A Halloween Fright

The month of October went by faster than any of the engines could imagine. Soon, it was the last day of October, and that was why the engines were excited.

It was Halloween; meaning kids dressing up in costumes, Jack-o-lanterns, and spooky stories. Tales of grimacing specter's and long forgotten ghost engines. It was truly a night to get your fright on.

That Halloween night, all the engines where at Ramsey Sheds. They were telling ghost stories.

"And then, the little boy say in horror as the Midnight Phantom came rolling towards him. It creaked and croaked as it rolled down the line. The boy was so scared that he couldn't move. And that night, another soul joined those already aboard the Midnight Phantom" said Albus.

The other engines were very scared, especially Rose. "Great Story Albus" said Jaime.

"Ya, but it was more interesting than scary" said Sam.

Albus rolled his eyes "oh please, no one here could tell a better story than me" he huffed.

"I wouldn't say that so soon" said a voice. The engines looked to their right, and there at the side of the shed was Norris.

"Norris, glad you could make it" said Jake. "Well, I didn't want to miss the fun. Sorry I was late; Tina and Lucy tried to scare me while I went past the logging station" said Norris with a small smile.

"So you think you can tell a better story than me" asked Albus. "I don't think I can, I know I can" said Norris with a grin. "Then let's hear it" said Albus, as the turntable spun him around and he backed into his shed.

Soon Norris was on the turntable, facing the engines. "Alright then, let me tell you a story that I've heard over the years" said Norris.

Long ago, in the early days of railroading, there was one engine that loved to work. He had an impressive record, one without any accidents. But one Halloween night, the manger had him collect a train to take to the main station. He eagerly agreed, and went off to collect his train. But when he collected it and began his journey to the station, he had the feeling that something was fallowing him. And something was; a young tank engine who wanted to scare him. So when he came to a corner by a cliff, the tank engine rushed up to him and screamed like a maniac. The engine and its crew were so scared, that they didn't see that the freight train ahead of them had stopped. The crashed into the train, and fell over the cliff, down into the valley below. People searched the whole valley, but only the caboose was recovered.

But to this day, people say that the engine is still running the rails. He plunges into the night, screaming like a lost soul. Some say he wants to finish his delivery, others say he wants revenge on the tank engine that killed him and ruined his record. But since he never got a clear look at the engine, he is said to take his revenge out on any tank engine he comes across. So be alert, because there are three signs that show he is near. First, you will hear a clanking noise of his wheels on the rails. Then, you will hear his ghostly whistle. And finally, the ghost engine will appear out of the fog with his light shining, and take you right off the rails to the other side.

Norris finished his story with a grin on his face. Unlike when Albus told his story, all the engines were totally scared. "Wow Norris, that story is totally scary" said Samantha.

"I think one of my water pipes has sprung a leak" said Roku. But all there fright was nothing compared to Rose, who was shaking like a cold dog.

"So Albus, still think your story is the best" asked Norris. Albus, who was totally scared like the others, turned red. "I stand corrected Norris, your story was far better than mine" said Albus.

Norris chuckled, but then he saw that Rose was looking terrified. "What's the matter Rose, scared of the Ghost Engine" he asked grinning.

"Uh, no, of course not" said Rose shakily. But then, a black car pulled up. Out stepped Mr. Copper, who was dressed as a hobo.

"Hello there sir, care to take a look at some of our fine box cars" asked Sam. And then he and the other engines chuckled.

"Ha, very funny Sam. But I'm not here to listen to jokes, I have a job for Rose" he said looking at the scared Pannier. "Oh, and what would that be" asked Rose, hopping work would take her mind off the ghost.

"I need you to collect a load of coal cars from the coal depot and take them to the smelters. They need them to fuel their furnaces" said Mr. Copper. But now Rose was scared again; she didn't want to go to the coal depot. Because that means she would have to go through the high hills near the mountains. And after that, she would have to go to the creepy Smelters Yard.

"Uh, do I have to do it sir, why can't Josh do it" asked Rose.

"Really Useful Engines don't ague" said Mr. Copper sternly, and then he turned around and left.

Rose started to shake more than ever, and Sam could see this. "Don't worry Rose, there's no such thing as ghost. It's just a story" he said with a happy smile. "That's what you think Sam" said Norris, and then he puffed away, laughing evilly. Rose shivered one last time, before she puffed out of the shed.

Later, Rose was chuffing along the main line towards the Coal Depot. Her light shown in the dark, lighting the track in front of her. But even with the light, Rose kept thinking about Norris' story. "Still haunts the rails even to this day" she thought. Even Sam's kind words couldn't help her.

But then, Rose heard something that made her firebox run cold. She heard a high clanking noise. It sounded like wheels running alone the track. "Wha, wha, what's that" she asked shakily.

Her driver listened "just sounds like another engine" he said. But then, Rose remembered Norris' story "First, you will hear the clanking noise of his wheels on the track" he said silently. Then, the clanking noise became louder. "PLEASE, CAN WE GO A LITTLE FASTER" he screamed. Her driver could tell she was scared, so he opened the throttle a little more, and then continued on their way to the coal depot.

Soon, Rose came up to the cliffs near the mountains. She looked down at the deep valley below. "And then the engine hit the train and fell down into the ravine" she said silently. But she forgot about the valley just a minute later. Because as Rose puffed along the cliff high rails, she heard a soft whistle. It wasn't her, and there were no other engines around. The whistle echoed through the valley, vibrating off the cliffs. This made Rose even more scared "Uh, can we please hurry up" she asked her driver. "We are going as fast as we are allowed" said the driver. Rose, knowing she couldn't go faster, closed her eyes until they had left the cliffs and the whistling stopped.

And it wasn't long before they pulled into the Coal Depot. They stopped by one of the coal shuts, and then Jurina pulled up.

"Hello Rose, Happy Halloween" she said with a creepy voice. Rose gave a weak smile "Happy Halloween Jurina, I'm here to collect my coal cars".

"Ah yes, there right over here" said Jurina, and she rolled over to a part of the yard. Rose quickly fallowed behind her.

Soon Rose was coupled to her train of cars. "Thanks Jurina, have a nice Halloween" she said as she rolled away. "You To" Jurina called back.

Later Rose was getting close to the Smelters Yard. "Almost done, then I can go back to the shed and sleep" she said with a smile. But her smile soon faded, because as she got closer to the smelters, the fog came down. It whirled around the tracks, blocking Rose from seeing anything ahead. "Oh no, the fog, just like the story" said Rose.

But then, Rose looked ahead, and stopped dead in her tracks. Up ahead of her, a light was shining through the fog. Rose began to hear a clanking noise, and then a whistle blew as well.

"IT'S THE GHOST ENGINE" she screamed, and she closed her eyes tight as the ghost came closer. "Here he comes" she said silently.

But then the noises stopped, and a voice said "Hello Rose".

Well Rose was puzzled; why was a ghost saying hello to her. So, very slowly, she opened one of her eyes. And there, on the track left of her, was Norris. His small light was shining, and his pistons wheezed.

"Oh" said Rose letting out a large breath "it was you Norris. For a minute there, I thought you were the Ghost Engine".

Norris chuckled "Really, well sorry to disappoint, but I'm no phantom. I'm still alive and still in use" he said smiling.

But then, Rose remembered "But that was you right now. I heard a clanking noise when I went along the main line, and I heard a whistle when I passed the valley".

"Don't worry Rose, I know who that was" said Norris. "Who" asked Rose?

Norris smiled "It was me. I was on my way back to my shed, and I thought I saw an engine in the distance. Guess it was you. It was at the cliffs that I tried to get your attention, but you just ignored me".

Rose blushed; she felt embarrassed "Oh, sorry about that".

"Not to worry" said Norris "But I have to go. I have work to do tomorrow, and I need a good night. And so Norris puffed off down the mainline.

"Glad that's settled" said Rose, and she continued on towards the smelters.

After Rose had dropped off her freight cars, she arrived back at Ramsey Sheds. Most of the engines had gone to sleep, but Sam, Jake, and Samantha were still up. They were still telling ghost stories.

"And the conductor is said to still haunt the station to this very day" said Jake. Samantha looked scared, but Sam just yawned. "That the best you got" said Sam. Jake looked at Sam "You can't tell me that wasn't scary" he said angrily. "Norris' story was the only one that I thought was scary" said Sam.

But then they stopped talking when Rose puffed onto the turntable. "Hello Rose, how was the delivery" asked Samantha. "Did you get scared" asked Sam with a grin. Rose smiled as she backed into her shed "Yes I did, but you were right Sam; there's no such thing as ghost. Unfortunately, I had to find that out the scary way".

"Of course; Ghosts are just silly make believe" said Sam. But no one heard, because while Sam was talking, the other engines had fallen asleep. "Well, I'd better get to sleep to. We all have a busy day tomorrow" said Sam. And he closed his eyes, and fell asleep soon after.

But while the engines slept, a strange thing approached the sheds. It was an engine, but it was completely white. It made a clanking noise, and it had two skeletons wearing overalls in its cab. The engine looked at the others in the shed. "No such thing as ghost's hu" said the engine smiling. Then it puffed away, blowing its whistle, and then disappearing from sight.