The first day of the Earl's special railway exhibition came. Skarloey and Rheneas arrived with their old coaches to find everyone waiting for them. Edward was there and on two flatbeds were Bert and one of the Mountain Engines. The Mountain Engine's name was Shane Dooiney and he had just returned from being mended, just like Culdee.

Skarloey's friend, Nancy, was there too. Her father was a Guard on the Narrow-Gauge Railway, and she like to help keep the engines clean and running nicely.

The next morning, Nancy was polishing Skarloey as the visitors started arriving. "Not again, Nancy, please," Skarloey almost chuckled. He felt silly being fussed over, especially when others were watching.

"Just a tiny polish, Skarloey," she replied. "You and the other engines must look nice for the visitors."

"I am nice. You're just a fusspot."

"And you're a horrid old crosspatch," Nancy polished vigorously.

Skarloey smiled. "You know, Nancy, I really was a crosspatch once."

"Our old Manager also called him a bucking bronco," chuckled Rheneas.

"And you, Rheneas, were an old stick-in-the-mud."

"Did this all happen when you both first came to Sodor?" Nancy asked.

"Yes, indeed," said Skarloey, "shall we tell you?"

"Yes, please."

Five minutes later, Nancy had finished. Some of the visitors crowded round and the other engines listened too as the little old engines began.

Skarloey and Rheneas were built together on the Mainland. Back then, they each had four wheels and no cab.

"Don't we look wonderful," said Skarloey proudly. "We'll look just splendid pulling coaches."

Skarloey was finished first and sent away on a ship. He didn't like that; it wobbled dreadfully, but here was no bridge between Sodor and the Mainland in those days.

The North Western Railway didn't exist then either. Instead, there were three separate railway lines. Skarloey's ship was bound for the Port in Kirk Ronan and the railway to Skarloey's new home was called the Sodor and Mainland.

When the ship arrived at the Port, the Big Railway kept Skarloey waiting. They had no cranes to lift him out, so they used the ship's derricks. They nearly turned him upside down and left him hanging while they arranged a truck for him.

"How dare they treat an engine like this," fumed Skarloey. He felt very silly and got crosser and crosser. At last, they fastened him to the truck. "About time!" he huffed.

The engine who was to take Skarloey away was called Neil. "So, you're bound for the wee railway," he said. "Ye must put some order into those trucks. Ye'd hardly believe the havers they make." Skarloey didn't like the sound of that, but he was too tired to say anything.

Plenty of people were waiting when the two engines got at the Transfer Yard, but they weren't used to engines, and it was dark before Skarloey was on his rails. Then, they left him, lonely and unhappy. "I wish Rheneas was here too," he said quietly.

The next morning, trucks were everywhere. Suddenly, with a rattle and a roar, a train of loaded ones came in.

"There's no engine," said Skarloey in surprise.

A workman laughed. "They've come down by gravity," he said. "The empty ones need pulling up though. That's why you've come."

"But can't they go up by gra…whatever-it-was-you-said?"

"Gravity only brings things down. We need horses, or engines like you, to pull them up."

Skarloey was horrified. "What?! Have I to pull trucks?!"

"Of course," said the workman simply.

"I won't! I want coaches!" But the workman just laughed and walked away.

Soon, Mr. Mack the Manager arrived with some men and showed them Skarloey's parts from a book. "We're going to steam you, Skarloey," he said.

"Can I pull coaches, Sir?"

"No, certainly not. We have to finish building this line and the Inspector's coming soon." Skarloey was furious and gave such a look of disgust.

The men didn't understand engines, so it was easy for Skarloey. His fire wouldn't burn, and he made no steam. He just blew smoke at them. They called him bad names, but he didn't care. The next day, the men tried again…and the next…and the next…but Skarloey just gave them his disgusted look and wouldn't do a thing.

At last, the Manager gave up. "Very well, Skarloey," he said, "be a crosspatch, but we're not going to look at your sulky face all day. We'll cover you up and leave you until you're a better engine."

"And they did too," chuckled Skarloey. "They fetched a big tarpaulin and covered me right up. I didn't like that at all."

"I think it served you right," said Nancy severely.

"Never mind, Skarloey," said one of the visitors. "Please tell us what happened next."

"Oh," replied Skarloey, "I will, but Rheneas and I aren't the only ones here with stories to tell." And he waited quietly for one of the other engines to speak up.