Coal-Loose

"Coal-Loose" is a story written by Loco123456.

Story
Rex puffed crossly into the sheds at Arlesburgh West. "Good afternoon Rex," called Bert, who was returning to work. "Nothing's good about it," said Rex. "Today I have my boiler washout." "Washouts aren't that bad," teased Bert. "I know! But T don't like standing around for serval hours. I'd rather be out on the line and being really useful." "You can definitely be really useful with your tubes stuffed up with ash and soot!" Bert was right; if the ash and soot continued to build up, Rex would just be wasting more coal than he was now. His driver left and was replaced by a shed-driver, who took him to the ash pit. The built0up ash was removed with a shovel, and when the work was finished, they dropped his fire using the firebars, and then left for the sheds.

Rex spent the next serval hours having a fitter examine him, a steam inspector look at his steam pipes, his boiler cooled down, his tubes being unclogged of soot and ash, his firebox cleaned, his tubes finally also sprayed to finish cleaning the tubes, and then the workmen returned. The fitter had noted that his siderods were loose and his smokebox needed a new lock. Once the repairs were made he got a wash-down. "Finally, now my fire can be lit and I can go back to work," sighed Rex with relief when the firelighter came. His driver for the evening, Ms. Soole, was late; a shed-driver had to watch over the fire. At last she arrived. Before leaving to pull his train they stopped at the water tower, and then the coal hopper. "Ms. Soole, you for-" "Too late for that," she said as they left the hopper to collect their goods train. But Rex knew that she had made a big mistake; she was suppose to trim the coal, and make sure none of it would fall onto the line.

As they sped steadily along the line to Ffarquharr Road, they approached Ffarquharr Crossroads Junction. It had an interesting layout of points. As they swung left onto another line some pieces of coal fell onto some points. Rex knew this and tried to fight for control so the spilt coal could be picked up, but she had other ideas. "We're eighteen minutes late with the farm machinery." A few hours later Bert was coming down the line with a train of ballast. His driver was old and very careful not to make mistakes he'd made in his youth as a driver. He looked at the green signal ahead; he eased open the regulator some more, and looked at the points ahead. "Why are we slowing down?" asked Bert. "Look at the points," said his driver. The spilt coal had made the points dangerous; Bert put all his weight into stopping the train, but it was too late. His driver jumped clear. Bert hadn't damaged himself, only getting starches, but the points were broken.

Back at Ffarquharr Road Goods Yard Rex was returning from collecting goods from the local factories and stores when the Yard Master came to see him. "You must take the breakdown train to help clean up a mess at Ffarquharr Crossroads." Re knew how the accident had been caused; when he arrived the Inspector and the Region TWo Control Officer were on the scene. "Do you know anything about this?" asked the Control Officer. "Some of my coal fell out of my tender." "Hmm...it's sounds like your driver might be to blame, eh Ms. Soole?" "It is my fault." "Well then, you shall work as a cleaner for a long time, and once you're trusted again with engines you may return to your current role." Rex still felt bad about incident and offered to help mend the points, which the Control Officer and the Small Controller agreed. He's also one who now understands the importance of washouts and how being prepared for work is very important.