Here’s Donner’s story, I hope you enjoy. It took a lot of blood sweat and tears. Apologies for any Cheeto dust on any pages :(
Donner was once a very successful engine. He was as his engineers would call a “special breed of iron horse.” Donner was originally designed by a german engineer who came to America. Mr. Schlichtmann was his name. In the short time Mr. Schlichtmann lived in America he built a large line of streamlined locomotives. Each of his engines had excellent reputations for being hard workers, they were all useful and gave him excellent credibility as a locomotive engineer. In no time after his first few engines were produced he had a dozen orders to fill all over, practically every railway wanted these new reliable fancy locomotives. Mr. Schlichtmann had brought to life many iron giants but his favorite was one he named himself. The engine he loved the most was a flashy mint green color, he was big, strong, and handsome. The engine thundered down the rails wherever he went so it was appropriate he be named Donner, the German word for thunder. Donner in his first year of operation was wildly successful, he broke records, racked up a lot of money and the most important thing was he made Mr. Schlichtmann look good. When Donner was to be sold he was scooped up immediately by a small railway in the country side where he was tasked with passenger work.
Donner worked hard at his new home on Hennessy. He brought passengers in and out of the city all day long, going back and forth long distances and expected to go at record breaking speeds was hard but he got the work done and at the end of the day he always proved to be useful. For a while Donner was considered the fastest engine in Hennessy and everyone could count on him. That was until a few issues began to present themselves to the big streamliner. It wasn’t bad at first, Donner found multiple days where his wheels would slip numerous times before he could get going. That didn’t seem to go away and got worse as time went on, then most mornings he found it hard to start. Added to the mix was a nasty cough he developed, even when his boiler and firebox were cleaned he coughed up nasty black sludge. Donner’s face seemed to turn a permanent sick pink color. With his nonstop coughing and wheel slipping so bad he derailed he was brought everywhere to try and be mended. When issues were fixed and seemed to go away they would come back again. So Donner spent most of his days couped up in his shed when he wasn’t being poked and prodded at. With a physically ill body but a healthy wanting to work mind Donner took up reading and listening to the radio. His driver often pinned up magazine and newspaper articles he liked so he could read them. Donner had the daily news on his wall everyday and took pride in knowing exactly what went on around him even though most days he couldn’t leave the round house. Donner was self conscious about not being able to work most days, even though his friend Lochlan promised to take care of his work with no problem. Donner knew he could trust Lochlan with his tasks but the thought loomed over him that perhaps because he wasn’t useful anymore he would be junked. This made him burst into a panic when he listened to the radio one morning and heard awful news. In the city outside of Hennessy a new group of engines were expected to take over Donner’s route. They were new sets of twins, two pairs. The male engines were both diesel twins, they had the extravagant names of popular music artists. Presley and Sinatra. The twin girls were both steam engines and had the cutsie pretty little names of Chantilly Lace and Susie Q. Donner knew exactly where the names came from, both were catchy popular songs. With names like those and fresh new faces to be lurking around he felt himself get sick knowing what was coming. If they took over his route he would for sure be tossed away like useless garbage.
When the new engines arrived for a test run of their new route Donner wanted nothing to do with them. He sulked in his shed and cringed hearing the new unfamiliar horns and whistles of the twins. Donner felt himself going crazy as he thought about his fate. The sets of twins knew about Donner and felt sorry for him, they expressed their concern for the ill engine and were very understanding. Everyone got along with the girls, especially Cracker Jack who took an instant liking to them. Even Old Red got along with them. But that wasn’t surprising considering they were both girls... Flashy, pretty, and useful as they were they possessed graceful and polite attitudes. Unlike most big city engines who couldn’t seem to get off their high rails, Tilly and Susie had friendly considerate personalities.
Sinatra and Presley were just as polite as the girls. Albeit Presley being more of a show off while Sinatra was quiet and reserved. Lochlan was proud to show his new friends around when they first arrived, Donner had heard everything as Lochlan and the two puffed by the roundhouse. Lochlan seemed to really enjoy the company of the twins and it broke his heart, perhaps when he was scrapped he would be forgotten. Donner felt himself spiral into despair, he listened to the radio trying to take his mind off it but all that the news seemed to cover was how reliable and fast the new additions were. He sighed and stared blankly at the wall.
That night after the twins arrival Donner began to seethe with anger. All the others came back to the roundhouse and wouldn’t shut their traps about the pretty new faces. Cracker Jack went on and on about how beautiful the girls were, Red simply stated he’d perhaps tolerate them all, and Lochlan nonstop talked about his exciting day puffing around with Presley and Sinatra. Lochlan looked over at Donner and smiled. “Did you meet them yet? They’re really nice, I think...” before Lochlan could finish Donner snorted angrily.
“Don’t. Just stop. I’d rather not hear it.” Donner growled and nearly choked up on his words. The others looked at him stunned, he rarely talked and never snapped at Lochlan. Lochlan was his best friend. Lochlan went quiet and nodded his head not saying anything else. The next morning Donner tried with all his might to start up. He did and he trundled out his berth on shaky wheels. His driver, fireman, and team of engineers checked him over. They were surprised he started and was doing not well- but okay so far. Donner stifled a sick cough before speaking. “I want to go out today. Let me run my route.” He declared instead of asking. His driver looked at him wearily.
“Are you sure you want to do that Donner? You don’t have to if your not up to it.” The man said and tried to gauge why all of sudden he was acting this way. Donner only glared and nodded his head. He huffed watching the twin girls go by, their matching coaches glided behind them smoothly. Tilly and Susie whistled at him friendly and said hello as they went by. Donner only growled and narrowed his eyes rudely at them.
Donner went to collect his coaches, he forced himself to move despite everything in him violently hurting. He held back his cough and puffed ugly thick black smoke. Donner’s magnificent green paint was being coated in disgusting soot and he tried hard to not bump his coaches as he heaved holding back coughs. Donner thundered by the diesel twins as they were pulling a long line of goods. They went to greet him but as soon as they saw his ill horrific appearance they shouted trying to get him to stop. Donner only whipped by them, his whistle screamed and more black smoke polluted the air above him. He growled and pressed on determined to get the job done before the girls came by for their second passenger run.
Donner made it into the city station, just barely. He wheezed and coughed, his paint covered in smudgie black soot. Sweat dripped down his bright red face and he broke into an ugly violent coughing fit. Donner ran himself ragged and had given his passengers a jolty bumpy ride. Tilly and Susie were shocked to see him in such bad shape. Despite him being rude to them earlier they immediately voiced their concern for him. “Goodness me! What on earth happened to you?!” Susie exclaimed. Donner choked and cleared his throat he muttered about how useless he was.
“You may as well just shove me back down the track and into the scrap yard. I’m no use, with engines like you taking over my route I’m nothing but a big ol ugly useless lawn ornament.” Donner sighed and closed his eyes in defeat and shame. Tilly and Susie looked at each other.
“Oh Donner, that’s not true at all. The reason we’ve been tasked to run your route and take your passengers is to help you. Sinatra and Presley also have been helping Lochlan with his long trains. There’s nothing wrong with some help.” Tilly said and offered a reassuring smile. Susie nodded.
“Just because we’re running your route doesn’t mean your being replaced. Your not being scrapped of course not. We just wanted to help and prove our worth before we take permanent jobs here in the city.” Susie said. Donner looked at them curiously and then laughed.
“Oh! Wow! My apologies for being so rude, and your first impression of me being an absolute train wreck. I appreciate the help I really do.” Donner sighed relieved. The group laughed.
“I’ll take the rest of your passengers and I’m sure Tilly won’t mind bringing you back to be mended.” Susie offered and Tilly nodded already pulling out of the station to couple up to Donner to bring him back. Donner endlessly thanked them and apologized for his rude behavior. He did feel better and at the end of the day both humans and engines reassured him that he was going no where. No matter how ill he was and what he could or could not do he was meant to stay in Hennessy, where he belonged.
End.