Chapter 139: Salty's Secret

A new engine driver had arrived on Sodor. His name was Salty, and he loved the sea. Having been raised on ships his whole life, he talked endlessly about it, but he did love his job on the railway. He had recently been hired to help out on the Island. This made Salty very happy.

"Arr, an Island, a perfect place to work for an old sea dog like me. Water everywhere ye look."

On his first day on the island, he was sent to the China Clay Pits to help with a large order. Boco was there to greet him.

"Hello, you must be Salty. My name is Boco."

"Ahoy there, matey. I'm ready for work. When be the first ship arriving."

Boco gave him a confused look.

"I'm afraid you're confused. This is a quarry, not a harbor."

Salty was horrified.

"B-But I haven't worked in a quarry before! I be a sea dog, not a land lover. Erm, no offense."

"Don't worry, we'll all be here to help you out. Just watch out for Bill and Ben."

Salty was upset, but he knew that he had a job to do, so he sadly set off to work. Bill and Ben sniggered as they watched him leave.

"Looks like we've got a new playmate, Bill."

"That's right, Ben. What say you we have some fun with him?"

"Took the words right out of my mouth."

Bill and Ben spent the better part of that morning playing tricks on Salty. Hiding his trucks, giving him the wrong information, etc. But to their surprise, nothing seemed to faze Salty. He just went about his work all the same, singing a little tune:

"Yo ho ho, and a bucket of prawns.

The tailor spins,

And the Captain Yawns!"

Salty made the job go like clockwork, leaving Bill and Ben speechless.

"Wh-Bu-How?"

"Nothing we do gets through to him. Why did we have to get such a boring-"

"Is something wrong, you two?"

Bill and Ben jumped to find Boco staring sternly at them.

"Uh, no Boco, we were just getting Salty's trucks ready. Isn't that right, Bill."

"Yes, Ben. We were just on our way there."

Bill and Ben scurried off quickly, leaving Boco shaking his head.

"Those two never learn."

That night, Bill, Ben, and Boco were getting ready for bed when they saw Salty standing outside to himself.

"Oh look, its Mr. Showoff."

"If I have to listen to another one of his stories, I'll die of boredom."

Boco ignored the two and walked outside. He found Salty in a daze, staring out towards the sea.

"Is everything alright, Salty."

Salty snapped out of his daze in a fury.

"Huh? Oh, hi Boco. Yeah, I just needed some fresh air."

"You really love the sea, don't you."

"More than anything."

Salty felt better the next morning, and was soon hard at work. Bill and Ben decided to ask him how he runs like clockwork.

"Oh, tis no secret really. I just sing a little tune to make the day go by faster. Why don't you two try it out for yourselves."

And so, they did. The two of them had to take a large line of trucks to the harbor. Bill drove his engine to the front, while Ben shunted from the back.

"Alright, lets do this."

"Here we go, here we go, here we go, go, go!"

But no matter how much Bill sang, the train wouldn't move. The trucks were just too heavy.

"No we don't, no we don't, no we don't, don't, don't!"

Salty laughed heartily.

"Here, why don't I give you a hand?"

Salty coupled his engine to the front and working hard the three of them slowly but surely brought the train out of quarry. Bill and Ben were relieved.

"Thank you, Salty!"

"Aye, it was nothing. After all, teamwork is what matters most in any job. Reminds me of a story my grandpappy used to tell me of his days in the navy…"

And Salty started off on another long story, Bill and Ben listening intently.

By the end of the month, the big job had been finished, with the customer leaving very pleased. The China Clay Pits manager came to the sheds one day.

"Salty, I am pleased with your work, but these three should be able to manage now. Not to worry, though. Sir Topham Hatt has another job for you."

"Aye, sir. Just point me in the direction of the quarry."

The manager laughed.

"Quarry? Oh my, no. I'm sending you to Brendam Docks! They need a new shunter."

Salty was delighted.

"Oh, the docks! That will be lovely. Thank ye, sir!"

Salty now enjoys his job at Brendam Docks, but he still sees his three new friends from time to time. And whenever they have time to spare, he always has a new story to share, or a song or two to sing.

"Yo ho ho and a bucket of prawns," Sang Salty.

"The tailor spins…"

"And the Captain Yawns!" Bill and Ben chorused.