The ROD's soon got over 6645's misadventure, Some were more focused on the Arlesburgh line, It was nearing completion, and the promise of hauling armored trains up and down it was almost too good to be true.
"It ought to be me!" Said 6650. "I've pulled more trucks than any of you!"
"Huh!" Scoffed 6649. "At least I managed to keep on time with my trains!"
"Time keepings all good." Said 6651. "As long as you don't pop your pins like 45."
6645 seethed in embarrassment, while his closest brother 6646, sat quietly to one side.
The next morning, 6646 was rostered to take a small supply train up to a place called Bluffs cove, where a station was being built and that's where he met with Lily, an old tank engine, with four driving wheels and four trailing wheels.
"Are we almost to Arlesburgh?" He asked.
"Just about." She said, "But after this, we're going to make a junction to the mine."
"A Mine?" Asked 6646. "What for?"
"Something to export on the line, I should think." Lily said. "I hear it leads to a gold mine."
But 6646 wasn't interested in the gold, he just wanted to finish the extension, so he could pull the armored trains.
He would often wait impatiently as the men laid down the rails and Ballast and examined the route.
"Hurry up! Hurry up!" He said. "This coast needs its defenses!"
"Rome wasn't built in a day." The workmen would say.
As the days went by, 6646 got more and more impatient, especially when they ended up diverting the project towards a line that didn't even lead up to Alresburgh.
"This must be that mine." 6646 thought it was and that end was taken over by lily and one of the Midland Engines, which left 6646 to handle the line to Arlesburgh, along with another engine, named Dominic, A small tank engine that looked like Thomas, but was red and had straight running boards.
"Right." Said the Foreman, during lunch break. "We'll be at Arlesburgh in a few days tops, If we keep up our current timetable."
"Can't get there soon enough." 6646 said to himself.
Dominic looked out to the coast, gazing at the sea. "It's a lovely sight ain't it?" He asked.
"What is?" Asked 6646.
"The Sea of course." Said Dominic. "Never seen much like it myself, mostly working in the yards with my Brothers, with the occasional passenger train and goods here and there, and none of that was near the coast. It's stuff like this that really escapes people these days, you know?"
6646 looked out onto the calming sea, and couldn't help but agree with Dominic, he still want get the job done, so he could take the armored trains.
Two Days later, they had gotten closer, 6646 was taking another supply train, eager to get the work done with.
"Just a few more miles." He said to himself. "And we'll be set."
"Steady boy." Said his driver. "We'll have to go slowly."
The trucks meanwhile, were getting fed up with 6646 rushing them, and whispered amongst each other.
"Hold back! Hold Back!" They changed and slipped their breaks on.
6646 felt the strain as the Train Began to slow. "Come along! Come along!" He huffed.
The Trucks laughed and cackled as 6646 struggled, then, with a great jerk! The Trucks slipped their brakes off, sending 6646 surging forward!
"Slow me down! Slow me down!" The Engine cried.
"On! On! On!" Howled the Trucks.
Up ahead, He saw the current construction site, where Dominic and the Midland Engine, A Flatarin named Alex, were overseeing the continued work, when a workman came in shouting.
"Evacuate! Evacuate!" He cried. "There's a Runaway coming!"
Worm men quickly scattered out of the way, and Dominic and Alex quickly moved into a siding, just as 6646 came in, His brakes screeching! He slid down towards the end of the uncompleted line and shut his eyes as his front wheels left the rails, followed by his first and second driving wheels.
Luckily, the outcome wasn't catastrophic, and the ROD was easily pulled back onto the rails by Alex.
"Heh! I knew you wanted to hurry up." Said Alex. "But not at this rate."
6646 was much more careful from then on, and eventually, the work was finished, and connections with the Mid Sodor Railway was complete.
"Well done." Said Topham Hatt, as he addressed 6646, Dominic, Alex and Lily. "Despite you'r mishap, You four have done spendedly with this new Branchline."
"Thank you Sir." Said 6646. "So, who will be taking the armored trains?"
Sir Topham raised his eyebrows. "There won't be armored trains." He said. "The threat of Ireland has passed."
6646 faces fell in disbelief.
"Ah well." Said Alex. "I doubt this line will be of any relevance in the future."
"Is that supposed to mean something?!" A Small Blue Saddle Tank called over from the Narrow Gauge wharf.