Author's notes: What do I think of the original written by Christopher? Well, Sir Handel's characterisation was better then his 'Mountain Engines' portrayal (Referring to the original written by Wilbert). But I have to ask, why didn't his driver and fireman correct him when he mispronounced 'indispensable'? And, I know this a nitpick in the one Christopher wrote, but why wasn't Duke at the works already? I understand that it can take a long time to restore him to working order, having been locked in the shed for so long, but Christopher, don't forget logic. Atsf, you have done well with the rewrite and the problems I have addressed are not your fault at all. Anyway, let's go.

Dear Rachel, Mike, James, Mitch and Dustin,

You once asked me for a book about mine, Sir Handel's and Pipsqueak's experiences on the Talyllyn Railway and about your adventures on while we were gone. I can tell you already it was a wonderful. But I also heard from Miss Ravens that you guys had lot of adventures too, so after she told me about them, I decided to write a book about it all. Anyway, here the stories of what happened.

Your best friend forever

William James Holden.

Patience Is A Virtue

Narrator: The Thin Controller held a letter in his hand, Princess Luna was with him. 7 little engines, Skarloey, Rheneas, Sir Handel, Peter Sam Rusty, Duncan, and Fearless Freddie, 6 drivers, Mr Holden, Mr Hawkins, Mr Roberts, Mr Thomson, Mr Hoskins and Miss Ravens and six little foals, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo, Babs Seed, Pipsqueak and Featherweight watched him anxiously.

Thin Controller: Skarloey, do you remember your twin Talyllyn?

Skarloey: Of course I do. You'd never forget a family member sir, no matter how long you haven't seen them for.

Narrator: Sir Handel, Peter Sam and Freddie looked at each other. They knew what Skarloey was talking about.

Thin Controller: Well unfortunately, he's ill and his controller is short of engine. Now, I cannot spare anyone until Duke is mended, but I want to suggest to him that one of us….

All: (Excited) Oh sir, please Sir!

Narrator: The Thin Controller held his ears.

Princess Luna: SILENCE!

Rusty: Oh, our deep apologies malady and sir.

Luna: Heheheh, quite alright Rusty. You can't all go. Mr. Roger Sam and I have thought that Pipsqueak, Sir Handel and Mr. Holden shall go.

Sir Handel/Pipsqueak: Oh Sir and malady. Thank you Sir and Malady.

Mr. Holden: Thank you Sir and to you too Princess Luna. I'll take good care of both of them.

Duncan: Huh, lucky ducks.

Rheanes: Oh, you'd probably get a chance to go too Duncan.

Narrator: Pipsqueak and Sir Handel's excitement grew and Sir Handel talked endlessly about to anyone who'd listen.

Sir Handel: I hope Duke comes back soon.

Mr. Holden: Don't be so impatient Sir Handel. There is still lots to be done on him. Remember, your repairs took a long time too, and Duke is much older than you, Peter Sam, Rusty, Duncan and Freddie.

Pipsqueak: Indeed. He was practically built in 1879 and given the fact that he had been sheeted up under all those trees and bushes around the sheds, his boiler pretty much was covered by all sorts of outside elements which isn't healthy for any engine, especially Duke. Me and the lads in the workshops had to fit in a new firebox, new pistons, new connecting rods and even a new boiler. We've also got to re gauge him to run on the Skarloey Railway's gauge and on top of that, give him a new coat of paint when we're done. I tell you, the small England classes are not easy to overhaul, but like they, say nothing is impossible. Don't worry. We're doing the best we can.

Sir Handel: Thank you. It'll be nice to see him in service again. We have missed him like crazy.

Mr Holden: No kidding, given that you and Peter Sam were mentally destroying yourselves over the separation.

Pipsqueak: That explains the strange behaviour of the 2 of you since you came here in 1954 to 1969.

Sir Handel: (Sighs of relieve) Yeah Pipsqueak. Glad that's over.

Narrator: The weeks passed and still Duke did not come back from the works. Try as he might, Sir Handel grew more and more impatient. One day, he was waiting at the bottom station with Gertrude and Milicent when Gordon arrived with Rainbow Dash and Mr. Thompson with the WildNorWester.

Pipsqueak: Oh hey Mr. Thompson, hey Rainbow Dash, hullo Gordon.

Mr. Holden: Hey guys

Mr. Thompson: Heya Pipsqueak, Sir Handel, Mr. Holden.

Gordon: What's with you guys?

Rainbow Dash: You look very excited.

Sir Handel: Oh, we are indeed we three have been invited to Talyllyn Railway in wales.

Rainbow Dash: Oh my gosh! That is gonna be so awesome!

Pipsqueak: But we can't be spared until Duke is mended.

Mr Thomson: Ah yes. I hope he's mended soon. Can't wait to see how he does in service.

Gordon: Quite right. It's a great responsibility being indispensable.

Narrator: Sir Handel was flattered and boasted to the other engines, ponies and drivers about it.

Sir Handel: Hey guys guess what? Gordon says I'm… er… insensible.

Narrator: The ponies and engines were amused but not impressed. Pipsqueak quickly corrected.

Pipsqueak: He means 'indispensable'.

Everyone: Oh! Right!

Rusty: (To Peter Sam and Freddie) Has he made mispronunciation errors before?

Peter Sam: Only when he is boastful and not listening properly.

Freddie: Looks like we are in for a long few months now.

Duncan: Just great!

Rusty: Says the one who had his whistle knocked clear last week.

Duncan: Oy! Shut up Rusty!

Narrator: Soon, Summer came and crowds of visitors and ponies came to the railway. Sometimes, extra coaches were needed to carry them all. One day, Sir Handel's train was fuller than ever. When he arrived at the Lakeside station with Gertrude, Milcent, Agnes, Lucy and Beatrice, he along with Mr. Holden and Pipsqueak were exhausted. An enormous crowd of people were waiting on the platform for the last train home.

Sir Handel: Goodness me! That's a lot of passengers.

Pipsqueak: They must of have come on early trains and stayed to picnic by the lake. Never mind. We'll manage. It's all down hill from here.

Narrator: But at the station by the waterfall, the platform was crowded and full too.

Mr. Holden: Crepes! We're gonna need a broom or a shoehorn to get all these passengers in. We will have to do it somehow.

Guard: I've got it. There's room in Beatrice. I'll take some with me in her.

Narrator: The passenger had a wonderful day in the in hills and didn't mind standing. They knew it would only be for a short while. The guard always checked tickets at the station by the waterfall. Today, it was a long job and before he was half finished, Sir Handel was growing impatient.

Sir Handel: Ugh! Come on! An insensible engine like me should keep Applejack and Henry waiting.

Mr Holden: Indispensable.

Sir Handel: That's what I said, isn't it?

Mr. Holden: Calm down Sir Handel, it can't be helped. Henry and Applejack will just have to wait. They've kept me at it before with Peter Sam, Apple Bloom and Miss Ravens back in 1954.

Pipsqueak: Yeah, and remember: It's guaranteed connection.

Narrator: At last, the guard was ready. He blew the whistle, waved the green flag and turned towards Beatrice.

Sir Handel: At last we're off! Do come along! At last we're off! Do come along!

Narrator: The guard tried to get into Beatrice but her doorway was blocked by passengers and by the time the passengers did move to let him in the train was already out of the station. The guard was left stranded on the platform. Beatrice tried to stop, but there was none to put her brake on.

Beatrice: I've lost my nice guard! I've lost my nice guard!

Lucy: Oh no! Girls! Beatrice has lost her guard!

Agnus: Bother that Sir Handel! So puffed up in his smokebox, why I ougta…

Milcent: Agnus, there is no call to be rude!

Gurturite: We need to let Sir Handel, Mr Holden and Pipsqueak know about this. Sir Handel! The guards left behind!

Narrator: But Sir Handel was in such a state that he couldn't listen. The guard blew his whistle and waved a red flag but the line curved and Sir Handel couldn't see or hear him. Mr. Holden and Pipsqueak had no better luck. Lucky, a passenger in Beatrice knew what to do. He pressed a button and a buzzer sounded in Sir Handel's cab. Mr. Holden braked hard.

Sir Handel: What the… Now what?

Mr. Holden: Go see what happened Pipsqueak. Maybe we left someone behind.

Narrator: They had of course and soon found out who. The passengers and Pipsqueak helped the guard into Beatrice and after a fast run they reached Crovans Gate just at the same time as Henry.

Henry: Not bad Sir Handel. Not bad at all.

Applejack: Just in time sugarcube.

Narrator: Sir Handel breathed a sigh of relief. Soon after the passengers left, the guard came to see Sir Handel.

Sir Handel: I'm sorry I was impatient Mr. Guard. I just didn't want to be late. Insensible engines should never be late should they?

Mr Holden/Pipsqueak: Indispensable!

Sir Handel: Oh great. I can't even get a simple word right.

Narrator: The Guard spoke kindly to him.

Guard: No right engines should be late. But sensible engines know that patience is a virtue. Just remember that next time.

Sir Handel: (Sadly) Yes Sir. I'll try.

Narrator: Sir Handel trundled sadly to sheds.

Pipsqueak: There there Sir Handel. Mistakes like this can happen to any engine and at least you learned from it.

Mr. Holden: Heheheh and don't worry. This hasn't been the first time and you're not the only engine whom had this little mishap.

Narrator: He then told Sir Handel about Thomas' mishap with his guard back in 1924. Sir Handel couldn't help but smile as he sang a little song. Pipsqueak and Mr. Holden soon caught the tune and sang with him.

Sir Handel: (Singing) Patience is a virtue, so it never hurts to...

Take a little time to see

Mr. Holden: The Thin Controller's taught you.

And you know you ought to...

Pipsqueak/Sir Handel/Mr. Holden: (Singing) Be as patient as can be

Happy waiting patiently

Pipsqueak: (Singing) Don't get too excited, just try staying calm

Thinking for a minute, saves you so much harm

Mr. Holden: (Singing) Everything around you is rushing here and there

Life can be so simple, if you make time to spare

Pipsqueak/Sir Handel/Mr. Holden: Patience is a virtue, so it never hurts to...

Take a little time to see

The Thin Controllers taught us

And you know you outta...

Be as patient as can be

Happy waiting patiently

Mr. Holden: (Singing) If you're in a hurry, take the time to think

Pipsqueak: (Singing) What's the point of rushing, if you're on the brink

Sir Handel: (Singing) Go a little slower, someone else can lead,

take the time to rest, that's what engines need

Sir Handel/Mr. Holden/Pipsqueak: (Singing) Patience is a virtue, so it never hurts to...

Take a little time to see

The Thin Controller's taught us

And you know you outta...

Be as patient as can be

Happy waiting patiently

Narrator: And with that, Sir Handel went happily to sleep.

Right. Part 1, check. Let's go to 'Peter Sam And The Prickly Problem'.