Author's notes: Ok, before I get into the changes for this story, let's talk about some important factors. From this story onwards, the drivers will be referred to as Mr/Miss/Mrs/Ms and their last name instead of their 1st names unless specified. Also, I did make Sir Handel battle his thoughts a bit more.

Dear Rachel and Mike,

Can you believe it? He's home! He's finally home! After 5 years of being overhauled, Skarloey has finally returned to Skarloey railway. Needless to say, the cutie mark crusaders, Mr. Hugh, The Thin Controller and our new alicorn manager are pleased to have him home. It looks like the good old days are here to stay, with a few adjustments here and there. We have 2 new engines, 1 diesel named Rusty and a steam engine named Duncan. We also had a visiting diesel too on loan as well. Golly, both she and Rusty were very helpful this year, and Duncan… well… uh... means well, but still has a whole to learn if you ask me. He came here as spare when Peter Sam… oh, but I really don't want to spoil this for you. Anyway, here's what happened.

Your friend forever

William James Holden.

Trucks!

Narrator: Sir Handel and Peter Sam along with the Cutie Mark Crusaders had very hard work when Skarloey went away to Gibbons Brother's to be mended. It was now 1958. The Owner had given the two steam engines buffers and even bought a diesel named Rusty. The owner even enlisted the help of Princess Celestia's sister Princess Luna as alicorn manager.

Princess Luna: GREETINGS THOU CUTE LITTLE ENGINES! THY NAME IS PRINCESS LUNA, PRINCESS OF THE NIGHT!

Narrator: Her voice boomed so loud that Rusty, Peter Sam, Sir Handel felt the sound waves through their frames. Sir Handel and Peter Sam winced at this.

Mr Hugh: (Quietly) It's ok you 2. It's not like that other place. Luna's just being friendly.

Thin Controller: Uh malady, um… just a little quieter please, heheheheh… No need to shout.

Princess Luna: Oh oops. Heheheheh. Sorry about that Mr. Sam old habbits die hard.. (blushing with embarrassment)

Thin controller: It's alright. Princess Celestia told me all about. And, you can call me Peter.

Peter Sam: Hullo Princess Luna, welcome to the Skarloey Railway. I'm Peter Sam.

Sir Handel: Name's Sir Handel. Charmed.

Rusty: And I'm Rusty. It's an honour to meet you.

Princess luna : tis an honor to meet all of you as well.

Narrator: she turned to the CMC

Luna: Tis good to be seeing you fillies more regularly.

Sweetie Belle: Thanks Luna. It's good to have you here too.

Narrator: The CMC were excited as were the engines, Mr. Hugh, Mr. Holden, Miss Ravens, and a newly made member, Mr. Hawkins. Rusty worked very well with Peter Sam and Sir Handel, but the Thin Controller and Princess Luna still felt that even with Rusty's help the, work load was getting too heavy for the three little engines. One morning, Peter Sam had just arrived back from the top station at Skarloey with a full goods train. He saw Edward parked on the transfer siding with accompanied by Fluttershy and Mr. Holden. Peter Sam didn't even notice the flatbed behind Edward or the cargo on board. Mr Holden was just getting ready for his next job on the Skarloey Railway.

Edward: Hullo there young Peter Sam, Apple Bloom and Miss Ravens. How are things going?

Apple Bloom: Oh hi Edward. Whew! Gee wiz, ah feel very tired.

Peter Sam: Same here. Since Skarloey went to be mended, me and Sir Handel have been rushed off our wheels with goods trains, works trains and passenger trains as well. We've got a new engine called, Rusty he's a diesel engine.

Fluttershy: (nervous) Oh my… A diesel… Is he friendly?

Apple Bloom: Oh don't worry Fluttershy. Edward told me all about that wicked Diesel from the other railway…

(Pinkie Pie jumps out of nowhere)

Pinkie Pie: (Singing) He's an evil enchanter
Who speaks evil banter
And if you look deep into his eyes
He'll feel like your hand burn
Then what will he do
He'll fix up an evil goop
And he'll gobble you up
In a big tasty soup
So WATCH OUT!

Ok, I'm done. (Gallops off back to Percy)

Peter Sam/Apple Bloom/Fluttershy/Edward/Mr Holden/Miss Ravens: Uh… ok. That was… random.

Apple Bloom: Anyway, like ah was saying, Rusty is much more nicer than… you-know-who.

Fluttershy: Oh, thank goodness.

Peter Sam: Same here. Anyway, we're doing our best but even with Rusty's help, the work is getting harder and harder to cope with.

Edward: Don't worry Peter Sam. Things are going to be alright.

Narrator: And he exchanged a wink to Miss Ravens and Mr. Holden.

Peter Sam: I don't see how.

Mr. Holden: Well maybe your answer is right under your nose, even as we speak.

Peter Sam: What do you mean, Mr. Holden?

Miss Ravens: Well Peter Sam, look what's on that flatbed there.

Narrator: Peter Sam looked and gaped in wonderment. Being pulled off the flatbed by Sir Handel was another diesel that looked like Rusty, but to Peter Sam, there something about this particular diesel that made him feel wonderful.

Peter Sam: Wow! Who… who is… that, Miss Ravens?

Miss Ravens: Oh just another diesel on loan from another narrow gauge railway. And she's a girl diesel engine.

Peter Sam: Golly! Is she beautiful! I wonder what her name is.

Miss Ravens: Well, why don't we go and ask her?

Peter Sam: (Nervous) Oh are you sure about that? Do I look alright?

Miss Ravens: Heheheh… Come Peter Sam, lets go and get acquainted. you look fine.

Narrator: And Peter Sam puffed up to go and meet the diesel.

Peter Sam: Yeah, yeah. Guess…. Guess I will. I'll… I'll go up to her and I'll say, "you're the most gorgeous, uh, the most beautiful, uh, e-e…" I've never seen anyone anywhere. I'll say…. Hi. ( stops right next to her)

Narrator: The diesel looked next to him and smiled in kind.

?: hm? Oh, hullo there.

?/Peter Sam: Miss Ravens told me, uh… I just happened to be…. You know…

Narrator: The new diesel gave a giggle.

Peter Sam: Uh what is your name, my dear… (gasp) (in his head) Oh dear, I called my dear. Oh deary me. I hope she doesn't get upset. (recovers with a smile though blushing)

?: (in her head) Wow. What a gentlemen. He called his dear, how sweet. (Talks to Peter Sam.) Um… actually, I really don't have a name just yet.

Peter Sam: Oh I'm sorry to hear that. Say, how bout we give you a name?

?: Oh, that's a great idea.

Peter sam: How about Rachel? How does that sound?

?: Rachel?

Narrator: Peter Sam secretly held his breath.

Rachel: I like that name. Rachel it shall be.

Narrator: Miss Ravens smiled. She was glad to have an engine with the same name as her.

Rachel: so uh… whats… yo….

Peter Sam: My name is, is, uh, uh, Peter Sam…

Rachel: Peter Sam? (Smiles) That's a very nice name.

Narrator: Peter Sam's face blushed a brighter red than his railway's livery.

Peter Sam: Golly!

Narrator: Rachel and Peter Sam giggled happily. Apple Bloom, Miss Ravens, Sweetie Belle along with Mr. Holden just smiled.

Apple Bloom: Looks like those 2 hit it off well.

Sweetie Belle: Awwww! That little steam engine makes a perfect match for her…

Narrator: But Mr. Holden and Miss Ravens covered her squeaking loud mouth.

Miss Ravens: Shhh! Now just keep it down.

Sir Handel: (Chuckles to self) Heheheheh. Well, I do think my little bro has found, 'the one' now. (Sighs) If only my girlfriend hadn't been sold off when part of my line closed. (To Sweetie Belle) Come on Sweetie Belle. We have to get going now.

Sweetie Belle: Coming! (Hops into Sir Handel's cab, and they set off)

Peter Sam: Anyway, welcome to the Skarloey Railway.

Rachel: Thank you very much Peter Sam…

Narrator: Mr. Hugh walked up with Babs Seed.

Mr. Hugh: Ah hullo there Peter Sam. I see you have just gotten aquatinted with the visiting diesel. She will be working with us for a 4 weeks till the work load settles down. I was just going to find an engine to show the visitor, around. How would like to have the honour.

Peter Sam: Golly Sir. I sure would!

Rachel: Oh Sir. Thank you very much Sir.

Mr. Hugh: That's good engines, now off you go then. You'll be double heading goods train up to the Quarry at Balladwall.

Narrator: So Peter Sam double headed with Rachel. Peter Sam coupled to the train and Rachel in front. She liked this, she wanted to see where she was going. The Guard blew the whistle and Peter Sam and Rachel set off. Rachel was having a wonderful time. She had never seen a railway so beautiful before. They passed by little sheep and farmers, and along fields over hills. Soon, they puffed through the peaceful woods.

Rachel: (Sigh) You're a lucky engine Peter Sam, to have such a beautiful railway to run on. I wish I could stay forever.

Peter Sam: Thank you Rachel. I wish I could see your railway sometime.

Rachel: (Giggle) Maybe you will, someday.

Narrator: Rusty and Scootaloo along with Mr. Hawkins were helping out with maintenance work, when the little diesel thought he heard a familiar horn followed by Peter Sam's whistle.

Rusty: That can't be, can it?

Narrator: Sure enough, Rusty soon saw the visitor and grinned.

Peter Sam: Hi Rusty, Scootaloo!

Scootaloo: Hey Babs Seed.

Babs Seed: Heya Scootaloo! Heya Peter Sam. Say, whose your friend.

Peter Sam: Rusty, Babs, Mr Hawkins, I like you to the visiting diesel, Rachel.

Rachel: Rusty?

Rusty: Rachel?

Rusty/Rachel: Is that you?

Scootaloo: You know her?

Rusty: Know her? Heheheheh.

Rachel: Heheheh. We were built together at Ruston and Hornsby.

Babs Seed: Wow. Then that must mean your?

Rusty/Rachel: That's right brother and sister.

Mr. Hawkins: I knew you two looked similar in design.

Narrator: But Peter Sam felt rather confused.

Peter Sam: I thought didn't have a name?

Rachel: Oh, well you see Peter Sam, I don't have a name officially as of yet. My brother Rusty here calls me Rachel because it starts with the same letter as his name.

Peter Sam: Oh, I see. That makes a lot of sense actually.

Scootaloo: Wow. Surprise ending.

Narrator: Just then, the signal dropped and Rachel and Peter Sam had to go.

Rachel: Well, I must say, the talking ponies here are quite adorable.

Peter Sam: Oh there's quite a few on this island.

Rachel: Oh, wonderful Peter Sam.

Narrator: Soon they ended their journey at Skarloey Station and rested before setting off for return journey. Rachel had the most wonderful afternoon. The following weeks, Rachel soon learned what she had to do. she mostly worked alongside Babs Seed and Mr. Hugh with Rusty and Scootaloo on goods trains, reconstruction trains, and maintenance trains. Whenever she wasn't busy with Peter Sam, Miss Ravens would often drive her as well. Peter Sam and Sir Handel were very grateful for Rachel's and Rusty's help and so were Miss Ravens, Mr. Holden and Mr. Hawkins and the CMC. But even so as usual Sir Handel would not stop grumbling bitterly about extra work.

Sir Handel: Shunting and trucks! Shunting and trucks! It's always the same with me! I never get a moment of rest at all! Why can't Peter Sam, Rusty or Rachel do it?!

Sweetie Belle: Sir Handel! This isn't their work, it's called teamwork. That means we all pitch in, weather it be passengers, shunting or goods. Now just put a piece of coal in it and for once in your life, try to behave!

Mr. Holden: She's right you know. All railways are ran smoothly by teamwork, so just quit griping and mind yourself.

Narrator: But Sir Handel would not stop grumbling. Secretly, he was really worried about something and was trying to hide it with groaning and complaining.

Sir Handel: (To self) Oh, I know I haven't been up to speed these past few days, but that's because…

Mr Holden: You ok boy?

Sir Handel: (Quietly) Oh… just thinking back to my past. I am very grateful for this railway, and for Skarloey taking me and Peter Sam under his 'wing' and everything but…

Mr Holden: You miss 'him', huh Sir Handel?

Sweetie Belle: Don't worry. Skarloey will be back soon.

Sir Handel: (To self) True, I miss Skarloey greatly. But that wasn't who Mr. Holden was referring to.

Narrator: 1 day before Rachel's last day, Gordon saw Sir Handel with Sweetie Belle and Mr. Hawkins shunting and laughed.

Rainbow Dash: Gordon! Be nice!

Narrator: Then she went into the station and grabbed her lunch made by Fluttershy followed by Mr. Hawkins and Sweetie Belle.

Sir Handel: My controller makes me shunt and take slate trucks to quarries too. If I don't, then I have to suffer an ear full from Princess Luna! I'm highly sprung! I am highly sprung and suffer dreadfully!

Gordon: Our controllers don't understand our feelings.

Narrator: He winked at Sir Handel.

Gordon: Now if you were ill, you couldn't go, could you?

Sir Handel: Ohh good idea… I'll try it!

Narrator: He did so next morning on Rachel's last day.

Sir Handel: Ugggghhh… I don't feel well….

Mr. Hawkins: Oh! You have got to be kidding me!

Mr Hugh: Well this all we need! Now we only got one steam engine service!

Mr. Holden: What are we do now?

Mr. Hugh: Well, we don't have time to examine Sir Handel, so we'll just shunt some of his trucks behind Peter Sam's Morning train.

Narrator: And so, some of Sir Handel's slate wagons we're coupled behind Peter Sam's coaches. He, Mr. Holden, Mr. Hawkins and Apple Bloom set off with Sweetie Belle. Rusty promised to follow with the rest with Scootaloo, as did Rachel along with Miss Ravens and Babs Seed. Sir Handel snickered quietly but nobody heard, but this was just to cover up his fears. Then, his expression turned to worried.

Sir Handel: (Sighs) Oh, what are me and Peter Sam to do now? How can we fix up the terrible mistake we have made?

Narrator: Peter Sam didn't mind the extra work. He left his coaches at the top station and trundled cheerfully through the woods with 5 slate trucks along with Princess Luna whom was in the guards van. The trucks chattered behind him in an agitated, way but Peter Sam took no notice. It might have been better if he had. Slate comes from quarries high up in the hills at Balladwall. They travel down in trucks along a steep railway called an incline. Empty trucks at the bottom are hitched to a rope, while loaded ones at the top are hitched to one another. By their weight, loaded trucks run down the steep slope pulling up empties. There are strong brakes in the winding house to prevent loaded trucks from running down too fast, the ropes are very strong too but in spite of this trucks sometimes play dangerous tricks. That is why, whenever the engines have to take a goods train to the incline, Princess Luna always comes along and uses her alicorn magic to aid in the safety of the incline. Peter Sam never bumped trucks unless they misbehaved, Sir Handel on the other buffer bumped them even if they were good so they didn't like him and played tricks whenever they could. Peter Sam pushed some empty trucks to a siding where Sweetie Belle hitched them to a rope and then on another siding, he and Apple Bloom pulled back some loaded ones.

Sweetie Belle: All set Princess Luna!

Luna: Right Sweetie Belle. I'm heading up now.

Narrator: So Princess Luna then flew up to the top of the incline right above the winding house. With the loaded slate trucks in front of him, Peter Sam stood waiting.

Mr. Holden: Did you know Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom, that back in the old days, the quarrymen actually used to propel the trucks down by gravity themselves.

Sweetie Belle: (Amazed) What, you're kidding me right? But wouldn't that be dangerous.

Mr. Hawkins: Oh yes, very dangerous if you didn't know what you were doing. You gotta take it into consideration that this was way before either Skarloey or his brother Rheneas ever came to the railway.

Apple Bloom: So what did they do for safety then?

Mr. Holden: They used a special truck with an old style hand brake on it through which one of the quarrymen would ride to provide proper braking to keep slate trains from derailing dangerously.

Sweetie Belle: How extraordinary! I'll make sure to put that in my notebook for my studies!

Narrator: Meanwhile, Princess Luna was getting ready with her alicorn magic. More loaded trucks stood at the top and ready to come down. They couldn't see Peter Sam properly, they thought he was Sir Handel and wanted to pay him out. Soon, they began to move.

Trucks: FASTER! FASTER!

Narrator: They reached halfway, gathering speed. Princess Luna noticed and began to fight back

Luna: OH NO THOU DON'T!

Trucks: SCREG HIM! SCREG HIM!

Luna: OVER THY HORN AND WINGS, THOU UNGRATEFUL WHELPS!

Bottom trucks: NO! NO! NO! WAIT! IT'S PETER SAM! IT'S PETER SAM!

Narrator: But it was no use, the loaded trucks were straining at the ropes. Princess Luna gave full power with her magic, maybe too much power.

Princess Luna: THOU WILL NOT COMMIT TOMFOOLER…..

Narrator: It was too late. With might and strain from both trucks and alicorn magic, the ropes broke with crack! The broken end hit Princess Luna on the head breaking her concentration. When she got her concentration back, she saw to her horror the loaded trucks hurtling down the steep hill heading right towards Peter Sam, Sweetie Belle, Mr Hawkins, Apple Bloom and Mr. Holden

Loaded trucks: HORRAH! HORRAH!

Princess Luna: LOOKOUT!

Narrator: Peter Sam heard Luna's warning and heard and saw the trucks. He shut his eyes, as Sweetie Belle, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Holden and Apple Bloom crouched in his cab. The crash jerked Peter Sam violently backwards!

Peter Sam: OUCH! I DIDN'T EXPECT A COLD BATH!

Narrator: The water poured from a channel broken by flying slates. He was soaked from funnel to cab.

Luna: OH MY! ARE YOU ALRIGHTH!

Mr. Holden: We're alright Princess Luna! But We're going to need help to get Peter Sam out!

Mr. Hawkins: Rusty is closer to us. Go fetch him, Mr Hugh and Scootaloo.

Luna: ON THY MR. HAWKINS!

Narrator: And she flew away to get help. When Mr. Hugh, Rusty and Scootaloo got the news, they were horrified.

Mr. Hugh: WHAT! A BRAKE AWAY! OH GOOD LORD, WHY DID IT HAVE BE HIM!

Scootaloo: What's going on?

Mr. Hugh: We need to get the maintenance crew. Peter Sam has had a terrible accident at the incline!

Luna: Thou is correct Mr. Hugh. We must hurry!

Scootaloo: You don't have to tell me twice!

Rusty: Lets go!

Narrator: Rusty was soon coupled on and he set off to the rescue. Peter Sam gave a weak whistle to rescue crew, and Rusty replied with a toot of his horn.

Rusty: Bust my buffers! What a terrible mess. Never mind Peter Sam, we'll get you out!

Scootaloo: So don't you panic!

Sweetie Belle: Oh, am I glad you're here Scootaloo.

Peter Sam: Same here.

Mr. Holden: That goes double for me and Mr. Hawkins.

Apple Bloom: And triple for me.

Narrator: Soon with everyones help, Rusty and Scootaloo pulled Peter Sam clear from water and broken slates and trucks. Peter Sam felt battered, his funnel was cracked and his boiler badly dented, but he was very glad that Sweetie Belle, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Holden and Apple Bloom weren't hurt.

Peter Sam: Thank you Rusty, and you too Scootaloo.

Narrator: He limped slowly home whilst Rusty stayed to clear the mess. As he went home a horrifying flashback hit his mind.

(Flashback)

? THE NEXT TIME YOUR LATE AGAIN No.4, it'll be your Funnel! ( fading) Your Funnel! Funnel!

(Flashback end)

Peter Sam: NO! NO!

Mr. Holden: PETER SAM! Don't worry. It's just us!

Peter Sam: Oh dear. I must have been uh… um… uh… having a short bad dream.

Mr. Holden: I understand.

Narrator: Mr. Holden understood what Peter Sam was feeling and felt worried.

Mr. Holden: Mike! We need to get another engine to help Peter Sam home. He's in too bad of a shape to head home on his own steam.

Mr. Hawkins: Your right. We're nearing Glennlock. That visiting Diesel should be there with Rachel, (Referring to Miss Ravens)

Narrator: Rachel, Miss Ravens and Babs seed were waiting at Glenlock station when they heard the most awful racket ever. Then, they saw to their horror Peter Sam battered, bruised and Damaged.

Rachel: (Nearly on the edge of tears) Oh my goodness Peter Sam! What happened?!

Mr. Hawkins: We've had a terrible accident at the incline. Some loaded trucks ran out of control and smashed into us.

Babs Seed: Here, we'll couple him up behind Rachel and take him home. He'll need to rest his wheels for quite some time.

Rachel: Don't worry. You take it easy Peter Sam. We'll take you the rest of the way home.

Peter Sam: Th…..Thank you….Rachel

Mr. Holden: Right away my friend.

Narrator: Mr. Holden looked very furlong and Miss Ravens was worried.

Miss Ravens: William, Are you okay.

Mr. Holden: Yeah, I'm alright. I'm so sorry Rachel! If I hadn't been so careless Peter Sam wouldn't be in this mess. (nearly tearing up) I'm a monster Rachel. I feel like I'm no better than…

Miss Ravens: No, that's is not true at all! You've done nothing wrong at all, and you're better than… that other person. Besides, like Mike said, it was an accident and it couldn't have been helped. The winding house brakemen and Princess Luna all did their best. I don't blame you at all.

Narrator: Miss Ravens patted Mr. Holden on the back and gave him a hug.

Miss Ravens: Now come on. Let's get Peter Sam home.

Narrator: And so Rachel helped Peter Sam the rest of the way back to Crovans gate. Sir Handel stared on, horrified and riddle with even more guilt then what he was thinking of that morning.

Sir Handel: Holy Loughborough! What happened.

Narrator: They told him.

Sir Handel: I'm so sorry about your accident, Peter Sam. It's my fault. I pretended to be ill to get out of work. I didn't want this to happen to you…

Rachel: (Enraged) YOU DID WHAT?! HOW COULD YOU!

Sir Handel: I was stressed out about the extra work! I'm sorry. I'm so, so Sorry! Anyway, I always stand well back. Trucks don't like me you see.

Peter Sam: Why didn't you warn me?

Babs Seed: YOU COULD HAVE HURT MY FRIENDS HERE, YOU STUBBORNED ENGINE!

Sir Handel: I didn't think tha….

Luna: THOU NEVER DOES THOU UNGREATFUL WHELP!

Thin Controller: Princess Luna is Right! You can start thinking tomorrow while your doing Peter Sam's work as well as your own. That will teach you to play truant on my railway!

Narrator: Sir Handel did start thinking. He thought about Thin controllers and alicorn princesses of the night, and thought about Gordon. He wanted to give Gordon a piece of his mind. But most of all, he thought about what pained him more then anything else. That night, when Rusty and Rachel had gone to sleep, Peter Sam spoke to him.

Peter Sam: Is there something else bugging you Sir Handel?

Sir Handel: Yes. When I heard that another engine was going to help us, I assumed it was…

Peter Sam: Oh! I see. And you were disappointed when it wasn't?

Sir Handel: I will admit… Rachel and Rusty are both very nice, but I do miss him more then ever.

Peter Sam: So do I brother, but you have to learn to control yourself.

Sir Handel: (Sighs) I try and I try, but then my temper catches up with me.

Peter Sam: Let's get some sleep. Maybe that will take your mind off things.

Sir Handel: Sure. Night Peter Sam.

Peter Sam: Night Sir Handel.

Ok, now we have our 1st developed couple, Rachel (The engine)XPeter Sam. I will say, I do have a bit of a crush on the SkR's number 4. Heh. Next is 'Home At Last'. Keep a lookout for that.