Author's notes: Eh… this one I have mixed feelings on. I didn't like seeing Peter Sam being teased to death, and Sir Handel doing it made things worse. I mean, come on Mr Awrdy. Considering their past, you would think their bond is much tighter then that. Anyway, it was nice to see Peter Sam finally get his new funnel.

Dear Rachel.

Do remember when Rheneas was sent away to Hunslet works to be mended back in 1952? Can you believe it 9 years he was away being overhauled? I really missed that little engine, but at last he's finally back and is in beautiful condition and is running like jewel watch. All the little engines are together again and the good old days have finally come back and here to stay. Needless to say Skarloey, Sir Handel, Peter Sam, Rusty Duncan and even Rachel whom also came for another visit, are all happy to have home again, and so are the cutie mark crusaders, Mike Hawkins and our new members and friends James Roberts and Pipsqueak. They delighted that our little hero has returned. Back in 1951, he single 'bufferly' saved the Skarloey Railway from fading into oblivion. Oh by the way, I took Skarloey's advice and went to visited the Talyllyn railway with our clergymen friends Rev Awdry and Rev Boston. And Skarloey was more than right. Not only is Talyllyn just like Skarloey but there is also an engine just like Rheneas, same shape and same number and he is called Dolgoch. The general manager Mr. L.T.C Rolt had once told that back in 1952 Dolgoch saved Talyllyn railway from closure just like Rheneas did. We are proud of both our gallant old engines from both the Talyllyn railway the Skarloey railway.

Your best friend

William James Holden.

1961

Special funnel

Narrator: It was winter of 1960, and as usual it started with rain and wind. Peter Sam's funnel had never been quite the same since his accident with the slate trucks up at the incline back in 1958. Now as he puffed up and down the line, the biting winter wind seemed tugged at it trying to blow it away. Rarity's little sister Sweetie Belle had taken up magic classes with both her sister and Twilight Sparkle to use unicorn magic to help keep Peter Sam's funnel in place.

(At the sheds)

Peter Sam: My funnel feels wobbly. I know you're doing your best to keep it in place Sweetie Belle and I'm very grateful for it. But all the same, I wish Princess Luna and the Thin Controller would hurry up with my new one. They told me that it is something special.

Duncan/Sir Handel/Scootaloo: You and special funnel! Hahahahaha!

Scootaloo: Hey guys, can you picture him with a bell on that wobbly old funnel of his?

Duncan: (Tears of laughter) hahahahahaha! Och aye, I can definitely picture that way. Instead hearing a rattle, he'd be making a little ding alinng aling!

Sir Handel: Heheheh. The way he talks, he could out talk Duck's talk about the Great Western Railway.

Skarloey: Knock it off you 3! How would you feel if you were in Peter Sam's condition?

Rusty: That goes double for you Sir Handel. I thought you were better then this!

Sweetie Belle: There right Scootaloo. That's why I have been designated with Peter Sam until that funnel arrives because I'm the only one with the unicorn magic to keep that funnel from falling off.

Scootaloo: Why you!

Apple Bloom: Alright, simmer down sally. That's enough arguin'.

Narrator: Scootaloo, Duncan and Sir Handel were fond of Peter Sam but he talked some much about his special funnel that it had become quite a joke. The winter weather worried Mr. Hugh, Mr. Holden, Mr. Hawkins, Mr. Roberts and Miss Ravens and the little foals members. Wind broke branches from trees. Rain turned hill side streams into torrents which threatened to wash the line away any second. Everyday, Apple Bloom, Mr. Hugh, and the workmen patrolled the line with Rusty. They removed branches and trees from bridges and culverts so that the water could flow away.

Rusty: Wow. Things are certainly picking up fast in this weather.

Apple Bloom: Ah know what you mean. It looks pretty bad.

Mr Hugh: Look. There's a lot of branches over there.

Narrator: But the winter weather grew from bad to worse and soon the Thin controller and Princess Luna had to call Rachel from her railway to help out. Miss Ravens and Babs Seed took her out on the second patrol after Rusty, Apple Bloom and Hugh to double check everything.

Rachel: Oh deary me, this storm is getting dreadful. It's a wonder it hasn't snowed yet.

Babs Seed: I know what yah mean Rachel. Yah, I'm just glad that they ain't runnin Peter Sam today. Just imagine what will happen to Peter Sam's funnel if he were out right now in this crazy storm.

Narrator: Rachel quivered.

Rachel: Oh parish the thought. The poor dear needs to have that new funnel on quickly.

Miss Ravens: Alright girls, there's another one.

Narrator: But one morning, they found bad trouble. A fresh torrent had broken out and Mr. Hugh had to stop all trains.

Mr. Hugh: There's been a washout near the tunnel near Glennlock. The track bed has been swept away. We must repair the damage as soon as possible.

Narrator: Everyone was worried.

Skarloey: We understand Mr. Hugh Sir, but how long do you think it will take?

Mr. Hugh: to be honest Skarloey, unless we can come up with an idea I really don't know.

?: Leave it to me Mr. Hugh!

Narrator: Eeveryone turned and looked a young colt. He had a brown mane and white coat of fur with a few brown spots.

Mr. Hugh: Ah yes. May I introduce you all to our new foal member.

Sweetie Belle: PIPSQUEAK!

Apple Bloom: Yo Pip.

Scootaloo: Hey Pipsqueak.

Babs Seed: Hello Pipsqueak. Long time no see.

Featherweight: Hey Pip, my main colt. How's it going buddy?

Narrator: Sweetie Belle and the other foals remembered Pipsqueak from school back in Ponyville. They were delighted to see him working with them. Secretly, Sweetie Belle had big crush on him.

Sweetie Belle: Oh my goodness. Glad to see you.

Pipsqueak: Same here. I'm glad to see you too Sweetie Belle.

Narrator: The engines all introduced themselves and so did the main 4 drivers.

Mr. Hugh: Right then, we better get to work.

Narrator: And soon Pipsqueak went with Mr. Hugh to the damage site.

Mr Hugh: So what do purpose we do?

Narrator: Pipsqueak pondered the problem.

Pipsqueak: Hmmm. Well judging by the length of the gap, we'll need to build a half-through plate girder bridge across. This also known as a pony truss. Heheheh. It's small world isn't it.

Mr. Hugh: You know, your right. I think that will work beautifully, Thank you Pipsqueak.

Pipsqueak: Oh it's my pleasure to help out on a Victorian age railway system. My parents also work on a railway in Equestria, and they taught me these things.

Narrator: Soon, the men, women and ponies came to repair the damage. the men, women and the ponies worked and repaired the damage within a week. As they worked, the weather changed. It became frosty and very cold. But eventually, they finished just in time for market day of January 31st 1961. As a reward for his contribution to the repair work, the thin controller and Princess Luna allowed Pipsqueak and Sweetie Belle to operate the first morning train on board Peter Sam with Miss Ravens. Pipsqueak was excited and so was Sweetie Belle and Peter Sam.

Pipsqueak: You already Peter Sam?

Peter Sam: Sure am Pipsqueak!

Narrator: The guard blew the whistle, Pipsqueak opened the regulator and they set off with Gertrude and Milicent.

Gertrude: Slow down Peter Sam.

Millicent: Slow down, slow down. The bridge is coming up.

Miss Ravens: The coaches are right. Easy now Peter Sam.

Peter Sam: Right. Thank you girls.

Narrator: And Peter Sam took the morning train very carefully over the mended piece of line. Soon they approached the tunnel, it was short but curved so they couldn't see right through it. Peter Sam was heading for trouble. Then everything happened at once.

Miss Ravens: THERES SOMETHING HANGING FROM THE ROOF!

Narrator: Pipsqueak, quickly brake hard, Sweetie Belle, taken by surprise, lost concentration with her spell followed by a clanging crash. When Peter Sam, Gertrude and Milicent stopped in the open air Peter Sam was in for a nasty shock.

Peter Sam: Uh…. What just happened I feel a bit queer?

Sweeite Belle: (Eyes widening with horror) Uh, you're not going to like this but your funnel just got uhh... redesigned.

Peter Sam: (Nervous) ah ha aha that's funny… Aha that's funny Sweetie Belle…

Gertrude: Uh, Millicent, brace yourself.

Millicent: Good idea.

Miss Ravens: (Nervously placing earplugs in her ears and in Sweetie Belle's and Pipsqueak's ears too) Uh you might want to look at the top of your smokebox.

Narrator: Then Peter Sam looked up and his eyes widened with horror, his left eye twitched. And….

Peter Sam: AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!

Narrator: Peter Sam shut his eyes hoping it was just a bad dream.

Peter Sam: Okay, okay, it's just a really really bad dream…. When I wake up on the count of three, my stove pipe funnel will be there. 1…2…3…

Narrator: Peter Sam opened his eyes… and….

Peter Sam: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Narrator: And as you can guess, that ear pricing scream that echoed all the way to Tidmouth.

(Sally and Bridget were with Flitter Heart and Cloud Chaser on the Great Northern Flyer at Tidmouth)

Sally: What in the Great Northern Railway was that?

Bridget: I don't know sister.

Flitter Heart: Oh, I hope no one is hurt.

Cloud Chaser: Me neither. Come on, we'd better get started on the run.

Narrator: Peter Sam realised that he no longer had his funnel. Poor Peter Sam. Eventually, the guard found the broken funnel piece and thick cold icicle.

Guard: Well here's your culprit Peter Sam. This is what hit you.

Peter Sam: Oh, can you please fix that funnel. Please….

Narrator: Pipsqueak shook his head sadly.

Pipsqueak: I'm sorry Peter Sam. I'm afraid your old stovepipe funnel is history. Judging from the impact, the funnel's crack is far too wide to keep straight now.

Peter Sam: Oh good grief. Why me… I can't go home to Rachel looking like this. She'll laugh her axels off and so will the other engines and ponies.

Miss Ravens: I'm sorry Peter Sam, but we can't keep the passengers waiting.

Narrator: Reluctantly, Peter Sam started off again, but without the funnel there was no lifted the smoke exhaust from Peter Sam's smokebox, properly creating a difficult journey. The passengers started to complain the smoke and steam bouncing off the carriages.

Passenger: (Coughs) I can't see a thing!

Passenger 2: (Coughs) My clothes are dirty.

Gertrude: (Coughs) Oh, my windows are getting sooty!

Millicent: (Coughs) I don't think my paint is better off.

Narrator: Then, Pipsqueak saw an old drain pipe lying beside the track he asked Miss Ravens to stop. Pipsqueak got down and he examined it carefully, and grinned.

Pipsqueak: Ah ha! This is perfect!

Narrator: Peter Sam, Miss Ravens, and Sweetie Belle were confused.

Sweetie Belle: I don't get it. It's just an old drain pipe.

Pipsqueak: Yes, but it's just the right shape. Will just wire it on top of Peter Sam's smokebox with some wire rope, and use it instead of the funnel. It's a temporary fix, but it should last the whole journey and it will control the smoke exhaust.

Miss Ravens: Are sure it will fit?

Pipsqueak: Sure as gold.

Narrator: Peter Sam was horrified.

Peter Sam: A d…d…drain pipe

Pipsqueak: (sigh) I'm sorry Peter Sam, but we have no choice. Its either that or a refund for the passengers spoiled soot covered clothes. At least its big enough to help control the smoke exhaust.

Narrator: So Sweetie Belle got some old signal wire from the guards compartment in Millicent and Miss Ravens and Sweetie Belle helped Pipsqueak wire the makeshift drain pipe funnel onto Peter Sam's smokebox. Peter Sam sadly continued his journey. Duncan, Scootaloo, Sir Handel laughed and laughed and Sir Handel made up a rhyme and song about it.

Sir Handel: (Singing) Peter Sam's said again and again, his new funnel will put ours to shame. He went into the tunnel and lost his old funnel. Now his famous new funnel's a drain!

Narrator: Sir Handel, Duncan and Scootaloo all thought it was the best joke in the yard and continued teasing the poor engine relentlessly, as Peter Sam blushed with embarrassment.

Sir Handel: Come on now you all know the lyrics.

Sir Handel: (singing) Peter Sam's said again and again,

Duncan: (singing) his new funnel will put ours to shame.

Scootaloo: ( singing) He went into the tunnel and lost his old funnel.

Sir Handel/Duncan/Scootaloo: (singing) Now his famous new funnel's a drain

Narrator: But Apple Bloom, Featherweight, Pipsqueak, Babs Seed Sweetie Belle, Skarloey, Rusty, and Rachel were furious. Skarloey, Rusty and Rachel tooted and whistled loudly and told them to stop.

Skarloey: STOP IT! Without that drain pipe he couldn't lifted the smoke exhaust from his smokebox properly. If Pipsqueak didn't wire that drain pipe up to his smokebox, sparks could have spouted out, might have shot into air and could have started a fire in the woods endangering many lives and animals. Would it have still been a laughing matter then?

Rusty: Your right Skarloey. Peter Sam had no choice but use that drain pipe as a makeshift funnel! It would have been very dangerous for him otherwise, so BACK OFF!

Rachel: And Sir Handel, you've been worse! I thought you understood Peter Sam's feelings and were like an older brother to him, but this tells me otherwise!

Narrator: Duncan and Scootaloo subsided into a sulky silence and Sir Handel was very abashed after Rachel's last comment.

Peter Sam: Thank you Rachel, Skarloey and Rusty.

Rachel: Anytime Peter Sam, I don't like seeing you getting teased.

Skarloey: Same here. Us engines have to stick together.

Rusty: Your right there Skarloey.

Narrator: At last, the day came when his new funnel arrived. Princess Luna, The Thin Controller, and surprisingly Pipsqueak, proudly introduced. But Peter Sam was quite puzzled.

Peter Sam: Oh dear! Someone squashed it!

Narrator: But Princess Luna, Thin Controller and Pipsqueak laughed.

Pipsqueak: Heheheheh. Don't worry Peter Sam. It's not squashed. Its suppose to be like this!

Peter Sam: Huh?

Thin Controller: This is called a giesel injector funnel, one of the most up to date funnels around world.

Peter sam: A what injector?

Pipsqueak: A giesel injector Peter Sam. I've read about them recently they were invented in 1951 by the Austrian engineer, Dr. Adolph Giesl-Gieslingen. Now listen. When you puff, you draw air from your fire to make it burn brightly. With your old stovepipe chimney funnel, puffing is sometimes hard work. It uses a lot of strength you need to pull your trains. The Giesl ejector funnel however, ensures improved suction draught and a correspondingly better use of energy. The existing blastpipe in a locomotive is replaced by several, small, fan-shaped, diverging blast pipes from which the diffuser gets its flat, long, drawn-out shape.

Thin Controller: So you see Peter Sam, your new Giesel Injector funnel has special pipes which allow the air to come easily. Puffing will be easier and you'll have more strength for your work.

Peter Sam: (doubtfully ) Yes Sir. But…

Luna: Don't worry thyself Peter Sam, thou funnel is something really special indeed. Thou shall soon see when thou starts work.

Narrator: At first Peter Sam's funnel was great joke to Sir Handel and Duncan. They both asked Peter Sam why he had sat on it, and hooted with laughter, but were sternly hushed by Rachel, Rusty, Skarloey, Sweetie Belle, Pipsqueak, Featherweight, the two apples cousins and even Scootaloo whom got tired of the jokes. When it was Peter Sam's turn to start work, it was a different story. Peter Sam felt more strength than he had with his old funnel, Skarloey, Rusty and Rachel and the foals were very impressed, and even Sir Handel and Duncan were impressed.

Sir Handel: I don't understand it. Peter Sam never seems to work hard, he just goes tish tish tish tish and just seems stroll away down the line with any train he is given. He makes work look so easy.

Duncan: I agree. Just look at him go.

Sweetie Belle/Scootaloo: Not a joke now, eh?

Sir Handel/Duncan: Uh… no. Not at all.

(At the sheds that night after the foals and humans went to bed)

Rachel: How are you feeling Sammy?

Peter Sam: Never better. This funnel does work really well.

Rusty: That's wonderful Peter Sam.

Skarloey: And I think these 2 (Looks over at Sir Handel and Duncan) have something to say.

Rachel/Rusty/Skarloey: Well?!

Sir Handel: (Sighs) Brother, I am real sorry for teasing you about your special funnel and about the drain pipe. That was just very low of me, and I won't do that again.

Duncan: Yeah, I'm sorry too. I shouldn't have done that either.

Peter Sam: That's ok guys. I forgive you.

Narrator: The other engines don't laugh at Peter Sam's funnel now. They wish they had one like it.

Ok! Peter Sam has his new funnel. Next is 'Steamroller'.