Mike And The New Coaches

One day, Mike had finished taking his first goods train to the top station. "Finished," smiled Mike in a satisfying mood. After that, Mike returned home.

"Time for a rest," Mike declared when he got back. Mike then puffed into the sheds. The other engines joined in some time later. "Ah, you're here on time," smiled Mike. "Tell me about it," said Rex. "Agreed," said Bert.

Then the engine, who had been on the railway for only a few days, Nikola puffed into the sheds as well.

"Tough day," she said with relief. "How was your day?" asked Bert. "It sure was a difficult day for me," answered Nikola feeling exhausted, "Goods trains first. Then tourist. Whew!" "Well, I had it easy for me," said Mike.

"That's because you prefer to pull goods trains all the time," said Rex. "You said the truth about me!" boasted Mike. "Oh boy," groaned Rex.

The next day. Mike woke up to start the new day. "Time to start up," said Mike, "Huh?" "Hello, Mike," said Nikola, "Up early no doubt." Nikola had a train of coaches that Mike had never seen before. "These are new coaches," explained Nikola, "They've arrived in the middle of last night. "But how did you?" asked Mike, unable to complete his question.

"I left before you woke up," answered Nikola, "It was easy as pie, uh, peasy." "What?" asked Mike. "Ah, Mike," the Small Controller said, "You're up early. So I want you to take the new coaches around the railway as a test run."

"Huh?" questioned Mike, unable to say anything else. "Good," the Small Controller said, "Please start right away." "There you go," said Nikola, "Mister early bird." "Ok," Mike said, admitting defeat.

So Mike made the test runs with the coaches that morning. "I prefer goods trains," Mike said to himself, "But this isn't half bad after all."

"That's a good engine," smiled the driver. So Mike continued on with the new coaches for the rest of the day. Before afternoon, Bert and Rex were ready to start their own jobs when Mike returned. "Is that Mike?" asked Rex, surprised. "With passenger coaches?" Bert added in. "Yes," answered Mike, "And these coaches aren't half bad, I declare."

"See?" asked Nikola, "Your test run with the new coaches had proven to be successful." "Yes," said Mike, "Though I wish I hadn't got up so early. Oh well."

"All right," the Small Controller said, "These coaches have passed the test! They're all rail worthy!" The engines cheered in delight. "Good," smiled Mike, puffing off for a short rest. "See?" said Nikola, "It wasn't so bad, Mike." "Yeah, whatever," replied Mike. "That's old Mike," said Bert. "Yep," agreed Rex.

However, later when Rex took the new coaches for their first passenger job, Mike puffed by with a goods train. "I'm glad to be back to normal!" Mike called to Rex. "Oh brother," groaned Rex.

"Oh well," chuckled Nikola, "Some things never change." The other engines had to agree.