The Sudrians: The Archive Collection

All At Sea

"Because I was the engine who was pulling these types of trains more than you back in the First World War," replied Molly, "Equalling that I'm more experience taking these trains. But hopefully, they don't have rotting trucks playing as coaches."

Molly left half an hour later. Taking a few trucks with her. I watched her leave, and got back to work.

***

Molly got to the docks on the mainland and left the trucks with a dock shunter. She was then told where to go and found the many lines of coaches with engines placed in front. The ship had already arrived and injured soldiers were being carried off the massive beast, and into the carriages. Molly backed down on one of the lines of coaches. An LMS Stannier 2P tank engine looked over next to Molly.

"Ay, you're that famous female engine that worked in the First World War, aren't ya?" he asked, covered by a thick midland accent.

"Indeed," replied Molly.

"Pleasure ta meet ya!" smiled the Stannier 2P, "Name's Cedric."

Both then looked back down the dock. Men lying on bed carriers and some where just standing or sitting with bandaged hands, casts on legs or feet or heads wrapped with bandages too.

Molly didn't say anything. But the Stannier 2P did. "Awful, ain't it?" he said.

"Hmm," replied Molly.

Then suddenly men came rushing off the ship and called for the train to Sodor. Doctors ran to what they were carrying and then one came running to Molly's crew.

"There's a severely injured soldier who's life is at risk," informed the doctor quickly to the driver. "Please take the train as fast as you can. He is now the last soldier to be on your train, so you're allowed to go."

"Alright," said Molly's driver, "We just need to wait-"

The sound of a guard's whistle was heard, and the waving of a green flag was seen at the back of Molly's train.

"Alright," said the driver, "We're off then."

He then released the regulator and blasted the whistle. "Come on old girl," he said, "Soldiers lives are at stake her."

Molly wheeshed steam and wheel turn by wheel turn, she pulled the seven long coach train out of the dock.

"Good luck luv'!" shouted the Stannier 2P.

Molly didn't reply. She was too busy focusing on getting up to speed. She eventually came onto the mainline and pounced for it. Going as fast as her driver would let her.

"We still have a speed limit!" he called.

But Molly didn't care, as she whooshed across a bridge. Other engines whistled her on as she flew down the line. She thundered through Barrow station and switched off the Furness line and onto the North Western's mainline. She crossed the Vicarstown bridge and pasted me before heading straight into Henry's tunnel. I pounded towards Killdane, where an electric engine was waiting for me. I rushed out of the tunnel, went over the points to the branch line and came to a stop next to the electric engine.

"There's the famous war heroine herself!" smiled the electric engine.

Molly panted. "Hello," she gasped for a air, "Hello Nelson!"

"Come on dear," said Nelson, "If I'm going to take these injure soldiers, you've got to-"

Nelson trailed off as Molly moved off the train. Nelson quickly followed her to the points.

Soon enough, Molly and Nelson had switched tracks and the electric engine was now on the train. As he was being coupled up, Nelson looked over to Molly.

"You were flying down the line Molly not going lie," he said, "James lucky to have an engine like you."

He winked at her and pulled out of the station and down the line. Molly rolled her eyes with smirk on her face.

As Molly turned around the turntable, headed off the branch line and puffed down the mainline light engine. She couldn't stop thinking about what Nelson had said, and what I had said this morning and midday.

I was working in the yards at the fort. When Molly returned.

"Had a pleasant run I saw?" I teased, whilst shunting trucks into place.

"Indeed," smiled Molly, "Listen, can we both stay out here tonight? Right over there at that key."

I looked over to where Molly's glance went. I smiled. "Sure. Just make sure there ain't no trucks in the sidings so we have a good view."

Molly beamed.

***

That night, Molly and I stayed late at night watching the sun go down. Just as it disappeared into the horizon. A soldier came running up to my crew.

"A message for No.231 from Peel Godred hospital," he said, and gave it to Molly's driver.

He opened the letter and read it to the strong engine.

"Dear R.O.D. No.231,

I would want to thank you for saving my life. I was one of the injured soldiers on your train today, even though I didn't know that, and I found myself in Peel Godred hospital. A nurse is writing this letter for I'm too weak to do it at the moment.

Apparently, you were rocketing down the line and if you weren't, well I would've died from my injuries. So as a thank you gift , I give you something special from me. It'll be in the envelope as well as this letter.

Yours Faithfully,

Mr Shaun Jones."

Molly's driver blinked. "Shaun Jones?" my driver exclaimed, "You mean the famous-"

"Yes indeed," beamed Molly's driver.

"Who's Shaun Jones?" quizzed Molly.

"Shaun Jones is a famous regatta racer!" explained Molly's driver, "He's won six times in a row!"

He then pulled out a flag out of the envelope. "And he's giving you his first Sudrian Regatta Winner's flag!"

Molly smiled at me. "What a kind man," she said.

I agreed. Suddenly, an idea flew into my funnel. "Drivers," I called, "Can you leave Molly and I here for the night please?"

The drivers looked up from admiring the flag. "Are you sure?" asked my driver.

"Positive," I said.

They paused, then shrugged. Both firemen damped down our fires and left us there until tomorrow. Molly stared at me confused. "Why?" she asked.

"Simple," smiled I, "You've got something from a person whose gone on water, so that's half of one of your wishes, right?"

Molly paused, thinking for a second. "Yeah. You could put that way," she said.

"So why don't we watch the horizon when it becomes dawn," I said, "You might not go there. But you'll still see it! So that's half of a wish too. Making both half wishes one."

Molly stared at me for a moment, then burst out laughing.

***

We both watched the horizon early. We were lucky we could see the sun come out from the ocean with the foggy hills of Cumbria on the mainland.

Molly enjoyed her wish that night and dawn.

Though she still wonders about the horizon and dreams to sail to far away lands.

But she knows that sometimes, the best travels are those that she can only dream about.

Don't you?