Number 11 chuffed steadily along the coast line. Clean white clouds of pillowy steam rhythmically popped from the funnel of the Autotank. The Middle Chrome Green of its paintwork reflected the overcast coverage from above as the chilly bite of the approaching winter could be felt all around.
Oliver watched the line ahead carefully through the cab windows. Although tourist season had concluded, passersby continued to walk along the beach all too close to the track. Passing the speed sign signaling the approaching station, Oliver gently put on the brakes. The light grinding of the brake blocks clamping to the drive wheels only fulfilled the effect as the light shift in momentum forced Oliver to steady himself on the cab wall.
Toad who'd been looking out the cab opening flumped on his side at the unexpected shift and looked indignantly up to his friend who couldn't help but laugh.
"You have to pay attention Toad. Were you watching the signs?"
The dog in question narrowed his eyes and he rolled awkwardly back onto all fours, shaking off the discomfort and resuming his sit to observe the world sliding by.
The platform approached soon enough and Oliver easily guided the train into Callan with no incident.
"Now that's more like it don't you think?"
Toad gave a light 'rrfff' and tailed out onto the platform. Oliver took his green handkerchief from his back pocket and began wiping the grime off his fingers. Taking care to scoop between the webbing before he set off for a quick lunch.
As he casually made his way toward the refreshment stand, Oliver eyed a man who had been fixated on him since he disembarked number 11. His grizzled hair peeked out through a newscap. Noticing Oliver looking his way he gave a one toothed grin and spoke in a gruff, husky voice.
"What's a matter then? Can't take a little grease? No use at all are ya."
Oliver slowed his gait and turned curiously toward the man while keeping his distance. He attempted to play off the comment as a joke.
"Pretty sure the food here has enough flavor without my adding to it."
The man's face soured
"Think you're pretty clever?"
Oliver scowled, his patience thinning.
"You sure have a lot of questions. Don't you have anything else to say?"
"Are you trying to order me about? You can't manage me."
He grinned another haphazard, toothless, grin as he cracked his knuckles in intimidation. Oliver made to step forward before Toad began growling, his hackles up on end. This shook Oliver to his senses as he'd never heard such an aggressive sound come from the small mongrel. Not wanting to cause a scene and spoil his good run, Oliver said nothing and gave a sharp whistle to Toad who reluctantly followed his friend, resuming their mission.
"That's right. Just walk away prissy." The Scruffey man called after him.
Before Oliver could retaliate, the Station manager poked his head from the office door.
"There you are Oliver. Could you come in for a second? I was instructed to give you this."
"A survey?"
Donald and Douglas stood before the noticeboard in the Wellsworth staff room. Edward had just beckoned them in from the yard to distribute the document. He relayed what Sir Topham Hatt had told him that morning.
"This is a questionnaire. As you can see there's a rating scale from one to five with one being Disagree and five being Fully Agree. This form is meant to gauge your comfort on trialing more diesel engines and your preferences for their operators."
"Soh it's a personaliteh tehst?"
"Mohre like a dahting card."
The two sniggered while Edward deliberately cleared his throat. His next sentence slightly louder to attempt to main on topic."
"Please take this seriously. After the charades earlier this year The Controller wants to ensure we as a crew are all on-board."
Donald rolled his eyes while Douglas dug in his ear. Their obvious disinterest apparent.
"It doesnae matter Eddie. We had nothin' to doo with all thaht rubbish."
"Far as weh're concerned, long as theihr not in our way, who cahres?"
Edward cocked his head to the side in confusion. He hadn't expected such candid logic from the twins. Ornery bluntness sure, but their indifference was unexpected.
"Well then, it should be quick to fill out for you both then."
He held out a pair of pens and gestured to the table behind him. The twins shrugged and boldly strode to mark their sheets.
"Insulting, ridiculous. Why after all that would there be any debate. We get along just fine here."
James mumbled to himself as he sat at a bench in Knapford aggressively filling out the survey form. Gordon had just finished his run and was unsurprised to see James up-in-arms about something.
"James."
"It's ludicrous" James responded apropos without so much as a greeting. "A few months ago we were fighting one of these things off with a whole pack of engines and now sir wants to bring more onto the island."
Gordon had already turned his survey in and vehemently shot back at James.
"I was there too. If you don't remember I nearly had my arm slit off. But that was due to one driver, not the locomotive itself."
"And who's to say all these diesel operators aren't the same? They don't all have some ulterior motive? Be as ignorant as you want Gordon but steam is a dying breed. If we let another diesel on the island who's to say we all aren't replaced. There's bound to be some fast ones built too, you know."
Gordon hadn't considered that. Not only would a faster diesel replace the express, but he might be relegated to odd jobs and goods work. His reputation tarnished by a modern innovation.
As Gordon's train of thought spiraled James swore loudly, startling a few passengers, as the guard for Number 5's train whistled loudly in his direction.
"I'll have to finish this later. Oh joy. Think about what I said, Gordon."
And in a huff James made his way to the mogul, leaving Gordon dumbfounded on the spot.
As the sunlight dwindled into a darkening night sky, Rebecca sat huddled in the tender of Number 22. A pen stuck deliberately out of her mouth as she read through each of the survey questions. She was tired. It had been another long day of non-stop round trips. Her eyes were tired and she was having trouble focusing on each sentence. Re-reading the same question over and over without retaining anything.
While she was struggling to fill out her form, she was grateful for something to do after she'd clocked out from her shift. Without the 'under-wraps' restoration project she and Henry had been working on with Number 3 earlier in the year, she'd come to realize she didn't have many other hobbies. And on top of that, she'd come to the realization that she missed the company.
She removed the pen from her mouth and resorted to tapping her knee with it as she tried again to read the print in front of her. She hummed softly to herself as she absorbed the first question and now began pondering her answer.
"Still working on yours?"
Rebecca flicked her pen high into the air, losing it in the coal bed of her tender behind her as she jerked in surprise. Emily peered inside the cab with a grin as Rebecca laughed off the shock.
"Crickey Emily you spooked me!"
Emily's grin grew as she clambered her way to the engine's interior, flipping her hair over her face and waggling her fingers menacingly.
"Well I am pretty spoooooky."
"Gross, fix your hair." Rebecca shook her head.
Emily threw her head back and sat criss-crossed in front of Rebecca, thumb pointed to her chest.
"I haven't even started mine."
"Pretty sure you shouldn't be proud of that." Rebecca snorted as Emily waved her off.
"Eh, I'll do it later. How's yours coming along?"
Rebecca flipped her survey upside down so it faced her friend. The clean paper gave all the answers she needed.
"No way! We're twins!"
Both couldn't help but laugh as Emily rested her chin on her propped up hand.
"It's weird right? Steam being overtaken by Diesel power."
Rebecca bit her bottom lip and arranged her thoughts before replying.
"It's… interesting. Considering how many engines are still in service, especially on the island."
"Are you worried at all?"
Rebecca frowned, unsure of Emily's meaning.
"Worried about what?"
"Well I heard we might be out of a job. Unless we make the switch to learning diesel maintenance, which… blech."
Emily pointed at her outstretched tongue as she gave a false wretch. Rebecca sighed and leaned her head back against the tender chute.
"I don't know. I'd like to think that by asking out input Sir Topham Hatt has our best interests at heart."
"I'd hope so too." Emily frowned and ran a hand through her hair, tucking it behind her ear. "You've heard about the bus strikes right?"
Rebecca rolled her eyes as her head dropped into her open palms.
"Don't get me started. I got stuck behind the picket line trying to get back into vicarstown this afternoon."
"That's a shame. But I empathize with them. Their foreman sounds like a real piece of work."
"Sir isn't like that."
"Not yet."
Rebecca stared at Emily hard as she held up her hands defensively.
"Look, I'm just saying. If steam becomes obsolete, it will be a financial nightmare to upkeep thes railway. I just want assurances that I can make it to retirement someday."
Rebecca looked away. She hadn't been worried before, but now her mind felt the weight of everything more heavily. Emily began to stand and cocked her hip out as she stretched.
"This is awful. I say we change the subject. Want to go blow off some steam?"
"Like for a drive?" Rebecca gestured at Number 22's controls."
"Wha—? Pfft no. Not literally blow off steam." Emily chuckled as she extended a hand to help Rebecca up. "Come with me."
And the final of my first three chapters is complete for this series! Plenty more to come, but I will let y'all know that I will be on hiatus for at least a week. (PT and other recovery stuff.) But I'll be writing when I can, and once it's edited I'll be sure to post.
Thank you all so so much =) You mean the world to me. And of course! Thank you for reading! -REN