trains are usually difficult to handle. Even Colby said he's had problems with them and he's a BR Standard Class 9F. Then again that was when we were on the British Isles. Now we're in France so that could be a factor considering the trucks on Continental Europe are polite and much more disciplined. That and the fact that everyone who supports our enemies is dead terrified of Duchess Corrinne and the Gold Dragons. Since they've been here our enemies have been eliminated.
Arturo: Total elimination of our enemies sends a message that we have Duchess Corrinne's back and that their reign of terror will not go unopposed. Elimination of our enemies relatives also shows that we mean business.
Nina: (Concerned) I understand that our enemies have caused us problems but is taking on our enemies' relatives a bit too much? I mean sure our enemies have caused havoc but must we wipe out entire families?
Alena: Wake up and use your head! Our enemies have caused us nothing but problems so we need to eliminate them and their relatives! We're sending a message!
Abigail: You're darn right we are! That and the fact that we're not afraid to take on the most dangerous jobs sends an even bigger message about our bravery but us protecting the little guys and the weak shows we have compassion and we choose who we help. That's why we take the clients that really matter and why we chose the jobs we really take.
Tina: Like the hazardous chemicals we BR Standard Class Locomotives take or the general-purpose goods trains that you've been pulling Abigail. Speaking of which how did your first goods train go?
Biff: And how did the goods engines react when you showed up to take Gabi's trucks?
Abigail: That Biff is a very interesting yet lighthearted tale full of typical lessons.
The year was still 1994 three years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the threat of communism. At the moment there was a bit of chaos in the yards as Gervase, Sean, and Wendell had an unexpected guest with them. Abigail had been sent there due to Gabi having left with the Orient Express while she had fallen ill.
Gervase: Gabi usually does this but she isn't here at the moment which means her tasks are now your tasks Abigail. What I want to know is how the heck did you get so sick?
Abigail: I don't' know and the thing is I'm a BR Standard Class Steam Locomotive so I shouldn't have gotten so sick. How and why this happened on a day like today is beyond me.
Sean: The only good thing about it was that it happened on an average ordinary day. If this was a day we had a make or break contract then I'd be worried already but fortunately we don't.
Winslow: Even so we must take this seriously Sean. Anyway, Abigail you'll find Gabi's goods train waiting for you on track three. The foreman will tell you where the train is going. But a word of advice just remember your training and you'll do well.
Abigail understood as she went to get Gabi's trucks from track three and her driver went to get the instructions. Once Abby was coupled tot eh train she left for her destination. Abby was feeling like a fish out of water due to having only pulled coaches and parcel trains all her life but fortunately for her she remembered the advice Gervase had told her.
Abby's Driver: Remember what Gervase said. Focus on the task at hand and remember to follow Duchess Corrinne's advice if you see something wrong don't stand by and do nothing get in there and stop it yourself or if you have to get help if you can't stop it. Gervase said the worst thing you can do in an emergency is nothing at all.
Abigail: Understood and my mentor Duchess Corrinne always said this. When faced with an enemy do not back down no matter what. That is what strength and power is.
Abigail's Fireman: I will say this, Duchess Corrinne taught you strength, power and not to yield considering that she's got to rebuild her reputation of unbreakable strength and power. After all she is one of the strongest British Steam Locomotives.
Abigail continued her journey as she stopped at every station to pick up and drop off trucks until the train was as long as one of Gervase's trains. Abigail's driver was getting worried as they never had a goods train before so she handled the throttle gently while making sure to keep to the time as the fireman shoveled when needed.
Abigail topped to take on water at a tower as Galleth came by with a coal train and by the looks of it the train was longer than usual which meant that it was very important.
Galleth: Abigail I didn't expect to see you up here. Where is Gabriella anyway?
Abigail: Gabriella's away on the Orient Express because I fell ill. i'm covering her jobs while she's away. I have to say though a goods train is not as simple as I first thought. Not that I'm complaining but I have to ask. How do you and the other goods engines stand it?
Galleth: to be fair to you Abigail you're not built for slow goods trains. Even so you just have to take it one wheel turn at a time and do the best you can. Just keep calm and you'll do well.
Abigail: Thanks for the advice and I have an advantage over you lot. I'm pulling French trucks and they seem to be much more polite than British Trucks.
The lead French wagon heard that comment and decided to speak up about that comment.
Lead wagon: Excuse me madam but if I may can I at least speak up? I have been listening to the two of you talking and I feel need to say something.
Galleth: We have some time before Natale is due to pass so speak your mind.
Lead Wagon: Thank you. We trucks as you call us are built and have lived here in France and we are well behaved and nothing like our unrefined British counterparts. When we cause an accident then the rest of the railway shuts down and we'll wind up on the scrap heap so believe me when I say we take our duties seriously. One more thing, please call us freight cars since we're used to being called that.
Abigail: That would explain so much. Duchess Corrinne said that intimidation was the order of the day when dealing with troublesome trucks at least that's what she heard.
Galleth: Well she obviously heard right in some cases but in others it depends upon the situation Abigail.
Right on cue Natale came rushing through with the express for the Kalos Railway's London and North Eastern Section. Once the express passed through Galleth finished his drink of water and headed off and Abigail headed in the opposite direction to continue her task.
Abigail resumed her tasks and the trucks or freight cars as they preferred to be called followed her smoothly considering Abigail wasn't annoyed or tense yet like most of the goods engines would be by now but considering how the goods engines had to put up with the troublesome trucks of Britain the French Freight Cars could see where the British engines were coming from.
So far so good but usually on the British Isles this is where something goes wrong. Perhaps I'm being paranoid but then again Duchess Corinne said nothing is foolproof.
Abigail's Driver: Very good about the foolproof thing but perhaps it's beginner's luck. Either way let's finish off the last of these stops before getting the next train.
Abigail's Fireman: Do we even know where we're going or where the last stop is?
Abigail's Driver: According to the manifest the final stop is a bootcamp and education center.
Abigail and her fireman: (Shocked and in Unison) Did you say a boot camp and education center?
Abigail's Driver: Believe me I asked the same question but that's what the schedule said we were supposed to go.
Abigail sucked in air as she made her way to the boot camp with her goods train. From what little she knew of boot camp it sounded like people were there to become soldiers and join the army and it sounded similar to basic training. When Abigail arrived however she could see drill sergeants but the surprise was who they were putting through hard exercise and hard work the type of hard back breaking that Duchess Corrinne said that human bullies should be sentenced to along with beatings just like the French Foreign Legion and the Russian Spetnaz do on a daily basis during training.
Abigail: Driver I could be wrong and my eyes may be tricking me but it looks like there were teenagers up there.
Abigail's Driver: Your eyes aren't fooling you Abigail. The boot camp also doubles as an education center to teach bullies that they won't get away with terrorizing anyone.
Abigail understood as she completed the last leg of the trip before reaching the station.
In the present day the BR Standard Class Britannia finished up her tale of her day.
Abigail: And tat was my day while I had to do Gabi's work. It was pretty much a quiet day so far and quite dull but next to the express services it was nice change of pace to enjoy not having to rush about.
Colby: It sounds to me like you and Gabi both got a taste of how the other half lives and what the other half has to do.
Gabi: Yep and after dealing with the orient express I will not complain about the Express Engines anytime soon.
Abigail: I've got a new found respect for goods trains and the engines that pull them.
Biff: And I can safely say we all have a new found respect for the transport of dangerous chemicals. I for one will not take the task of transporting dangerous chemicals lightly.
Penny: You never take a task like that lightly Biff. Anyone who did take such a task lightly is a fool.
Tina: Penny's right about that but for now we need to rest. We've got a hard day tomorrow.
The fleet agreed not knowing how right Tina was about the hard day they would be having.
Author's Note: Due to lateness I was unable to get this chapter refined until now. Please read and review.