Tales from old Times Part 2 (Jasmine's Story)

After a few Minutes, Lukas stopped crying. He had needed someone who he could talk to. He had his Feeling hidden behind a happy and friendly mask, but deep down, his feelings were growing with rage and hate. If he hadn't talked to someone, he would let his rage and hate out at someone who didn't deserve it.

He looked over to Jasmine who just stood there, next to him and with a look of understanding on her face. He smiled at her, knowing that he had found someone to talk to.

"You know something, Jasmine? I had heard of the S&D from your Brother, Radstock, I think. He tolled me about the Rivalry between the S&D Engines and the GWR Engines, but he also tolled me that there was another Railways Presence on that Line. What about them?" He asked her.

"Well, The other Railway was the LMS. They had very Friendly Engines, who understood us. That was because the LMS Railway had send us they're older Engines first, mostly from the Midland Railway. They had gone through the same thing that we were going through back then. They even helped us when one of my Brothers crashed through Bath Station, while the GWR Engines just stood in the Sheds and were taking away Space. Radstock and I were always working together, but he wasn't there when 'It' happened..." She said, the last part going out in a Whisper.

"What Happened?" Lukas asked.

"Its, not easy to talk about it." She said slowly.

"OH, Oh, no, you don't have to if you don't want to!" Lukas said.

"No, no, its allright. It was in Summer 1925...

"... and the S&D was packed with Trains, full with Holiday makers and normal Passengers, who wanted to go to they're Work or they Homes. I was stationed at Templecome at the Time, with Parker, an LMS 4F, Scott, a 2P, Ronald, a 3F and Theodore, a GWR 517 Class. Parker, Scott and Ronald were very good shed mates, and were always happy to met someone new. But Theodore was a more Grumpy Engine, who wanted to work more on his own than with someone else, but he had a soft spot inside of him. It was just like any other Morning, Ronald would be out in the Yards, shunting Trucks and Coaches around, Parker would leave with the slow Goods and half an Hour later would Scott steam of to Templecome upper to Collect his Local Passenger Train. Theodore would grumble about the Weather and would then Steam of to get his Coaches. I was the Relief Engine, waiting for an Call for Help. I was waiting in the Sheds for about an Hour when the Pines Express slowed to an Stop at the lower Platform. Then there came three short toots, then three long ones, and then three short ones. I puffed out of the Sheds to see a worn out Royal Scot, limping towards the Sheds, wheezing and coughing, with Steam leaking from his Valves. He stopped next to me and his Driver Jumped out, walking to my Cab.

"Our Royal Scot here has failed. His Tubes are leaking and he has no more Power for the Run up to Bath. Could you head the Pines to Bath. There is a 2P at Evercreech, who will double head with you over the Mendips." He said, while Pointing firstly at the Royal Scot and then to the Stranded Passenger train at the Platform.

"Of Course we can help you." My Drive said.

We Steamed out of the Sheds and steamed to the Platform. We were Coupled up and with a loud blast of my Fowler Whistle, I steamed out of the Station. The Trip to Evercreech was a smooth one, as the Line between Templecome and Evercreech was mostly Levelled. We slowly steamed into Evercreech Junction and stopped there. I looked around, but I couldn't find the 2P. Instead, I saw a GWR Star Class Tender Engine, standing in the Yards, Eyeing my with a nasty Scowl on his Face.

"Where is the 2P?" My driver asked the Station Master.

"It was Called away for a Special Passenger Train at Bath. But the Star Class over there is Available." He said, pointing to the 4-6-0 in the Yards.

We couldn't argue, so the Star was coupled in front of me, and we set of towards Bath. We were making good Time, when I suddenly felt myself working harder and harder. The Star was starting to slack of, not making any attempts to help me. I shouted to him to work harder, but he wouldn't say a thing to me. I puffed and puffed, pulling the Train and Pushing the Star in front of me. When we reached Shepton Mallet, I was nearly crawling at snail speed. With one, final Puff, we stopped, standing at the Platform. If that wasn't already enough, there, on the other Platform stood a GWR small Prairie, laughing at me and cheering for the Star. We stood there, blocking the first Platform and I could do nothing. After a few Hours, two S&D 4-4-0s came and Coupled themselves up to the Train. With the three of us, we could finally make our way towards Bath. When we reached it, the Manager of the S&D stood there, waiting for us. When the Star saw the Manager, he lied to him, saying that it was me who was slacking of and that he did all the work. The Manager believed that Engine and punished me for slacking of whilst working. I worked Coal Trains for the rest of the Year, and I've got no sympathy from the others. Ever Radstock stopped speaking to me! The GWR Engines always laughed at me, saying I was no use for the Company, and being a weakling. The S&D Engines had stopped talking to me, not wanting to be around me. The only Engines that were talking to me were the LMS and the SR Engines, who believed me when I was saying that it was the Stars fault."

-

"Okay, that explains why you have your Troubles with the GWR Engines, but why weren't you Angry with Duck and Oliver when they forced you out of the Sheds?" Lukas said after Jasmine ended her Story.

"Well, After I finished my undeserved Punishment, I was back in Templecome, where Parker, Scot, Ronald and, strangely, Theodore welcomed me back. They said they missed me and Theodore said to me that he talked to the Manager about the Star and that it was an Engine who always lied to the Management so that others would stand in for his mistakes. He also said that not all GWR Engines are bad and that S&D and GWR Engines would someday be working together, side by side, in Peace." Jasmine said, a happy smile on her Face, thinking back to the Time at Templecome, and the Templecome Engine Crew.

"You know Jasmine, Theodore was right with his thoughts." Lukas said.

"Why?" The 7F asked.

"Well, Radstock is working on the West Somerset Railway, with GWR Railway Engines, and as far as I saw it, they didn't tried to kill each other." Lukas said, with a slight laugh.

Jasmine though about it and laughed too.

"You know, your right, and maybe, if Radstock made Peace with the GWR Engines on the West Somerset, maybe I can make Peace with Duck and Oliver here!" She said with determination in her Voice.

"Now that's the Spirit! Now lets go, I think Ms. Hatt has work for us." Lukas said.

Jasmine agreed with that and the two Engines puffed of to the Station.