Enter the Steam Giants Part 4

Work on the Grand Central never stops, even in times of war. The Grand Central has many jobs, weather it ranges to work on the railroad, or even ones that are far away. The engines all work hard to get the work done fast and on time.

One day at the coaling plant, Jurina was happily shunting coal cars. Jurina was the only engine that worked at the coaling plant, which meant she had a lot of work to do. It ranged from loading cars to shunting them for other engines. But she didn't mind, she likes the hard work.

Right now, she was arranging a train that was to be taken to Bigg City Port. One of the jobs for the engines on the Grand Central is supplying the Star Tugs and Zed Stacks with coal.

Soon she had shunted the last car onto the thirty car train.

"Ready to roll" said Jurina as she switched onto the line next to the train.

"Now the only thing left is for the engine to come and collect it" said the driver after he reset the points.

And not a moment later, Jurina heard the sound of a steam train approaching.

"Right on time" said Jurina.

Then, a Norfolk and Western Y Class 2-8-8-2 pulled into the coaling plant.

Jurina stared in awe at the big engine. It was almost as big as Xander, Selina, Hercules, and Allie. The big engine saw that Jurina was looking at him and smiled.

"Hey there, like what you see" he asked with a cheeky smile.

Jurina quickly looked away and blushed

"Sorry, I was just amazed by your size." she said nervously. The big engine chuckled

"You're not the first, its common when engines see me to stare. My name is Andrew, what's yours" he asked nicely.

Jurina looked at him and smiled "My name's Jurina, I'm the main engine here. You need coal cars, you come talk to me".

"I'll remember that. But anyway, I'm actually here to collect a train of coal cars" said Andrew.

Jurina gave a smug smile "oh, you mean this train?" she asked looking over at the train she had arranged.

"Yep, that's the one" said Andrew "Now I just have to get turned around. Where's the turntable" he asked Jurina.

"Turntables busted, but we do have a loop line. It's over there" said Jurina looking to a set of points near the coal loader.

"Thanks" said Andrew, and he rolled over to the line.

After Andrew had been turned around, he carefully backed down onto the train. The fireman made sure he was attached, and when he was, he was ready to go.

"Thanks for the chat Jurina, see ya around" said Andrew as he puffed out of the coaling plant.

"Bye Andrew" said Jurina, and then she left to find more freight cars.

Later Andrew was roaring down the main line towards Bigg City. He was moving so smoothly, that even the cars were happy. "He's a very good freight puller" they said to themselves. And Andrew was also enjoying himself. He liked running down the line, with the wind wiping his face and the signal light showing green. And whenever he stopped for coal and water, he took in the nature or enjoyed the new sights. However, he also liked it when he rolled into a big station or yard, and all the people or engines looked in awe at him. But he only enjoys that once in a while.

A few hours later, Andrew arrived in Bigg City. As he puffed through the city, many people looked and waved at him. Andrew's driver blew the whistle in response. And Andrew was enjoying his time in the city.

But soon he left the city and arrived in Bigg City Port. He puffed past many docks, where ships were being loaded and unloaded. Then, he arrived at the coaling depot.

His driver pulled the train up to the unloading dock, and stopped Andrew just beyond the dock.

"Alright, let's start unloading" said one of the dock workers. Then a nearby crane spun around and used a giant bucket to start unloading Andrew's cars.

While Andrew was waiting for his cars to be unloaded, he decided to look at the scenery. All around him, he could see buildings, water, and barges. But, then he saw that a big tugboat was near the dock, with a barge that was being loaded with coal. Andrew decided to introduce himself.

"Hi there" said Andrew to the tug. The tugboat looked over at Andrew.

"Are you talking to me" asked the Tug.

"Yes I am. My name is Andrew. Who are you" asked Andrew.

The tugboat smiled

"My name is Big Mac. Nice to meet you Andrew, are you new, I haven't see you before" asked Big Mac.

"Yep, I was purchased by the Grand Central to do coal runs to Bigg City Port. Now you and the Zed Stacks will have plenty of coal" said Andrew.

"Great, thanks for your help" said Big Mac with a friendly smile.

Soon the two were chatting away like old friends. Andrew talked about his life on his old railway, and Big Mac told about his life in the port.

But an hour later, Andrew's driver interrupted the twos conversation.

"Were done here Andrew. Now we have to go collect empty fuel tankers and take them to the Grand Central Oil Depot" said the driver, and then he rejoined the fireman in the cab.

Andrew looked over at Big Mac.

"Sorry Big Mac, I have to go" he said slightly sad.

"No problem. Work comes first" said Big Mac with a smile, which Andrew returned.

Then, Andrew's driver moved Andrew forward towards the dock with the empty fuel tankers.

Andrew arrived at the dock where the empty fuel cars were sitting in a long row. The train was so big, that Andrew was sure that it wouldn't have fitted on a normal dock.

The one that Andrew and the cars were currently on was very big. It looked like it could have six big cargo ships tied to it and there would still be room to spare.

In fact, there was already ship tied near Andrew's train. It was painted in navy grey and had the words Saint Helen written on the bow.

Andrew's driver carefully reversed him back onto the train. But they couldn't set off yet, as a passenger train was to pass through in a few minutes, so they had to wait.

"Now what" said Andrew? That was one problem with Andrew; he didn't like having nothing to do. He looked around, seeing if there was something to occupy his time. Then, he looked to his left and saw that the big cargo ship was still tied onto the dock.

"Weird, I can see cargo on the deck. So it must be full, so why isn't it leaving" he wondered to himself.

Then, an idea flew into his smoke box. He remembered the nice conversations he had with Jurina and Big Mac. So surely he could start a conversation with this ship while it was still here.

"Hello there" said Andrew. The big ship looked down at the Norfolk sitting beside her. "Oh hello, I didn't see you there. Who are you" the ship asked nicely.

"My name is Andrew. I'm guessing you're Saint Helen" he asked.

"Yep, but you can just call me Helen. All the other tugs and engines do" said Helen with a slight laugh.

"So, if you don't mind me asking, why are you here? You look life your full and ready to leave" asked Andrew.

"Full, no honey, I'm only half full. The oil drums on deck where just tied down there so they can be quickly unloaded when I get to my destination" said Helen.

"Oh, so are you waiting for more cargo. I expect you could carry things like weapons and munitions" said Andrew.

But it looked like Andrew said the wrong thing, because then Helen got angry.

"WHAT, TAKE FUEL AND MUNITIONS ON THE SAME SHIP? ARE YOU CRAZY" she screamed. Andrew was surprised

"What's so wrong with taking them on the same ship" he asked.

Now, Helen was confused. "Are you new around here" she asked.

"Ya, I'm the newest engine on the Grand Central Railway" said Andrew.

"Then I guess you don't know what happened the last time they loaded Fuel and Munitions on the same ship" she said sternly.

"What happened" asked a curious Andrew?

"Twenty years ago, the Star Tugs and Zed Stacks where in charge of loading the steamer Kraka Toa with fuel and munitions. But so was Bluenose, that naval twit. He was so busy barking orders at the others that he accidentally hit a barge loaded with oil drums. The drums spilled their oil and caught fire. Soon all the oil and munitions were on fire. There were huge explosions, so big that they blew up the oil refinery, half the dock, and even half sank Kraka Toa. They took her to a navy ship yard, and he just barely made it. It took a few years, but she was eventually repaired. But now she refuses to work for the navy. So now she's a cargo ship. Now do you see why it's a bad idea?" she asked when she finished.

Andrew was silent for a moment before he spoke. "I didn't know something like that could happen. I'm sorry I didn't know I can only imagine what Kraka Toa feels" said Andrew sadly.

Then Helen gave a small smile "It's okay, like you said, you didn't know. But now you do, so you've learned. And that is what is important". Andrew looked up at here and returned the smile.

Then, a large engine rolled by with a passenger train. Soon after it was gone, Andrew's signal turned green. This meant that Andrew had to go. He looked up at Helen

"Well I have to go. Goodbye Helen" he said smiling.

Helen smiled back "Goodbye Andrew. Remember, if were both in Bigg City at the same time, we'll stop and have a chat".

Then, Andrew's wheels began to move and his whistle blew loudly.

"Bye Helen" said Andrew as he puffed away.

"Bye Andrew" Helen shouted at the departing engine.

That night, Andrew had arrived at the Grand Central Oil Depot. He reversed his train into a siding, were another engine would give it tomorrow. After he had been uncoupled, his driver moved him out of the Oil Depot and onto the Main Line.

But as Andrew moved along the track, he thought of the day he had. He had started his new life on the Grand Central, had taken two long trains, and had made 3 new friends. "Not a bad first day" he said as he carried on towards his shed.