Chapter 184: Duncan's Prickly Problem
A few weeks later, the repairs on Duke's engine were finished and Sir Handel left for Wales. All of his friends made sure to see him off.
"Have a good time." said Mr. Percival, "But I better not hear anything about you causing trouble. Understand?"
Sir Handel gulped and nodded. Before long, Gordon came in with the express and Sir Handel climbed aboard, his friends waving until the train disappeared into the distance.
Before long the Summer season had reached its peak. The other engine drivers were kept so busy with their own work that there wasn't anytime to miss him. Trees, bushes, and other plantlife had grown over the Spring, and now obstructed parts of the line. Each evening, Rusty would take some workmen along the line to cut it back so as not to cause problems. It was easy work, but Rusty's engine could only take so much back at a time, making the work go slowly.
One morning, Peter Sam was taking the first train up the line, grumbling all the while.
"Fancy that Sir Handel gallivanting off to Wales, leaving me to do his work here. I get no rest, I tell ya, no rest!"
Still, even Duncan had to admire the view.
"At least the line is clear. Good ol' Rusty, he does the job right or he doesn't do it at all."
But trouble lay ahead. Last night, high winds had blown left over hedge trimmings onto the rails. Duncan saw this, and brought the train to a stop. Beatrice came out to see what the matter was.
"Well, this isn't any good. Hold tight, I'll call for Rusty and the workmen, they'll have this clear in no time."
But Duncan wasn't in the mood to wait.
"Pah! It's just a bunch of wee sticks, we can just push them aside. If we wait for Rusty to get here, we'll be here all night!"
Beatrice sighed, seeing there was no winning with him.
"Alright fine, have it your way. I just hope you know what you're doing."
"Don't I always?"
"Duncan, you do not want to hear my answer to that."
With a push of the throttle, the train charged at the mess. But instead of pushing the lot aside like Duncan had planned, the branches got tangled up in the engine's bufferbeam, bringing his attempts to clear the line to a grinding halt.
"What's that you were saying, Duncan?"
"Put a sock in it, Beatrice. Just call the yard and get Rusty up here."
And so Beatrice left to find a phone. But when she got back, she had some bad news.
"The workmen are held up clearing another section of line. We'll have to clear it ourselves, I'm afraid. James won't wait for us forever."
"And how are we supposed to do that?"
"I have some cutters in the van for when I'm on the maintenance trains, but this mess is to big for just the two of us. We'll have to get the passengers to help."
The passengers didn't like that idea at all. Some of them were in their Sunday best on their way home from Church, and grumbled just as much as Duncan did. It was a slow job, thorns piercing their skin with every movement, but at last the job was complete and the train set off for Crovan's Gate.\
By the time the train had reached the top station, everyone on board was bruised and exhausted. James said nothing as the passengers boarded his train, although he had to stifle a laugh when he saw Duncan's appearance.
Word of Duncan's accident spread fast, and that night everyone had a good laugh at Duncan's expense. They thought the whole thing was hilarious, but Duncan thought they were just being silly.