CLIMB EVERY MOUNTAIN

Written by Zack Wanzer and Rachel Ravens

Many years ago, a little railway was under construction. The Earl of Sodor, Sir John Arnold Norramby, would serve as chairman of the railway when it opened, and had ordered for an engine to be constructed at Boston Lodge in Wales. This engine, Sir Norramby decided, would be named in his honor – "The Duke", engine number one of the Mid-Sodor Railway.

Duke wasn't to be the only engine running on the railway; he would also be joined by a tank engine from Fletcher Jennings and Co., aptly named Jennings, and numbered two.

"My goodness," said Jennings when she arrived. "What a charming little place."

"Ah, yes, His Grace says it will be one of the most ambitious projects he's ever worked on," replied Duke. "And why wouldn't it be? What with me being named after him! He couldn't have chosen a better engine if he tried."

"Excuse me?!" exclaimed Jennings. "He did buy both of us to work on this project together."

"That's as may be," said Duke pompously, "but I reckon I'll be chosen to haul the inaugural run when the line opens!"

Jennings groaned; she was already wishing she hadn't been chosen to run the line with this arrogant, aloof windbag.

"The nerve of that Duke!" Jennings grumbled as she brought a train of supplies up the line. The only other company she had apart from her crew was a brake van named Cora.

"I don't like the sound of his attitude either," Cora agreed. "Sounds like being named after a figurehead went to his smokebox."

"The only thing worse I can think of is being named after a monarch," added Jennings. "After all, pride comes before a fall."

"Can't argue with that," said Cora. "But all the same, we're all only young once."

"And I just hope he learns not to be so pig-headed," finished Jennings. "Goodness knows what the line will come to if he keeps it up!"

Later, Duke was carrying some workmen in small, low-slung coaches known by them as "Bug Boxes".

"This is most undignified!" he fumed as he pulled them up the line. "I should be pulling smart-looking coaches on bogies, not these glorified vans with windows and seats!"

"Oi!" snorted one of the coaches. "We're at least able to function without fuss!"

"Quite right," agreed his companion. "If anyone's undignified, it's you!"

"What cheek!" spluttered Duke. "I was named in honor of His Grace, the Duke of Sodor!"

"Were you now?" sniffed the first Bug Box. "That explains everything!"

"It most certainly does not!" huffed Duke. "You lot will at least respect me or I may leave you behind."

"You wouldn't dare!" retorted the second Bug Box. "How would the workmen get from place to place? Can't run or build a railway without them!"

Duke crossly let off steam, but realized that the coach did have a point. It wasn't long, however, before he came across something wooly on the track and came to a halt.

"Ohhh, what is it now?" he groaned.

"There's sheep on our line!" exclaimed the driver. "They must have escaped from a nearby farm!" No sooner had he finished that sentence when he and the fireman saw a farmer and his dog run up to the train.

"So sorry about this," he sighed. "Last night's storm knocked down our fence!"

"Hmph! What an inconvenience," grunted Duke. All he could do was watch as the sheep were herded into another paddock.

"We'll have the original paddock fence mended soon," assured the farmer. "You can now be on your way." With an affirmative blow of whistle, Duke set off again, anxious to make up for lost time.

In spite of all the bad blood between Duke and Jennings, the line was finally completed, starting at Arlesburgh and going all the way up to the summit at Ulfstead Road, and everyone was getting ready for the inspection. Sir Norramby addressed the two engines in their shed as the crews polished them up.

"I trust you two will leave a good impression for the inspector from the Board of Trade?" he asked. "You have both worked efficiently to prepare for this event."

"Of course, Your Grace," replied Duke. "It has been an honor to be chosen for this project."

"It sure has been… eventful," Jennings added.

"Splendid!" smiled Sir Norramby. "If all goes according to plan, the Mid-Sodor Railway shall be opened in time for the summer!"

It was Jennings who would take the inspector on a tour of the line.

"Well, it's about time someone started seeing my credibility," she grinned. "Goodbye, Duke!" The brown tender engine looked on enviously as she started away.

The inspection went by uneventfully until Jennings approached the Mountain Road. This was a difficult section of the line between Arlesdale and Ulfstead Road that climbed a steep mountain, going through four tunnels.

"This gives us a workout," said Jennings, "but the view at the top is well worth it." She carefully trundled through the last tunnel, and the sunlight hit her again as she popped out the other side. The blue tank engine looked up and down the cliffside. Beautiful flowers blossomed from both above and below the track, and the new stations looked tiny from the top of the mountain.

It was a lovely sight to behold, but someone on her train had other things to worry about…

"Well, your project certainly is ambitious, Your Grace," said the inspector. "However, I can't help but feel concerned regarding the route beyond Cas-ny-Hawin."

"And what would that be, my good man?"

By this point, the train had reached Ulfstead Road. Jennings had gone to the sidings to get a drink, and couldn't help overhearing the two men.

"I don't wish to express any disrespect to your ambitions, but… have you even seen how scant the clearances are in the mountain section?!"

Going off of the inspector's tone, Jennings suddenly looked concerned. To her, this could potentially mean that the railway wouldn't open… and where would that leave her and Duke, however pig-headed he could be?

"With all due respect, sir," said Sir Norramby, "I believe the line could bring tourists to the railway. The view up there is certainly one to behold."

"But suppose someone accidentally opened up a carriage door and fell out of the train? I do not believe that is something you'd wish to go through, surely?"

Jennings blinked in shock. Her passengers, getting hurt by falling out of the coaches?! That wouldn't do in the slightest, she thought anxiously. "Surely passengers wouldn't dare open coaches on a slope," she said aloud. "That would be far too reckless!"

A couple of hours later, Jennings, Sir Norramby and the inspector returned to Arlesdale. Although the inspector couldn't find fault otherwise, the lack of safety in the mountain section was of great concern, and it remained on the blue engine's mind throughout the downward journey.

"Well, how did the inspection go?" asked Duke. Once Jennings explained everything, Duke looked aghast.

"We could lose our line?!" he gasped. "Surely not after all that effort we put into building it! This wouldn't suit His Grace one bit!"

"Inspectors are tricky people to please," agreed Jennings. "Sometimes, all it takes is one little fault that could lead to big problems!"

For once, Duke didn't feel prideful; his smokebox ran cold and his wheels shuddered. What can we do to keep the line running? he thought worriedly. Somehow, there must be a way!

Sir Norramby had the same thoughts as Duke, but even he was beginning to feel like no matter how much he could argue against the inspector's criticism, the inspector wouldn't budge.

"I shall return to the line in three months' time," he said firmly. "By then, I expect that you'll have done something to ensure the safety of your passengers, should they come here. Good day to you, Sir Norramby."

He swiftly left, the two engines exchanging concerned looks. "Three months?" gasped Duke. "How are we going to make the Mountain Road stable within three months?!"

"Sir Norramby must find a way out of this," insisted Jennings. "And… as his engines, it's up to us to help where we can."

"There has to be a way we can get the Mountain Road stabilized," Sir Norramby pondered.

Duke blinked, looking at his bufferbeam. Stabilizing… It means keeping things where they are supposed to be. The fence keeps the sheep from straying onto our line… so… "Your Grace," he finally spoke, "perhaps we could put up a fence around the Mountain Road's downhill slope."

"Well, I suppose that's worth a try," pondered Sir Norramby. "It would discourage passengers from opening the carriage doors."

"But supposing one would be stupid enough to do so," continued Duke, "what if the doors were locked between Arlesdale and Ulfstead Road? I know Jennings and I have to take on water there at both stations…"

"…which means that there's enough time to give attention to the carriage doors!" finished Jennings. "That just might work, Duke."

"Yes, jolly good idea you've got there!" agreed Sir Norramby. "We'll arrange a few trial runs to see if your idea about locking the doors will work."

And so, while fences were being put up around the Mountain Road, that was exactly what they did. The trial runs proved to be successful, and when the time came for the inspector's second visit, he'd been informed about what had happened.

"It was all our very own Duke's idea, my good man," said Sir Norramby. "Our trial runs went very smoothly with the new regulations in place."

"Is that so?" asked the inspector. "Well then, Your Grace, I'll give your engine's idea the benefit of the doubt as we approach the Mountain Road."

"Now… who should take the train?" asked Sir Norramby.

"Definitely give it to Jennings, Your Grace," said Duke. "She never got as cocky as I did." The blue engine looked over in surprise.

"Duke… are you sure?" she gasped. "It was your idea which fixed our Mountain Road…"

"I insist, Jennings," he replied. "Besides, I'm sure other opportunities will show up one day."

Jennings smiled at Duke. "Heh, I never knew you were such a gentleman." She gave a wink and was coupled to the train. As she left, Duke blinked in confusion.

"A… gentleman?" he asked. "Driver… what exactly does she mean?"

Duke's driver chuckled. "If a lady calls a man that, that is a high compliment." Duke was still baffled as he went to collect his own train.

Thankfully for everyone, Duke's idea went over well with the inspector, and so he allowed the Mid-Sodor Railway to open the following month as long as this practice was put in place. For years to come, Sudrian natives would accept this door drill as a matter of course, but visitors from abroad would complain, comparing it to being imprisoned without trial.

"Oh, some passengers," muttered Jennings as she came down the mountain.

"They don't realize it's for their own safety," sighed Duke. "Those visitors are decent enough folk, I suppose, but I don't think they're quite right in the head."

Jennings giggled. "Tell me about it, sweetie. Anyone would think we're carrying a jail train!"

"Hmph. Be thankful we didn't have actual police officers there," he retorted. "That said, we do need to be on the watch for… er… what was that word driver used? They break in and smash things…"

"Vandals?"

"Yes, thank you," said Duke. "It wouldn't suit His Grace to have the train destroyed."

"Or Her Grace," giggled Jennings. "It's a pity we didn't get an engine named Duchess too."

"Are you saying I should have gotten a sister?" asked Duke. "Working with two girls is difficult enough, let alone three!"

"What are you saying?!" cried Jennings. "Are Cora and I not worthy of being here?"

"Er… n-no," stammered Duke. "I meant to say that… it is a bit lonely being the only male engine-slash-rolling stock here."

"Keep your funnel on, honey," smiled Jennings. "I'm sure that'll change in future years. For now, you're stuck with me and Cora, I'm afraid."

Duke sighed as the two of them went to the water tower. However, he didn't realize that Jennings' words would one day come to fruition…

THE END

The events of this story were based upon Awdry's description of the Mid-Sodor Railway's opening in 1880. A similar practice happened on the Ffestiniog Railway, one of three railways – along with the Corris and Snailbeach Railways – which inspired the Mid-Sodor Railway.

Author's Comments

And so we begin the Mid-Sodor Memories saga! All six stories take place prior to the events of North Western Engines, and during the flashback portions of The Duke of Sodor, namely before and after the events of Bulldog and You Can't Win. The first part of the saga takes place before Falcon and Alfred's arrival, showing how Duke and Jennings first worked alongside one another. Being a much younger engine at the time, Duke would obviously not have been the wise sage that he is today, very much akin to Falcon and Stuart, albeit more like the former, if being named after Sir John Arnold Norramby was any indication. His relationship with Jennings is akin to that of the late Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, not getting along at first before becoming a loving couple, but they still tease one another on occasion. The good points do end up outweighing the bad in the end.

Upcoming stories:

- Alfred Goes Flying

- Better Safe Than Sorry

- Mine Over Matter

- Parliamentary, My Dear Albert

- Hold Your Horses