About a week after the storm and Queen Mary 2 events have transpired, things seem to have settled down all across Sodor. Hayden is now been much happier than ever, especially with Lilah's nameplate and pictures in his cab, in memory of his sister. He felt better about the whole thing, as well as having those like Braedey, Rebecca, even Thomas and Lady, to be by his side.
One early morning before the sun was starting to rise, Hayden and Braedey were both returning to Knapford after they had taken a heavy late-night goods train for Peter to the mainland. They stayed over at the Josephine Railway sheds for the evening, and they were making their way back home. As they were making their way towards the station, the two tender engines can see both Mr. Franklin and his wife along with Sir Topham Hatt outside of the latter's office, the former two who look to be dressed up for a trip into the African countryside.
"Sir Topham." Hayden called, he and Braedey pulling up to the platform, getting the three's attention. "What is going on?"
"Oh, Hayden. Braedey. Didn't hear you two arriving." Sir Topham greeted to the two engines.
"Mr. Franklin, why are you and Mrs. Robinson dressed up? Is there something going on?" Braedey questioned.
"Braedey. Caitlyn, Jane, and myself are going to Africa in search of a steam locomotive to rescue and restore." Mr. Franklin explained to his premier crimson engine. "This engine is a special locomotive, a South African Railways Class 15F 4-8-2 steam locomotive."
"Really?" Hayden asked in surprise. "That's a surprise."
"Of course, Hayden. Given that you, Peter, Henry, and Murdoch have handled the heavy goods, I thought you could use some extra help, especially when the goods are expected to get heavier." Sir Topham explained to the King Class engine. "It might get too heavy for you all to handle and you'll need some help."
"Of course, sir." Hayden acknowledged. "It be good to have some extra help every now and then."
"When will you be leaving, Mr. Franklin?" Braedey asked.
"First thing when the sun rises." Mr. Franklin answered to his premier engine. "Which is in about two hours. While we're gone, Josephine will be watching you and the railway for the time being."
"Oh, really? She's coming back from... where is it, Oxford?" Braedey asked curiously.
"Yes. She's been handling business classes so she'll know how to handle the railway just like her parents." Caitlyn reassured to Braedey. "So you and the others will be in safe hands."
"Okay. You all take care, then." Braedey smiled softly.
"Best you and Hayden go and get some rest. You deserve it after tonight's hard work." Sir Topham Hatt said to the two engines.
"Yes, sir. Thank you, sir." The two engines thanked him before they chuff away.
"You and your family take care, Franklin." Sir Topham said to the couple before they leave. "And be careful."
"We will." Mr. Franklin reassured back as he and his wife leave the station to catch a night bus to Sodor airport, then they'll take a plane to Heathrow, and they will board a large jet for Africa.
Hayden and Braedey, meanwhile, are travelling light-engine to the sheds, the others all fast asleep. As the two engines arrived, they quietly made their way back into their berths, just as Henry now wakes up to go and take the Flying Kipper fish train. The three share a brotherly smile before Henry departs for the docks to collect the fish train, Braedey now falling asleep.
"Heh. He seem to always sleeps first." Hayden mutters softly before he too eventually falls asleep.
Bloemfontein. The capital city of the province of Free State of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals; the other two are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital. Situated at an elevation of 1,395m (4,577ft) above sea level, the city's home to 369,568 people.
After a long flight from the U.K, Mr. Franklin, Caitlyn, and Jane have arrived in Bloemfontein. Once they had touched down, the three got themselves a taxi and it took them to the outskirts of the city.
"Why is this place so hot?" Jane asked.
"Because Africa is in both hemispheres, they have an issue with heat." Mr. Franklin answered. "Best you keep hydrated.
Caitlin then looked at a derelict rail yard just outside of Bloemfontein. She could hear the sounds of steel being cut and melted down, as well as metal being crushed and flattened, plus the sound of diesel horns and the rumbling engines. "Okay. Let's go and take a look."
Mr. Franklin, his wife, and daughter start to look about the yard, the three of them seeing rusty flatbeds, old tenders, and rusting shells of old engines. There seemed to be no sign of a functioning steam engine around the yard. It was disheartening to see this.
As Jane looks about, she finally finds what they are looking for. There, sitting before her, is a South African Class 15F 4-8-2 tender engine. The engine is in black paint, its paint covered in soot and dust, some of the traction rods on the right side were detached, some white pin-striping along his boiler, his number 3007 on both sides of his cab. The engine seems worn out, looking down at the blonde girl with worn-down eyes.
"Mom. Dad. I've found him." Jane called, Mr. Franklin and Caitlyn both making their way over. "Here he is."
"Who are you three?" The engine asked softly.
"I'm Franklin Robinson, controller of the Josephine Railway in the United Kingdom." Mr. Franklin introduced himself. "This is my wife Caitlyn, and our daughter Jane."
"My name is Raleigh." The engine gave his name to the three. "Why are you three here?"
"Because we were looking for you." Caitlyn answered. "You're a unique engine."
"Can you tell us about your history?" Jane asked softly.
Raleigh breathes a sigh. "Very well." He began his story.
Raleigh and his class of engine were built between the years of 1938 & 1947 by the North British Locomotive Company of Queen's Park Works in Polmadie in Glasgow. Raleigh was built in 1944–45 as part of an order of 60 locomotives for South African Railways, being given the number registration of 3007. In April 1945, he was shipped to South Africa, where he was in service until 1988. During this time, Raleigh has hauled passenger and freight trains, he and his class of engine being the backbone of South African Railways, and was the most common single type of steam locomotive in all of Africa. There were 255 15F Class engines used in South Africa alone, and many were used to pull the famous Blue Train from Johannesburg to Cape Town. Unfortunately, time would not be on Raleigh's side for long. Towards the end of his working life, Raleigh was taken off mainline duties and he used to shunt rolling stock in railway yards. In 1987, he was unfortunately involved in an accident in Bloemfontein, the provincial capital of the Free State, and the very next year, Raleigh was taken out of service. He was left abandoned on a siding in a Bloemfontein locomotive yard for 20 years, destined for the scrapyard...
"You pulled the Blue Train between Johannesburg and Cape Town? That's rather impressive." Caitlyn noted.
"Yeah... But what's the point of reminiscing the past when I know I'll never steam again?" Raleigh muttered as he looks down at his buffers. "I've been stuck here for 20 years, and have seen others around me be cut up and scrapped... What am I to do now?"
"Well, today is your lucky day, Raleigh." Mr. Franklin now announced as he holds up some papers, Raleigh unable to read the smaller print, but there was a large signature at the bottom of the page. "As of today, you are now property of the North Western Railway. You are coming home to the United Kingdom."
Raleigh couldn't believe what he was hearing. He'd been saved from scrap? He never thought that, 20 years later on in his life, he'd be back in operation or be saved from the cutter's torch. "Thank you... thank you all so much..." Raleigh thanked softly.
"Well, we're gonna have to get you ready before we go on our way." Jane said, looking at Raleigh's form. "I can only imagine the condition of your brakes, wheels, and other parts while you've been sitting here for the last 20 years."
"Yeah... my boiler and firebox may not be in the best of condition to be fired up." Raleigh admitted.
"Right. Best we get to work, and we might need some extra help." Mr. Franklin nodded before rolling up his sleeves.
So, after asking some assistance from some workers and mechanics all around the rail yard, the Robinson family and the workers all begin to get to work on the Class 15F locomotive, fixing and patching up holes in his brake lines to make them airtight. As this is going on, Mr. Franklin had gone to Spoornet, the South African rail transport company that sorts out freight logistics and passenger transport, so he could set up transport for Raleigh. The only way to get him out of Bloemfontein is by railway, transporting him about 650 kilometres (403 miles) to Durban docks, then travel all the way to Europe by ship, a journey of up to 10,000 kilometres (6,213 miles). After some negotiations with the authorities of Spoornet, they have allocated a diesel engine with a series of wagons to couple up with the Class 15F locomotive, the wagons to be utilised as extra braking force. With the signed documents in hand, Mr. Franklin had collected some wood and other tools to repair the cab floor for him, his wife and daughter to stand in Raleigh's cab as they go.
"So, once we arrive on Sodor, what will happen then?" Raleigh asked to Jane after she checks his remaining traction rods and axles are oiled up. In fact, given his size, it took up to 60 litres of oil to lubricate all his axles and bearings to make sure Raleigh rolls freely. It was a dirty job, but it must be done.
"One step at a time." Jane smiled. "But when we arrive, you will love it being on Sodor. There are other steam engines there too, some of them even older than you. You'll fit in right at home with them."
"Wow." Raleigh smiled softly.
"She's right. And you'll be back in steam in no time." Caitlyn added in, patting Raleigh's smoke deflector.
By the evening, Raleigh had been prepped and set up for the long and arduous journey ahead. The wagons have been coupled up behind the Class 15F, with his cab also been prepped and set up for their journey up ahead.
"Okay. Best you all get some rest." Mr. Franklin said to them, Jane and Caitlyn setting up sleeping bags in Raleigh's cab and empty tender. He looks to Raleigh. "First thing in the morning, we'll be leaving for Durban."
"I couldn't be more than ready for the journey ahead." Raleigh smiled.
By the dawn's early light the next morning, everyone was ready to go. Soon enough, the diesel locomotive reversed down and coupled up to Raleigh, the brake lines secure and ready to go. With everything all set and locked to go, Raleigh was ready to go, for the trip across South Africa to Durban Port.
"Come on. Let's get going." Mr. Franklin called out as he leaps into the cab, just as the diesel begins to pull Raleigh out of the yard.
"Here we go..." Jane said as she sees them rolling down the rails.
Sure enough, the diesel pulls out onto the mainline, the rusty South African Class 15F 4-8-2 steam locomotive pulling out of Bloemfontein, heading forth to Durban.
Saved from the torches of the breaker's yard,
Thirty years of service under African guard
Restored and oiled for one more ride,
Six thousand miles to take in his stride
The diesel powered down the line, pulling Raleigh and the empty flatbeds along behind him. Caitlyn checks the speedometer, which was amazingly working after all this time, and saw they're reaching 45 miles an hour on the straightaways. She was surprised by this.
"Smooth run to begin with." Mr. Franklin said as they go along. "Nobody would've thought one of these 15Fs would ever come back to the U.K."
"That is true." Caitlyn agreed with her husband.
"This is great." Jane added, the diesel blowing its horn as they travel along.
He is the train from Bloemfontein,
Mighty workhorse of the African plain
He is the train from Bloemfontein,
Off to Sodor, a new home again...
After about an hour of travelling roughly 70 miles down the rail line, the diesel pulling Raleigh pulled up to a lone station stop, so the mechanics team and Robinson family check on Raleigh's axles and wheels to make sure nothing was wrong and to make any repairs if necessary.
"How are the axles?" Mr. Franklin asked to one of the mechanics.
"Running... little hot." The mechanic gives an answer.
"Raleigh, how are your axles?" Caitlyn asked softly as she walks up to the front of the steam locomotive.
"They feel a little bit warm, but I'll be fine." Raleigh answered, his face a little heated up, no doubt from running for such a distance. "I'll yell out if they get too hot."
"Okay. Don't be afraid to yell out." Caitlyn said to him, then walked back to her husband. "Raleigh says his axles feel a little warm but he'll yell out in case it gets worse." She informed him.
"Right, then. Mount up!" Mr. Franklin announced, then he and his family board the locomotive, the mechanics getting back on as well.
Once given a green signal, the diesel engine pulls out of the station, Raleigh rolling behind it with a groan and creaking sound coming from his structure as they go. A few more miles further on down the rail-line, Raleigh could feel his wheels rolling along as they go, but could also feel something amiss; a knocking sound coming from his left driving wheels, and it sounds bad.
"Stop! Stop!" Raleigh called out loudly. "My brakes!"
Mr. Franklin heard this and he waves out a red flag to the diesel driver. In response, the diesel engine began to slow down and come to a stop. Once they stopped, the mechanics discovered the problem: one of the brake shoes was rubbing against the wheel and the moving traction rods. So, the brake shoes were quickly removed and been placed into the tender for later repair. After that, the driver got word from Spoornet, saying they'll take the train onward through the night to make up for lost time and reach Durban. They agree to the idea, and after the emergency repairs, as well as lubricating the axles and wheels once more, the engine and Raleigh were on their way once again.
As they travel along the line, Raleigh could see people over by the line side waving it to him. He smiled while Mr. Franklin and his family wave out, the 15F thinking back to when he travelled under his own steam and he saw people waving to him as he chuffed along the line.
"Everywhere you go, everyone stops and waves to a steam engine." Mr. Franklin laughed, Caitlyn and Jane smiling at this as well.
"Very true." Raleigh smiled softly.
Sure enough, after travelling for about 250 strenuous long miles, the diesel pulling Raleigh made its way to a lone station, the diesel slowing to a stop next to an abandoned signal-box. Raleigh wondered why they've stopped here, just as he saw Mr. Franklin and Caitlyn now collecting supplies.
"What's going on?" Raleigh wondered.
"The mechanics are heading off back to Bloemfontein on another train." Jane answered. "We're on our own from here on out. We will carry on to Durban through the night."
"Very well." Raleigh acknowledged.
Mr. Franklin came back with oil and lubricants for Raleigh, whilst Caitlyn had collected food and other clothes. Also, she got coats and blankets for the three to sleep in. Out on the Savannah, the temperature can drop to zero degrees, so Caitlyn had decided to be prepared for the journey ahead, and make sure they were warm for the journey ahead into the valley.
"We've got a long way to go, so let's keep moving." Mr. Franklin announced.
With a toot of the diesel's horn, they rolled out of the station, heading off towards the mountains as day now turns into night, Caitlyn and Jane eventually tucking in for the night, while Franklin stays awake with Raleigh, the long daunting trek through the mountains looms ahead.
Through the night, the diesel powered along over the mountains, speeding through tunnels, winding down hills and turns, and blazing a trail through the mountain, the driver onboard determined to get to Durban. Raleigh could only sit there and watch on, his brakes all useless and him unable to do anything. He had to trust the diesel to get them down safely.
Into the Valley of one thousand peaks
Twisting and turning, the Mountain Class creaks
Icy wind bites, but no blazing coal
This arduous journey has taken its toll
By the next morning, the diesel was going through a rail-yard, whilst ice was on and around Raleigh's frame and bodywork, just as Caitlyn and Jane woke up. Their warm blankets kept the two warm during the night, but they slightly shivered from the morning chills. They had helped Mr. Franklin with taking care of the ice.
"Wow. This morning was cold." Jane commented.
"Yeah, though we've been through colder." Mr. Franklin pointed out.
After that, Raleigh was shunted up behind an electric locomotive that will carry on for the next last 100 miles to Durban docks. Thanks to the clear green signals on the line, they were now making up for lost time after two days and on night out on the rails.
"Looks like we'll be reaching the Port of Durban a lot faster than we anticipated." Caitlyn guessed, as Raleigh passed by a freight train.
"We'll be onboard the next ship for Brendam in no time." Jane smiled. "Hear that, Raleigh?"
"Yes. I hear it." Raleigh answered, a smile on his tired face. "This is amazing."
He is the train from Bloemfontein,
Mighty workhorse of the African plain
He is the train from Bloemfontein,
Off to Sodor, a new home again...
By the next evening, Raleigh arrived at the dockyards. Once arriving on sight by nightfall, the electric engine shunts him into a passing loop track for the time being, the 10 wagons being unhitched and taken away to be used on other trains. The Robinson family all say goodnight to Raleigh before they all go to find a hotel to stay in for the night until tomorrow. As they leave the yard, Raleigh looks around with a smile on his face, and he too falls asleep under the stars of the night.
Durban, the busiest port in South Africa and generates more than 60% of revenue. It is the second largest container port in Africa, after Port Said in Egypt. The distance around the entire port is 21 kilometres (13 miles), the rail tracks totalling up to 302 kilometres (188 miles), while the port has 58 berths which are operated by more than 20 terminal operators, and over 4500 commercial vessels call at the port each year.
By the next morning, Raleigh awoke feeling bright and ready to go. As he sat there, he could see Mr. Franklin who looks to be arguing to the dockside managers and others regarding something about transportation. As this is happening, Jane and Caitlyn were making their way over to the locomotive.
"Is something going on with Mr. Franklin?" Raleigh asks to the two.
"He's trying to get news about the ship, but it turns out we might end up going to Felixstowe rather than Sodor." Caitlyn explained to the Class 15F locomotive. "I guess we'll just have to wait and see what happens." After a while, Mr. Franklin walked over to them. "What's the word, honey?" Caitlyn asked.
"Unfortunately, the ship's being diverted to Felixstowe." Mr. Franklin explained in exasperation. "It's the only port that has cranes strong enough and big enough to handle an engine the size of Raleigh."
Jane looks back and she could see the diesel shunter now making its way over. "No time to worry about that now. The shunter is here."
"Alright, let's move!" Mr. Franklin announced.
The diesel buffers up behind Raleigh and begins to push him forward. But as the shunting diesel pushes the Class 15F along the dockside rails, they are rather worn and haven't been used for some time. The big concern for Franklin and the others is that the rails are so deeply buried, Raleigh could derail off of the tracks. So, they have to go slowly and carefully, going at a steady walking pace to go along. After a few minutes of patient moving and careful motion around the yards, the diesel pushed Raleigh to the dockside.
"Made it." Caitlyn sighed in relief.
However, there's a problem: the ship they were looking for, the S.S Hauler, was moored up on the other side of the docks, and they were on the far side. A rather wide stretch of water separated the Class 15F from the ship.
"Now what?" Raleigh now asked to Mr. Franklin and his family. "That ship could leave without us."
"Don't worry. We've got a solution." Jane said as she points out to across the dock. A large floating crane now sails over to the dockside, getting itself into position. "That's what will get you onto the ship."
"Whoa..." Was all Raleigh could say.
The floating crane gets itself aligned after mooring up to the dockside, and it begins to lower its cables. Around Raleigh is a large cradle around his front, since his tender is detached, so it could be loaded next after him. The crane's cables attaches to the cradle, and the crane begins to lift Raleigh up and off the rails, slowly and carefully, into the air. With gentle movements, careful not to bend or damage any of his delicate frame and parts, the crane moves Raleigh up and placed him down onto the deck of the floating crane. Next up, his tender is loaded alongside him, the two ready to go. Once done so, the floating crane began to make its way over to the S.S Hauler, floating over by the ship's side, and the crane now picks up Raleigh, lowering him down into the cargo hold below the main deck, where some tracks have been placed down for him. Once Raleigh's wheels touched the rails, the cradle was removed, and he was soon tied down to the ship's deck with chains and straps. Eventually, his tender was placed down in front of him, and it too was strapped down with chains.
Over at the dockside, Mr. Franklin, Caitlyn, and Jane had seen the operation, and they all breathed a sigh of relief once Raleigh was onboard the ship.
"Our part of the journey is at an end. Now, it's all up to the ship's crew to get to where they're going." Mr. Franklin said to his family.
"That's all we can hope for." Jane added in, then she and her parents head off to get a taxi to get to the airport.
Soon enough, the S.S Hauler left the Port of Durban, and heads off to sea, heading on forth to the United Kingdom. Inside the cargo hold, Raleigh sat down in the cargo hold, the chains and straps all secure and holding him down to the ship's deck floor, all the while with the waves swelling bigger than the last one, and the storm the ship's going through is getting worse.
Forty days and night on the open sea
Out on a passage, spanning oceans, three
The waves rock and roll in this treacherous capes
Will the precious cargo safely escape?
He is the train from Bloemfontein,
Mighty workhorse of the African plain
He is the train from Bloemfontein,
Off to Sodor, a new home again...
After sailing across the North and South Atlantic for six weeks, the S.S Hauler was approaching the coastline of England. The vessel is lead by tugboats off towards Felixstowe, the crews by the dockside and onboard the ship ready to begin the unloading of the Class 15F locomotive in the cargo hood of the ship.
The Port of Felixstowe, in Felixstowe, Suffolk, is the United Kingdom's busiest container port, dealing with 48% of Britain's containerised trade. It was ranked as 43rd busiest container port in the world and 8th in Europe, with a handled traffic of 3.85 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). The port has two main container terminals; Trinity and Landguard, as well as a roll-on/roll-off terminal. There is a continuous quay of over 2.3 kilometres (1.4 mi), equipped with 29 ship-to shore gantry cranes. The main navigation channel is dredged to 14.5 metres below chart datum, with a maximum depth of 15m alongside the quay. This allows Felixstowe to accommodate the world's latest generation of deep-draughted post-Panamax vessels and the much larger vessels. The A14 connects the port to the English Midlands and the M6, the north via the M1, M6, A1 and via the A12 to London. The port (as simply "Felixstowe") is signed from as far away as M6 junction 1 for Rugby. Each terminal has its own rail terminal which connects to the Felixstowe Branch Line.
Sure enough, the S.S Hauler has been moored up, and the cranes now got to work with removing the cargo. As they do so, one large crane began to slowly pick up Raleigh from the cargo hold of the ship, now ready to unload. As this is going on, Mr. Franklin and his family have arrived with two trucks with special trailers that are designed to handle locomotives. The cranes lift up and carry Raleigh out of the vessel, before starting to carefully lower him down to the awaiting trucks.
"Good to see you're alright, Raleigh." Mr. Franklin smiled as Raleigh is lowered onto the truck's flatbed, and the workmen began to strap him down, his tender being unloaded as well.
"Definitely wasn't a smooth ride on the boat." Raleigh chuckled, the Robinson family smiling and laughing. "But why am I being transported by road rather than rail?"
"Unfortunately, it's because of your rail gauge." Caitlyn answered. "The rail gauge of South African railways is 3ft 6", whereas British railway standard gauge is 4ft 8.5" (1.4m). Therefore, you won't fit on the rails until you undergo modifications to do so." She explained.
"I see. I guess I'll be on the road until we reach Sodor." Raleigh understood.
"Yeah, but we'll be travelling with you." Mr. Franklin said as he and his family board the trucks.
Once Raleigh had been strapped down, the trucks were now on their way down the motorways, heading to the West to get to Barrow-in-Furness. As they were on their way, some people on the motorways take notice of Raleigh and either take pictures or toot their horns to the steam engine, Raleigh smiling at the travellers on the road. Along the way, Mr. Franklin made a quick phone-call to Sir Topham Hatt, announcing that they have Raleigh and are making their way to Sodor as they speak.
Over on Sodor, Hayden had just delivered a fast goods train to Vicarstown, though it's been a long six weeks for him and the others since Mr. Franklin and his family had left, though there hasn't been much word since. As the silver King Class locomotive began to depart from the station, from the corner of his eyes, Hayden could see a black steam locomotive being pulled along on the back of a truck with a tender alongside.
'Wait. Is that...' Hayden now realised something. 'That must be the new engine.' He looks back to his crew, and he suggested they go ahead to the Steamworks. After a little bit of thinking, Hayden's crew agreed, and the King Class locomotive chuffed off towards where the Steamworks is located. As he does so, he whistled to Thomas and Lady when he passed by them at Killdane, and they follow on after Hayden, wondering what was going on.
For old times sake, it's a final parade
Through the shadows and colonnades
He's conquered the ocean and the open road
It's not the end of the route for this majestic load
Soon enough, Raleigh, the South African Class 15F 4-8-2, finally arrived at the Sodor Steamworks. As the trucks pull up to the large warehouse, as Hayden also arrived on the scene, Raleigh being unloaded from the trucks onto a set of flatbeds so he could be rolled in.
The Sodor Steamworks is a large repair company that specialises in fixing steam engines. It is situated along the Main Line over at Crovan's Gate. The Steamworks is accessible and used by the steam engines on both the North Western and Skarloey Railways. All of the essential components for steam locomotives are kept and made here. Heavy overhauls are also carried out here. The company's logo consists of a chimney with steam coming out and is surrounded by a large cog wheel.
"Welcome to the Sodor Steamworks, Raleigh." Mr. Franklin announced once they arrived on the scene.
Raleigh looked around, then he saw Hayden nearby, alongside with Silver Link, Rebecca, as well as Thomas and Lady. "I think I'm going to enjoy being here."
"And don't worry. All of the workmen here in the steamworks will make you all brand new." Jane added, just as the workmen begin to push Raleigh into the building.
Inside the building, Raleigh could see a little narrow-gauge steam engine nearby, this engine by the name of Victor. Victor is an 0-4-0STPT locomotive built by Baldwin Locomotive Works that worked at the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes Sugar Mill in Cuba. He is painted dark red with yellow lining and black and yellow hazard stripes on his front buffer beam; the black and yellow hazard stripes on the rear of his cab are above his rear buffer beam. The Sodor Steamworks logo is painted on the sides of his cab.
"We will take good care of you, my friend." Victor said to Raleigh, as he was being lowered onto his wheels.
"Thank you." Raleigh thanked as he awaits.
After a long time in the Steamworks, Raleigh was now back in steam and as good as new. He puffs out of the Sodor Steamworks, whistling to the engines happily, with a smile that beams from buffer to buffer. He looke brand new, in black paint with white lining along the boiler, whilst a symbol of the South African Railway is on the smoke deflectors in front of his boiler, and a headlamp on the front. All in all, Raleigh looks like what he might've been the first day off the production line.
"How do you feel, Raleigh?" Mr. Franklin asked.
"I feel like a new engine, and I'm ready for action." He announced.
"You definitely look impressive." Hayden commented.
"Welcome, Raleigh. Welcome to the Sodor Railway." Sir Topham Hatt announced to the South African Class 15F Engine. Raleigh whistled out loud and proud, and he puffed away, ready to do work after 20 years of being out of service.
Soon enough, Raleigh was working harder than he had ever worked before, pulling either trucks, coaches, heavy goods, light traffic, and other trains. No matter what job he was assigned, Raleigh took it without any issue. The other engines seemed to like Raleigh, and he respected each of the engines deeply. He especially respected Edward, for him being an old engine, and Edward respected Raleigh for being an engine that was saved from scrap. He even got along with Murdoch, Peter, Hayden, as well as Braedey and the other big engines, all of them getting along like the family they are.
He is the train from Bloemfontein,
Mighty workhorse of the African plain
He is the train from Bloemfontein,
He's safe here on Sodor
A brand...new...home...again!!!
Again!!! Again!!
Again, Again, Again, Again, Again, Again, Again!!!
A/N: hope you all enjoyed this chapter. I was inspired by the episode '100 Tonne Train' from 'Monster Moves'. It is one of the things that got me interested in heavy machinery and most things revolving with big transportation and heavy lifting.