A/N Train Stops Play's the basis of this.
Hey, it's me, Stepney. This story happened to me when I was visiting the NWR.
I was busy talking to the other engines. It was my first visit to their railway and I was having a splendid time.
"You are very lucky engines," I said. "Your line has got everything. It's long enough to give you a good run, and you have plenty of passengers. Then you have a quarry and a mind, so you'll need plenty of cars. Cars are fun. I miss them on our line."
Percy was surprised. All the engines thought cars were trouble. They told me so, during my visit.
"You're welcome to take some of mine," he said. "But you better ask Driver first."
Our drivers agreed and we two engines set off. Thomas and Toby were speechless. I took the cars to the harbor. Then, I picked up a load of empty ones and started back. Ahead was a cricket field. The game had just begun. I, with Driver, had to wait for a signal.
"Good," said Driver. "We can watch the game."
Then there was trouble. The batsman hit the ball. It flew high into the sky towards my train. Clunk! went the signal. Thump! went the ball into a car, but neither Driver nor Fireman heard it.
"Stop!" yelled the players but I didn't hear them. I found out this later.
"Come along, come along," I puffed to the cars.
"Our one and only ball!" cried the players. "Wake up, Caroline," they said to their old car.
The chase was on.
Caroline coughed crossly and rolled down the road. I wasn't hurrying. Caroline soon came up behind.
"Toot, toot!" she wailed.
The players shouted, but I was still too far for Driver and my fireman to see or hear properly. They completely misunderstood.
"If those jokers want a race", said Driver. "they can have one. Faster, Stepney, faster!"
Poor Caroline wasn't happy at all. She rattled along at twice her usual speed. "I shouldn't be treated like this," she grumbled. "This pace is too hot for my system. It'll fuse all my circuits."
Suddenly, I was nowhere to be seen. At least, to Caroline, as I was told.
"Yahoo! That silly train has run into a hole so we can't catch it. I can go home now."
But she couldn't. Her driver pounded Caroline up a steep hill and then down the other side towards the station. I was already there when Caroline clattered in.
"We need our ball back!" cried the players and explained everything. The ball was nestled under some straw in the third car from the van.
"We found it!" cried a player.
"We're sorry," sighed Driver.
"Ah, you couldn't help it," replied the player. "Now we must get back quickly.'
"You'll be lucky," said Driver. "Caroline looks worn out."
And she was. Driver spoke to the stationmaster and the signalman and they all agreed on a plan. Soon, they had rolled Caroline onto a flatcar and a breakvan coupled behind. The players crowded inside and I pulled the train back to the play field. Everyone enjoyed watching the game. Even Caroline was pleased. She doesn't think trains are silly now. That old car was no railfan before, but she realized the use of railways after I gave her a ride.
"They have their uses. They can save wear and tear on a poor car's wheels."
I was pleased to Caroline's change.
A/N Respect my Thomasverse.