Up River

Written by David Mitton

Adapted by Jonathan Downs, Rachel Ravens and Zack Wanzer

It had been a hard winter, but the worst of it was over. Bigg City's frozen waterways and ice packed quaysides were beginning to thaw. There was a busy time for everybody. Up river operations got underway again. Goods that had been held up were transported by trains and boats. Further up river, another operation had started back up again – logging.

Our Star Tugs had the contract to get thousands of logs from the camps downriver to the sawmills with assistance from Puffa; he'd worked for a logging company before transferring to Bigg City. It was cold work and very dangerous. I had to put Big Mac in charge. A huge log jam had formed, holding up their work and trapping logs that they had ready to take downstream. He was working with Sunshine that day, but the little switcher was eager and kept ramming some logs into the log jam.

"Tak' it easy, Sunshine!" warned Big Mac, who had a healthy respect for logs.

"This is a nasty jam, Big Mac," sighed Sunshine.

"Aye, it cuid sink ye," agreed Big Mac. "Logs dinnae care aboot na yin."

"Never thought there'd be this much to loggin'," replied Sunshine as she rammed into the log jam again.

"Tis a tricky jab," agreed Big Mac. "Logs hae git tae be roped juist richt. Nae slack, bit nae tae ticht!"

"Isn't tighter the better?" asked Sunshine.

"Haw haw, you'd think sae," said Big Mac with a chuckle. "Bit tae ticht causes friction as thay boab up 'n' doon 'n' that creates heat 'n' thay kin catch fire."

"Huh?" Sunshine said in surprise.

"'N' that'll happen 'ere, if we cannae git this jeely shifted!" Big Mac continued.

"Wow!" gasped Sunshine. "Wet logs catching fire… I can never get used to that!"

"Aye, always surprises me," said Big Mac. "Weel, we'll hae tae keep at it!"

"Hey, Big Mac," said Sunshine. "Ah have an idea. If Ah can swing right 'round, Ah might be able to push some out instead of bashin' them in!"

"Mibbie, bit mynd ye don't git jammed in yersel'!" Big Mac warned.

"Oh, don't worry. Ah'll watch it," Sunshine replied. But she didn't know that logs could gang up on her. Once they started to tumble around her, there was no stopping them.

"Sunshine!" Big Mac shouted. "Git oot quick! It's a chain reaction! Move oot!"

"Ah can't!" Sunshine cried in horror as some logs fell in front of her. "Ah'm stuck fast! Oomph! Oh, help!"

"C'moan, Try harder!" urged Big Mac. "Full steam!"

"Ah can't budge an inch," replied Sunshine. "Ah'm trapped!"

"Ugh, I'll hae tae git hulp," groaned Big Mac. "Thare mist be someone else up river besides us."

"You'll need a lot of it to get me out of this," said Sunshine anxiously. "Oh, look at me!"

At that moment, Puffa arrived to collect wood planks from the camp sawmill. Puffa is a good friend of ours, Big Mac thought, and it's faster by rail than water. Maybe he could get help.

"Hey! Puffa!" called Big Mac, heading over to his dock.

"Hi there, Big Mac!" replied Puffa. "How's it going?"

"Sunshine's trapped in a log jam!" Big Mac explained. "Go git hulp, quick as ye kin!"

"Right, will do," Puffa replied, puffing away. "Yes, I'm on my way, right now! Ta ta!"

"Thanks, Puffa! Ah owe ye yin!" replied Big Mac.

Big Mac revered away from the dock and headed back to Sunshine.

"Puffa'll git doon water quicker than ah cuid," Big Mac said. "Wi' a bit o' luck, he'll see Ten Cents or someone. Ye a'richt?"

"Oh, Ah'm okay," Sunshine replied. "Ah'll just have to sit it out; no choice."

"That's richt," Big Mac said before noticing smoke starting to rise up from the logs. "Och, Ah wis afraid o' that. Heat is beginning tae build up!"

"Ah didn't like to say it, but Ah thought…" began Sunshine.

"Don't worry, Sunshine," said Big Mac. "We'll git ye oot o' thare in na time."

"Ah do hope Puffa gets help soon," said Sunshine, worriedly.


Ten Cents had dropped some supplies at the Up River pier when Puffa arrived, whistling urgently.

"Oi, Puffa!" called Ten Cents. "Are you in trouble?!"

"No, you are, Ten Cents!" replied Puffa. "Sunshine's trapped in a log jam!"

"Oh! Where?!" asked Ten Cents.

"He and Big Mac are up at the lake!" explained Puffa.

"Oh, right!" Ten Cents said, setting off to the rescue. "I'm on my way! Thanks!"

"Good luck, kid!" Puffa called, chuffing away. "You'll need it!"


Up at the lake, Big Mac started ramming into the log jam.

"Na, Ah can't shift thaim, Sunshine," he grunted. "Na maiter whit ah dae."

"Oh, don't worry," replied Sunshine. "Ah'm okay. The smoke from my stack seems a bit heavy though."

Indeed, the smoke started to become thicker as the fire spread to the other logs.

"I'm afraid that smoke's nae comin' fae yer stack," replied Big Mac.

"No, Ah… Ah didn't think it actually was," said Sunshine, nervously.

"I've git tae git ye oot o' thare, fast!" Big Mac said urgently.

"How long do you think it'll before it bursts into flames?!" asked Sunshine.

"Ne'er timed it!" Big Mac replied as he rammed the log jam again. Just then, Ten Cents urgently sounded his hooter as he approached the log jam. "Ah, Ten Cents!" the Scottish harbour tug said with relief.

"Oh! Well, how did this happen?!" asked Ten Cents.

"Ne'er mynd how!" replied Big Mac. "Swing aroond 'n' huv a go tae push th' logs clear. We've git tae git Sunshine oot!"

The fire started to grow larger as Ten Cents pushed up against the log jam.

"Right," said Ten Cents. "Look, we'll get you out, Sunshine!"

"Aye! Juist hing oan!" said Big Mac.

"Please hurry!" called Sunshine, now getting scared as the fire was spreading rapidly. "It's beginnin' to get warm around here…"

"'Ello!" called a voice. Ten Cents looked in horror to see who owned the voice.

"Aw, no!" he exclaimed. "It's Billy Shoepack with his dynamite!"

Yes, Billy had two cases of dynamite on his barge and that combined with the fire could spell disaster.

"Tell him to clear off, Ten Cents!" urged Sunshine. "Flames and dynamite don't mix!"

"Look, get outta here, Billy!" urged Ten Cents. "If one spark from this landed on your dynamite, we could all go up!"

"Hang on, hang on!" replied Billy. "How did you get in that mess?!"

"Oan purpose, Shoepack!" said Big Mac sarcastically. "Juist fur th' fin o' it. Oan yer wey, man…"

"No! Wait, Billy!" said Ten Cents. "Could you give us a little blast? Just enough to get her out."

"Na! He'd blaw up Sunshine as weel!" replied Big Mac with concern.

"Oh no, I won't!" retorted Billy. "You'll see!"

"You've got to do somethin'!" said Sunshine.

Big Mac knew the situation. He had to do something to free Sunshine. But logs set off downstream out of control could destroy everything in their path.

"Ah haven't had such a bad cough since my engine needed overhaulin;!" coughed Sunshine.

"Aw look! It's getting worse!" groaned Ten Cents. "Big Mac, we've gotta risk it! Let Billy have a go!"

"Aye," said Big Mac. "A'richt, go ahead, Shoepack. Bit ainlie enough tae git Sunshine oot! Dae ye ken?"

"Of course!" Billy said with a chuckle. "You'll be okay, Sunshine!"

"Not enough to blow me out of the water though?" asked a worried Sunshine.

"No problem!" replied Billy, moving forward. "A controlled explosion is all we need, isn't it?!"

"Aye, very controlled," agreed Big Mac.

"Outta my way!" said Billy. "I'm in charge now!"

"That's what I'm afraid of…" muttered Big Mac.


A few moments later, Billy set the dynamite up.

"All set!" he called, moving away once the fuse had been lit. "Get well back, everybody!"

"Oh… Ah wish Ah could!" moaned Sunshine.

"It's not gonna be a big bang, is it, Billy?" said Ten Cents. "Now are you sure?"

"I said well back to be on the safe side!" replied Billy.

"Ah wish Ah could be on the safe side as well!" Sunshine said with concern.

"You'll be okay, Sunshine!" insisted Billy as the flame started to reach the dynamite. "Right. Three, two, one! FIRE!"

And on cue, Billy Shoepack's dynamite blew apart the log jam. Sunshine's face was blackened with ashes from the explosion and she let out a cough, but at least she was free.

"Anybody left out there?!" she asked.

"That wis a big bang!" exclaimed Big Mac.

"But it was very controlled," replied Sunshine as she moved away from the logs. "And Ah'm out! See?!"

"Weel, that's yin thing tae be thankful fur," Big Mac said with relief.

"And look, it's blown the fire out!" said Billy, noticing that the fire had got out.

"Aw, well done, Billy!" replied Ten Cents.

"Aye, but look whit else it's dane!" Big Mac cried urgently. "Th' hail log jam is breaking up! Move back! Move back fast!" His earlier warning proved correct; the great pile of logs slowly fell apart and pushed others towards the barges used as a dam to hold them in the lake. The power of Billy Shoepack's explosion turned the logs into a huge battering ram. The barges groaned under the strain, but they couldn't hold. The logs forced them aside and rushed dangerously down river.

"They could wreck Uptown!" exclaimed Ten Cents. "We've gotta warn them!"

"Well, I think I'd better go then," said Billy Shoepack, looking a little sheepish.

"Aye, ye'd better!" snapped Big Mac. "Ye'v dane enough fur yin day! Nothing wull stoap thaim noo! Ca' that a controlled explosion, dae ye?!"

Just then, the tugs heard a whistle.

"That sounds like Puffa!" Sunshine said and looked to see the steam engine returning to the dockside. "Great! Send him to Uptown; he's faster than the current will carry the logs."

"You're right, Sunshine, he'll get there first!" Ten Cents agreed, heading over to the dockside. "Oi, Puffa! Warn Uptown that the log dam is broken and the logs are heading their way! It's an emergency!"

"Will do, but what can they do about it?" replied Puffa.

"O.J.'s at Uptown, tell him!" explained Ten Cents.

"Right. On my way, Ten Cents!" said a determined Puffa as he set off for Uptown. "A race against time… I'll beat them!"

"Look, don't stop for anything!" Ten Cents called.

Puffa raced off to warn Uptown, whistling ahead to clear the signals. The three tugs set off downstream to be on hand when disaster struck.

"C'moan, ye twa!" called Big Mac. "Let's try tae go tae catch those logs up! We micht be able tae hulp!"

"Anythin' is worth a try, Big Mac!" Sunshine replied.


Puffa couldn't steam all out, because the rails were slippery due to snow and frost. Even so, he eventually drew level and started to overtake them. The logs were sweeping aside anything in their path. Puffa got ahead just before he reached Uptown pier and began whistling warnings of the disaster about to hit the quayside! The logs had slowed a fraction on the river bends. Puffa continued whistling urgently as he came into Uptown docks where Top Hat, Warrior and O.J. were working with Little Ditcher.

"Which factory did you say, Warrior?" asked. O.J..

"Captain Star said take Little Ditcher to the demolition factory… I think," replied Warrior.

"Ugh, he meant the factory that's due for demolition!" groaned O.J. before he, Top Hat and Warrior heard a whistle in the distance. "Hey? What's that?"

Sure enough, Puffa came to a stop right next to the tugs.

"Puffa, what's up?!" asked O.J..

"It's a mass of logs on their way from the lake!" exclaimed Puffa. "Get down river, fast! I've got to get to Uptown station to warn them!"

"Good heavens!" Top Hat cried in alarm. "In this current, they'll rip the whole quayside and us as well!"

"Well then, let's stop 'em right here!" Warrior said as Puffa chuffed away.

"Be sensible, Warrior! How?!" asked O.J..

"Well… I'll stick Little Ditcher across the river," Warrior replied as he towed Little Ditcher to the middle of the river, "and she'll put her spuds down on the riverbed, and she won't move!"

"No! I'll get smashed to bits instead!" Little Ditcher exclaimed.

"Yes, well, you'll be smashed up there or here!" snarked Top Hat. "Makes no difference!"

"Warrior's got it right, for once," agreed O.J.. "We make ourselves into a barrier! Across from the quayside to the island! Bring your barge, Top Hat! It might work! It's worth a try!"

Warrior's plan was to build a dam across the river entrance. Little Ditcher was already in place.

"Better idea still," suggested, O.J.. "Line up on a slant and glance the logs down the other side of the island."

"You reckon that'll work?" asked Little Ditcher.

"Get your spuds on the riverbed and don't argue!" insisted Warrior.

"Either it'll work, or we'll never work again," agreed O.J..


To their horror, Big Mac, Ten Cents and Sunshine watched the logs careening towards a small quay without stopping. They could only look on helplessly as the battering ram crashed into the wooden structure and demolished it almost instantly with a small shed exploding on impact. Some logs were stopped by the wreckage. But the bulk surged on relentlessly in the direction of Uptown.

The Star Tugs followed on, trying to avoid the floating debris. They knew that it was going to be even worse for Uptown.

"Ah wouldn't lik' tae be in Uptown whin that lot hits th' quaysides!" cried Big Mac.

"Nor me! No, thank you!" agreed Sunshine. "It was bad enough bein' trapped by logs!"

"I wish I hadn't asked Billy to use his dynamite now," sighed Ten Cents.

"Ye did th' richt thing, Ten Cents," assured Big Mac. "At th' very least, we kin say Sunshine is in yin piece."

"Yeah," Sunshine smiled weakly. "Ah just hope Top Hat, Warrior and O.J. will be okay."


In Uptown, the church bells were ringing out to warn everybody. O.J. was still organizing the dam.

"Hurry up, O.J.!" called Warrior. "I think I can hear the logs coming!"

"I'd better get my last spud down quick!" Little Ditcher replied. Then O.J. noticed something that horrified him.

"Oh! Oh no! Warrior!" he cried. "You're on the wrong side!"

"Oh! Yeah!" replied Warrior, realising where he was. "So I am! But how do I get…" Then, he looked to see the logs coming straight for him. "Suffering stacks!" he gasped. "Look at the size of that!"

"Now don't panic, Warrior!" called O.J.. "We'll rev our engines and push back as they hit! Try to divert them 'round the other side of the island!"

"Easier said than done!" cried Warrior as the logs collided into his hull. Then, Warrior started to push the logs around the dam. Top Hat and O.J. started to rev their engines as well.

"Now rev and push!" called O.J..

"Rev and push!" yelled Top Hat.

"Rev and pull!" O.J. ordered.

"That's it! Rev and pull!" Top Hat called. "I say, they're glancing off of us! We're holding fire!"

"I'm revving and pushing, O.J!" called Warrior and the logs started to move away from Uptown.

"Oh, hey! Oh, you've done it!" cried O.J. happily. "You've diverted them 'round the island! It worked!"

"Marvelous!" Top Hat exclaimed with delight.

"Did alright there, didn't we?" agreed Warrior.

The logs were diverted towards an old factory and collided with a fuel barge inside, which exploded upon impact.

"Wow! Look at that!" exclaimed Warrior.

"Well, what do you know!" O.J. said with a chuckle.


When Big Mac, Ten Cents and Sunshine arrived, they explained what had happened. They were very relieved to see the quaysides undamaged. But Big Mac was still concerned.

"Th' owner o' that auld factory's in fur a nasty surprise!" he sighed, looking at the remains of the factory.

'What nasty surprise?" asked a female voice. The group glanced over to see Little Owl pull in with supplies. "Hey, what happened to the factory?"

"Heh, surprise, Little Owl," O.J. replied with a smile. "We were supposed to demolish that factory, but a barrage of logs crashed in a fuel barge inside, causing it to explode!"

"Well, thanks for that," chuckled Little Owl. "I guess I have time to take the mail train now."

"Weel, Ah ne'er," chuckled Big Mac, "Th' owner wilnae hae a nasty surprise whin he sees his factory, efter a'."

"He certainly won't," agreed O.J., "this incident saves him having to pay for the demolition so it'll be a pleasant surprise for him!"

"Well, Little Ditcher," said Warrior, "you've been done out of a job! Mind you, I feel a bit demolished myself!"

"Yes, well, you got the worst of it, Warrior," replied Top Hat. "You're lucky to survive, and so is Little Ditcher!"

"Yeah, in Uptown, you'll be a hero," said Little Ditcher. "Think of that, Warrior!"

"Yeah, I'd like that!" Warrior said.

"You were a very brave tug, Warrior," agreed O.J.. "Well, let's get this lot cleared up! Come on, everybody!"

Big Mac and O.J. were right about the owner of the old factory - he was pleased that he didn't have to pay for the demolition and was able to save enough money to build a new one. That being said, the Star Tugs learned a lot that day. Ten Cents and Sunshine now knew why Big Mac had so much respect for logs. Big Mac learned something too, as did all of us. We gained new respect for Warrior, whose heroic actions saved Uptown from certain disaster. But this would not be the last time this year he'd do something heroic… but that's a story for another time.

The End


Arthur's notes: Thanks again Johnathan for helping Zack and I out. Now, there are minimum changes, ranging from additional dialogue to Little Owl's appearance with demolition supplies. There's also some foreshadowing to Warrior's episode, so if you're a Warrior fan (CindersandAshesUK, I know you are), you're in luck.

Next time, the Tugs apparently get Jinxed by a newcomer.