T.A.R.S Story 5: Test Run Pt 2

Test Run Pt II
Written by Chance Everingham

*It is currently 5:30 AM, and hour before the test train is due to depart, Daniel and Kelly are oiling Jeremy's side rods and valve gear along with some other adjustments before Jeremy is due to be moved and coupled to his train*

Jeremy: A-are you sure I can do this…

Daniel: Jeremy, I can assure you. Once this run is over, you’ll forget all about your worries. Everything will work out in the end.

*As the two crew members finish greasing, Jeremy’s safety valves go off*

Jeremy: Gah! Wh-what happened? What’s going on?

Kelly: It’s just your safety valves. Gee, it must have been a really long time since you were last in steam. The way I see it, it’s kinda like when your ears pop when you’re on a plane.

Jeremy: Well… I’m not on a plane…

Daniel: Right, well I’m going to make one last check before we move him, just make sure everything is greased well.

Kelly: You do that, *yawn* I’m going to get some more coffee.

*Daniel walks all around Jeremy making sure everything is ready, and after he does that, the shed door opens, revealing the morning sunlight just rising over the trees, and a small 0-6-0 switcher blocking the view*

Jeremy: Um… Hi…

Switcher: Hello! You’re the new engine I’m guessing?

Jeremy: Um… One of the two I guess…

Switcher: Well, that’s even better! We’ve had so much work in the yard lately, I sometimes can’t tell if I’m standing on my domes or my wheels!

Jeremy: Charming…
Switcher: Anyway, I’m Chloe! Who are you?

Jeremy: Um.. Jeremy…

Switcher: Nice to meet ya!

Jeremy: The feeling is mutual… So… are there other steam locomotives running the line?

Chloe: Yeah! There’s Michael, he’s a pacific locomotive. He pulls mainline freights across the west parts of Texas. Really good sort, I bet you’d like him. Then there’s Dennis, he’s one of the switchers in the yard. He’s kinda short tempered, but an okay sort of guy. Joshua, who’s a Niagra from New York Central. He was built from scratch and is probably the youngest one of the fleet. He’s pretty young and ambitious, but he works hard.  Frederick, probably the oldest.  He pulls really short tourist trains from Longview to Tyler, he’s kinda cranky, but a lot of old guys are. Jenny, who’s a 2-6-0, kind of an odd ball. She was actually a prototype for mixed freights, he was originally an 0-6-0, but was soon given an extra two wheels. She’s pretty nice actually to be honest. Smokey Joe, who is an 0-6-0 used to pull commuter trains, but unfortunately it didn’t do good business. He was soon offered to run freight trains to New Mexico when the extension was built and then there’s-

*Before Chloe can finish talking, Brian walks up and stops the conversation*

Brian: Alright you two, enough with the chat.

Chloe: Sorry… I was just…

Brian: It’s fine Chloe, but Jeremy has an important test train, so we need you to couple him onto it. I believe Seth has already got the train ready?

Chloe: Yes sir, it’s supposed to consist two box cars, a flat car, and that observation car from Union Pacific?

Brian: Yes, perfect! Get him coupled up to the train, and Jeremy, you’ll head down to the Station by yourself.

Jeremy: M-myself?

Brian: Yup, just so your engineer can have sort of a feeling on how to drive you. Understand?

Jeremy: Yes sir..

Chloe: Alright, let’s get moving!

*Slowly, Chloe pulls Jeremy out of the workshop and out in the open air*

Jeremy; Grr…. I feel really, really stiff…

Chloe: Oh don’t be such a whiny baby! It’ll wear off, don’t worry!

Jeremy: (Mumbling) Well, I’m trying not too…

*Soon, Jeremy is coupled onto his train, Chloe is then uncoupled*

Chloe: Well, I’d love to come and watch, but I have other work to do. Goodbye Jeremy, hope your trip goes well!

Jeremy: Thanks…

*Chloe leaves and soon, the train is ready to be moved to the station platform*

Brian: (On the radio): Now just remember, all you need to do is move him to the platform. The conductor will let you know when you need to depart. Over.

Daniel: Copy that, over.

Brian: Right, you’re clear to move. Over.

Daniel: Thanks, over and out. *Puts the radio away* Right Jeremy, are you ready?

Jeremy: I guess…

*Daniel opens the regulator and Jeremy, groaning,  slowly begins to move*

Jeremy: Grr…. Come on… Come on…

Daniel: Well, seems the cut off and the throttle are doing their job nicely.

Kelly: You took the brake off right?

Daniel: Um… Oh, whoops. *pushes the independence brake level*

Kelly: That’s what I thought.

*Jeremy then begins to move in a constant speed, the pain soon wearing off, soon, they reach the station and park the train besides the platform*

Daniel: Nicely done Jeremy!

Jeremy: Er… Thanks…

Kelly: *looks out the window and a bright light flashes into her face* Ow! *Climbs back into the cab*

Daniel: What was that?

Kelly: *rubbing eyes* Damn railfan brought a camera with a built in flash…

Daniel: Hehe… Hopefully a railfan…

Kelly: Whatever…

*Jamie then walks up into the cab with three men*

Jamie: Excuse me you two, these inspectors kinda want to take a look inside the cab Just to see if everything is in good shape.

Daniel: Oh, sure.

Kelly: Guess whatever gives us extra credit, eh?

Jamie: Hehe… *whispers* Not now Kelly…

Kelly: Right…

*After a bit of looking over the inside and outside of Jeremy, Jamie guilds the men into the Observation Passenger car, then walks up to Jeremy*

Jamie: Now Jeremy, we will be departing the station and pass through a long, straight track. All you simply have to do is travel up to 50 miles per hour without anything breaking or falling apart. If you can do that, then I can officially put you into full service.

Jeremy: Um… Sir, what if I fail the test?

Jamie: Then we’ll just put you back in the shed, fix you up, try again. I believe Brian has had that discussion with you.

Jeremy: Yeah…

Jamie: Listen Jeremy, on my railroad, failure is never an option. You’re going to pass this test, and we all as members of the railroad have confidence in you. We believe you are capable of doing this, but if we have too, we’ll try and try again to make sure you do so, we as railroad workers never give up hope, even if it’s our final option.

Jeremy: …

Jamie: You’ll do great… Trust me…

Jeremy: Okay… I’ll try…

Jamie: That’s a good engine, good luck Jeremy. I know you’ll do great.

*Jamie walks off, and soon the signal goes green and the conductor shouts*

Kelly: That’s our que Dan, away we go.

Daniel: Right then, are you ready Jeremy?

Jeremy: …Yes…

Daniel: Alright then, off we go!

*With a blast of the whistle, Jeremy slowly departs the station and onto the open line at a speed of thirty miles an hour*

Daniel: Right, after we pass over this last curve, I’ll open the regulator farther and then we can show these inspectors what you can do Jeremy.

Jeremy: Yes sir.

*Jeremy rounds the bend and soon goes on a straight track*

Daniel: *Opens the regulator slowly and the speedometer begins to climb*

Jeremy: *Thinking* It’s happening… I’m increasing speed… But, what’s this feeling that I have… I’m picking up speed… And yet this feels so amazing… I feel so… Alive… The oil burning… The water evaporating… My pistons moving… My wheels turning… All of this power… I never felt before… In so so long…  

Daniel: 32… 35… 37…

Jeremy: Everything is passing by with a dash… I’m not falling apart with a bash… Everything is in motion… Everything is happening… Could this just be because I’m in steam… Or is it because all of these people… Supporting me… If there’s one thing I’m going to do for everyone that has helped me over the past few months… Is that I have this opportunity to show everyone what I’m capable of… I’m going to take this oppertunity… and I’m going to sucseed…

Daniel: 40! 42…. 45!

Jeremy: It’s now or never…

Daniel: 47… 50 Miles Per Hour! Yee Haw!

Kelly: Is that really necessary?

Daniel: *Closing the regulator* Well of course it is, we live in Texas, not California.

Kelly: I’m from Florida…

Daniel: Eh, whatever, what’s besides the point is that we passed!

Kelly: It’s not over until you stop the train…

Daniel: Oh… Right…*Closes the regulator and slowly applies the train brakes*

*Soon the train stops and the inspectors check all over Jeremy, checking for any damage or parts falling off*

Jeremy: I-I did it… I went 50 miles per hour…

Daniel: Yeah well, first we got to check and make sure you’re not falling apart…

*Soon, the inspectors finish and have a private discussion in the observation car, once finish they hand the results to Jamie, who, tries not to get over excited in front of the men, he climbs into the cab, then back out with his crew*

Jeremy: S-so… what did they say?

Jamie: *Coughs* Well, I myself am very impressed.

Jeremy: Y-you are…?

Jamie: Yep.. You performed rather well, nothing was falling off, the ride was smooth, and you picked up speed quite quick.
Jeremy: So… Does that mean I…?

Jamie: *Shows the paper to Daniel and Kelly, who both cheer from excitement*

Jeremy: Uh…

Jamie: Jeremy, I am very proud of you. You have, according to the inspectors, officially passed your test run.

Jeremy: I passed…

Jamie: Yes that’s right. Now, I believe these inspectors need to go back to the station, we’ll head back now. Congratulations Jeremy, I am very pleased with you.

Jeremy: Thank you sir… It’s my pleasure…

Jamie: Starting next week, you will be performing switching work in the yard. I am looking forward to seeing how it will go.

Jeremy: Yes sir… I can’t wait to start working again.

Jamie: That’s a good engine, now time we head home.

* A few hours later, Jeremy returns back to the work shed, next to Franklin*

Franklin: Well well, if it isn’t good old Number Two, how did your run go Brooks?

Jeremy: It’s uh, Jeremy now Franklin.

Franklin: Haha, I know just playing.

Jeremy: Well as for the test run… It was amazing!

Franklin: Really? Did you pass?

Jeremy: The term “Amazing” probably meant I passed too!

Franklin: Guess that means you’ll be operating soon then.

Jeremy: Yep, starting next week I’ll be working as a switcher!

Franklin: Well… Congratulations?

Jeremy: What? Not excited of my victory?

Franklin: Well… I would’ve thought they’d put you on freight now or something. Switching is boring.

Jeremy: It’s pretty fun, and besides I could use some experience with freight cars. I mean, the ones I pulled today were the first ones I’ve taken in years.

Franklin: Was the ride smooth?

Jeremy: Oh yes, they said I ran very smoothly.

Franklin: Then really I think you’re ready for mainline freight. I mean, pulling a train isn’t that hard.

Jeremy: Well still, it’s best we get all the experience we can get, then we’d less likely cause any mishaps.

Franklin: I’m just saying. I mean we ran the mainline back in Eagle Lake and now we’ve been demoted. What a pity.

Jeremy: Oh shut up, I mean they restored us and transported us all the way here, from the north to the south. I imagine that costed a lot, and took a huge effort. Our days on the Eagle lake are over, so we might as well get with the program of the modern age. Besides, when we have plenty of experience in switching, Brian told me they’ll let us pull mainline freights.

Franklin: Whatever…

Jeremy: By the way, how is your restoration going?

Franklin: They said I’m probably going to be stuck here for another two to three months… Turns out I’m in worse shape than they thought because they found a lot more rotted out parts.

Jeremy: I see…

The End