Chapter 179: The World's Strongest

No one on the North Western Railway likes Confusion and Delay, but there are times where accidents occur, as poor Henry found out. He was taking a large amount of stone when he took a turn to fast and his engine came right off the rails, leaving him with a broken leg when he jumped clear.

That night, Sir Topham Hatt came to the common house.

"I just got off the phone with Henry. He's alright, but he has to rest for a week before he can come back."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, glad that Henry wasn't badly hurt.

"The accident was caused by workmen tampering with the trucks. The guity parties have been dealt with, but we are now down in man and engine power. Spencer was the only one available. I know that none of us are happy with the arrangements, but there's nothing more I can do."

As soon as Sir Topham Hatt was out of hearing range, everyone let out a collective groan.

"Out of all the engine drivers, why him? As if he didn't make my life miserable enough in childhood."

"I hope Henry comes back soon."

"Those stupid workmen. If they would do their jobs instead of fooling around, we wouldn't be in this situation."

"Workmen like that are no one's friend."

Spencer arrived the next morning, and was none to thrilled to discover he would be doing mostly goods trains. He grumbled as he shunted his trucks at the docks.

"Goods trains, really? This is the private engine of the Duke and Duchess of Boxford, and this is how they treat it? If anything, Gordon should be doing this. His engine is most inferior to mine."

Some workmen heard this, and decided to have some fun. As Spencer shunted his train together, they sung out:

"Is that all, you can haul?

Gordon's loads are longer.

Is that all, you can haul?

Gordon's engine must be stronger.

This made Spencer go red in the face with anger.

"My engine is better than his by lightyears! I'll show you, I'll take all of the trucks in the yard at once!"

The workmen laughed and jeered.

"Yes, yes, pull them all, it'll be the longest once more.

"Yes, yes, pull them all, your engine will be the strongest."

This inflated Spencer's ego. He didn't realize he was playing into their hands.

"That's right, my engine is the strongest!"

And so he got to work shunting the trucks together. First he had five, then 10, then 15, then at last he had 20 trucks lined up in a row! Thomas and Percy watched the whole thing from the sidelines.

"What's Spencer doing?"

"Trying to prove he's better than anyone else, of course."

"Shall we watch him fail?"

"Of course!"

While Spencer wasn't looking, the workmen locked the brakes on the trucks, holding back giggles as they chanted:

"Push, push, push!"

And so Spencer did, to no avail. This made him crosser still. He tried once more, with the same results as the workmen hee hawed in laughter.

"Heave Ho, Heave Ho,

You Can haul but it won't go!"

This made Spencer so mad he thought he would explode! Not one to give up, he tried moving his train forward, its wheels spinning round and round...

SNAP!"

"Oh CR-"

Spencer jumped clear as his engine shot forward and fell right off the dock into a barge of dredged muck.

"Oh, Sir Topham Hatt isn't going to like this."

And he didn't. While his engine was fished out, Sir Topham Hatt spoke severely to him.

"I'd have thought you'd learn your lesson by now about showing off, but I was wrong. I can assure you that the Duke and Duchess will be informed about this."

"Yes sir, sorry sir."

He then turned to Gordon.

"We need to clear these trucks. Can you do it, Gordon?"

"Of course, sir! Always ready to be really useful."

And once the brakes were released, Gordon drove the trucks away, smirking at Spencer as he left. Sir Topham Hatt turned back to Spencer.

"Now, I think a few days at the waste dump will do you some good."

Spencer groaned, but complied. He still has a lot to learn, doesn't he?