Since Donavan failed to follow his orders two days earlier John and Halee had been working extra hard. Halee had been given his own branch line, it ran from Garten Station right off the main line,in Barkerstown to Fadeville. Along the way he passes a small town known as Baylor, and makes a stop their at Baylor station. John hulls freight all day, he has been working overtime since he had to do his and Halee's work. Halee couldn't because he had to pull passengers on the main line and his branch line. They did all this while Donavan sulked in the Weston station siding all day. Every o often the two engines would pass Donavan and whistle at him, and he would give a wimpy one back. Halee and John couldn't stay made at him they were happy that they were working hard and being useful. It was December their on the island and winter was beginning to start. Snow had fallen, and the tracks were covered in the white stuff. John had been with the workmen for most of the day, he had been hulling supplies for them.
They came to a part of the track near Baylor, they were planning to mend it but the snow blocked the path ahead. "John!" The foreman yelled. "We can't work unless we get some more salt to put on the snow. Head back to Barkers bay, there should be some trucks of salt there. Bring it back here." The foreman said. "Yes sir." Replied John as he puff away. He headed back through the snowy country side. Then he heard a familiar whistle. It was Halee. The line John was on was part of his branch line. The whistled back at Halee. "Be careful there's snow blocking the tracks ahead!" Said John as they passed. "I will, thanks for the warning!" Said Halee as he disappeared around a bend. John puffed into the bay looking for the salt. He then notice a line of cars, they were covered with green tarps. "Stay here John." Said his fireman as he climbed out. He walked over to the cars, and lifted the tarps up on the front one. He then walked back. "That's them alright." He said as he climbed back in. John puffed next to them, then a chill went into his boiler as he heard a familiar voice. "Hello John. It's been awhile." John looked at the cars, then at the front one. In the front of the line was Jenna. Before the island closed, Jenna and Alex, a box car, would lead the cars into mischief. It would often end with an engine in the repair sheds, or lost cargo.
"I thought they sold you and Alex when the railroad closed?!" John said crossly. "Oh no, we're still here, Alex is in the yard still and I'm going with you." Replied Jenna. She had a grin on her face, for John that only meant one thing... Trouble. John reverse back towards the cars. He was then coupled up and chuffed off, back towards the worksite. On their way back, Jenna whispered something to the car behind her. They began to giggle. John bumped them as he said "You cars better not be up to anything!" The cars became angry with them as he did this. For the rest of the trip the cars were silent until John came around a bend, and the cars could see the workmen. They began began to giggle again. John didn't bump them this time. He was to close to the workmen. Then a he began to slow, Jenna screamed "Now!" The cars pushed John forward, he couldn't stop. The workmen scattered away from the tracks. John slammed into the snow and slid off the tracks. Luckily nobody got hurt. "Help!" Yelled John.
It wasn't long before Mr. Jarrell arrived on Donavan. The big engine seemed happy a first glance, probably to be out of the siding. But that smile soon faded to a frown when he saw John. Mr. Jarrell was not pleased. "John!" He boomed. "This is not your fault. The tracks were slick, and those cars pushed you off the tracks." He said. John was relieved. Then Mr. Jarrell looked at the cars, but Jenna mostly. "And as for you!" He continued. "My father told me that you cars would be a pain. And as it turns out you are. Now Jenna, I will not allow mischievous freight cars on my railroad! Without you, there would be no railroad. You must learn to co-operate with the engines, do I make myself clear!" He finished. "Yes." Jenna said in a very bratty tone. He then ordered Donavan forward, and John was coupled up. With two strong tugs, John was back on the rails.
After all of the salt was laid, Donavan shunted the empty cars back to the yard. The rest of the day went on as usual. The team of workmen made it to Baylor just in time to catch Halee's train home. As for Donavan, he was back working the main line.
That night at Weston Station, all three engines were talking about the day. John talked about what a pain it would be to be working with Jenna and Alex. Halee talked about his branch line and how much he enjoyed taking a passenger train to Baylor and Fadeville. He also talked about how he missed pulling freight trains. And Donavan talked about how exited he was to be back on the main line again. But what the most talked about was how much they enjoyed working on the railroad once more.