Chapter 129: Sticking Power

It was the end of the holiday season, and Bert was feeling cross. His engine was getting worse by the week, its age starting to show. Mike and Rex were unsympathetic.

"How convenient that your engine starts to break down just as the work picks up. I think you're faking it."

"Indeed. What you need, Bert, is some determination and sticking power."

Mike and Rex were only teasing, but Bert grew tired of it.

One day the fitter came to look.

"It needs new tubes," he said at last, "But we can't take it out of rotation yet. Mike and Rex can't handle the work alone, and Frank's engine isn't built for these kinds of jobs."

"What? But what am I supposed to do?"

"You'll just have to manage until Winter, I'm afraid. Once the work dies down we'll give her a new set. She'll be due for an overhaul anyway."

He then glanced over his shoulder, then leaned in closer.

"You didn't hear it from me, but rumor has it that they're building a new engine in the workshops. We certainly need one. If any of the steam engines fail we'd really be in hot water."

Bert promised to keep it under wraps. The fitter cleaned the tubes as best as he could. This helped a little, but it wasn't long until trouble arose again. Still, Bert did his best to keep her going. One afternoon, they had reached Arlesdale station. The journey had gone well, and despite having a full train they were barely a minute late.

Bert drove his engine onto the turntable and ran around front for the return journey.

"Hopefully this little breather will let her gather her strength," he thought to himself, "We'll need it for the trip home."

Bert waited patiently for the guard to give the signal. Before the station was a hill. Bert knew that as long as they could make it over the hill, they could make it back to Arlesburgh without losing time.

At last, the guard blew his whistle and waved his green flag.

"At last, we're off. Come along, come along."

Slowly but surely the train moved out of the station. It was tough going at first, but then.

"Wow, suddenly everything is so easy- OH COME ON!"

Bert looked back to see that while they were moving forward, their train was stuck at the platform.

Bert drove his engine back where he met the guard.

"Somehow the tender coupling snapped. I guess we'll just have to wait around until someone can bring us a spare."

Bert just groaned in exasperation.

"Bert and Rex will never let me hear the end of this. They'll just go on about "sticking power" this and "determination" that…"

This gave the guard an idea. He ran back to the station gift shop and came back looking very pleased with himself.

"Don't worry, Bert, I've got just what we need."

"Please don't tell me it's a newspaper and leather shoelaces?"

"Nope. Its glue!"

Bert just stared at the man like he was crazy.

"Is it magic glue?"

"No, silly, but it is super glue. Hopefully, this will get us to the bottom station."

"John, this is the dumbest idea I've ever heard, and I had to sit through Mike's whole spiel about using monkeys for massages."

"Maybe so, but unless you want to sit around to be laughed at by Mike and Rex it's the best idea we've got."

Reluctantly, Bert agreed. As the guard to work, an idea crept into Bert's head, making him smile.

"This'll shut them up about sticking power."

At long last, the work was done and the train set off again. The guard had explained the situation to the passengers, and they agreed that they didn't mind being late, so they didn't need to rush. It wasn't long before they reached the hill. It wasn't easy, but soon they were coasting over the side and headed for home.

Bert reached each stop on time, making sure to take it easy. The passengers thanked him, and Bert's confidence grew. Before long, they reached the bottom station just in time to meet Duck's evening train.

That night, Mike and Rex came back to the sheds feeling very tired. Bert was waiting with a cheeky grin on his face.

"Phew," said Mike, "Glad we aren't that busy everyday."

"I'm sorry you two are tired," Bert said, "I thought you younger engine drivers had sticking power."

Mike and Rex never mentioned the words sticking power again. They were worried Bert would just prove them wrong.