N: The Skarloey Railway was preparing for the summer. Trucks and coaches were being
repaired, and trackwork was being mended. This kept Rusty the maintenance diesel very busy,
and it seemed every day there was another job that needed doing.
Skarloey: “Well done Rusty, keep up all the work you’ve done and you really are a credit to this line."
Rusty: “Thank you Skarloey!”
N: “All the engines appreciated his dedication to his work.”
Sir Handel: “Darn maintenance trains!” N: “All engines, except Sir Handel.”
Sir Handel: “It's not fair! I’m forced to take the week day trains,
I get stuck in traffic, made late, and there’s nothing I can do about it!”
Skarloey: “Stuck in traffic? What are you complaining about now Sir Handel?
It seems to be the only thing you and Duncan ever do these days!”
Sir Handel: “Correction; Duncan moans about everything and anything, whereas I have reasons.
I have rights. I have…” Skarloey: “A bad temper…”
Sir Handel: “And who could blame me! Every day I’m having to wait for Rusty to clear
the line with his train! My passenger trains should have top priority on this line!”
Duke: “Without Rusty’s works trains you’d be complaining that the track is bad.
Just be glad that you have good track to run on!”
Sir Handel: “What’s that supposed to mean Granpuff?"
Duke: “Be grateful you aren’t just a static engine,
stuck in a museum or sat on a plinth in the middle of a car park.”
Sir Handel: “Nonsense. Anyways, good day, I have a train to pull. Might as well get a good head start..."
Duke: “He won’t last a day at this rate…”
N: “Sir Handel complained his way to the coaches, and made his way up the line the
instant he heard the guards clearance whistle. Sir Handel: “Come along, come along. I know
we’ll be late but we might as well be on time while we can!”
N: “The journey went well. Too Well. Sir Handel kept a high steam pressure, and soon
caught up to Rusty. This was what Sir Handel was not looking forward to.”
Sir Handel: “Oh… BOTHER! Rusty, can’t you hurry up? I’ve got a passenger train
that needs to get through here!” Rusty: “I’ll be done soon, the workmen
and I got a bit carried away mending the track…”
Sir Handel: "You always do... But I'm supposed to be carried away carrying my carriages!!”
N: "The moment Rusty's train was clear, Sir Handel steamed away. By the time his day’s work was finished he was very late.”
Driver: “Come on Sir Handel, let’s shunt the coaches away, then we can put Rusty’s works train away for him."
Sir Handel: “Shunting?! My own train AND
Rusty’s too? What do I look like to you?” Driver: “A steam engine… Moving trucks
and coaches is what you do. Now, come on!” N: “Sir Handel pushed the coaches to the
shed, then bumped into Rusty’s trucks. They flew into the siding, and one of them derailed,
but Sir Handel didn’t tell anyone.”
Sir Handel: “That’ll serve Rusty right; let’s see how he likes being delayed.”
N: “He was right, Rusty was delayed the next morning, whilst the derailed truck was sorted out.”
Driver: “Alright you, we’d best be taking our train. The maintenance train can overtake
us at one of the stations.” Sir Handel: “Oh no it won’t!”
N: “Muttered Sir Handel, but he muttered it to himself. He was determined to make sure his train was on time today. "
N: "He rocketed along the line like never before.”
Driver: “Slow down! You’re making it difficult to handle today.”
Sir Handel: “That’s Sir Handel to you! I have a knighthood...”
N: “Sir Handel was about to land himself in a great deal of trouble. This wasn’t new.”
Peter Sam: “Good morning Rusty! What’s the matter? You seem upset!”
Rusty: *Sigh* “I’m running late! I won’t have time to mend this one bad stretch of
track outside one of the stations…” Peter Sam: “Oh I’m sure it’ll be fine.
What’s the worst that could happen? Besides, Sir Handel has already left with his passenger train."
Rusty: “THAT’S the worst that could happen!”
N: “Sir Handel raced down the line, nearer to the next station, nearer to the bad piece
of track. The next thing that happened, none of them were expecting.”
Sir Handel: “Woah! Hey, what?! Ow! Woooah! Ouch… Oh, my undercarriage!”
N: “Sir Handel had derailed from the track, and slid up and onto the platform.”
Station Announcer: “The train now standing… ON… Platform One, will be delayed due to…
Err… leaves on the line, or… something.”
N: “Further down the line, Rusty was finally making his way. His driver’s phone rang.
A moment later he spoke to his engine.”
Driver: “Change of plan Rusty, we’ve got another job to do…”
Rusty: “What kind of other job?” Driver: “Wait and see…”
N: “Rusty couldn’t help but laugh when he arrived at the station.”
Rusty: “Hah! Waiting for a train are we Sir Handel?”
Sir Handel: “It’s NOT funny…” Rusty: “Funny you should say that! Because I find it hilarious!"
Sir Handel: "Well you would, you simpleton, you would find anything hilarious! Ohh..."
N: “Work took some time. First Rusty took away the coaches, and the workmen made sure
that the track was clear for any passing trains to use, just in time for Duke to arrive with his train."
Duke: “Oh this was just bound to happen
wasn’t it Sir Handel? You let your impatience get to you and it’s got you nowhere!
"I think you ought to be learning a lesson from this!” Sir Handel: “Rubbish Granpuff! I’ve done
nothing wrong! Just a failure in the track that caused this. Rusty told me they hadn’t
mended this part, so don’t you go blaming me!”
N: “Just then, Duke noticed a spare section of track dumped nearby.”
Duke: “Hmm, Rusty? What’s this for?” Rusty: “Oh that? Its just an old part of
rail we replaced when we realigned the bad track here. Why do you ask?”
Duke: “If the thin controller agrees, I think I’ve just thought of a way to make Sir Handel see sense!"
Sir Handel: “I still don’t see how this is helping to prove anything!”
Duke: “I warned you young’en, to be grateful you weren’t a static engine like our old
Smudger, but you wouldn’t listen! Now you can keep still and think of all the reasons
why you should have listened.”
Sir Handel: “Now THIS would never suit his grace… Its… its disgraceful!”
Skarloey: “You’re sounding more and more like Gordon you are! I wouldn’t say that’s a good thing.”
Peter Sam: “What is a good thing though, now that you’re out of service for a while
Sir Handel, Rusty will get a chance to pull the passenger trains for a change!”
Sir Handel: “But that’s MY job! Who’ll be taking the maintenance trains then?”
Skarloey: “Are you saying we have a need for maintenance trains now?”
Sir Handel: “Well of course! Without them, who’ll keep the track in good running order..
if we didn’t have them there would be far more… accidents like mine today!”
Duke: “Well in that case, once you’re moving under your own power again, you’ll
be taking his trains for him!” Sir Handel: “I called for that one didn’t I..."
Oh the indignity I have a knighthood!”