Duncan Takes Back

Moral: work hard no matter what/patience is a virtue

Summertime on Sodor is usually the busiest time of the year for all the engines. Holidaymakers come from far and wide to see the many beautiful sights that the Island has to offer. The engines are often kept very busy, bringing passengers to and fro from their destinations. This makes them feel very important. However, there is one engine who doesn't quite enjoy it…

"Ouch!" Duncan groaned one morning, as the front coach bumped suddenly into him. "That's the third time this mornin'! Perhaps the Thin Controller should work on gettin' these coaches better coupling rods."

"Perhaps, old boy," his driver reminded, "you should slow down to keep your coaches in a more steady line. This way, your passengers are less likely to bounce up and down in their seats."

"Huh!" snorted Duncan, as he approached Glennock Station. Rheneas was there too, busy with his morning passenger run.

"Good morning, Duncan!" Rheneas greeted.

"Ach! If there's anything good aboot it!" Duncan hastily replied.

"What's the matter now?" Rheneas asked cheekily.

"You'll never believe what I have to go through!" Duncan complained. "Starts off like it does every mornin' for starters. Passengers get on, guard's super loud whistle blows and I'm off! Only this mornin', these silly coaches go bumping suddenly into me. Then my driver starts telling me it's my fault for going too fast!"

"Well, you were going a little fast when you arrived in the station, Duncan," Rheneas admitted.

"Ach, great! Now, you?!"

Then Rheneas' guard's whistle blew, and he was ready to leave.

"I must be off now, Duncan. I have to drop off these passengers to Crovan's Gate, and then I have a short break before my next passenger train."

Then he pulled his coaches out of the station, chuckling.

"Ach! No fair!" Duncan moaned. "All the other engines have been sitting aboot on schedules break for an entire week, and I haven't got a moment's rest of my own." Then his guard's whistle blew.

"Alright, alright, I'm going!" Duncan whistled, as he pulled his coaches sternly out of the platform.

Duncan was an engine who tended to complain on a regular basis, but what he said about the other narrow gauge engines resting while he kept a busy schedule was true.

Duncan's next job was to take some empty trucks to the Blue Mountain Quarry so they could be loaded with gravel and brought to to the Ulfstead castle grounds. But he was already in a bad mood as it was, and he took it out on the trucks.

"Get a move on, ya silly trucks!" he ordered, as he pushed them about the Depot yard. We don't have all morning to get to the quarry, ya know!"

"Ow, ow, ow!" the trucks called out. "Stop it, Duncan. That's enough!"

But Duncan just kept on pushing them…until he saw Rusty and Skarloey, sitting around outside the Engine Depot nearby. The two engines watched him closely with suspicion. Duncan stopped to talk to them.

"And what are you two doing?" he demanded. "Gossiping about in the sun when there's work to be done?"

"We happen to be on break," Rusty insisted

"On break?!" Duncan spluttered.

"Yes, Duncan," Skarloey answered. "This is my morning break before my next passenger train. Which should be quite soon, really."

"Y-yes," Rusty added. "And I'll patrolling the line soon with Mr. Hugh and the workmen. Never mind, Duncan. This is only a short break for us."

But Duncan did mind.

"It is isn't fair!" he grumbled. "First, Rheneas gets a chance to rest before his next passenger train, and now, I catch you two dozing off in the sun, lounging aboot while I work all day long, with no rest whatsoever."

"We're not lounging about!" Rusty demanded. "We're only getting in the rest we were allowed."

"And you need to mind your attitude, Duncan!" Skarloey warned. "We can't help it if you feel overworked. Now, can we?"

"Ach! I don't have time to argue with you engines. I actually have work to do. These trucks can't wait around all morning, you know!"

And he biffed them crossly further up the line, the two engines watching after him.

"That Duncan is going to get himself into a lot of trouble with those trucks," Rusty admitted concernedly. "You wait and see."

"Unfortunately," Skarloey sighed, "it's probably too late to even think about it."

Duncan gave his trucks one last biff as he pushed them into line.

"There! I've almost about had enough with you silly trucks! Now, it's time to shunt the next line!"

Then the yard manager walked up.

"Ah, Duncan. Don't go anywhere yet. I have a message for you from the Thin Controller."

"Oh, well, there's a surprise. Isn't it?" Duncan murmured quietly to himself, as to not let the yard manager hear.

"He has sent Peter Sam to help out at the Blue Mountain Quarry for the morning, and he'd like you to take the Refreshment Lady and some friends of hers in a tour of the line. Leave these trucks and come back for them later. They're due to the quarry this afternoon."

"But…that's two jobs to handle at a time, sir. Surely, the Thin Controller can ask another engine to do it."

"I'm sorry, Duncan, but he's asking you. You'd best get going. James is the visitors to Crovan's Gate right now."

"Yes, sir," Duncan sighed, as he chuffed away and left the yard.

"That silly old, Duncan!" the trucks remarked. "We'll get even!"

But no one heard them.

Duncan wasted no time in fetching the Refreshment Lady's mobile Tea Shop from the yard, and then made his way to the "Works Station." Duncan enjoyed keeping himself useful but he wasn't quite happy that his friends got their share of time off instead of him. When he arrived at Crovan's Gate, the Refreshment Lady Miss Neptune was waiting on the platform.

"Good morning, Duncan," she greeted. "Splendid to see you."

"Yes. Isn't it, milady?" Duncan gritted his teeth, as not to lose his temper and make himself look silly in front of the Refreshment Lady.

Miss Neptune chuckled, and warmly replied, "I usually expect to see Peter Sam here at this time in your position. But no matter. Your controller Mr. Percival explained everything."

"If Peter Sam were here, I'm sure he'd be much happier than I am…" Duncan thought to himself, before hearing James' whistle as he approached the platform across on the standard gauge track.

It wasn't long before James had arrived with the important passengers. The Refreshment Lady's friends exited the train and greeted her warmly.

"Come along now," Duncan whistled, trying to keep his patience. "Lots of things to see…" and muttered to himself, "…and do."

"You're in an awful hurry, Duncan," said James, as he looked over at him.

"Ach! Don't you start!" Duncan snapped back. "I'm not quite in the mood for being teased by big engines like you!"

"Alright, alright, take it easy," James chuckled. "I didn't mean to offend you. I just don't understand what your rush is."

"Oh, no rush at all, James," Duncan admitted. "I'm just not satisfied with some circumstances the Thin Controller puts me through."

"What do you mean?" James asked, rather confused.

"Ach, ye know. Perhaps like…giving all the other engines at the Depot a time to ease their axels and doze off in the sun while they wait for their next job. Meanwhile, I never get to rest my own wheels."

"Oh," James wondered, listening carefully.

"I'm kept busy all morning long with grumbling passengers and all those silly trucks. And I'm supposed to do Peter Sam's job and take the Refreshment Lady out on a coach tour with her lady friends! All this extra work is bound to wear an engine out!"

"Why, you poor engine," gasped James, understanding Duncan's case. "It must be frustrating, mustn't it?"

"You have no idea!" Duncan remarked.

"Eh, yes, I do," James corrected. "Sometimes I feel the exact same way when having to pull trucks as compared to nice, shining coaches. But when it comes to matters like these especially, I would often like to "take back" what I deserve."

"Take…back?" Duncan inquired. "I'm listening."

"Well," James explained, "I think you'll find that I can be a very persuasive engine. Usually when I'm not in the mood to pull trucks, I'd coax a more suitable engine to take them for me, so that I can be ready in time for my passenger train. Otherwise, the Fat Controller would just assign my coaches to another engine. So by "taking back" what I deserve, it's my way of tending to the jobs I like best. But you could try it in your own way, Duncan. It looks like you could use the rest from where I'm standing."

"Oh," muttered Duncan, rather speechlessly. "Well, eh, I thank ye, James. My guess is I can your meaningful words in consideration."

"Any time, Duncan!" James whistled, as his guard's whistle blew, and he was ready to leave.

"Take back what I deserve," Duncan thought, as he watched James leave the station. "Hmm…"

Unfortunately, what Duncan still didn't know was that James was an engine who liked to boast a lot, and wasn't quite usually one who would offer candid advice.

"All aboard, miladies!" Duncan whistled, as the Refreshment Lady and her friends boarded the coach. His guard's whistle blew, and Duncan left the station.

All the same, Duncan felt much better about things, as he began his journey with the Refreshment Lady's mobile stand.

Duncan's first stop was at the station Tea Rooms, where Miss Neptune started her shift by serving tea and cakes to her friends…and other passengers coming to visit the Tea Rooms. Duncan was about to whistle impatiently for the Refreshment Lady and her friends to get onboard, but then he quickly came to his senses. Better still, he watched all the commotion inside.

"Ach! Just look at those happy passengers, enjoying their dining experience as usual. Meanwhile, I'm kept waiting out here for…"

"Ah! Hello, Duncan!" Skarloey whistled, as he pulled into the station with coaches full of passengers. "Taking the tearoom special, eh?"

"It sure looks that way…Skarloey," Duncan remarked. "Oh, and by the way, I hope you enjoyed your break."

"Oh, come, come, now, Duncan," Skarloey insisted. "No long faces, please. Rusty and I were just enjoying the chance to rest that all we engines."

"Huh!" snorted Duncan.

"Besides, Rheneas and Luke have taken our spots in the yard, so to speak."

This made Duncan even more cross.

"Ya see? That is precisely what I mean! Every engine I've come across this week has gotten the chance to lull indolently in the sun for a short period of time, and neither of ye is doing any work!"

"Hold your pistons there, Duncan! I'm still entitled to carrying my own weight when it comes to trucks and passengers."

"That's beside my point, Skarloey! Can't ye see? The Thin Controller gives every engine gets a chance to rest except me!"

"Nonsense, Duncan!" Skarloey chuckled wisely. "The Thin Controller knows you're a really useful engine."

"Huh! Try fitting yerself in my timetable and you'll see what the true definition of "really useful" is!" Duncan remarked.

Skarloey rolled his eyes as his guard's whistle blew, and he quickly left the station.

(MM) No matter how hard his friends tried to reason with him, Duncan just wouldn't change his attitude about being overworked. At long last, Miss Neptune's shift was over, and she boarded the coach with her friends.

"Huh! About time!" Duncan muttered.

He wasted no time whatsoever, as he left the station.

"Take back what I deserve! Take back what I deserve!" he repeated hastily to himself, as he pulled the dining coach sternly along."

Duncan's next stop on his tour with the Refreshment Lady and her friends was at Lakeside Station, where she would often serve tea and cakes to visitors of Lakeside in her cafe called Neptune's Refreshments. Once again, Duncan had to wait all the while till his important passengers were back onboard.

"Ah, loss sakes!" he grumbled to himself. "It's no fun sittin' round 'ere doin' nothing! It wears an engine out. I'd rather be restin' back at the sheds!"

Elizabeth the vintage lorry was also nearby, picking up catering supplies from the cafe. She saw Duncan and took no notice of his constant grumbles, but Duncan quickly grabbed her attention.

"Well, this is a bit of an odd place to find an ol' steam lorry like you, Elizabeth!" Duncan rudely remarked. "And just what ye be doin' here then?"

"Mind your manners, Duncan, old chap," Elizabeth calmly replied. "I'm only picking up catering supplies for Sir Topham's high tea down at his mansion tomorrow."

"Oh, I see," Duncan figured, then he sighed admittedly, "I'm sorry I was rude. I didn't mean to offend ye. I was just wondering whether it not ye knew what it felt 'aving to go aboot all day keeping a busy timetable."

"Come again, Duncan?" Elizabeth wondered with confusion.

"Ach, ye might not know what it feels like for me, watching all the other engines resting aboot in the sun on passenger breakand have a nice polish whilst doing no work at all. It makes an engine feel completely left out and overwhelmed with the jobs he has to do."

"I don't feel overwhelmed, Duncan," Elizabeth chucked. "And I don't think I'm even in need of a decent polish either. As long as I'm kept busy."

"Huh!" Duncan quietly remarked, giving Elizabeth a funny look, as her cart was finally loaded up and ready to go.

"Well," Elizabeth sighed confidently, "I best be off now. It was good talking to you, Duncan. Bye now!" And he spluttered quietly as she rolled slowly away."

"Hmph!" Duncan remarked to himself. "Strange how an old vintage lorry like her can't understand my case. She'll probably be off to her shed too after her important delivery."

Duncan waited a little while longer, until Miss Neptune and her friends were to board the coach once more.

"Come on, Duncan!" she called out, "let's give our special guests a tour of the rest of the line before we head on back to Crovan's Gate!"

"Ah, the very thought of it," Duncan thought rather complimentary to himself. Then he left Lakeside as his guards' whistle blew.

Duncan remembered the talk he had with James, and couldn't stay cross for long.

As his journey was coming to an end, Duncan was hoping for a rest and a polish the moment he got back to the Depot. However, those hopes didn't last very long…

"Ach! Loss sakes!" he grumbled, as he saw a signalman waving a green flag up ahead, and his driver suddenly slowed him down. "What's the problem now?"

"Patience, Duncan," his driver reminded, as they came to a complete stop. "The signalman will explain to us momentarily."

The signalman took a deep breath, as he walked up and said, "my apologies, Duncan. But a portion of your track seems to have been bent from the extreme heat. No worries, though. I just spoke with Mr. Hugh. He and the workmen should be along anytime now with Rusty."

"Ach! Typical! Buckled tracks from the hot sun! How can this day get any worse?!"

"Relax, old boy," his driver soothed. "Situations like this do happen, especially in high temperatures."

"Huh! So I've noticed!"

It wasn't long before Rusty arrived, and Mr. Hugh and his men got to work straight at repairing Duncan's track.

"You took yer time with gettin' 'ere, Rusty!" Duncan teased. "It seems coincidental to me how Mr. Hugh and the workmen got here on time with all you silly engines dozing about in the sun for all hours."

"Actually, Duncan," Rusty sharply replied, "these workmen have been onboard my break van ever since Nancy headed back to the station for her shift. I've been taking them 'round since high noon to inspect the line in case of tracks having been buckled from extreme heat. The Thin Controller asked to do this job especially."

"Huh! Guess I'm not the only engine who works my wheels off," Duncan admitted. "I still must insist though that I'm in need of a rest."

"Your time will come, Duncan," Rusty heartily encouraged. "Just keep up the good work, and you'll be surprised what good can come out of really useful."

"Huh! That's kinda like what Skarloey said to me back at the Tea Rooms."

As soon as Duncan's track was mended, he and Rusty were to go again.

"Goodbye, Duncan!" Rusty hooted, as he took off with the workmen

Duncan whistled back as he made his way along the track, grumbling "silly engines. To hear them talk, ye'd I had no idea what I'm talking 'bout! Huh!"

Duncan just couldn't get understand all his friends got a chance to rest, except for him. Though what he had yet to realize was that really useful engines worked hard no matter how unfair the situation may have seemed.

James was waiting impatiently at Crovan's Gate for the train to arrive. His passengers were onboard, but he had to wait till the Tearoom Special to arrive so the Refreshment Lady's friends could catch their train home.

"Where is that Duncan?" he grumbled. "I can't keep my passengers waiting like this!" Then he heard the yellow narrow gauge engine's whistle, and looked crossly over as he pulled into the station. "Where have you been, Duncan?! Mypassengers are already onboard! It's lucky your important purchased round tickets for their trip home. Don't you know I'm a guaranteed connection?"

"I'm sorry, James!" Duncan insisted. "But it's not my fault, ya see!"

"Oh, really?" James wondered, as he listened to Duncan speak.

"I was held up at halfway because of tracks that have been buckled in the hot sun!" Duncan insisted. "And on top of that, we had to wait all the time for Rusty to arrive with the workmen!"

"Hmm…" James thought, eyeing Duncan carefully as he spoke.

"Those dawdling engines think they 'ave it so well, sitting 'round while I do Peter Sam's work, that they think they can hold me up as long as they desire! It's just a coincidence how the holdup with yer passengers is assumed to be my fault!"

"Not at all, Duncan," James sympathized. "I understand your situation completely. Have you thought yet how you were going to…erm…'take back' what you deserve?"

"Not yet," Duncan admitted. "It doesn't make a difference anyway. I still have trucks to deliver. How much busier can my day get?"

James' response came too soon, as his guard's whistle blew and he was ready to go.

"Look on the bright side, Duncan," James replied, as he exited the station. "The jobs you favor the least could be more suiting for another engine. I know this even though I'm entitled to my least favorite jobs."

"I never said anything jobs I like or don't like," Duncan stressed to himself. "It's more about what's fair concerning me and those other narrow gauge engines." He whistled and left the station as soon as his guard's whistle blew.

Even though he knew he had trucks to deliver to the Blue Mountain Quarry, Duncan thought hard of a plan to "take back" what he deserved…

Nancy is a guard's daughter, who lived near the narrow gauge railway. She was distantly related to the Thin Controller Mr. Percival's predecessor: Mr. Roger Sam, since one of his sisters Beatrice was Nancy's great-grandmother. She had a good relationship with Mr. Percival and the little engines, and would occasionally dedicate a certain amount of her time between work shifts to polish the other engines. Nancy loved this job clearly as much as the little engines enjoyed her company…

"Ooh!" Luke squirmed, as Nancy polished him all over with her rag, then laughed cheekily, "watch my funnel there, Nancy!"

"Sorry, Luke," Nancy chuckled, as she gently scrubbed against his dome, and joked, "better still, if you're so cautious about where I scrub, I'm not sure of any of you engines can say I'm the old fusspot now."

The two of them shared a laugh, as Duncan arrived back at the Depot.

"Ah, hello, Duncan," Nancy greeted. "Back so soon, eh?"

"Ach! The both of ye have no idea," Duncan suggested. "It's been quite an afternoon playin' servitude to the Refreshment Lady and her friends. Fillin' in for Peter Sam's job at the quarry, I presume."

Nancy laughed and replied, "well, that's good for you, Duncan. You look like you're in need of a polish. I guess I have a little bit more time before my shift. I'd be happy to give you a polish if you'd like."

"Oh," Duncan wondered, widening his eyes with excitement. "Well, I thought you'd never ask." Then he remembered his task at hand. "Mmm, but…"

"Excellent!" Nancy concluded. "I'll just get give my rag a bit of a wash and get straight to it."

"Eh, thank ye, Nancy," Duncan replied. "That's very kind of you!"

"Any time, Duncan," Nancy chuckled. "It's my pleasure to spend a good deal of my time with you engines." Then she walked to wash off her rag.

Duncan loved the idea of getting a polish, but he still knew that he had another job to do. Luke could see he was feeling uneasy.

"Are you…alright, Duncan?" the little green engine asked.

"Who? Me?" Duncan suddenly blurted out. "Oh, I'm fine, Luke. Just fine. I'm only excited 'bout getting a polish. That's all."

"Okay," Luke chuckled, "you just looked a little tense. That's all."

"Huh! Do I?" Duncan sarcastically muttered.

"Are you done with all your jobs for today?" Luke asked.

"Well…," Duncan replied, "ya see, Luke…"

Duncan was about to tell Luke about his job at the Blue Mountain Quarry as his quick-thinking reflexes would have led him to do, but then he remembered the example James gave him of "taking back" what he deserved, and an idea suddenly flew into his funnel.

"Actually, Luke," Duncan responded more confidently. "I have a message for you from the Thin Controller."

"For me?" Luke wondered.

"Yes, Luke," Duncan explained. "He wants you to take those empty trucks in the sidings near our sheds to the Blue Mountain Quarry, so they can be filled up with gravel and bought to Ulfstead for the Earl's castle ground."

"But…" Luke thought, rather confused. "I don't understand. Surely the Thin Controller would delivered the message to me himself if he wanted me to do the job."

"He's a busy man, Luke," Duncan reminded him persuasively. "I'm not sure he can be in so many places all at once when he has a railway to run, hence why he has us engines deliver these sorts of messages for him. Don't ye agree?"

"Well," Luke thought carefully, then decided, "if you put it that way, Duncan, then I guess I believe you. Besides, I always love a good run to Ulfstead. It brightens my smokebox and makes me feel warm inside."

"Mm, then aren't you the lucky one?" Duncan suggested.

"Lucky as I am to be taking gravel to my favorite place on all of Sodor," Luke whistled. And he left the Depot, calling out, "thank you, Duncan! I shan't be long."

Duncan watched Luke head out of the Depot for the yard, than sighed happily as he looked over at Nancy walking back towards him with her rag.

"Rag's all clean now, Duncan. Ready for a polish?"

"Oh, am I?" Duncan replied excitedly.

Nancy chuckled as she bent over his cab and got to work straight away.

Duncan thought he was being very clever by playing a trick on Luke and having him take his trucks. What he hadn't realized was that the trucks were still bent on paying him out for bumping them, and tended to play tricks on another engine if they didn't get their way.

Luke arrived at the sidings and shunted all the empty trucks into place. He was very careful not to bump them, but the trucks were rather cross.

"We didn't get the chance to pay Duncan out for bumping us!" one whispered.

"Let's play tricks on Luke instead!" whispered another, "one's engine's as bad as another!"

The trucks all giggled in agreement, as Luke had them steadily in line, and the shunter coupled him up.

"Come on, you trucks!" Luke whistled cheerily. "Let's get you filled with gravel, then it's off to Ulfstead!"

"That's not the way to speak!" a truck whispered.

"We'll show him!" whispered another.

But Luke heard nothing, as he pulled the trucks sternly out of the yard.

"Thanks again, Duncan!" Luke called out, as he passed the Depot.

"Any time, Luke!" Duncan whistled back, as he watched his friend disappear in the distance.

"I say," Nancy chuckled, as she scrubbed towards his dome. "What's that all about, Duncan?"

"Never mind, dear Nancy," Duncan yawned, as he closed his eyes. "Just…delivered a message. That's all." It felt good to have finally "taken back" what he deserved.

At first, Luke's journey to the Blue Mountain Quarry seemed to be going well. He sighed happily and observed the lovely scenery around him, as he pulled the trucks steadily along.

"Come along! Come along!" he chanted cheerfully.

"We won't! We won't!" the trucks groaned back. They didn't like the idea of being told what to do by an engine and were still rather cross about Duncan, but Luke just laughed as he pressed on along his route to the Quarry.

Luke's driver looked out at a familiar-looking sign in the distance.

"There's a signal up ahead, old boy," he cautioned. "I believe now would be the time to pin down our brakes."

"Absolutely," Luke agreed, and whistled loudly, as he called out, "brakes, guard, please!" Little did he know that the trucks were whispering quietly to each other from the back.

"Now's our chance," one whispered.

"Ready?" whispered a second.

"Go!" shouted the truck from the front of the train.

Luke prepared to slow down as he approached the signal up ahead, and his guard got ready to apply the lever outside the brake van. But before he could do so, the trucks surged ahead.

"On! On! On!" they shouted. "Faster! Faster! Faster!"

"Woah!" Luke wailed, "help!" as the trucks pushed suddenly forward, laughing giddily behind him.

"Stop, Luke! Stop!" his driver called.

"I can't!" Luke trembled, "these trucks won't let me!" as they raced on suddenly through the red signal.

The signalman tried to switch the points, but was too late to switch Luke to another line!

"Oh, no!" he gasped.

Paxton was just further down the line, carrying some stone trucks down from the Quarry, and had no idea that Luke was approaching.

Paxton hummed quietly as he pulled his trucks along. Then he heard Luke calling, "help!"

"What's that?" Paxton wondered.

Paxton wondered far too soon, for heading straight towards him was Luke and his runaway train!

"Help, Paxton! Help!" Luke shouted.

"Oh, dear!" Paxton gasped. "Oh, my!" and shut his eyes tight, as Luke came closer and closer.

The points were set for Paxton to divert onto another line, but Luke could not stop in time.

"Help!" he shouted.

His driver applied the brakes hard, but it was too late. Paxton rushed through the points with his stone trucks, as Luke hit the points set against him and was sent flying off the rails.

THUD!

Luke opened his eyes slowly and looked around him. The trucks were laughing and chattering noisily behind him, and Paxton backed down onto the other track to see what had happened.

"Are you alright, Luke?" he asked.

"I…eh…think so," Luke murmured. "Luckily, my crew wasn't hurt, but I don't understand why the trucks would want to push me off the rails."

"Trucks can be silly things, Luke," Paxton sympathetically explained, "but they only play tricks on an engine who isn't used to them."

"I know," Luke sighed sadly, as his driver and fireman felt him all over to see if rather he was hurt or not.

"Don't worry," Paxton promised. "I'll go and get help at the nearest signalbox."

And he rolled quickly away, Luke watching after him with surprise.

At the Depot, Nancy had gone back to the station, and Duncan was having a rest just outside the shed when…

Duncan awoke with a start as he heard an emergency bell ring nearby.

"Ach! Now what?" he grumbled, then jumped suddenly as Rheneas whistled loudly and stopped right beside him.

"Emergency!" he suddenly blurted out, "Luke's come off the rails!"

"What?" Duncan gasped. It took time for him to grasp this information, then he thought hard. "Oh, no," he sighed. "This is all my fault."

"What do you mean, Duncan?" Rheneas wondered.

"I tricked Luke into taking those trucks to the quarry so I could finally have a rest. And now I've caused him an accident."

"But…but…I don't understand, Duncan. Why…?"

"I'm sorry, Rheneas, but I haven't ample time to explain. Has Rusty already left with Mr. Hugh and the workmen?"

"Well…I would imagine, but…"

"Oh," Duncan groaned. "I must do my part in making up for this. Goodbye, Rheneas!" And he whistled loudly, as he rushed out of the depot.

"Wait, Duncan!" Rheneas called, "stop!"

But he sighed quietly, as Duncan was too far away for him to hear.

Duncan arrived quickly at the scene of the accident. Rusty and Mr. Hugh were already there with the workmen and the breakdown train. Mr. Percival was there too, and he did not look very happy.

"Duncan," he demanded, "I thought you were meant to be taking these trucks to the quarry, not Luke."

"What?" Luke gasped, as he was lowered onto the flatbed.

"I'm sorry, sir," Duncan explained, "I didn't mean for Luke's accident to happen. I was cross earlier and I took my anger on the trucks, so they must have played tricks on him instead, and I must've forgotten to warn Luke aboot them when I…eh…well…"

Luke and Rusty both looked at him confusedly as Mr. Percival listened carefully for Duncan to finish his sentence.

"…decided to take what I deserved," Duncan finished, without even thinking of what else to say.

"Take back?" Mr. Percival wondered. "But I don't understand, Duncan. What were you thinking when you asked Luke to take those trucks for you?"

"This entire week, sir, I've been feeling overworked with the busy timetable I had to keep, and I didn't find it fair how other engines got to have a rest in between jobs while I was kept busy all day long. The only chance I get to rest my axles is at night with all the other engines at the Depot."

Mr. Percival was surprised at Duncan's explanation.

"Duncan," he sighed, "I was going to give let you have a break this afternoon."

"What?" Duncan gasped.

"I've been thinking about how busy you've been keeping this entire week. I figured you've been working so hard as much any other engine that I was going to try and fit a short break into your schedule as well. I was going to ask the Earl to surprise you by delivering the message as soon as you got to Ulfstead. But now…I'm not so sure."

"I know, sir," Duncan admitted. "I was wrong to think I could "take back" what I deserved for meself...and…" he gulped, "…I lied to you, Luke, about the Thin Controller delivering that message. I'm sorry."

"I guess I can forgive you, Duncan. You were a good friend in owning up about it."

"Indeed," Mr. Percival agreed, "I'm glad you've learned your lesson, Duncan. But that still doesn't excuse, Duncan, for all the trouble you've caused. You should remember to work hard no matter what may seem uneven, and you need to learn be more patient for that matter."

"I know that now, sir," Duncan sighed, "I'll take these trucks to the Quarry right away before delivering them to Ulfstead."

"Right, you will, Duncan," Mr. Percival nodded, then added, "and you might as well consider during Luke's work as well as your own while he is being mended. That should help you make up for what you've done, now, shouldn't it?"

"Y-y-yes, sir," Duncan agreed, as he slowly switched tracks and backed down onto the trucks.

"See you later, Duncan!" Rusty honked, as he pulled Luke slowly away aboard the breakdown train.

Duncan whistled, and pulled his trucks slowly and carefully towards the quarry.

Duncan bought the trucks to the Blue Mountain Quarry where they were quickly filled with gravel. Then he made his journey towards Ulfstead, where the Earl was waiting at the castle platform.

"Thank you, Duncan," the Earl greeted, "this gravel will be perfect for use throughout the castle grounds." Then he explained, "and by the way, I did hear about your little mishap with the trucks."

"Eh, ye did, sir?" Duncan chuckled nervously, "yeah, that was silly of me. Tricking another into taking my trucks. He-he." Duncan felt uneasy, but the Earl smiled warmly at him.

"Not if you're brave enough to make up for it," the Earl suggested.

Duncan couldn't agree more, and was proud to have learned his lesson by making up for the errors in his ways.

After returning from Ulfstead, Duncan came to visit Luke at the SteamWorks. The workmen were especially busy with looking him over.

"Oh, hello, Duncan!" Luke greeted, as his friend whistled and stopped before him. "What are you doing here?"

"I figured I had enough time before my next passenger train to see how you were getting on," Duncan answered. "Again, Luke, I'm very sorry to have put you in this predicament. It just seemed so frustrating 'aving to work my wheels off while the other engines got to sit around from time to time. But now, that doesn't matter anymore. It's more important for me to help out a friend in need."

"Oh," Luke chuckled, "being mended won't take too long, Duncan. Perhaps a day or two. I'm not that hurt, you know. It's only my wheels and pistons that need fixing up."

"Good for you, Luke. I must be going now. I have coaches to collect for the passenger train yer were meant to be taking. Goodbye, Luke!"

"Goodbye, Duncan!" Luke called back, as smiled as he watched his friend whistle and back out of the SteamWorks.

Rusty was at the Depot dropping off the breakdown train, as Duncan shunted his passenger carriages gently into place.

"Doing alright there, Duncan?" the little diesel asked.

"Quite necessary, Rusty," Duncan responded sensibly. "Though, I must admit, I will be kept busy the rest of the afternoon doing Luke's work as well as my own. But I'm certain I can manage this on my own the next couple of days."

"I'm sure you'll be able to, Duncan," Rusty assured him, "I'm off now to continue patrolling the line with Mr. Hugh and the workmen."

"Eh, okay then. Ye 'ave fun wit' that…while I…em…pull these coaches to the station and…woah!" Duncan jumped suddenly at the sound of the guard's whistle, and was suddenly off in a huff. "Alright, alright, I'm going!" he gasped.

Rusty chuckled, and so did Rheneas as he backed down beside him.

"Some things just never change with most engines. Eh, Rheneas?"

"I guess not," Rheneas agreed. "Though to see Duncan in such a hurry, you'd think that his yellow paintwork would have him all fired up!"

The two friends laughed as they set back to work.

Duncan was kept busy with the passengers for the rest of the afternoon, and kept himself from grumbling no matter how long and tiresome the journey seemed to be. At long last, he arrived at Crovan's Gate, where Skarloey was getting ready for his journey with carriages full of passengers.

"Oh. Hello again, Duncan. Feeling any better?"

"Just fine, Skarloey. Just keeping rather busy. That's all."

"Good for you, Duncan," Skarloey encouraged, as his guard's whistle blew. "Keep up the good work."

"Thanks, Skarloey. I will." And Duncan watched his friend whistle and leave the station, just as he heard a familiar whistle from behind him.

"Ah," he thought, "now to give that red bossy boiler a piece of my mind."

James stopped just beside Duncan, and was rather surprised to see him.

"We just keeping running into each other. Don't we?" the big red engine teased.

"Huh!" Duncan snorted. He was cross enough with James for sticking such a silly idea down his funnel.

"So," James continued, "how did it go trying to…take back what you deserved?"

"Well, not quite successful, actually," Duncan admitted.

"Oh," James gasped.

"Mmm, but…" Duncan went on, "I've learnt to work hard anyway no matter how unfair matters may seem. It was a silly idea to try and "take back" anything, since it got me into the position of doing Luke's work while he is being mended. Though I'd rather prefer doing a favor for a friend than sitting 'round any day. Better than any favor that concerns yer advice, James. Goodbye."

And he whistled and left the station as soon as his guard's whistle blew, James watching after him with surprise.

"Hmm!" he muttered. "Guess my idea to cheer the young sap up didn't work after all." He waited till his guard's whistle blew, and left the station with his shining coaches gliding steadily after him. "Taking back what you deserve. Huh!"

He felt as though Duncan had justified his idea after all.

THE END

Surprise! Yeah, I decided to myself that decent stories take a bit of time to write, but this one felt good overall. I've really neglected the narrow gauge engines in past stories and I'm glad to have gotten the chance to do this one. Credit to Chase The Ferroequinologist for the story idea! At first, it took some time to think logically about a story where Duncan "takes back" what he deserves, but giving James something to do with it helped move the story along, really. I was quite satisfied by how I was able to display the character dynamics I did here: Nancy's part I kind of added in late, and Luke's role was something I thought of to work up a main conflict/resolution. But the main highlight for me was the interactions I developed by Duncan and James as characters. It was a move of nostalgia for me that ended feeling rather RWS/S4-esque, like I did with Henry and Peter Sam in the last narrow gauge story, and it's something I might work on in future. The trio of Sir Handel, Peter Sam and Duke was something I omitted for some reason, perhaps because I have something planned with those three later on. I know there was a slight scolding scene with the Thin Controller, but it's only rare since it worked this time to develop the resolution and help Duncan learn from his mistake. I hope you all enjoyed this story, so for now, stay tuned for...

The Bus And The Boxcab - Philip and Bertie challenge each other to a race along the route to Ffarquhar, though the race becomes overly competitive, they both learn that it's not always about winning.

BoCo Buffers Up - BoCo is left to work to look after Wellsworth Yard while Edward takes a goods train to the mainland. He manages fine at first, but must pluck up his courage when helping Spencer up Gordon's Hill.

Catch That Thief! - Thomas is disappointed when he is not able to help out his friend Tom Tipper with his mail runs along the Branch Line, but when the postman's van is carjacked, Thomas works together with Toby, Percy, Bertie and Constable Roger to prevent the robbery!

Tender Trouble - loosely based on the RWS story The Missing Coach, a heated debate between Donald and Douglas causes the latter to misplace Thomas' Special Coach, so the Caledonian twins reluctantly swap tenders to cover their mistake...!

I'm really excited about all these stories. And remember, you guys are welcome to let me know what you think of them. Till next time!