it's been a LONG while since i've done an modern adaptation of a railway series story. i decided to have a go at it again, but this time with characters that have stuck with me since i found out about them. the culdee fell railway is something that me and many other people would love to see in the tv series. other people have made modern adaptations of them, but i decided to take a spin at it too. here we go:

mountain engine: adaptation

Duncan had not been having a very good day, the coaches were difficult to handle and he came to a stop several times resulting in complaints from several passengers. He was very annoyed when he came back to the sheds. "Those boxes on wheels should be turned into barns!" he fumed. Skarloey was apalled at the idea. "I won't have it! those coaches need to be handled gently, not bounced around with your rock and roll." "Quite right, Skarloey." remarked Rheneas "You should be grateful that we aren't a mountain railway." he added. "What in the world is a mountain railway?" asked Duncan. "A railway which climbs mountains of course." said a voice.

The engines looked over, next to their sheds was a flatbed. On it was a rather odd-looking engine. He was painted purple with orange lining, was a rather blocky shape, with a boiler that tilded downwards, and he had a stovepipe chimney. "I work on a mountain railway quite near here." added the engine. "Who are you and how did you get here?!" demanded Duncan. the engine smiled "My name is Culdee, and i've just finished being mended at the steamworks. I'm waiting for an engine to take me home." he explained. "Please forgive Duncan." said Skarloey "he's in a foul mood over some coaches." Culdee chuckled "I know all about coaches. they are very important." "Why?" asked Duncan "They're just boxes on wheels." he exclaimed. "Ours are something more." said Culdee "While most railways such as yours pull your coaches, we push ours up meaning we can't see." "That must be frightening, not being able to see what's ahead." shivered Rheneas. "I never need to worry about watching the line. My coach Catherine and my guard do that for me. Catherine is so clever that i know at once if anything is wrong." he explained. "However i had been scared on my first run." "Do tell us about it." said Skarloey. "so i shall." said Culdee, and this is the story he told:

It happened when our line first opened. our contoller, Mr. Percival, had an important announcement. "An inspector is coming to check over the line, he will choose one of you to take him around." he said. The inspector arrived and chose me. We went up the mountain passing each and every station and scenic point on our way to the summit. Each time the inspector would write in his pocketbook. Soon enough we reached the summit, and on our way back down we stopped at a certain part of the line. It was the steepest part, with a curve overlooking a tall cliff. "You have done well, culdee." said the inspector. "Now we will test your automatic brakes. Alright driver, put them off!" he called. The driver did, and i went down the track, picking up speed as we approached the cliff. I would have been petrified if not for me speeding down the hill. "Remember your automatic brakes!" called the inspector. I remembered them and that i could put these on myself, i did and hoped for the best, I stopped just before the curve. I wasn't sure if i should feel relieved my automatic brakes worked, or happy that i passed that inspection, but when the inspector said "Well done Culdee, you are a credit to your railway." I felt happy, and felt even happier when the inspector told Mr. Precival about the adventure we had. Mr. Percival was proud of me, and thanks to my actions the mountain railway had passed the inspection and was open for everyone to come to.

"And that..." said Culdee "Is the story, i had never been frightened since. There's no need." just then Thomas arrived to take Culdee home. "Sorry, Donald was needed somewhere else so i'm here to take you instead." he said. "That's alright." said Culdee. Then he turned to the other engines "Goodbye, perhaps we shall meet again." he said as Thomas took him away. "He was a nice engine." said Skarloey. "wasn't he, Duncan?" asked Rheneas. Duncan didn't answer, he just looked to the sky. He had a lot to think about.