It didn’t take long to have Rex back on the rails. All the same, he felt ridiculous. The night before, and all morning, he’d boasted about how easy the wool train would be to manage. Then he’d been made to put his steam where his mouth was, and he hadn’t achieved even one trip without running into trouble.
Farmer Willie had apologised profusely, and had returned to help with the rescue effort once they were able to carry it out.
“Well.” Rex said, mournfully. “I suppose that served me right for being so full of myself.”
Mike and Bert shared a look.
“Don’t be like that,” Bert smiled, “it wasn’t your fault. Nothing us engines can do about things blocking the line.”
“Really, it was the fault of that farmer, Willie!” Mike added, both making a great effort to cheer their friend up.
Rex chuckled. Mike backed down in front, and Bert was coupled on behind.
“Your driver said, from what he saw, the damage didn’t look too bad either.” Bert said, as they started for the sheds. “You shouldn’t be out of action for too long.”
“And you were right,” Mike went on, “once we got a feel for it, the wool train wasn’t that bad after all.”
“Although… I still prefer my ballast trucks.”
All three laughed together. For three small engines that could hardly seem to get along when they first arrived, it was a beautiful sound to hear passing through the valley.
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