Forgotten Rails: The Story of 382
Summary: It happens every year. The nightmare of her accident many years ago. When an engine on Sodor has an accident very similar to hers, she tells her friends what her life was like back in the early days. This is Cayce. And this is her story.
Author's Note: Wow, I wasn't expecting a review or a follower at all for this story. I really got to put more faith in myself. Thank you so much for the reviews and the following Guest: Anonymous, and User: ChAoSVA757. Just for you two, here is Forgotten Rails Chapter 2!
Disclaimer: I don't own Thomas the Tank Engine. I only own, Cayce, Mike, and Benjamin.
Chapter 2: Rumors and Meetings
"Well, for most, it all started on April 29, 1900. Tonight, over 100 years ago," Cayce sighed. "But, for me, it started about a week after I first arrived. When I first saw him."
Belle looked towards Cayce curiously.
"Saw who?"
Cayce took a deep breath before answering.
"Casey Jones."
Belle, Flynn, and Butch gasped in shock.
"You knew Casey Jones?" asked Belle in surprise.
Flynn moved closer to Cayce.
"He's, like, one of the most of the widely known engineers of America. How did you get a chance to meet him?"
Cayce bit her lip.
"Well, the first time I met him, it was under...very interesting circumstances..."
It had been a week since 382 arrived on the Illinois Central Railroad, and her main test runs had been successful. While she yet had the chance to pull a train of her own, she mostly stayed in the yard, pushing cars around into their sidings.
George, the 4-4-0, was getting ready to take a small, but heavy freight train up to Jackson, Tennessee.
"See you later, younglin'. Have a safe day."
382 glanced ahead to George.
"Alright. Same to you," she responded shyly.
George whistled and wheezed slowly out of the yard, the train taking most of his puffs to start moving. Just then, a super loud whistle that sounded like some sort of a bird echoed through the yard as a 2-8-0 Consolidation roared into the station and screeched to a stop. The engine was painted black and grey with highlights. The initials I.C.R.R. adorned the sides of his cab while the number 638 adorned his tender.
382 watched with surprise at the engine.
"I've never heard a whistle like that before!"
Her driver scoffed.
"It's just Casey Jones. He's a show-off, but you gotta respect the man. He always gets late trains into the station on time."
382 was puzzled.
"Casey Jones? Is that the engine's name?"
Her driver laughed.
"No. It's the engineer."
Meanwhile, Casey came over to 382 and her crew.
"Howdy. Good to see you guys again. Who's this?"
382's driver smiled.
"This is 382. She arrived just last week."
Casey smiled.
"A pleasure to meet you, Miss 382."
382 blushed.
"Thank you, Mr. Jones."
Casey laughed.
"That was my father. Casey's fine."
382 let off steam shyly.
"Okay, Casey."
Just then a message came through the telegraph line. The telegrapher ran out of his office, and over to 382, her crew, and Casey.
"George is stalled on Three Mile Grade. We need an engine to get him going."
382 pumped her pistons.
"I can do it."
The telegrapher looked at 382.
"You sure? You're pretty small. And you haven't even left the yard except for your test runs."
"I'm bigger than George. I may not have a lot of experience, but I still want to try."
"At least take some back up. Casey, how fast can you and 638 get turned around?"
Casey smiled.
"Let's find out."
Casey went over to 638 and climbed into the cab. His fireman quickly uncoupled the train, and climbed back in as Casey moved 638 onto the turntable to be turned around. Once 638 was turned around, 382 quickly steam out of the yard and onto the main line, 638 right behind her. Soon, the two engines found George, spinning his wheels on Three Mile Grade. Sparks flew and his funnel flared. With a grunt of exhaustion, his driver shut off the steam and applied the brakes as 382 and 638 pulled up behind him.
382 whistled.
"Here to help, George!"
George groaned.
"I don't need your help."
638 chuckled.
"It sure looks like you do."
Suddenly, there was a loud pop, and George began to roll back.
"Uh, oh."
Casey reversed 638 down the grade, but 382 held firm. George's cars gently tapped into 382's front coupler and began to push her back. She groaned under the weight, but began to push back.
"I'm...not...letting...you...fall…," she panted.
Then, she felt something behind her. It was Casey and 638! 638 called up to her.
"Right behind you!"
382 whistled and pushed hard.
"Help us out, George!"
George's driver released the now broken air brakes and the locomotive brakes, and opened the throttle. Slowly, but surely, the train began to move up the grade.
"I'm doing it," panted George.
382 laughed.
"No..we're doing it!"
Soon, the train reached the top, and all three engines were quickly chalked up while George's air brakes were checked. George's driver came to the back of the train with bad news.
"George's air brakes are shot. He's not gonna be going anywhere."
382 paused to think.
"What if I take the train?"
638 looked at 382 worriedly.
"Are you sure you can handle it?"
"I'm positive," she replied. "Let's get to the next stop and uncouple George from the train. You and I can use our brakes for the train to get there."
The crews began to discuss the plan. Soon, 382 and 638 were coupled together, and their air lines connected with one another and the train. After a quick air brake test, the three engines slowly moved down the other side of the grade and soon reached the bottom. The line ahead was flat and straight, allowing the three engines to go faster. Soon, the next station appeared in sight. With the hissing of steam, and the squealing of brakes, the engines rolled to a stop.
George was uncoupled from the train and was moved onto a siding out of the way. 638 was uncoupled and turned around, ready to take George back to the Water Valley Yard.
"You did good," he said to 382.
382 blushed.
"Thanks. What's your name?"
"I'm Mike. I believe you have a train to pull?"
"Oh, right."
382 was quickly coupled on and raced away, whistling loudly. Mike and Casey chuckled as she roared out of the station, towing George back to Water Valley, and to get ready for their next train.
Butch's eyes were wide with wonder.
"So, what happened next?"
Cayce sighed quietly.
"When I got back from Jackson the next morning, Mr. Durango was so proud of me for performing that well under pressure that he transferred me to a passenger run from Memphis, Tennessee to Canton, Mississippi. This run offered the fastest schedules in the history of railroads. I know some engineers doubted the times could be met, and some even quit!"
Cayce laughed softly as she remembered the good times.
"But..Casey saw it as a challenge, and transferred to the same run I did in February of 1900. I had been on that section of the line for two years, running trains back and forth with another engine named 384. Apparently, he was my younger brother as he was built at a later date then I was. He was named Benjamin after the legend of Ben Franklin who supposedly was struck by lightning and survived. Same thing happened to Benjamin as well. We all called him Ben then."
Cayce sighed once more.
"Then came that day…the day of that fateful run, and my first wreck..."
And that's the end of this chapter! Stay tuned for the next one! And be prepared. The story takes a darker turn!