Chapter 2
How to Fix a Broken Old Train
Hey, it’s me! Emma!
Well, we dug the hole thing up, (eventually) and man, the train looked stunning.
It was shining silver with a red banner round the blue-tinted glass doors, windows and wind-screen.
It had the picture of a present each side at the front and also, bold writing that said: Independence.
“I’ll bet it’s Independence day!” I cried.
“What’s that holiday all about?” Asked Jack.
“It’s an American holiday. It’s about when we liberated from the rest of the world and became our own continent. I wonder what that holiday world’s gonna be like?”
“Maybe it’s like your New York. All those tall building and busy roads.”
“I wish. But all these holiday worlds have been pretty boring so far. No offence to your Halloween Town, but this whole world is weird compared to where I come from.”
“Well then, maybe it’s time for a change? Come on, Emma. Think positive for once.”
“Hey, Emma!” Charlie called out as he ran to me from the train. “The elves have checked out the train and it’s in a state of disrepair.”
“I guess you want me to help.” I said.
“Of course. You know your stuff when it comes to engineering. After all, your part machine yourself.”
“Ok then, I’ll check it out. I’ll talk with ya later, Jack.”
So, I left Jack and went to take a look at the inside of the train.
It was pretty hi-tech, it was just a little damaged, that’s all.
The moisture from the snow had caused some panels to rust, some of the wires were out of place and the dials needed resetting.
The engine was out of oil and the fuel had frozen. It was to dangerous to try to heat it and make it melt, so we had to just keep it indoors at room temperature.
The elves allowed me to use some of the oil used for repairing the merry-go-round. And I used the tools from the sleigh shed to start repairing the damage inside the train at the main controls.
“Should be done by twelve.” I said to Jack from underneath the train. I had to inspect there too in case there was any mechanisms that were out of place. “There’s no damage here. And as soon as the fuel has gone back to a liquid then we can test in out. But I’ll need to check the battery first. I won’t be able to drive the train with out power, that’s how the controls work on this thing. It’s nearly all electric.”
“Anything I can do?” Jack asked.
“Yeah. Do you know how to reset the dials in the control room?”
“No, sorry.”
“Well, all ya have to do is remove the glass covers and there should be, on each one, something to turn. It looks like a little bolt sticking up from the dial. If you turn it, then the dial should reset when it’s turned as far and it’ll turn.” I explained. “Got it bone-man?”
“I think I’ll manage. Tell me when you’re ready to test out the engine.”
“Sure thing.”
I slid myself out from under the train.
The battery could only be tested when the dials were set. They were all over the place. And if Jack could take care of resetting them, I could go and see if that fuel and melted down yet.
I headed for Santa’s workshop. I decided to take a break once I was inside. Well, I had to check on the fuel first.
I went into the kitchen where the fuel was being kept at room temperature.
I opened the lid and looked inside.
The top seemed shiny. So far so good.
I picked up a spoon from the side and tapped the top.
The spoon went straight through. It was ready.
Well, the wait for the fuel was over, but now it was time for a break. I knew I would get the train up and running by twelve, but there was still time for a ten minute rest.
I sat myself on a chair in the living room. And I sighed as I relaxed.
“Exhausting work, I can imagine.” Said Santa, coming into the room.
“You have no idea. Well, actually you do. I mean, I bet no-one get’s more exhausted than you. Your Santa Clause.”
“Being the leader of any holiday is exhausting. But you’re the leader of ten Children. I can imagine taking care of them would be no easy task.”
“Yeah, and I suck at it. Four of them are still missing and two are dead. And there maybe no way of bringing them back.”
“Emma, you mustn’t despair. Though I do not know what it is, I know there is a way to bring back Nadallia and Anastasia.”
“But that means finding the evil spirit again. What if doing that only endangers us even more? What if another one of us becomes possessed or if someone is already possessed in another world?”
“Then you have to go out there and find your friends before they do end up in trouble. The sooner you get that train up and running, the sooner you can take yourself and your friends to a new world.”
I sighed.
“I guess your right. But I really need to rest first.”
“Emma!” Called the voice of Jack Skellington. “I did just like you told me. All the dials are reset.”
“Thanks, Jack. Next step: See if the battery works.”
So, I rested for about fifteen minutes. But after that, it was time to give the train a power test.
I poured the fuel into the train’s tank in the engine, this train works similar to a car. It’s not a steam train that runs on coal.
“Ok, that should do it. If the engine attempts to start but fails, then it’s the battery. If the ignition doesn’t start at all, then I’ll have to make sure the pipes aren’t cracked. That can happen due to the ice on the pipes, then when the ice melts the metal expends and it cracks where ice once was.”
I closed the bonnet and locked it.
“You can’t leave turn an engine on with the bonnet open without protection if you don’t know if it’s not going to work or not. Anything could happen. It might end up chucking hot fuel at you if it’s really broken.” I explained.
“You certainly know your stuff.” Said Jack.
“Well, I’ve got my mom to thank. She was really technical and really cool. She taught me a lot of stuff, and I think I got my engineering skills genetically. I hope when I grow up, I’m as clever as my mom was.”
“‘Was’?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Are we gonna start the twain yet, Emma?” Benjamin asked as he wandered up to me.
“Yeah, I guess so.”
“Yey!” Benjamin ran into the train.
“Wait, Benjamin! Don’t touch anything!” I ran after him.
Benjamin jumped through the doorway and skidded round the corner.
As soon as he was round the corner, he ran straight for the front of the train.
“Chor!” He cried as he looked up at all the controls that were low enough for him to see.
He reached up at the controls.
“Benjamin!” I raced to him.
I snatched hold of his hand before he could reach the controls.
“Don’t touch anything!” I told him off. I picked him up and faced towards me. “You don’t touch the controls on this train, do you understand?”
“Why?”
“Because it’s dangerous.”
“Like Oogie Boogie?”
“I guess. But you mustn’t mess with the controls, Benjamin.”
“Ok. But can I drive the train?”
“We’ll have to see if it works first.”
I picked Benjamin up and sat him in the drivers seat so he could look.
“Are you ready to try it?” Asked Jack as he came into the driver’s bay.
“Yeah.” I placed my right hand on the acceleration leaver and my left hand on the ignition handle.
I turned the handle clockwise…the engine began to click and rumble.
“At least the engine’s working.” I said.
I then began to push the leaver forward.
I was a little hesitant, I wasn’t sure if it would work. I couldn’t see anything wrong with the engine when I checked it over…
But then…
As I pushed the leaver forward and past the first gauge…
The engine then started to hum.
I let go of the leaver.
I waited for a few seconds. Just in case it wouldn’t last.
But the engine continued to hum without any signs of struggling.
I did it…
I did it!
“Emma, you did it!” Jack cried.
“Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!” I leaped up in the air.
I then reached for the switch for the cabin lights.
The train cabin then lit up.
I then flicked the switch for the main power for the passenger trains.
The rest of the train lit up like a Christmas tree!
The humming from the under-floor-heating was heard from under our feet.
I grabbed hold of the microphone for the speakers in the hole train.
“Ladies and gentlemen, children and grownups, living and dead of all ages. We are ready to go!!!”
