The gang of drivers and firemen (and Rusty's engineer) went to Rheneas, to a cosy little pub called The Rabbit Hole (a mortified Caleb Andrew had to explain that this was because his engine once referred to the nearby tunnel as a rabbit hole long ago... and had to get rescued by Skarloey, who had literally just come home that day from being overhauled. Maddie thought this a great amusement, and snorted into her sleeve.
Rusty's engineer, a young woman named Clara Hopkins, sat beside Maddie, with Ron on her other side. The rest of the men sat themselves down, and everyone ordered.
Clara, William, Geoff and Julian ordered juicy beef burgers with a healthy portion of chips; Maddie, Richard, Harold and Bob asked for fish and chips; Carl, Ron, Henry, and Kenneth requested pie (Carl picked chicken pie, Henry, Scotch pie and the other two selected beef, all with portions of chips. The rest ordered steak with Poblano sauce.
"So, are you guys enjoying your visit?" asked John Wendell, Skarloey's driver, swiftly cutting a piece of steak before eating it. It was juicy and the sauce added a rich, fruity flavour.
"I'm enjoying it," replied Maddie, eating a chip off her fork... and wincing as she burned her tongue.
"I'm with her on this," added Ron, who saw his colleague's distress. "You have a beautiful line."
"Here, here!" They all cheered, and Henry Georges, Rheneas's driver, heartily clapped Ron on the back. "That we do, bach, that we do," he said.
"Oi, mate." Said Richard, dryly.
"Yes?" Asked Henry.
"... you're spending too much time with Rheneas."
The group burst out laughing.
This little exchange led to the whole group swapping stories of how long they worked on their railways, and about their engines, before moving on to other subjects such as music, hobbies, food, politics, other countries they visited and their families.
"I was talking to your daughter today, Geoffrey," said Maddie, cutting in her haddock.
"Oh?" said Geoffrey, surprised, before taking a bit of his already half-eaten burger.
"She's a delight."
"She's alright," Geoff said jokingly, before adding, proudly, "She's sharp as a knife, quick as a whip, good at maths and physics, and dedicated, too." He paused, before adding. "My sons are both smart. Nathaniel is more creative, he likes drawing, photography and history, his brother, Jack, cooks and plays football and hockey. They all do well in school."
"My Peter does so, as well," added Henry, nodding. "he's due to go to Crovan's Gate High School soon, he's bloody brilliant at English," he bragged.
"My Isabelle is in her third year at Lakeside Academy," added Carl Jackson, Peter Sam's fireman, blowing on a piece of beef on his fork. "she's a strong contender for playing Coppélia at her school ballet this autumn."
Maddie and Rom were impressed, and paid their compliments to the chuffed fathers. Tirion Seren, Duke's fireman, added that she had no children, and didn't want any, but she acted as a surrogate aunt for her friends' kids, and talked about them for a couple of minutes.
"Do you guys have any kids?" asked Geoffrey, leaning across his now empty plate. Richard elbowed him in the ribs, but he ignored this, too used to his fireman.
Neither of them had children, though Ron mentioned his niece, Belle, whom his irresponsible, alcoholic sister had young. She was being raised by her grandmother, Helen Webb.