Author's notes: This story is a bit dark in some places, but don't worry. This story is very important

Uncertainty

Narrator: The following morning in late November of 1964, the engines ponies and even the main 4 drivers were all excited. The 3 new unofficially named engines Rachel, Freddie and William had worked very well and the loop line was nearly finished and everyone was happy. All except Rachel. She was starting to feel very depressed. Since the 1960s, Rachel had suffered from poor maintenance over the years upon her purchase by the thin controller and she found herself struggling constantly with her trains. She could hardly make it home to the sheds for a rest, in fact, she often never made to the sheds and another engine had to help her back. One morning after taking the construction train up to construction site, Rachel took the vans for the milk train down to Crovans Gate with Featherweight and Miss Ravens. Even though it was winter, she couldn't help but feel hot and bothered. Miss Ravens felt anxious and so was Featherweight.

Babs Seed: Rachel! Yo Rachel! You alright? You seem to be straining!

Rachel: (Panting breathlessly) I'll be alright… Featherweight…. OOOOFFF!

Narrator: Then with a loud bang, a spewing of black diesel smoke Rachel grounded to halt.

Miss Ravens: Oh dear. It looks like you've blown a fuse.

Rachel: Oh dear. I'm sorry.

Featherweight: It's alright. You didn't mean it.

Miss Ravens: That's right. I'll go back and telephone four help.

Narrator: Fortunately, Rusty was nearby when the call came through and he, Mr. Hugh and Babs Seed came along to help them out. They managed to get the train to Crovans Gate in time. All the engines and ponies felt sorry for Rachel, except for Duncan.

Duncan: Well that explains why I was late. I just knew it! You can't trust these smelly old diesels. Always going wrong. It's all in your frames! Probably don't have the same stamina as we do you hypochondriac!

Peter Sam: Hey! Don't be so rude to my girlfriend Duncan! At least she tried to make it, unlike some engines whom cause tunnels to collapse.

Featherweight: Yeah, so back off!

Duncan: Hmph! It's all because of that Rachel that this railway is starting slow down! I've delayed 7 times this week and who do I see having to be towed home to clear my path? It's Rachel!

Narrator: Rachel felt sad. Skarloey was furious and so was Rheneas.

Apple Bloom: Oh yeah? Coming from a someone whom decides to do scenery watching on viaduct because he didn't get polished!

Skarloey: Indeed and I had to tow set engine all the way up and down the line.

Rusty: Yeah so just go stick on a viaduct and leave my sister alone! You'll be late with your afternoon train if you dawdle about picking on other engines.

Scootaloo: Heh. He's got you there Duncan and it serves you right!

Duncan: (Groans) Just shut up Scootaloo!

Narrator: Duncan snorted away to collect his 5pm passenger train with Scootaloo and Mr. Roberts. The viaduct incident was one incident he wanted to forget. He steamed away furiously.

Rusty : You shouldn't let him tease you like that. Your still a useful diesel engine Rachel.

Narrator : Rachel still felt glum.

Rachel: I know Rusty. But… (sigh) I… I try so hard, but every time I either arrive late or have a break down. Plus, I don't even remember the last time I've been looked over.

Peter Sam: It's alright Rachel. That arrogant engine just doesn't know what age can do to an engine, even diesels.

Rusty: He's right there. I've had to get an overhaul every year.

Pipsqueak: I'm surprised no one has looked over you all this time. I'll go and talk to the thin controller to see what we can do and I'll work on you in the workshops.

Rachel: Thank you Pipsqueak. You are a kind little colt. I do hope I'll get mended soon.

Narrator: Days passed and Rachel still hadn't heard back from the Thin Controller, Princess Luna or Mr. Hugh. Even though Pipsqueak did his best to keep her running and although she tried not to worry, Rachel's condition went from bad to worse and she was found straining with her trains daily. One day, Freddie was heading up the line with a construction supply train and the milk vans for William to take down. As he crossed one of the bridges coming into Glennlock he along with Mr. Hawkins and Featherweight, they felt bump in the rails. All three were worried. As they crossed safely, Mr. Hawkins examined the bridge.

Mr. Hawkins: Oh dear. There's a crack one of the rails. I'll have to inform Mr. Hugh about the situation.

Narrator: So after telephoning Mr. Hugh, he went back and placed a speed restriction on it to warn engines not to speed across it on both sides of the bridge.

Featherweight: Well it's good thing we've noticed otherwise would have had a severe accident.

Narrator: They started again and made to the loop. Freddie warned William, Pipsqueak and Mr. Holden about the bad section of line as they set to work. All trains had to go carefully across the bridge. That evening, after William went back down to take the milk to Crovans Gate Freddie started to feel poorly. Featherweight and Mr. Hawkins examined him carefully.

Featherweight: Well there's your problem. You've cracked a steam pipe, probably when we crossed over that bridge. Rachel is nearby so she'll have to take the construction supply train back.

Freddie: But Rachel can't. It's far too heavy for her on her own.

Mr. Hawkins: You're right Freddie, but we really have no choice. We can't have her tow you back and the train. It be too much weight for her to handle in her condition.

Narrator: So reluctantly, Rachel was rostered to take it. She was really nervous as he she set out. She crossed over the viaduct safely and rumbled through the tunnel, but the trucks decided to play there tricks. They surged forward, pushing her on and on on!

Rachel: Oh no you don't!

Narrator: Miss Ravens slammed on her brakes and Babs Seed quickly through her into full reverse.

Babs Seed: NOT NOW RACHEL! HOLD ON!

Rachel: I'm trying Babs Seed!

Narrator: Soon as the track curved downward, the momentum of the trucks start to overtake them. But Rachel fought hard. If the guards hand brake hadn't been screwed on tight they probably wouldn't have managed to keep the trucks in check but they managed just barely. This proved to be short lived. With a metal sheering crack…

Rachel: Oh no! I can't hold them anymore. My brakes have failed!

Narrator: They approached the bridge. Closer and closer they came. Miss Ravens set Rachel into full reverse in a last ditch effort to save the train before she and Babs Seed jumping clear as Rachel cracked the rail through the guard rails and the whole train fell off the bridge and fell into the stream.

Miss Ravens: Oh my goodness! No! No! Call the yards!

Narrator: Down at Crovans Gate, Peter Sam, Rusty and William were just heading back into the sheds when the news came through.

Thin Controller: (frightened) WHAT?! What's that?! Brake failure?! Oh good lord not her! (Runs out side) No. 8 has… Peter Sam! Rusty! No. 7! Get the breakdown crew on the double. Rachel's been flung off the bridge at near Glennlock!

Narrator: Peter Sam and Rusty were horrified.

Peter Sam: NO! OH GOOD LORD NO!

Rusty: Come on Peter Sam! We need to hurry.

Narrator: When the three engines arrived, Peter Sam couldn't help but cry and so did Rusty. William was sad too but they all worked like heroes to helped the damaged, battered and broken Rachel back to safety on a flat bed.

Rachel: Oooooerr… I'm so sorry Peter Sam… I failed you…

Peter Sam: Oh no. Don't say that Rachel. You never failed me. You have always made me proud. It's those pain in the smokebox trucks that are to blame.

Narrator: When they reached the Crovans Gate, William and Peter Sam were ordered to shunt Rachel into the workshop, much to the engines surprised. the Thin Controller, Princess Luna and the owner were smiling as they talked about Rachel.

Luna: Yes, we could do with thy little diesel's body removed. Tis a better proposition there.

Thin Controller: Indeed, and will get a new engine from the mainland.

Owner: That's the best idea ever my old collogue.

Peter Sam: (In tears) Oh dear lord. No please! This can't be happening.

Narrator: The 4 engines and all the foals went home, fearing the worst. The weeks wore on as the engines worked hard with there traffic. Peter Sam helped out with the construction of the loop line. He was doing it for his girlfriend's uncertain fate and battling tears each passing day.

You might be saying, 'That's, not a happy ending'. 'Ah, there well be. But that'll have to wait until next time'. Yeah, 2 quotes from the TV series episode, 'Granpuff'. We'll be getting to the Railway Series version of that story later. For now, let's get into part 4 of 'The Thin Controllers Engines'.