DUNCAN'S WILD RIDE

Based upon "The Runaway Elephant" by George Tarry and "Rheneas and the Roller Coaster" by James Mason

Adapted by Zack Wanzer and Rachel Ravens

The past several months following the dual invasions of Addison and her cronies and Jacob Hockings were quite stressful for everyone on the Skarloey Railway. Because the railway had nearly lost four of its engines, extra security was put into place to prevent a repeat of said events until the viaduct was repaired. Not everyone was happy about this, but they understood that it was for the safety of everybody, so they put up with it as best they could.

"Och, it always takes a select few tae ruin everything fur everyone, doesn't it?" Duncan grumbled to anyone who'd listen. He, Rheneas, Peter Sam and Rusty – as I'm sure you'll recall – had been transported to the eastern side of the viaduct by road so that they could do repairs from that end. Meanwhile, Skarloey, Sir Handel, Flyer, Duke and Fred all helped with repairs from the western side.

Peter Sam glanced at him earnestly. "That's an understatement. I'm glad we and Rheneas reached Rusty, Flyer and Fred in time, and Sir Handel and Skarloey reached Granpuff…"

"And that's not even mentioning that it all happened just as soon as Annabelle and Paul came home," Rheneas added. "That must have been a shock for them too."

"I'm not surprised Annabelle got sick," sighed Rusty. "To feel on top of the world and then everything just crashes right down." Peter Sam winced. "Oh… sorry, dear… bad choice of words."

"No, Rusty," Peter Sam admitted. "I understand exactly what you mean. I sure hope Annabelle feels better soon. And… I think we all need therapy from Mrs. Kyndley."

The other three engines had to agree.

Restoration and rebuilding of the viaduct was a long, slow process, but the little engines wouldn't give up. After spending the Christmas and New Year celebrations on opposite sides of the viaduct, the great day finally came in the early spring. Rusty was the first engine to cross over with a small train.

"It's fixed!" he cried. "The viaduct is fixed!"

"Rusty!" called Flyer; they and Fred were coming up on their maintenance run. "Oh, it's great to see you! We sure missed you and the others."

"That took long enough," remarked Fred. "Sir Handel and Duke were both hoping to tell Peter Sam some news."

"News?" asked Peter Sam, as he started to cross. "Oh, what may that be, Fred?"

"They've discovered another engine from your old line," explained Flyer. "A little black tram named… er… what was his name again? Jim?"

"Tim!" cried Peter Sam. "Oh my goodness! I've got to find them right away!" When the tracks were clear, Peter Sam bustled off to find his fellow former Mid Sodor engines.

"He's certainly eager to see them again," chuckled Rheneas.

"Who can blame him?" said Rusty. "That viaduct took ages to repair."

"Well, I have to admit," Rheneas smiled, "I am eager to see Skarloey again. I think he should be down by Crovan's Gate by now."

As Rheneas puffed away to find his brother and the maintenance trio left too, Duncan smirked. "Well, Ah think things will git more excitin' aroond here noo we're a' back th'gither."

Not too long afterwards, the lines leading up to the viaduct were reopened, and operations could return to normal. And with things running smoothly once more, Mr. Percival decided that it was time for a new project on the Skarloey Railway.

"Engines," he announced, "there is to be a new station built a few miles west of Lakeside."

"A new station, sir?" cried Peter Sam. "Oh, wow! That means more passengers for us."

"It sure does, Peter Sam," nodded Mr. Percival.

"What's it going to be called?" asked Flyer.

"That will be a surprise, Flyer," chuckled their controller. "And there is going to be a school tour to visit the station once it's finished. Rheneas, I'd like you to take the children."

Rheneas smiled. "You can count on me, sir."

"Meanwhile," continued Mr. Percival, "all of you will need to take it in turns to take supplies to the new station. Take extra care over the viaduct."

"You don't need to tell us twice, sir," Sir Handel said firmly.

The nine engines started to settle into the rhythm of taking supplies up to the new station building site. They were pleased to see that the Pack was helping them out.

"Okay, cement!" said Buster. "You'll be flatter than a pancake when I'm done with you!"

Sir Handel and Rusty were watching the red steamroller work. "He certainly is pleasant," the dark blue tank engine said to Rusty. "If only other steamrollers could be like Buster."

"I have to agree," said Rusty. "I hope that at least one of the other Council's steamrollers aren't rude like George."

"You both took the words out of my mouth," Buster chipped in. "I did meet a couple of steamrollers from there who are decent."

"Oh, really?" asked Rusty. "That's a relief. I hope we'll get to meet one at some point ourselves."

"You engines are a huge help to us," Buster commented. "I mean, if this station wasn't being built, we wouldn't be working right now. And you lot are able to help transport members like me, who can't travel very fast. I mean, Nigel and Nelson can't transport everyone at once."

"That's very true, Buster," smiled Sir Handel.

At first, Duncan was pleased to do something different after helping to rebuild the viaduct, but soon enough, he started to get bored of taking supplies to the new station.

"Ugh…" he muttered, with yet another train of supplies. "Whit's gaun oan up thare?" As it turned out, Fred had to be moved onto a siding out of the way so she could work on some track.

"Could you be any more impatient, Duncan?!" she cried.

"Juist hurry up, slow coach!" he grunted.

"Was that a crack at my speed limit?!"

Duncan chose not to reply to that as he continued on his way.

"Ugh… I'll get him, you'll see if I don't!"

Skarloey and Rheneas, meanwhile, were both taking some slate down from the quarry.

"It is sort of a shame that the boulder quarry was as jinxed as it was," Skarloey sighed to Rheneas. "Our slate quarry is running near empty…"

"What do you think will happen once the quarry can't provide the railway with slate anymore?" asked Rheneas. "Maybe there are other goods we could take, but… slate was our main source of income since that quarry opened."

Just then, Duncan bustled in. "C'moan, auld timers!" he called. "There's na time fur gossiping whin there's wirk tae be done!"

The two engines rolled their eyes. "Talk about being a bossy boiler," muttered Rheneas.

"He'll get his own," chuckled Skarloey, and Rheneas couldn't help but laugh too.

Soon enough, Duncan had brought his train over to the site of the new station.

"Ah, good work, Duncan," called Kelly. "Thanks to you and the other engines, we're making great progress."

"Ah, juist daein' mah job," Duncan said proudly. "We all ur."

"And we're doing ours," smiled Jack.

"Ah, there you are, Duncan," said Mr. Percival, strolling up to him. "As you got here so quickly, you're going to get another job."

"Aye, sur," said the Scottish well tank. "Whit may that be?"

"You're to collect the elephant at Crovan's Gate and take it back here. One of the North Western engines will meet you at the transfer yards."

"O' coorse, sur," Duncan agreed.

"This elephant is very important, and you must be very careful," Mr. Percival added.

Duncan puffed away, grinning to himself. "This is very important 'n' excitin'!" he said. "Wait till th' ithers see me!"

Down at Crovan's Gate, Bear had brought the special load down and it was loaded onto a narrow gauge flatbed.

"I'm surprised there isn't a statue like this at the Animal Park," he remarked.

"Mibbie ye shuid be thare yersel'," joked Duncan. "Yer name fits th' part."

Bear chuckled. "I don't know if there are actually bears there. I'll have to ask the zookeepers."

"Thanks fur delivering it, Bear," Duncan replied. "Ah'll git this statue tae the new station quickly. This is an easy jab."

"Take care," said Bear. "The statue is very heavy."

"Nonsense," chuffed Duncan. "Ah've pushed heavier loads than this plenty o' times. 'N' besides, it's only one flatbed!"

"Whatever you say, Duncan," muttered Bear. As soon as the guard's whistle blew, Duncan started to depart. However, as he left, there was a faint rattling sound. As Duncan cleared the yards, the brake van rolled onto a nearby siding. "Uh-oh!" cried Bear. "Ducan, come back!"

But the Scottish well tank was too far away, and wasn't being careful at all.

Meanwhile, Rheneas had completed his slate run and had picked up the school children and their teacher, Abigail Hugh. She was Mr. Hugh's wife, the mother of David and Sophie and grandmother of Phoebe. Abigail led the children out to admire Sodor Castle near the causeway north of Glennock, while Rheneas waited in a siding.

"This is where King Andreas used to rule, well before any of us were born," Abigail explained. "He thought his reign would be prosperous and have an heir to take the throne. Unfortunately, he and his son, Prince Peter, died in battle, with Peter having no children of his own. With no one else to claim the Sudrian throne, Scotland claimed and invaded Sodor."

Some of the children had chills up their spines. Rheneas listened intently; even though he heard this story several times before, it still never failed to excite him, learning about medieval Sudrian history.

Just then, Rheneas, Abigail and the children heard a whistle. "Ah'll shaw 'em how fast Ah am! Ah'll deliver this statue 'n' Ah'll still finish before th' ithers!"

"Huh?" gasped Rheneas. "Duncan, what in the Great Railway are you doing?! And… where's your brake van?"

"Th' coupling cam loose," he huffed. "Ah dinnae need that auld thing! Ah can manage."

"You probably won't if you're going downhill," remarked Rheneas. "That line to the new station's on a bit of a downward slope, you know."

But Duncan was already going too fast to hear the old engine. Rheneas sighed. "I hope he doesn't end up getting hurt…"

Close to where the new station was, Rusty, Cora and Flyer were helping to repair some track.

"Some spring rain washed away some of the ballast," Cora commented. "That certainly won't do for the grand opening."

"No indeed," said Flyer. "I swear, some of the ballast mines on Sodor are a bit iffy. Where do you think we could get some more?"

Just then, the two heard Duncan rattling by.

"Be careful, Duncan!" warned Rusty. "The track goes downhill toward the new station!"

"Calm doon, Rusty," called Duncan. "Ye'r as bad as Rheneas th'day."

"Oh dear," gulped Flyer. "And he hasn't got a brake van in tow! Oh, that's bad… isn't it?"

"Of course it is!" cried Rusty. "Brake vans like Cora hold the guard so they can help to brake the train!"

"If that were me or Beatrice he left behind, we'd give him an earful," muttered Cora.

Duncan put on speed to get over the large hill. It was covered in gray stones all through the mountainside. A waterfall splashed on him as he passed. "Hey, a bit o' warning next time!" he snapped. Of course, the waterfall couldn't reply. The Scottish well tank started to descend the hill.

"Duncan!" warned his driver. "Slow down, please!" He tried to brake, but that proved quite difficult on the downward slope.

"Eh? Whit's happening?" cried Duncan. "Why aren't we slowing doon?!"

"Why do you think?" retorted his fireman. Duncan gulped.

"Oh… Ah should've listened tae Rheneas 'n' Rusty!" he cried. "Help! HELP!"

As he went faster and faster, Duncan rushed by on the trestle bridge, and the other engines ahead were told to clear the line.

"Impudent scallywag!" muttered Duke, moving onto a siding. "He's just as troublesome as Falcon and Stuart when they were younger…"

"Ah heard that… Whoa!" Duncan flew past the brown tender engine. A tractor was using the crossing up ahead.

"Hurry! Clear th' wey!" Duncan shouted.

"My driver's doing her best," the tractor retorted. "You should slow down!"

"Ah cannae!" Thankfully, the tractor cleared the way just in time.

"Remind me… to watch out for trains at the crossing," grunted the tractor.

"Are you alright?" asked Duke.

"Oh… yeah, sure," the tractor sighed. "My name is Demi, just bought recently to help with farm work."

"My name is Duke," greeted the old engine. "And don't worry about Duncan. He's a little troublesome, but he's got a good side deep down."

"I sure hope you're right," sighed Demi.

Meanwhile, at the site of the new station, Duncan was still going much too fast. His driver tried once again to brake, hoping that the flat ground would help somewhat.

It didn't. Duncan skidded along the rails and fell onto his side upon impact at the buffers. The statue's chains snapped loose as the statue flew through the air and landed right in the middle of the lake.

"Well… that wis pretty lucky," Duncan remarked quietly.

The statue was lucky… but Duncan was still in hot water when Mr. Percival arrived with Sir Handel and the breakdown train.

"I told you to be careful!" scolded Mr. Percival. "You should have checked that the brake van was coupled on properly!"

"Ah'm sorry, sur…" mumbled an embarrassed Duncan.

"And how are we supposed to get that elephant out of the lake?" asked Sir Handel. Just then, he and Duncan heard Rheneas coming down with the school trip.

"Ooh!" cried a child excitedly. "Look at that! There's an elephant in the water!"

"I read a book about them," added another. "Apparently, they love swimming!"

"What a magnificent addition to your station, Peregrine," smiled Mrs. Hugh. "Ivo didn't tell me about this."

"Well, I…" Mr. Percival then looked to where the elephant statue stood in the middle of the lake. "It is quite splendid…" He nodded thoughtfully, and was left quiet for the rest of the day.

Not long afterwards, it was time for the grand opening, and Duncan was repaired just in time. He and the other engines were in attendance.

"It is with great pleasure," announced Mr. Percival, "that I dub this new station… Elephant Park station!" The engines and people all cheered.

"Well, Duncan," chuckled Skarloey, "it seems like your mistake did a good turn."

"The children said it was the highlight of their school trip," smiled Rheneas.

"Hooray for Duncan's mistake!" cheered the engines. Duncan didn't say anything; he just blushed a deep shade of red.

THE END

Author's Comments

Here's the final Skarloey Railway-centric story of the classic era, finally given the SeventyVerse treatment! Well, actually, it's more like stories since both The Runaway Elephant and Rheneas and the Roller Coaster contain similar plot beats, hence they were mashed up together. The latter is generally considered one of the worst episodes of Series 7, let alone the entirety of the classic era, and it never really occurred to me until Rachel brought it up that the message it presented that "being reckless for the sake of entertaining children" was a bad one. I always thought the episode was unclear about its intended message; unlike The Runaway Elephant's, which was about taking care and being patient (something many episodes have done before and since, but I digress). Of course, the opening scenes follow on from the aftermath of Hockings' Last Stand, and the rest of the story hints at what is to come for the Skarloey Railway when we get to Series 8-12 Redux, for Elephant Park station is just the beginning.

Upcoming stories:

- The Tortoise and the Hare

- Three Cheers for Thomas