"I look silly wearing this stupid wagon!" Skarloey fumed to Rheneas. "Why couldn't one of the actual standard gauge engines have done this job instead of rigging me up to this silly thing?"
Neil had been sold to the Crovan's Gate Mining Company, and with his relocation, it left the SKR without a standard gauge engine to haul trains of stone to the harbour. To top it off, the NWR had been unable to loan a standard gauge engine to help with the stone train runs to Kirk Ronan. The only solution that could be devised was to build a special wagon that converted Skarloey to standard gauge, so he could pull the trains instead.
"Come on, brother, this is history!" Replied Rheneas, kindly, although he was having a hard time trying not to laugh at his brother's grumbling. "You'll be fine." He assured.
"Hmph! Easy for you to say, you're not going about on wheels that aren't yours!" Skarloey huffed. "I still can't use this!"
"You'll get used to them, bach," Soothed Rheneas, smiling sympathetically. As tempted as he was to tease his older brother, he sensed now would be unwise, for he feared vengeance when Skarloey was brought back to his own rails.
Skarloey just whistled as he puffed away, hauling his train of stone behind him. Rheneas waited till his sibling was out of earshot before dissolving into laughter.
Never had he thought he would see the day a narrow-gauge engine would travel standard gauge rails under their own power- and to witness Skarloey of all engines to achieve this was both awe-inspiring and amusing at the same time.
….
Skarloey had a hard time, but despite this, he pulled his trains as hard as he could, but he wasn't used to standard gauge rails, or his transporter, so working with it was difficult.
What made the experience worse was the other engines ogling him in shock as he trundled along the standard gauge rails with his line of trucks. In addition, he cringed as he heard jeering remarks tossed in his direction about "little engines trying too hard".
This made him cross, as well as more feeling of an "ugly duckling" than before. He stubbornly refused to believe Rheneas that he would be fine.
Things were not helped when he eventually pulled into the harbour.
"Finally!" James said rudely. He blinked twice on seeing a very red-faced Skarloey, not entirely believing his eyes, before continuing, "Your timekeeping isn't any better here than it is on your own railway!" He jeered.
"I tried, James, I bloody tried!" Snapped poor Skarloey. He had been worn out, but he still had enough steam to argue.
"Silly little engine!" Snorted James. "You should stick to your own rails! And good riddance!"
"James, you're not the one to discuss timekeeping when you were supposed to have left eight and a half minutes ago," Edward butted in, chuffing up alongside Skarloey. "Didn't you hear the guard's whistle?"
James reddened, before chuffing away, seething silently.
Edward watched him go, feeling tendrils of satisfaction creep into his smokebox before he turned his attention to Skarloey. "Are you alright, old chap?" He asked him sympathetically.
"Hardly," Sulked Skarloey. "I feel silly in this thing." He glared at his new buffers. How he could move in it was a bloody miracle, he reflected gloomily.
"I think it's impressive you're using it, old friend," Smiled Edward. "It's truly a technological marvel to witness."
"You're just saying that to be nice," Huffed the older engine. "I most certainly do not feel that I have made progress at all!" He blushed. He felt horrible for being so rude to a friend as dear and kind as Edward, but he really was very cross with how the other engines had treated him and hated how uncomfortable the wagon felt beneath his own wheels.
Oh, how he wished he was back on his own little railway, alongside dear Rheneas!
"Look, those who are making the comments, like what James said, are the ones making you feel silly, not the wagon itself," Edward argued sensibly. "I think you'll get used to it soon enough, it just needs time and practice." He thought a moment. "How about I help you?" He offered. "It might help the workload, and you'll get some practice and guidance on how to run on standard gauge rails."
"Feels odd seeking guidance from a younger engine." Snorted Skarloey. Edward could sense his friend's insecurity and embarrassment and felt sorry for him. After all, from the moment he was built, Skarloey had been stubborn and persistent. Trying to learn how to use a new set of wheels couldn't have been easy, especially since he was 32 years older than Edward himself, and slowly getting on in years.
But Edward was impressed and proud of Skarloey for making Sudrian history, for being the first narrow-gauge engine to travel on standard gauge tracks under his own steam. No other engine on Sodor had achieved that.
"We can all benefit from each other's experiences, Skarloey," Edward reminded him firmly, but not unkindly. "Besides, I wish to aid you in return for giving me friendship and guidance from when we first met. Please, may I help you, my friend?"
"Oh alright," Sighed the little old engine. "I still feel embarrassed, though." He confessed.
"I won't judge." Promised Edward. "Come on, you can help me shunt before you go back."
….
Edward was as good as his word and reserved any judgements he may have held. He even helped Skarloey with some confidence boosting, as his lack of was very prominent in his movements, and he knew this would be a severe setback for Skarloey.
And whenever Skarloey biffed into the trucks a little too hard, or had difficulty maintaining steady speed without rocketing forwards, Edward was there with a friendly wisecrack to make Skarloey smile, as well as some advice on how to improve. As the time passed, he felt his confidence grow, and he felt much more at ease with his transporter.
"Edward, you did it, bach!" Cheered Skarloey, rolling to a gentle stop. "I feel much better already!"
"What did I tell you?" Smiled Edward. "I'm glad you've got the hang of it, Skarloey, old chum. I'm proud of you."
"Thanks, Edward, bach, for everything you've done to help me come this far." And Skarloey beamed, buffer to buffer. "You've helped me feel fantastic." He gave Edward an affectionate look. "Looks like the student has become the master. You've been an excellent mentor, you have."
"Oh hush," Grinned Edward. "I dd nothing, really, it was your hard work and persistence that got you here."
"Well, you deserve some credit, boyo, I found it easier to improve on my mistakes with you helping me address them." Answered the SKR saddle tank sincerely. "I couldn't have done all this without you to help me laugh off my mistakes and give me advice for improvement."
Edward did eventually concede that he had some "small involvement" in Skarloey's improvement, although he emphasised the older engine's efforts had been most prominent, and they had indeed paid off nicely. In addition, Edward extended an invitation for his friend and mentor to come and visit his branchline sometime.
Naturally, Skarloey was delighted, and eagerly accepted this kind invitation.
He supposed the transporter wagon wasn't quite so bad, after all. After all, he was still working, earning money to keep the SKR open, and he got to interact with other engines for a while- and it was especially nice getting to see Edward more; after all, the two engines hardly ever got to interact.
"I'm glad you wish to join me, Skarloey," Edward said warmly. "I look forward to showing you my branchline."
"And I look forward to seeing it, Edward, lad," Smiled Skarloey.
