Author's notes: This one is short, but sweet. I really like this story because it fills in a few gaps that we were missing in the RWS. Anyway, here we go.

Dear Rachel, Mike and James

The Skarloey Railway has been going through a lot of changes these last few months. Our slate traffic has declined. It was very sorrowful day for all of us. With the quarry gone, the SKR would have fade away into oblivion. However, thanks to Pipsqueak and 3 new engines of ours, we've managed to keep the Skarloey railway a float. Anyway, these stories tell you all about it.

The Winds Of Change

Narrator: Many years ago, the slate quarry at Balladswail had always been the backbone of the Skarloey Railway's financial income. Though passengers were another key factor of the Skarloey Railway's finances, it was the slate which was the boom to the SkR's economy and it seemed it would last that way for eternity. However, that was not to be the case. Since 1908, the demand for slate start to decline and by 1962, the sight of slate trains became very rare. By 1964, the slates had gave out. The quarry was closed. The little engines, the foals and the main 4 drivers were very worried. Without a vital goods traffic, the railway would more or less fade into the pages of history. This, was hit hard by Peter Sam and Sir Handel.

Peter Sam: Oh dear, I don't like this at all… I can't believe this is happening.

Sir Handel: (Whisper) I know what you mean. It looks like history is repeating itself. Without the slate we'll end up like our old line.

Peter Sam: (Whisper) and end up like… him (Tearing up) We're doomed!

Narrator: Miss Ravens and Mr. Holden accompanied by Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle saw the two furlong engines and went over to calm them down.

Mr. Holden/Miss Ravens: (Mr Holden gently pats Sir Handel on the boiler while Miss Ravens does the same for Peter Sam) There, there now. It's gonna be alright.

Peter Sam: (Solemnly) I don't see how. Without the slate, we'll lose one of our major financial incomes for our line.

Miss Ravens: Well… not necessarily. We actually have 3 back up plans to keep this railway running.

Sir Handel: What do you mean?

Sweetie Belle: Well, we've talked to the Thin Controller and Mr. Hugh and they agreed on the 3 plans. Our first idea is to transport hay for the farmers along our route so we'll still have some goods traffic.

Apple Bloom: The second idea was from me and Babs. We've made an agreement with the local farmers to transport produce down to the Crovans Gate for the Fat Controllers engines to take.

Mr. Holden: However, even though these plans are great for a new goods revenue, they can only be operated on certain times of the year. That is why Mr. Hugh, Princess Luna and the Thin Controller have came up with the next idea to keep revenues going all year round.

Peter Sam: But what is that idea?

Miss Ravens: Well, we don't know yet. But the Thin controller, Princess Luna and Mr. Hugh will tell us tonight.

Skarloey: Don't worry you two. Just remember that all clouds have silver linings.

Narrator: With that, the two engines had to be content. That evening, all the little engines and the foals were gathered round the sheds with the main 4 drivers, when the thin controller, Princess Luna and Mr. Hugh came with an announcement.

Thin Controller: As you all are aware, since the decline in slate traffic, our railway can no longer rely on mineral traffic as a source of income anymore. We have however a solution to keep our charming line open. Princess Luna, you have the floor.

Luna: Mr. Peter Sam, Mr. Hugh, our 4 driver friends and thy self along with several foals volunteers have accounted for this well in advanced. So we have came up with three plans to keep thy railway running. Thy first 2 plans will involve creating a new income. The ideas were brought fourth from thy apples siblings Babs Seed and Apple Bloom. The first we have made an agreement with the local farmers to help bring there produce down to the NWR along our rails. The second idea involves recycling thy side cut grass that grows to close to the line. Apple Bloom has stated that when you pile the grass and leave it out in the sun, it will eventually dry into hay. With the suggestion of Featherweight, we can actually use this hay to feed the farmers livestock for the winter and fall. Mr. Hugh, you have the floor next.

Mr. Hugh: Thank you Princess Luna, ahem. Our third final plan was made by a combined effort of both Pipsqueak and Mr. Holden. Mr. Holden please take the floor.

Mr. Holden: A few weeks ago, I had gone out on one of my research trips down to the ruins at ulfstead castle and it was there that I actually found this…

Narrator: Mr. Holden pulled an very ancient old book.

Scootaloo: Huh? So it's just a book?

Duncan: You went all that way for just some silly old book?

Narrator: But the other engines, foals, Mr. Hugh, and Princess Luna sternly silenced them.

Luna: Thou may continue Mr. Holden.

Mr. Holden: Thank you. Anyway, this no ordinary book. This just so happens to be a book written by King Harold the son of King Godred McHarold. I found one passage in this book that could vital for the survival of the Skarloey railway.

Narrator: Mr. Holden cleared throat and began to read.

Mr. Holden: onnanefaarney gach trammanhibbineboin áiteanna trammanhibbinaittyntramman Mé lhouanonnanevervineeboin a vervineiuarshellaghiuartramman Beidh aittynlhouanwooshlaghaittynyiarn grá trammanonnane bheith iuarshellagh I trammanhibbineboin beag skarloey. Mo shellagheboincouyllrennaighebointramman tearmann.

Duncan/ Scootaloo: I'm sorry, but What the heck did you say?

Mr. Holden: It said 'Of all the places that I love to visit, I will I always love to visit is in the little lake in the woods. My little sanctuary.' In ancient Sudric.

Narrator: Everyone was amazed, non so much though as Miss Ravens. She knew that her childhood friend had been a history buff, but she never knew he could speak ancient sudrian.

Miss Ravens : How extraordinary. I thought that Sudric was a dying language.

Mr. Holden: Well, it takes years of practice Rachel. Ahem, anyway to get back on subject. When I read this passage from the ancient Sudric book written by King Harold, I had realised that the Lake in the woods is actually King Harold's original sanctuary. This revealed that Skarloey was his secret sanctuary, now days ago, me, Rachel, Sweetie Belle, and Pipsqueak grabbed my grandfathers rowboat for picnic on the lake and we sat in the calm crystal blue lake we suddenly hit land and there we found archaeological evidence proving that that the lake near Skarloey station is actually the secret Sanctuary of King Harold. Pipsqueak, your next.

Narrator: Pipsqueak walked up cleared his throat and began.

Pipsquak: After documenting our findings, we reported back to Princess Luna and Thin Controller. To keep our tourist pounds flourishing, we had decided to build a loop line extension to around the lake. I got the idea from Mr. Holden whom told me about a beautiful lakeside railway called. Llanberis Lake Railway, however we shall have this extension loop around the lake. This way, it will not only will it increase revenue but it will also save time from having an engine run around to the train, a strategic saving of time. Mr. Hugh, your next.

Narrator: Mr. Hugh stood up in front of the engines and began.

Mr. Hugh: So with all that said, we are currently planning on using two of our covered wagons to handle the produce services. We will utilize some of the slate wagons for hay traffic since these trucks have openings. It will be necessary to batten down the hay with ropes. The loop line itself will be a big job to undertake, so we've bought 3 new engines to help out with the construction project and eventually help you all with revenue services. They will be arriving in 2 days. We we'll need all of you to pitch in to help out with this task.

Narrator: with that the engines all cheered and whistled. Peter Sam was even more excited when the thin controller chose him to pull the first Hay and Produce train. He was very excited and started off.

Peter Sam: God bless the thin controller and Mr. Hugh. We found a way to keep our railway running. (Wiskful sigh) if only our line could have been the same way.

Narrator: So they started loading at Cros-Ny-Cruin where the gangers had cut dried grass near the line and battened them down with strong ropes. Peter Sam stopped where they had been working and they loaded the slate trucks. Then he went to the platform where the farmers were waiting to load there produce by train.

Peter Sam: (To himself) Just like the good old days. He would definitely be proud.

Narrator: and whenever the line came to farm crossing or halt, Peter Sam would stop and deliver his hay and collect the produce. He had a wonderful time. All the school children ran and waved to him and Peter Sam made new friends with the farmers and there families. When he reached the top station, he shunted his slate trucks into a siding and went back home with the produce train. Sir Handel was then going to collect the slate wagons for the return journey back down. On Peter Sam's down journey, he was to collect the farmers produce along the line and take them to transfer wharf where the big engines would take them to the either shops in the towns or to mainland station at Burrow In Furness.

Peter Sam: First rate, first rate! our line is safe!

Narrator: Even Apple Bloom and Miss Ravens were impressed.

Apple Bloom: Heheheheh... Boy, the way Peter Sam's goin' he reminds me of Rheneas exploits.

Miss Ravens: He sure does Apple Bloom.

Narrator: They made excellent time and reached Crovans gate with 4 minutes to spare.

Thin Controller: I'm proud of you Peter Sam. Thanks to you we've now secured the contract of the produce and hay traffic with the farmers. Sir Handel has just went up to collect the slate trucks and with all your help, we now know that we will make it through the winds of change.

'Who are the other 3 engines?' you ask? Well, find out in the next one. It's called 'Icy Reception'.