Rusty and the Vacationers

"Rusty and the Vacationers" is a story written by Loco123456.

Story
Rusty is the diesel engine on the Skarloey Railway, which runs between Crovan's Gate and the top station of Skarloey. Rusty enjoys pulling both passengers and goods, but with it being summer he was doing more work with the platelayers. "I do hope I can get back to pulling passengers soon," he thought as he backed down onto a line of flatbeds loaded with rails and sleepers for Skarloey station. Over at the platform, a passenger train was just leaving. "Wait for us!" shouted the vacationers. "I don't wait for slow-coaches like you!" said Duncan. "Catch the next train, and make sure you actually arrive on time!" This gave Rusty an idea. "Guard, driver, may those late vacationers travel with us? Maybe they're going to Skarloey too. It would lessen the complaints." "Hmm...it doesn't hurt to ask or to give it a try," said the guard. He left, and then soon returned with the family of five. "They are surprisingly enough also going to Skarloey!" The driver and guard helped load the baggage, and then they set off on their way.

With it being busy on the railway, the signalmen are listening carefully for the engines' whistles, for they know what trains are suppose to come through. Rusty's train wasn't on the timetable, due to it being track maintenance instead of a scheduled goods or passenger train. They were switched into a passing loop. "Why do we have to stop here?" complained a little boy. "I want us to go fast!" "We will as soon as the next train passes along our track," said the guard kindly. After ten minutes they continued their journey; by the time they reached Rheneas station it was half pass noon. "We must stop for lunch," said the father. "But this-" "No matter what, our children and ourselves need to eat," said the mother firmly. The guard waved his red flag and blew his whistle. The driver looked back, saw it, and slowed the train to a stop. "What's wrong?" "The family's hungry. We'll hae to wait in the yard for them." So they went to the yard and the guard escorted them to the station's café. "This isn't going to work out like I thought," said Rusty. "These rails and sleepers must reach Skarloey by three o' clock, and we could have been passing through Glennock by now." "At least we tried, but how can we solve the problem," asked the driver. "We can't leave them here." Rusty thought for a long time; finally- "A mile and a half up the line is a near-by bus stop. We could pretend to have problems with my engine, and..." He explained the rest. When the family and the guard returned the driver pulled him aside. The guard agreed to the plan.

"Oh, my engine," groaned Rusty, amking sure it sounded real. "We should call for help and have another engine take your train and we can rest at Glennock." The guard came up and soon returned to the brake van. "Rusty's engine has stopped working," he said. "We must all get out and wait for someone else to come and get us." So everyone got out. The guard pretended to forget something. "Wait a moment; I forgot my detonators. Detenators help protect both the train and the engine that may not be aware of our situation." He went to the brake van. He blew his whistle; "Hey! Come back!" shouted the father. Rusty tried his best to pick up speed; it wasn't easy of course, but luckily the family didn't bother to chase after them. "We better go to the nearest bus stop," said the father. "And when we get to our hotel I'll write to the COntroller," fumed the mother.

When Rusty finally arrived at Skarloey it was 3:16. "Good; a little late, but at least not as bad as earlier. Now, let's get to work." Rusty arrived at the yard and the platelayers began their work. Rusty moved the cranes into position to help lay the new rails. Then the ballast was spread across the newly laid track. "Now the yard is fully repaired," decleared the Foreman. Rusty felt good; but he was worried about what the family might do to him. The mother had stuck to her word and wrote to the Thin Controller, who looked into the matter by speaking to the guard and driver that worked with Rusty that day, along with Rusty. He soon gathered his engines together. "I am proud that you all care about making sure delays and complaints are minimized. But sometimes, we just have to let it happen. Rusty is a great example; he tried to help some late vacationers, but they ended up making him late. From this moment onwards, please don't let anyone ride on your goods trains. There is exceptions to this, but I want to focus on how you must make sure no one uses your kindness to their advantage." And everyone, even Rusty, had to agree.