The Sudrians: The Salvation Collection

The Old Slow Coach

A/N: Final part of the saga! This one I wanted to be done for the deadline but hadn't fully completed yet, but I did in the end haha. Hope you all enjoy it!

Western Engine Oliver Again

Part III

November 1977

It had been a while since Oliver had been working on Edward's branch line, he enjoyed it greatly and hadn't had any other incidents with the trucks. Even though, news on the Little Western overhaul informed him that the western engine would be going back to his own line soon. He didn't mind that one bit, he was looking forward to running there again, but was a little disappointed about leaving Edward's own line too. He had made goods friends with the others, Jinty especially and was disappointed in going.

However, much to Oliver's surprise, he found Duck at Wellsworth one morning, being refuelled at the water tower.

"Hullo," he whistled to the Great Western engine, "what are you doing here?"

"Work went so fast on the overhaul that the Fat Controller decided to move me here," smiled Duck, "only need Harvey for the remainder of overhaul and he's a reliable engine so I'm sure we won't find our line looking worse before its short closure."

"I see," smiled Oliver, "well, I'm glad you're here, so what's new for the line?"

"You won't see much differences," replied Duck, "but they did change that bridge before Haultraugh. And did some extensive maintenance on the line that goes over the fishing area of the village." Oliver understood what he meant. 

After this, Duck remained on the branch line, helping with mix-traffic work, taking goods trains or passenger services with his own coaches, Alice and Mirabel. This meant that BoCo was allowed to help work the mainline for a couple of days and so did the Scottish twins. Duck knew Jinty already and both got on swimmingly, even though there were a few clashes here and there.

One day, however, both Great Western engines were sitting in the yards, when the stationmaster came walking up to them. "A special load from the ironworks has been ordered," he informed, "but no other engine is available to take it, I've allowed you two to go but you must wait at the gates and the foreman there will give you orders on what to do. But the foreman has already given you the warning on not going anywhere near the smelter's shed."

"Smelter's shed?" said Oliver, a sense of fear went through his boiler.

"I didn't know there was an ironworks on the line," Duck added thoughtfully.

"Crock's Scrapyard expanded their business into an ironworks business," replied the stationmaster, "it's that line that not many engines go on. Now if you please."

"Expansion on a scrapyard?!"

"Oh, yes sir!" said Duck, "let's go, Oliver!"

The Great Western engine then puffed off, Oliver followed him hesitantly.

***

Whilst heading down the line, Duck could sense that Oliver was getting quite uncomfortable about it. "I know that you don't like scrapyard Oliver," he said, trying to place his words carefully, "but they won't do anything to you there! They can't!"

"What if they do," huffed Oliver, as they drew near to the small junction, "it's not like they can do it without the Fat Controller's permission."

"We both know him," smiled Duck, "he would destroy that place if even a scratch came from one of the workmen there."