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Lizable's First Day

The peaceful still of this particular crisp Alaskan morning was broken by a fleet of five engines running up a lonely set of rail tracks, travelling in a close pack and at a rapid but relaxed speed, not rushing but not hanging around either. All five of the engines were made in the same design that could easily be described as old American, all sharing the same black base coat and pattern scheme but different pattern colours and slightly different sizes. The biggest engine lead the pack, also the oldest, patterned in gold and red, running on one line and keeping up the conversation with the other engines. The engine behind him, who was also hauling a covered flatbed, was middle sized for the group, patterned in silver and electric indigo but with mud splattered up her sides from the dock, wearing a massive smile all the same. On the line next to them were three others, two twin males and a female very similar to them but very slightly smaller and all three smaller than the others, patterned in bronze with chartreuse green, orange and lilac respectively, looking around as they were piloted along by their crews, being entirely new to the area.
"Dei Lucrii is coming up, we'll be there soon!" The biggest engine called to the smaller ones as a tiny station appeared ahead. It was nothing more than a small raised platform a couple of engines long with a small, unmanned hut on it and surrounded by a small yard and in the centre of a triangle. As such, another line extended ahead, but the engines were sent off the big line and pushed into a single line to head through a narrow pass, the smaller engines making way for the bigger engines to take the lead and travel a little up the mountain to a nice plateaued area that fanned out immediately, allowing the engines to spread out into a rolling blockade, notably with the littlest engine on the opposite side to the biggest.
They had entered what was evidently the main yard, or at least where the engines and most of the rolling stock was kept. The smallest engine could see lines upon lines of trucks to one side of the yard, some closed but mostly open topped, along with a handful of brake vans but no engine was free to pull them. There was plenty of activity though, the engine and rolling stock works were sat prominently next to the entrance they had just come through and there was an engine inside, patterned in silver and forest green, raised in the air on a crane and with two young men underneath, one actually working on him and another stood watching with folded arms. Next to that was what seemed to be a wash down station and there was an engine in there too, patterned in bronze and white and laughing as she was being washed by a young woman about the same age as the men next door. A few water and coal stations were scattered around as well but another pair of twins were sat together, one under a water tower and one having some coal put in her tender, patterned in gold with hot pink and yellow respectively, breaking their own conversation to look over as the five engines rolled in. Finally, the engine sheds were sat in a peaceful corner of the main yard, made up of four lines in with more than enough space for three engines on each with a similar structure on one side with two lines for two pairs of coaches and a storage building on the other. Although most of the doors were closed on the sheds, there was one engine sat on the entrance at the furthest side, patterned in silver and powder blue and had been asleep when the engines came in, but was now awake and looking grumpily over at them. On the land above the shed, there was a modest two storey house that overlooked the yard, well loved and occupied as two older people soon emerged.
"Genevieve! You're filthy!" The hot pink engine exclaimed, staring directly at the electric indigo engine in unveiled horror.
"That's the docks for you, Clara." Genevieve brushed it off with a grin. "Seas are rough, ship couldn't get in. That's why we're late."
Clara, whose actual name was Clarabelle as displayed by her nameplate, huffed and both her twin sister Danielle and the biggest engine laughed.
"You'll just have to go in for a wash when Sophia is done with Irenia." Danielle took the gentler approach to her younger sister, even though it didn't look like the wash station was going to open up anytime soon as Sophia and Irenia were clearly away with the fairies and all the bubbles in the air.
"At least some of us are working." Clara sighed as her crew and Dani's crew returned to their cabs and the twins set off out of one of the many exits of the yard that went up towards the mountains.
"At least we're not just hanging around." The chartreuse engine joked snidely, making his twin and Genevieve laugh and laughter came from the workshop too.
However, Genevieve at least had the sense to quieten down as the two older people approached.
"Welcome, welcome!" The man opened his arms as if he was embracing an old friend. "You must be Jacques, Ken and Lizable! We've been waiting for you!"
"We're sorry, Mr Benally." Ken finally spoke up. "Our ship was late because the seas were rough, we didn't mean to be late!"
"Oh, there's no need to be so formal for now." The woman chuckled, giving her husband a gentle elbow when he tried to playfully contradict her. "I'm Evelyn and he's Kojak. Welcome to the Benally Line."
"Thank you, Mrs Benally. And Mr Benally." Lizable beamed at the two, feeling like she was being incredibly disrespectful just at the thought of calling them by their first names.
Mr Benally was a big man, tall and pot bellied, his grey and thinning hair making him look older than he was, being only in his mid-fifties but there was a warm glow in his deep brown eyes. Similar in age, his wife was average in height but very stocky in frame, in appearance the kind of person found in the wilds of Alaska living off-grid, her dark, thin hair starting to grey as well but wrapped in a low bun and with sparkling blue eyes hidden behind thin framed glasses.
"Anyway, we can't have you dawdling, there's plenty to be done!" Kojak spoke up as soon as there was any sign of a lull. "Ace, take Jacques and Ken with you to Hjelm Mine and get them used to the trucks. Genny, drop off the lamps and plows, take Lizable to meet the new coaches and take her on the supply run with you."
"Yes sir!" Genny and Ace, the gold and red engine, replied with a whistle and set off in their respective directions. Jacques and Ken shared a look before whistling and setting off after Ace, the three engines disappearing behind the house.
Genny rolled over to the shed next to the engine sheds with the covered trailer and Lizable awkwardly followed, not really knowing what else to do. A few workers gathered around the truck and took off the cover, revealing three snowplows that looked like they were fashioned from cowcatchers, coloured solidly in chartreuse, orange and lilac respectively and black headlamps lined in bronze and the colours of each of the respective engines, adding them to the already large pile of other lamps and snowplows. Lizable was able to recognise most of the colour combinations, but there were two she didn't - gold and royal blue, and silver and putty pink. At the same time, Genny had started trying to talk to the silver and powder blue engine, who was evidently having none of it.
"Heyyyy Harlon." Genny had greeted when she rolled up. "How was the night shift?"
"Fine. Got plenty done." Harlon answered flatly. As Lizable caught up, Harlon looked over at her and then back at Genny wordlessly.
"This is Lizable, she's just come in." Genny explained. "Boss wants her on the supply lines with me."
"Hi." Lizable smiled shyly over at the engine, but he didn't really react.
"Hello." He answered simply.
The conversation ground to an awkward halt as Harlon looked like he just wanted to go back to sleep. Fortunately, it didn't take long for the truck to be unloaded and the two purple engines could escape.
"Well, have fun and see you this evening!" Genny said to Harlon before she went to dump the truck in a siding with the rest of them.
"Sleep well." Lizable quickly chirped and ran from the shed, back to Genny's side, not seeing the befuddled look Harlon cast after her.
Genny looked at Lizable as she came over with an amused look.
"Don't mind our resident night owl." She chuckled. "He's always a little prickly. You can imagine what he's like with the more energetic of us."
Lizable glanced back at Harlon, but the engine had clearly already gone back to sleep it seemed. While she was there, she glanced to what should have been the coach shed but the doors were closed on that as well.
"Where are the coaches?" Lizable asked.
"Loading bay at the start of the route." Genny replied, having been uncoupled from her truck and letting off a whistle as she left the yard with Lizable in tow.

Genny had obviously used the phrase "loading bay" loosely as the area where the coaches were being loaded up just outside the main yard was more like a long platform with a few huge storage buildings nearby, the men and women working there using trolleys and the occasional piece of machinery to move and load goods onto the luggage compartments. Like the engines, the coaches had a black base coat, but the two female coaches had broad electric indigo stripes under their windows with their names, Glacier and Icicle, in white in them as well as appropriate symbols either side, in the same way the engines had symbols either side of their names on their nameplates. The two male coaches, however, were sat behind Glacier and Icicle, having lilac stripes instead of electric indigo and lacked names and symbols.
"I was supposed to give those two names before you got here but the others convinced me to let you do it." Genny commented when she saw Lizable look a little confused, but this only made her look at the bigger engine with stars in her eyes.
"I get to name them!?" She exclaimed in glee.
"Sure do." Genny laughed as she backed down onto her coaches. "But you'll have to do it later, we're already running late."
As soon as Genny had coupled onto her coaches and moved out of the way, Lizable backed down onto hers as well, trying to mimic Genny but being overexcited and backing down too fast, bumping into her coaches hard enough for them to protest audibly and make the little engine shrink into her frame in embarrassment. Her crew tried to pretend it didn't happen and got her going behind Genny, even though the coaches were much bigger and heavier than Lizable had thought and it took some effort to get them moving.
Lizable wasn't sure what she had expected but rolling out into the wilds wasn't quite it. The flat area around the rails was very wide indeed and every now and then there was an equally flat trail that lead into the forests and over hills. Only every now and then did Lizable see a flash of an isolated building on the horizon, but no sign of even a village. What really surprised her was when they rounded a bend and there was a young couple stood there, the man putting his arm out like he was hailing a bus and the engines were slowing to a stop beside him.
"Hello Owen! Hello Willow!" Glacier and Icicle gleefully greeted the two people as the guard began open to Icicle's compartment.
"Hello everyone." Owen greeted from under all his clothing, his pale skin and blond hair barely visible. "Do you have that fuel for us?"
"Sure do." Genny grinned as several cans were passed down to the couple. "This is Lizable, one of the newbies."
"Hello Lizable, are you enjoying Alaska?" The woman looked over at the engine as she loaded a small trailer attached to a snowmobile.
"I-It's lovely." Lizable was caught off guard and stammered out a reply, making the woman and Genny laugh.
"She's not been here long, give her a break, Willow." Genny laughed as the last of the fuel was handed over.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry." Willow replied chuckling but still looking kindly at Lizable. "I'm sure you'll get used to it soon. The wildlife is starting to come out, it's a wonderful sight to see."
Genny frowned at this however, but Owen was quick to soothe the engine.
"We'll stay safe, don't worry." He told Genny, putting his arm around his wife's shoulders. "You keep the Benallys safe for us."
"We will. See you next week!" Genny replied, waiting for the couple to step back before whistling as she began to head down the line again. Lizable whistled as well and set off after her, feeling rather overwhelmed in the new environment. In fact, the two engines travelled quite a way before Lizable voiced her thoughts.
"Mr Driver?" She asked, Genny being too far ahead for Lizable to ask her. "Why wouldn't Owen and Willow be safe?"
"The wildlife can be dangerous around here. Bears in particular can be attracted to the smell of food..." Her driver started, but Lizable gradually tuned out as she spotted a sleek shape among the brush not far from them, running somewhat alongside the tracks.
"Is that a bear?" Lizable asked, perhaps a bit louder than she should have as a switch flipped in everyone else, both of the engines suddenly pushed faster with more steam being let loose from both engines' sides. Much to Lizable's audible disappointment, the creature fled in the other direction.
"No, that was a wolf." Her driver explained when he spotted it too, her fireman radioing the same information through to Genny's crew too. "I don't know why it was on it's own, they usually keep together in family groups."
"Oh." Lizable couldn't help feeling a little disappointed, slipping into a sad silence for most of the rest of the journey.
After some more stops, the two engines made it up to a small town called Williamson where they sat for a while as goods were exchanged on both sides. People of course came to say hello to her, but Lizable didn't feel much like talking.
Once they left Williamson, Genny told Lizable that they were on the home stretch and she was right, very few people decided to live close to a large river, but the sound of the river flowing over the rocks was comforting and soothed Lizable's sullen mood a little.
"Lizable, look!" Lizable's fireman spoke up this time and the engine could just about pick out where he was pointing, but when she did see her mood shoot up instantly.
"Is that a bear?" The young engine asked.
"It is." Her fireman confirmed.
At a safe distance away but in sight, there was a great, mostly black furred, lumbering figure running along the other side of the river, seemingly chasing after something in the water, but to Lizable who hadn't seen one of these before it was an amazing sight, watching it run along and eventually leap into the water and begin swimming. She didn't notice both of the engines starting to go faster thanks to their own crew as she got to watch the bear for a long time as they made their way around the sweeping bend.

Lizable and Genny were told to take the coaches down into the yard that evening, which is what they did, finding most of the other engines still out, Harlon being prepared for more work and sat just outside the shed alongside the engine who had been lifted by the crane that morning and another female engine, patterned in the silver and putty pink she had seen earlier.
"Genny! How is everyone on the route?" She called out as the two engines rolled past.
"Everyone is fine as always." Genny replied, shunting Glacier and Icicle into one side of the carriage shed. "No sign of the Locklears' new dog though."
The other engine immediately began to coo, as did the Sophia from her cab who Lizable hadn't even seen was there.
"I saw a bear and a wolf." Lizable inputted as she shunted her nameless coaches into the shed too.
"Already?" The forest green engine exclaimed quietly. "A bit early for them."
"Well, they were out. All on their own too." Genny verbally shrugged.
"Sounds like you two have been having fun." The two young men from the work shop that morning came over to the group but it was the one who was actually doing the work who spoke up. "Your tour train will be coming back soon, Fallon."
"Hey, Sophia, mom says it's dinner time." The other called to the young woman, blanking the engines entirely although this appeared to be nothing new as the worst the other engines did was roll their eyes.
"I'm coming." Sophia jumped down from Fallon's footplate and followed her brothers towards the house.
"... Brat." Genny grumbled, Lizable looking over at her in surprise but the others just chuckled.
"What?" Lizable questioned.
"The oldest, Oliver, is a little brat. It's like we're not even here as far as he's concerned." The forest green engine replied grimly. "Alexander, the middle kid, is a lot like his dad but an utter slacker and Sophia is very sweet but always in another realm like Irenia."
"What was that about me, Edrick?" Irenia asked, having rolled in with the last engine Lizable was yet to meet, patterned in gold and royal blue.
"Um, nothing. I have something to do." Edrick quickly replied, trying not to let the surprise show on his face as he promptly rattled away out of the yard. Irenia didn't seem phased, in fact she was rather amused.
"He'll learn eventually." The royal blue engine didn't laugh but he looked amused, before he looked over at the others. "How are the newbies getting on?"
"Lizable is getting on great, Bertam." Genny smirked over at him. "And the other two are still with Ace at Hjelm Mine."
"Apologies, I hadn't seen you there." Bertam told Lizable before looking over at her and Genny specifically. "Boss said that the new coaches arrived too."
"They have, but they don't have names yet." Genny answered. "I was gonna let Lizable name them."
Suddenly, several engines were looking at Lizable and she didn't quite know how to deal with the pressure.
"Bear and Wolf." Lizable blurted out. "I want to name them Bear and Wolf."
"Bear and Wolf it is." Genny smiled to the sound of excited chattering from the two coaches behind Lizable.