Foreword:

Dear readers,

Ivo Hugh is the newest steam engine on the Skarloey Railway. As such, he's had to go through a lot of hoops to truly feel at home. I recently visited the railway and he shared with me some of the challenges he faced. "What sort of challenges?" I asked. "Well…" he said feebishly, "For one thing, I once had my trucks break away… Then another time I had to deal with some rumors circulating between me and Skarloey, and…" "... And?" I asked, trying to help him finish his sentence. "... I still feel embarrassed when Fred took advantage of my gullibility".

I don't think he should feel ashamed of it though, I will be including that in this book.

~ The Author

Chapter One: Ivo Hugh and Fred

Skarloey had not been feeling well. He had constantly been having trouble steaming in the recent months, and the Thin Controller had to address it. He spoke kindly to the old engine.

"I think it's time we take you to the works to be mended again Skarloey" he said, "It's already been quite some time since your last one."

"Thank you sir." Sighed Skarloey, "That would definitely help"

But deep down, he felt embarrassed about needing to be mended once again. The Thin Controller then spoke to Ivo Hugh.

"I'd like you, Ivo, to cover for Skarloey on the upcoming Fall Color trains" he said, "It should allow for you to get a better understanding of the route. Should be a nice time of the season too with the leaves falling!"

Ivo Hugh was excited!

"Thank you sir!" he said happily. "When do these trains start running?"

"Saturday" explained the Thin Controller. "I must warn you to be cautious, with it being the fall there's bound to be lots of leaves and broken branches on the tracks. I've assigned Fred and Rusty to help clear them as the month goes on."

"Noted, sir!" said Ivo happily, though he hadn't gotten to know Rusty and Fred that well.

Rusty, as I'm sure you all know by now, is kind-hearted, caring, and always making sure that the track is in tip top shape to ensure smooth and safe operations for the engines. Fred, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. He was lazy, uncaring, and often pretended to be ill so that he wouldn't have to work. The other engines had forgotten to warn Ivo about Fred's behavior, thinking he would catch on. But I'm sorry to say that he didn't. On the first day of Ivo's Fall color runs, he was heading towards the water tower to get filled up, when he saw a black, cabless diesel seemingly struggling to pull some trucks filled with tools.

"Hello!" whistled Ivo, "You're… Fred aren't you? How are you doing?"

"Not good" wheezed Fred "I can't get these trucks moving… I'm supposed to take them and some workmen up the line to check up on the track…"

"Doesn't seem to be that many trucks…" Observed Ivo, "Are you sure you can't pull them?"

"It's my blasted engine," lied Fred, "It's hard for me to pull trains as big as ones you take, do you think you could lend me a buffer, please?..."

"I don't see why not!" decided Ivo, "I've still got an hour before my first train departs"

"Ohhh… Thank you so much!" said Fred, pleased. "I don't know what I can do to repay you."

Ivo Hugh buffered to the back of Fred's train and was able to give him a good push, allowing Fred to get a better head start.

"There you go!" said Ivo, "Good luck on your maintenance job!" Fred gave a toot of his horn as a thank you, and Ivo Hugh soon went back to the station to get ready for his first train. A lot of time had already been wasted though since he had helped Fred, and now it was only 10 minutes before departure. The passengers had to scramble onboard to avoid missing it.

"Bother!" complained a trainspotter, "I was hoping I'd have time to get some good photos of this smart engine."

"Don't worry!" laughed Ivo Hugh's driver, "I'm sure you'll be able to get some once we reach the top station"

The guard blew his whistle and soon, Ivo Hugh was on his way. Meanwhile, at the first station, Fred had stopped again. You've probably figured out by now that he had lied to Ivo about not being able to take the maintenance train. Fred was just lazy, and simply wanted to go back to the sheds and sleep. To try and get his way, he kept "Stalling" his engine so that he wouldn't have to move. His driver didn't realize he was doing it on purpose.

"I just had his engine checked this morning too!" he grumbled, "I'll be sure to give that mechanic a piece of my mind when we get back."

Soon, Ivo Hugh arrived with his train. He had to stop too, considering Fred's train was blocking the line.

"Stalled again?!" He called.

"Yes…" Wailed Fred, "My engine has overheated. Could you please help me again?"

"This won't do…" Sighed Ivo's driver, "This'll just make us late, but what other choice have we got?"

"We could shunt you to the next station" Offered Ivo kindly, "But that's as best as we can do I'm afraid, I'm sure we could phone for another engine to come and help you once we do that."

This made Fred cross… He had wanted Ivo to take the maintenance train for him, but he had to subside as Ivo Hugh pushed him and the maintenance trucks to the next station. Once they got there, Ivo shunted Fred and his train onto a siding, and his driver was about to phone the yards for another engine when Fred's driver spoke up.

"If we were able to get a head start earlier," he said, "I doubt whatever's wrong with Fred will take that much effort to fix. Don't bother calling, I might be able to fix him up myself. You all carry on with your train."

This just made Fred crosser still… As Ivo Hugh departed once more and was out of sight, Fred's driver hopped out of Fred's cab and began rummaging for tools to use on fixing his engine… When an idea popped into Fred.

"If I were to run away…" He thought, "Then surely, another engine will have to do this job for me."

Lucky for him, his driver had forgotten to set Fred's brakes on, so with a little bit of momentum, Fred began moving on his own, much to his driver's and the workmen's shock!

"STOP!" They yelled, but obviously Fred couldn't. He didn't care about his driver, he didn't care about the work that needed to be done on the line, nor, obviously, did he care about Ivo Hugh. All Fred cared about was taking any measure he could to avoid having to work that day. But there was trouble ahead. Without his driver, Fred couldn't blow his horn to warn anyone, and he was approaching a level crossing. A lorry soon came into view, and… The inevitable happened.

CRASH!

Fred slammed into the lorry, and came right off the rails, toppling over on his side.

"Help!" He cried, and this time he really meant it, "Help me!... Please!..."

It wasn't long though before Ivo Hugh came in the opposite direction, he was making his return journey but… Once again, he had to stop since Fred's train was blocking the line. Ivo and his crew were incredibly confused.

"How did you get here?" asked Ivo, "I thought you broke down at the first station!"

Fred knew at this point that there was no use in manipulating Ivo anymore… He had to come clean.

"I was lying…" He wheezed, "I just didn't want to take the maintenance train, I wanted to go back to the sheds and sleep."

Ivo Hugh and his crew were now very cross!

"So all this time…" Growled Ivo's driver, "We had to delay our train multiple times, just because of a stupid, lazy diesel? You have got to be kidding me."

"Just wait until the Thin Controller hears about this," added Ivo's fireman, "He won't be happy with you."

And he was right. Rusty came with the breakdown crane, and the Thin Controller.

"I hope you're proud of yourself, Fred." he said angrily, "Your behavior has not only delayed Ivo Hugh's first train severely, but you have also caused severe damage to yourself and the maintenance trucks! Now the work needed to maintain the track this month will have to be held off as well until we can get the trucks repaired."

"I'm so sorry…" wailed Fred feebishly, as a last-ditch effort for some sympathy.

"I should think so!" Scowled the Thin Controller, "And perhaps your wish will finally be granted, as we don't have the money to repair you right now. Skarloey's overhaul is going to be more expensive than we anticipated, once we get you back on the rails, Rusty will take you to where you belong… At the back of the shed."

Fred gulped… He knew now that he was in even more trouble than he had believed before. Once the mess was cleaned up, Ivo Hugh was finally able to take his train back home. But sadly, he was very late when he arrived.

"We're sorry!" said his driver to the passengers.

"It wasn't your fault!" they said, "But we certainly hope that lazy diesel will be put in his place."

"I'm sure he will!" laughed Ivo's fireman.

The passenger soon boarded Henry's train, and he, perplexed on what happened, wisely said nothing as he departed. Ivo Hugh however, began to feel guilty himself.

"Are you two sure I'm not partially responsible for the mess today?" he asked his crew, "I was pretty gullible, I should have known Fred was manipulating me."

"We get it," said his driver, "But don't worry Ivo, if anything I think that proves how kind-hearted you are, you were willing to help any engine you thought was in need of it, even if they were lazy like Fred. Besides," he went on, "You looked quite smart pulling the Fall color train."

This made Ivo Hugh feel a little better. However, he did offer to take over for the maintenance trains once the trucks were repaired.

"Thank you for offering!" said the Thin Controller, "The Fall color trains should be over once they're repaired, so it should work out for you."

Ivo Hugh was delighted to make up for the mess! However, I'm sorry to say that Ivo Hugh would have his own troubles when handling the maintenance train, but that's another story…

To be continued…