A/N This is based on "You Can't Win".

Hey, it's us again, Duke and friends. This is a story about me, Duke, so I shall tell it, though my friends who call me Granpuff have some role, especially Peter Sam, whose name was Stuart in this story.

I'm the hero of all the engines, so I'm told. This is a story about me. It happened long ago when Peter Sam was called Stuart and Sir Handel Falcon. Many people came year after year to see the mountains and the lakes and most of all, me, Duke. I always pulled my train, even on days when I didn't feel well. I've always been loyal and dutiful, I prefer not to let an illness keep me down, so it was pull my train, then off to the Works.

"I mustn't disappoint my friends," I would say.

Every morning, I took my passengers up the line and stopped and stopped anywhere they wanted me to.

"Peep, peep," I whistled. "Please be ready when I come back for you. Otherwise, we might miss your boat to the Mainland and that would never do.".

One day, I didn't feel well. I was short of steam and needed to rest.

My driver and fireman had just finished clearing my tubes when Stuart bustled in.

"Hello, Granpuff," he teased. "Are you short of puff?"

"Nothing of that sort. This is routine maintenance.". He was just being cheeky.

"Tell you what," went on Stuart. 'You're getting old. We must take care of you in case you break down."

"Huh!" I hooshed. "That'll be the day.". I didn't like to admit I might break down, but in my iron heart, I knew it could happen. I just didn't want to seem weak to my friends.

I couldn't stay cross for long. It was a lovely evening. I set off to pull my train after being cleaned and I was in a happier mood.

"Couldn't be better! Couldn't be better!" I chanted happily. We began to climb, but I didn't mind.

"I've got plenty of steam", I puffed. "We'll be up in a couple of puffs."

But soon my puffs changed to wheezes. My valves were leaking steam.

"It's not so easy, it's not so easy," I croaked. "But I'll manage."

At last, we reached the station. Driver examined me carefully. Anxious passengers waited for news.

"Duke is going to take you to the harbor, but he might be late," said the conductor. "So 2 engines are coming to help. You'll still catch your boat."

They turned out to be my friends. Driver had spread the news of my valves, so my friends were sent to help me with my train. Falcon buffered up in front.

"Poor old Granpuff!" "What a shame you've broken down."

"Peep, Peep, Peep!" teased Stuart. "This is the day!" He was coupled on behind.

"Are you ready?" whistled Falcon.

"Yes I am!" replied Stuart and away we went.

When we reached the next station, the cavalcade split up. Falcon took my passengers to the boat.

Stuart headed Falcon's train with me coupled behind. "Fancy me rescuing Granpuff! This is the day! This is the day!" he boasted. "Poor old engine! Poor old engine!". It's just the way he was as a young engine.

But I still had plenty of steam left in me. My valves sounded worse than they were. We had our own little joke ready, Driver and me. It was his idea, but I liked it. We waited until we reached the hill.

"Now!" said Driver.

I puffed and roared as though I was pushing a whole train's weight before me. The noise echoed everywhere. When we reached the last station, everyone cheered.

"What happened?" asked a boy. "They don't usually need 2 engines."

"Well," replied his father. "Stuart broke down. Duke had to help him. Sounds as if he had a hard job, too. "

Our joke had worked.

"FIDDLESTICKS!" exclaimed Stuart and he vanished in a cloud of steam. My young friend was quite displeased to think people thought I had to help him, but I liked it.

I wheezed alongside. "Poor old engine!" I teased. "It's no good, Stuart. You can't win.

A/N Duke's kind of the leader of the trio, but he only narrates if he had a big role.