The Narrow-Gauge Engines were at Crovan's Gate while their Sheds at the Depot were being repaired. While they were there, they met an engine called Culdee, who was returning from being mended, and he told them all about his own railway up in the mountains.
The next day, Rheneas and Skarloey were talking with Culdee when Duncan stormed up. "Here we go," chuckled Rheneas.
"I nearly came off the rails," fumed Duncan. "The coaches pushed me, but the Thin Controller says they didn't. He says I kept a bad look-out. 'We've no money to mend you,' he said. Why does he always pick on me? It's no' fair."
"Speaking of coaches," remarked Rheneas, "you had two on your trial trip, Culdee. Do you ever take more?"
"No, those coaches were empty, and our line is so steep that we're only allowed one. Mine's called Catherine and I know her well. That's most important."
"Why?" asked Sir Handel.
"Well," explained Culdee, "you pull your coaches, and you can see ahead. Because of our steep line, my friends and I can't pull our coaches in case the couplings snap. We push ours up, so unlike you, we can't see. Instead, they watch the line for us. The Guard watches too, of course, but Catherine's so clever that I know at once if anything is wrong."
"That must take a load of your mind," said Skarloey.
Culdee smiled. "But not off my front. Climbing is hard work and needs a lot of steam and my Fireman and I have a tiring time. Coming down, it's different; Catherine and I just roll. We need no steam for that.
Sir Handel sighed enviously. "Ahh, I would like that," he said. "With your automatic brakes, it sounds like a rest cure."
Culdee paused. "That was just the mistake poor Godred made."
"You mean King Godred himself traveled on your railway?!" exclaimed Duncan.
"No!" laughed Culdee, "this Godred was our No. 1 and named after the King. Perhaps that went to his smokebox and made him conceited and this is what happened." And Culdee began.
After the Mountain Railway was opened, lots of people came to see it. They loved traveling up to the Summit, but the engines, Drivers, Firemen, Guards and workmen all knew it could be very dangerous if they weren't careful.
The one engine who didn't seem to care was Godred. He never kept a good look-out and would roll down the line looking anywhere but at the track.
Culdee was worried. "Godred, if you keep going on like this, you'll have an accident."
"Pah!" Godred said, "I've got automatic brakes, haven't I? And Driver's got his brake. What more do you want?"
"More sense from you," Culdee replied. "Engines can't stop at once if they aren't ready to obey their Drivers' controls." And that is the first thing every young engine learns.
The other engines warned Godred too. His Driver and Fireman and the Manager all spoke to him, and they even took him into the workshop to see if anything was wrong, but Godred still carried on in the same old way and never learned sense.
One day, Culdee was going up the Mountain and waited at a Station for Godred to pass him coming down. Soon, Culdee could see Godred approaching being careless as usual and not paying attention.
Then…it happened.
One moment, Godred was on the track and the next, he suddenly jumped and shuddered violently. He tried to stop…but it was too late, and his Driver and Fireman jumped clear as he rolled over and tumbled down the mountainside.
Luckily, no one was hurt. The coach stayed on the rails and the Guard applied the brakes.
The next day, they found Godred and brought him home. He was in a terrible mess and the Manager was very cross. "You, Godred, are a disgrace," he snapped. "We warned you about being careful and now, look what's happened. We've no money to mend you, so you'll go to the back of the Shed."
"W-w-what happened?" asked Duncan anxiously.
Culdee sighed. "Godred was never repaired. Our Drivers even used some of his parts to mend us. He's still near our Shed and visitors always come to look at him. Now, he serves as a warning to what can happen when you're not careful and don't listen to warnings from others…and he is very miserable indeed."
Sir Handel and Duncan were unusually silent that night…and they were left wondering how an engine could watch the track while going backwards…but I think Duncan learned his lesson. Don't you?