Tales from the rails

DD the Selfless Engine

DD, one of the engine that works at the iron mines, is a J50 tank engine. He is named after Sir William V's firstborn grandson. He works with Marie and Night Owl, two of his closest friends. DD often likes to help his friends when and where he can, often taking his trains along with Marie's and watching over the incline while Night Owl shunts trucks for the narrow gauge engines. However, he sometimes likes to be cheeky around the mine, but never dangerously. He'll give a small scare to one of the engines or tease Marie or Night Owl. Early one morning, DD was awoken by his crew firing him up. "Morning Dave, morning Craig." He yawned as he slowly blinked a few times to wake himself up. "Morning DD, ready for work today?" Asked his driver. "Ready as I'll ever be." He said, he then began to roll out of his and Marie's shed. It was raining that morning, and the sky was dark. "We got to take some trains out, and we're going to have to help Marie out with the last train of the day." His driver said, and took a look at the water gauge. It wasn't too bad, though a top off would be ideal. Let's get some water, old boy." His driver suggested and the green tank engine hurried off to the water tower to fill up. His crew began to set up the water line when DD saw Night Owl's lamp turn on, he was preparing in the dark morning. DD gave a whistle as Night Owl began to set off, he returned the whistle with his own. The two began moving trucks around the mines. DD shunted the smaller trucks into the foothills of the mines and Night Owl ran the incline with his tiny trucks. The two were working hard, getting some of DD's trains ready to take around the island. The last truck was filled with iron as Marie got ready for the foothills. She often was able to fit into them so she could push the trucks in deeper into the caves. "Don't get into too much trouble while I'm gone." DD said jokingly as he prepared his train with a brake van at the end. "Ha, ha. It was one time!" "Uh huh." He whistled happily as he puffed out of the mines.

Leading to the Iron Mines is a bridge that crosses over a small river. The bridge is kind of cheap, the rails aren't even connected by sleepers, just some rocks down in the river. The bridge is very sturdy however, it can get plenty of trucks across and engines too. DD crossed the bridge as normal and left for Maddox Goods Station to deliver the iron. The trip went smoothly for DD, and he even met an old face. "Well I'll be. If it ain't Dan the Clever Engine!" He said as he rolled into the station. Dan was parked in front of some vans, and he was preparing to leave. "Well, hello DD." "Someone say my name?" Asked Dan's Driver. "Oh. My. Goodness. DD? As in, grandson of Sir William V?!" DD was star struck by the boy. "Yep, that's me. So you're the engine that was named after me. It's nice to properly meet you finally." "The pleasure is all mine!" DD said as he parked the trucks in the cover of the station. Dan's guard's whistle blew, and Dan returned the whistle. "That's my cue. Be safe out there DD." "Thanks Dan, you be safe too." DD replied as he watched Dan leave with his empty vans. DD waited for his trucks before his guard said he could leave. He waited and watched as the workmen unloaded crates of the ore with forklifts and then transferred them to the lorries waiting outside. Finally, the last truck was unloaded and was secured to be taken back to the mines. The guard's whistle sounded and DD whistled back, beginning to leave the station out into the cold and wet countryside. The rails were a little slippery around the Lickey Incline, though DD charged at the hill with such speed it made no difference to him. He coasted down the other side and thundered over The Grand Gap, whistling as he crossed over. He passed Micheal, who was shunting some trucks in the yards. DD whistled a, "Hello Micheal!" And Micheal whistled back a, "Hello!" As the green engine passed the yards. DD finally arrived at the Iron Mines junction. It was quite apparent that the water levels were beginning to rise. DD was careful as he began crossing the bridge. The bridge felt sturdy as the engine crossed over the twig like bridge. He continued to go along and made it back into the yards to see a train waiting for him to take out. He dropped off his trucks, switched out the brake van, and departed for the steelworks. The day continued along like this, Marie getting the trains ready with Night Owl and DD took the trains out to their destinations. Soon DD, Marie, and Night Owl were tired and took a break. The rain was letting up and the mines preparing to shut down for the night. They just had one more long train to take to Pleasentville Harbour. DD began to take a nap before he and Marie departed.

DD woke up to Marie in his face, "Come on DD, we got work to do!" She said as she woke him up. "Alright, I'm coming." He yawned as he began to move out of the shed. The rain had stopped and there was a nice rainbow in the sky. Marie was in front of the train and waiting, DD got in front, and there was a big problem. "Hey! I can't see!" She said to DD, but the green tank engine just blew his whistle and began to pull. "I can, and I'm stronger, so I'll be your eyes and brakes!" Marie was annoyed, but she knew DD was just kidding around. The two began to set off, but they wouldn't make it far. The two engines weren't focusing and were goofing off, telling jokes and having some fun. They didn't hear the roaring rivers below and the wood as it snapped and got carried away. DD finally looked forwards and yelled as he braked hard and tried to stop the train, but the slick rails sent him skidding along as Marie pushed him. "Stop! Stop!" He yelled as he looked at the bending rails, he began to leave solid ground. His crew jumped out just before DD was completely suspended by the rails. Marie realized what was wrong and began to start reversing, but DD had locked his brakes on. DD realized what was going to happen if he remained coupled, so he released his brakes, the surge sent him forwards and snapped his chains! Marie shot back and bumped the trucks around as DD fell into the river! "Ahh!-" DD yelled as he crashed into the water! He landed on a stone and had stopped moving. "Bust my buffers I'm sunk!" He yelled, and he was. DD's crew ran back to the mines and phoned for help. Marie looked over the edge, safe and on dry land. "DD! Are you alright?!" She asked as she shuddered. "I think, but I'm wet and cold!" He said, his teeth began to chatter as he looked up and back towards the cliffside. "Thank you!" She said, and DD was confused. "For what? You're stuck in the mines!" "Better to be stuck up here than down there!" She began to try and hide her smile, but when DD started laughing, she couldn't help herself.

Jonathan arrived with the breakdown gang, and helped DD out of the river. As he was raised up from the water, there was a man dressed in fancy clothes with a pleased look on his face. "DD, I applaud your courageous efforts to protect everyone, even in the face of danger. You are a really useful engine!" He congratulated with a big smile. "Thank you sir!" Smiled DD happily. "Now then, how about a nice break at the works while rebuild the bridge and make it tougher?" "Oh yes sir, please sir!" Just as the green engine said those words, he was put on a flatbed and was prepped to be taken to the works. His frames were starting to show small signs of rust. "We're off now Jonathan!" Said his driver. The big red engine whistled and he set off with the little green engine off to the works station. A few days later, the bridge was complete and DD had been released from the works. He arrived a whole new engine, with a gray coat of paint! "DD, is that you?!" Asked Night Owl at the entrance. "You like it? I'm trying out new paint schemes and seeing what I like!" He explained. "Well you look good!" He commented, puffing backwards into the mines. "Why thank you." He said as he entered the yard. Marie was sitting in one of the tunnels and was preparing to exit. The trucks were heavy and her wheels slipped. DD helped her out and pulled her and the trucks out. She was a little spooked to see the now gray engine pull her out of the tunnel, and nearly thought she saw a ghost! But she saw her friend's face and knew it was alright. "So, new paint?" "Yep." "Aww man, and the green looked so nice on you." She said, flirting a little. "W-what?" "Come on now! We got work to do!" She laughed as she tried to push him. He rolled backwards and the two began working hard to catch up with demand.