My Darlin' Cousin, Chapter 1 – A New Arrival

Erika barely felt the turntable stop as she rolled back into the roundhouse at Tidmouth. She was exhausted. The express she normally double-headed with her boyfriend, Gordon, had run three times today instead of the usual two. And in between those runs, Erika had been forced to run a special train of construction personnel, equipment and supplies to Vicarstown, a loaded coal drag from Kirk Machan all the way to Barrow on the mainland and then a string of empty coal hoppers back to Kirk Machan for reloading. No wonder she felt her drivers were going to give out at any second.

She'd forgotten what it was like to truly work in mid-spring and this time of year on the Island of Sodor was still nothing compared to what she'd once faced in southern California. Mid-Spring meant that all the college and university kids on the mainland were being released from their studies for their special holiday called Spring Break. That always meant a sudden surge in tourism as young folks flocked to the beaches and resorts by the thousands. And with tourism picking up on Sodor like it had been steadily doing for years, it meant extra long, extra crowded and extra frequent passenger trains. Even the express she pulled with Gordon was getting ridiculously long. Normally it was 15 to 17 coaches, but since the beginning of the Spring Break season, it had increased to 21 coaches and sometimes even more than that.

A lot of engines dreaded the Spring Break period and Erika was different. Even so, she knew it was just the warm-up. Though Spring Break lasted less than a month, Erika had often used it a gauge to predict what the summer season was going to be like. In her experience, a busy Spring Break would mean a brutal summer. And if this Spring Break was going to be any indication of what the coming summer would be like… well she could only look forward to the busiest summer she'd had in many years.

The increase in tourism and passenger traffic wasn't the only thing keeping Sodor busy though. Earlier in the year, Sir Topham Hatt had commissioned the building of what was being called the "New Line." Construction had begun last month and was due to be finished in the early autumn. When the "New Line" was finished it would stretch from Vicarstown all the way to Harwick on the northwest side of the island. It was also going to be almost as long as the mainline from Tidmouth to Vicarstown and a portion of the currently abandoned old Harwick Line was being rebuilt to help save on cost.

As a result, the harbors around Sodor were filled to almost overflowing with ships full of construction materials, equipment and people needed for the job. And as soon one ship unloaded, another pulled up to take its place and off load. That had resulted in a lot more freight traffic in recent weeks and nearly all of Sodor's engines had been pressed into some kind of freight duty at one time or another to help keep things moving.

Erika smiled when she recalled how pissed Gordon had become the first time Sir Topham Hatt had told him he was being coupled to a train of flat cars loaded with new rails and ties headed for Vicarstown. "But sir," Gordon had complained. "The indignity of it! I'm a passenger engine! I pull Sodor's Nor' Western Daylight Express with Erika!"

Sir Topham Hatt had rolled his eyes, the reaction from Gordon being exactly what he'd expected. "Yes you do Gordon," he'd assured the big engine. "But you two won't be able to pull the express if the mainline is clogged with freight cars because my engines keep complaining about having to move them. Now just do as you're told or you can sit in the shed and watch James pull your express with Erika for a few days."

Gordon's whistle shrilled at the thought of anyone other than he and Erika running the express train. "Uh… uh that won't be necessary sir," he stumbled. "In… in times of great need, I'm always willing to do what's needed to ensure everything runs smoothly."

Sir Topham Hatt nodded with a smile of satisfaction. "I thought you'd see it my way Gordon. And look on the bright side, you'll get to have a couple hours with your girlfriend before I need you back here. And you two can do whatever it is you two lovebirds do when you think your controller isn't watching you." He said the last sentence with a grin.

Gordon's face turned as red as James's boiler. "Uh, why sir I have no idea what it is you're talking about," he said rather unconvincingly. "Just couple me up to those box cars over there and I'll get underway."

"Don't you mean the flat cars Gordon?"

"Uh… yeah, right. The flat cars. Just couple me up."

Erika remembered how embarrassed Gordon had been about the whole situation and by the time he'd confided the whole episode to her as they pulled that evening's express, the story just made him turn red again. Erika had been just delighted by the whole thing and she'd playfully teased him about it… when they weren't making out. Recalling it again delighted her as much as it has when it had all first unfolded.

The increase in freight traffic however, also concerned Erika. A few days ago, one of the freight trains she'd hauled had been full of building materials for her terminal in Vicarstown. Sir Topham Hatt had explained to her that the roundhouse was being rebuilt and being made to accommodate eight engines instead of four. Plus the old turntable was being completely torn out and rebuilt. It was even being made a longer so that her cowcatcher wouldn't hang over the edge when she used it. In the meantime, a temporary wye just large enough for her was installed in the yard at Vicarstown so she could turn around when necessary.

All of this made Erika wonder if Sir Topham Hatt was going to assign her to the New Line when it was finished. Truth be told, she didn't want the assignment. She liked her job pulling the express and it meant she got spend most, if not all of her day, with Gordon. On top of that, she'd gotten fond of seeing all the people, young and old, flock to see the "Nor' Western Daylight" in action. Being assigned to the New Line would mean a change in trains and schedule and a lot of time with Gordon would be lost.

Erika yawned deeply. She was so tired, she barely noticed Gordon roll onto the turntable outside but his bright blue paint got her attention. Doing her best to stifle another yawn, she let out a tired blast on her whistle. Her "demonic whistle" as Gordon and the others jokingly called it echoed louder than any other sound in the yard and startled several of the human workers nearby.

To Gordon though, it was a harmonious melody that he never grew tired of listening to. In response, he issued a couple of short blasts on his own whistle as the turntable completed its move. Gordon was so excited to have some rest time with Erika, he nearly rolled off the turntable too early. Finally though, he backed into the roundhouse stall next to her. "Ooooo, I feel like my main rods are about to fall off," he complained. "Finally, we get some rest time together my beautiful Daylight."

"I feel the same my big, strong express," Erika replied.

"Hard day today?"

"Ooooo," Erika winced. "You wouldn't believe it."

"Try me darling," he said.

Erika told him about the train of construction equipment and the coal drag she'd had to haul in between running the express trains while Gordon listened. "I feel for you my poor beautiful Daylight. I had to take a train of stone from the Ffarquhar Quarry all the way to Barrow. As soon I dropped it, I was hooked on to the Salad Bowl Express all the back here to Tidmouth. Then it was a short rest and right onto the evening express with you my love." He paused thoughtfully and exhaled deeply. "I'd forgotten just how heavy the Salad Bowl Express can be."

The Salad Bowl Express was an every other day train loaded with fresh produce from the mainland. Because of the perishable nature of the cargo, it was the highest priority freight train on Sodor and second in general priority only to the express passenger train Gordon shared with Erika. "My poor, big express engine," Erika tried to comfort her boyfriend. She wished she was facing him so they could kiss. "Did I ever tell you you're the sexiest engine to ever pull a freight train?"

Gordon laughed. "No, but thank you. So are you."

The other engines started to arrive in the roundhouse, each of them looking more tired than the last one. James arrived, covered in so much coal dust, the others almost didn't recognize him. Henry spoke what the others were thinking. "What were you doing today James?"

"Working the coal mines," he said sleepily. "I'm so tired, I didn't even have the fire in me to go to the wash rack and rinse off. My driver promised me we'd take care of it in the morning before we started off."

"Mavis, you don't look much better," Emily observed.

Mavis was a diesel switcher who also worked the rock quarry and the coal mines as needed. It wasn't common for her to be in Tidmouth, but she was due for a semi-annual inspection and service that the facility where she worked was ill-equipped to handle. "I'm just as tired as James after shunting around those empty coal wagons that Erika brought to us." She sighed heavily. "I don't think I've ever seen so many coal wagons in my life. It had to be the longest coal wagon train in the world."

"Oh I don't know about that Mavis," Erika said. "You should see the length of the coal drags out of the Powder River Basin."

The always cheerful Edward asked, "They make coal drags long in America, huh?"

"Oh yes," Erika said. "Especially out of the Powder River Basin."

"What's the Powder River Basin?" Percy wondered.

"It a region of northeast Wyoming and southeast Montana centered around the Powder River," Erika explained. "It's home to the largest coal mines in the United States. Millions of pounds of coal are hauled out of those mines every day, sometimes on trains more than a mile in length and with up to nine engines required to pull the immense weight."

That stunned the other engines. "Nine engines?" Thomas couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

"Yes," Erika said. "All diesels and much more powerful than I am." Though maybe not as powerful as Glen or Aaron, she thought.

"Have you ever been to this Powder River Basin?" Emily wondered.

"A couple of times briefly," Erika said. "But I never worked it. Back in the forties and fifties that area was more suited to a couple friends of mine, Glen and Aaron."

"Who are Glen and Aaron," James asked.

Before Erika could answer, Sir Topham Hatt's car pulled up in front of the roundhouse and he got out. "Good evening all of you," he addressed the resting engines. "First of all, I want to personally thank each of you for the extra hard work you've been doing lately. I know I've been working you all rather hard lately with the construction of the New Line and the Spring Break vacationers. And I just want you all to know that your efforts have not gone unnoticed and they are very much appreciated."

All of the engines swelled with pride. "You're quite welcome sir," James spoke for all of them. "But, is there any chance of us getting some sort of help? We're happy to keep working as is if necessary. But an extra set of drivers on the rails would really help us out."

"I agree with James sir," Edward added. "We need the help or else soon we're going to be too tired to work."

"Well now that's another reason why I'm here," Sir Topham Hatt explained. "I've come to tell you all that in the morning, a new engine will be arriving to help you all out."

"Thank the Maker," Gordon said happily. "Who is he and where is he from?"

Emily looked cross. "What makes you think it's a him?" she asked, secretly hoping it would be another female.

"Actually Gordon is right," Sir Topham Hatt replied. "Our new arrival is a male and he's a tender engine from America."

That got Erika's attention. "America? Do I know him?"

"Indeed you do Erika," Sir Topham Hatt answered her. "But he's asked me not to reveal his identity until his arrival. Apparently he wants to surprise you."

Erika pouted. "Can't you at least give me a little hint sir," she asked.

"He's big like you," Sir Topham Hatt. He cut Erika off before she could ask another question. "I'm sorry Erika, but I've already said more than I should have with that. I gave him my word, and I will keep it. You'll find out exactly who it is tomorrow."

"So what will his job be?" Thomas asked politely.

"For the immediate, he'll be assigned to the midday express," Sir Topham Hatt answered. He looked squarely at Gordon who looked like he was about to protest. "That will give you and Erika longer rest breaks between the morning and evening express trains along with whatever freight work I need you to do that day."

Gordon still wanted to protest, but Erika stopped him. "Please don't argue with him Gordon dear. I'd really appreciate the extra rest."

"All right Erika," Gordon whispered. "For you, I'll let it go… under protest."

Erika smiled.

"In addition to the midday express, he'll be working odd jobs where needed until the New Line is finished," Sir Topham Hatt continued. "Ultimately he'll be assigned to it once it's done. But no matter what he's doing, I expect you all to be nice to him and show him some respect. Like Erika, he's coming a long way to help us."

"We'll be sure to make him feel welcome, won't we everyone?" Edward insisted.

"Sure," James replied.

"Of course," Henry added. "We're grateful for the extra help."

"Good," Sir Topham Hatt said. He returned to his car. "I'll see you all again in the morning then when he arrives."

"I look forward to meeting him, whoever he is," Thomas told the other engines after Sir Topham Hatt had departed.

"Me too," Emily confessed. "I'm curious as to what an American male engine of your size is like Erika."

Erika admitted that she too was curious as to who the new arrival was going to be. Going through her mind, she tried to deduce who the new arrival would be based on what Sir Topham Hatt had said. Admittedly, that wasn't much. There were Glen and Aaron of course, the Big Boy brothers. Then there was Brent, the Chicago & North Western number 3013… Jeremiah, the Texas & Pacific number 610… Nicholas, the Nickel Plate Road number 765… Vincent, the Milwaukee Road number 261… Leo, the Southern Pacific number 982… Gus, the Santa Fe number 3751… Gus's brother Walter, the Santa Fe 3759… and… and…

Oh heck, there were just too many of them. Sir Topham Hatt had been so vague in his description of the newcomer, there was no way she could figure out who it was. She'd just have to wait until morning and be surprised like the rest of them.

A sudden wave of horror washed over her. What if it was Aaron? She'd heard recently that he was being restored but she couldn't remember if it the work was being done by his former Union Pacific masters or by some other group entirely. She also didn't know how long that restoration was going to take. She didn't think it was possible for the restoration to be done so quickly, but one never knew.

She and Aaron hadn't parted on the best of terms. After the death of her sister, Elena, Erika had distanced herself further and further away from Aaron to the point where he finally told her that he wasn't sure she'd ever truly loved him at all. What particularly stung abut that comment at the time was that Aaron had been right, although she'd never admitted it to his face. He'd just been something for her to have fun with in the wake of her rejection by her first true love… her original human driver Samuel. When she'd last seen Aaron, shortly before her forced retirement in 1957, they'd been civil to one another but little else.

It was then she realized Gordon had asked her a question. "I'm sorry darling, what was that again?" she asked sheepishly.

"I asked you if you had any idea who the new arrival was going to be?" Gordon said, mildly irritated that he'd had to repeat himself.

"Yeah we were all kind of wondering," Thomas added.

"I really don't know who it could be," Erika admitted. "Sure, I could give you all a list of possibilities. In the end though, it could any one of them or perhaps even none of them at all. We'll just have to wait until morning and see who it is."

There was something in the tone of her voice that concerned Gordon. "What aren't you telling us Erika," he whispered after most of the other engines had dozed off.

Reluctantly, Erika laid it out. "Gordon, I'm afraid."

"Afraid of what?"

"I'm afraid it might be Aaron."

"Aaron?" Then Gordon remembered. "Ah, that Big Boy class engine you hobnobbed with back in the forties and fifties?"

"That's him," Erika said. "We didn't part on the best of terms and over the years I've realized how silly and infantile my behavior was back then. I regret a lot about how I treated him all those years ago. And I'd kind of like to apologize to him one day. But… I just don't think I'm ready to do that. Not yet."

"You realize that if he shows up here tomorrow, you may not have a choice," Gordon pointed out.

"If he shows up tomorrow, I'll do everything I can to avoid him including hide from him if necessary," Erika said.

Gordon was surprised. "Erika, don't you think that might be being just a tiny bit infantile?"

"You're right of course," she admitted. "And I suppose I'll have to face Aaron sooner or later. I guess I just didn't plan for that day to ever arrive. And now, it could be here as early as tomorrow morning. What do I say to him Gordon?"

Gordon wished he had answer for that. "I… I really don't know Erika. I suppose "hello" would be a good place to start. And then, just let things come naturally. But whatever you do tell him, know that I will be next to you and you will have my full support."

Erika smiled. "Thank you my big, strong express. I love you."

"You're welcome my beautiful Daylight. And I love you too."

By the time Erika woke the next morning, the sun was already in her eyes. Yawning, she realized that the others engines were already awake. Samantha, her driver and Sarah, her firewoman were already hard at work getting her prepared for the day's assignments. "Well, good morning there sleeping beauty," Samantha joked. "We were beginning to wonder if you'd wake up in time to greet the new arrival. He'll be here in a few moments, you know."

Erika wasn't particularly excited about that, having all but convinced herself that it would be Aaron arriving. "Oh," was all she could say.

Erika's reaction surprised her crew. "What, aren't you excited to greet him?"

"Not really," Erika mumbled.

"That's strange," Sarah commented. "I'd have thought you'd be drivers over headlights to greet a relative of yours…"

"Shhht," Samantha reprimanded her with a harsh look.

"Ooops," Sarah said quickly, realizing she'd said too much.

It did not go unnoticed by Erika. "Relative? What do you mean?" If that was true, that eliminated Aaron as the new arrival right there.

Before Samantha or Sarah could answer, a whistle sounded in the distance. That deep, low demonic sound that was now all too familiar to the engines of Sodor. "Another one?" Henry commented.

"Do all of you American engines have whistles that sound like that," Percy wondered fearfully.

Erika was too curious to answer but she couldn't see the new arrival yet as he was hidden behind some parked box cars. But the tell-tale plume of smoke and pronounced stack bark showed he was getting close. There was that whistle again, echoing throughout the Tidmouth yards. It sounded exactly like hers.

Ella, Erika thought.

No that was impossible. Sir Topham Hatt and others had said the new arrival was male. Could they have been wrong? Or maybe they had deliberately misled her?

The new arrival came into view now. He was all black, save for the graphite coloration around his smokebox. His faceplate had a cheerful, down home country look and Erika strained to get a better look. She could just make out the letters "STLSW" under his cab window, a big number 819 on his tender and a brass badge on each of his cylinders. Erika released a jet of steam out of her blow off valve, steam cleaning herself, Gordon and James who was on her other side.

"Hey, watch it," James yelped.

Erika knew who was arriving, and she wasn't one bit happy about it. She wouldn't have thought it possible, but at the moment coming face to face with Aaron would've been preferable to seeing who was arriving. He whistled again and Erika cringed when she heard his voice. "Git outta the way ya dad gum pole cats!" he shouted at a flock of birds whose flight path had taken they too close to the tracks.

Erika let another blast out of her blow off valve. "Oh no," she groaned. "Not him. Anyone but him."

Gordon glanced at Erika. "I take it you know who our new arrival?"

"Yes," Erika admitted through clenched teeth. "I wish I didn't."

Before Gordon could ask another question, the new arrival chuffed his way onto the turntable and settled in as it began to turn him towards the roundhouse. With steam hissing from his cylinders, he let out a long blast on his whistle, startling numerous workers nearby. He opened his blow downs and relieved himself of the dirt and other crud that had accumulated in his boiler. "Ooooo weeee," he shouted. "What a trip that was. Been so danged long since I been steamed up, I thought I mighta had too much rust in my bearin's."

The other engines had never heard a voice like his before and they looked at each other, unsure of what to say or do. All that is, except Erika who looked like she'd just face to face with the creature from her most terrifying nightmare. "Erika," Percy asked. "What's a pole cat?"

"I have no idea Percy," she answered.

A confused expression came over Percy as he imagined a cat somehow stuck on a pole. What kind of a creature was that and who'd want to stick a cat on a pole anyway?

Thomas studied the new arrival as he swung on the table. He was bigger than Gordon but not quite as big as Erika. He could see that the brass badges on his cylinders said "Cotton Belt Route." What did that mean?

The turntable finally stopped moving and the new arrival was facing the other engines in the shed. Much to Erika's dismay, the turntable track had stopped so that it was lined directly with her stall. Great. Just great, Erika thought, wondering how this day could get any worse.

"Well hi there lil' darlin'." The new arrival spoke directly to her. "Fancy meetin' you again way out here."

I had to ask! I had to ask! Erika cursed herself and let out a loud, angry blast on her whistle, her facial expression telling everyone she was not happy about how she'd just been addressed. "How dare you call me that!"

The new arrival glanced over at Henry who had a dumbfounded expression on his face. "I guess bein' called that still scorches her crown sheet a mite."

Erika whistled angrily again to make her point, prompting another plea from James. "Will you stop that please? You're going to steam my paint off!"

"Excuse me stranger," Gordon said indignantly. "But do you have any idea just who it is you are talking to?"

"Well of course I do," the new arrival replied. "I'm talkin' to my cousin… lil' darlin'."

Gordon was shocked. "Your cousin?!"

Emily and Thomas both whistled in surprise.

Erika let out the angriest whistle so far. James rolled his eyes and said nothing. He was going to have to have his driver be certain she hadn't stripped the paint off of him before they got started today. "We are not cousins!" Erika yelled.

"Well of course we are," the new arrival insisted. "You a GS series engine ain't ya?"

"Last time I checked," Erika replied with a load of sarcasm.

"So is I," the new arrival stated proudly.

"Just who are you anyway?" Gordon demanded.

"Well shut my blow downs and call me boiler washed," the new arrival said sheepishly. "Where in tarnation are my manners? My name's Daemon ya'll and I'm right pleased to meet all of ya. I'm a St. Louis Southwestern four eight four, GS-8 class."

Emily looked over at Henry. "Henry, what's a 'tar nation'?"

"You're asking me? How do I know?"

Erika whistled defiantly at Daemon. "You're an L-1 class!" she screamed.

Daemon glanced over at James. "Technically she's right. I was built as an L-1 class. But when Southern Pacific acquired me, they saw fit ta reclassify me as a GS-8."

"And I will never understand why Southern Pacific did that," Erika growled. "You're not a Daylight engine, you never have been a Daylight engine and you never will be a Daylight engine!"

Before she could say more, Sir Topham Hatt's car arrived and he got out. At the same time, a tall man wearing a black leather jacket and tan beret on his head got down from Daemon's cab. The two men shook hands and Sir Topham Hatt addressed his new engine. "Welcome to Sodor Daemon," he said cheerfully. "I'm pleased that you'll be working with us from now on."

"Well that's right kind of you ta say that sir," Daemon responded happily. "I'm sure happy ta be here and I look forward ta gittin' started."

"Excellent," Sir Topham Hatt smiled. "And are you getting to know everyone?"

"I'm tryin' sir."

"Good. Well I know you've had a long ride to get here, so for now you can rest. Your first assignment will be today's midday express from Tidmouth to Barrow and back."

"All right sir," Daemon said. "Like I done said, I look forward ta gittin' started."

"Excuse me sir," Erika said. "But does Daemon really have to take the midday express? I mean, Gordon and I are perfectly capable of handling all three daily express trains along with whatever extra work you may have for us."

Speak for yourself woman, Gordon thought.

Erika kept on. "Surely there's somewhere else Daemon can be used?" If she was going to have anything to say about it, there was no way in heck Daemon was going to pull any express train on Sodor ever.

Sir Topham Hatt cast a disapproving stare at Erika, knowing full well what Erika was trying to do. Daemon's driver, Bruce, had warned Sir Topham Hatt that there was some bad steam between the two and that she was likely to be pissed just having Daemon on Sodor. It seemed that Bruce had been correct. "Daemon was designed for passenger service, as you were. I am assured he'll perform that task with great efficiency."

Erika refused to give up. "But sir, surely James or Henry would be more suited to the task?"

"My decision is final Erika," Sir Topham Hatt said. "You have your orders as Daemon has his. I expect them to be carried out to my satisfaction and without complaint. Do I make myself clear Erika?"

In other words, drop it, Erika deduced. "Yes sir," she said. Erika had had enough of this humiliation. "Gordon, it's time we were getting to the morning express."

"What do you mean?" he protested. "It doesn't leave Tidmouth for another half hour."

"Gordon," Erika said firmly, not taking her eyes off of Daemon. "Move," she demanded.

Daemon wasn't sure if that command was for Gordon or himself, but he obliged her by backing off the turntable and allowing her on. With an indignant "Hmph!" Erika steamed off in the direction of the Tidmouth station.

Gordon wasn't sure what to say. Daemon was a little rough around the edges, but he hadn't seemed that offensive. "It uh… it was a pleasure meeting you Daemon," he said. "I look forward to working with you in the future. Just don't scuff my express cars."

"Don't you worry none about that Gordon," Daemon assured him. "I'll take right fine care of them and bring them back ta you shinier than a brass bell. And uh, could you maybe git my cousin to loosen up her drivers a bit?"

"What makes you think I can do anything?"

"Oh come on there Gordon," Daemon said. "I may be country but I ain't stupid. I know you the same Gordon that's put a extra spark in her firebox."

Gordon turned red with embarrassment as he heard Alex and Mark laughing in the cab. The other engines were laughing too. "Well I… uh… you see… I can't promise anything Daemon, but I'll speak to her."

"Thank you kindly."

Gordon left the yard faster than Erika but for a much different reason. Nearby Bruce was smiling and shaking his head. "That went about as well as could be expected," he said sarcastically.

"Shoot, I hope I didn't hurt no one's feelin's," Daemon said.

"I don't think so Daemon," Bruce said. "But you sure confused and surprised a lot of them. And one thing is absolutely clear… Erika is not happy to see you again."

"I know," Daemon said. "Dang it, all these years later I was kinda hopin' lil' darlin' had softened up a bit. Guess that was too much to hope for. I don't understand why she's so dang angry at me."

"Now give it a chance Daemon," Bruce encouraged. "After all, it's been nearly 60 years since you last saw one another. Time changes attitudes and eventually you both may find that you have a lot more in common that you realize. It wasn't all bad between you and her, was it?"

"Naw it wasn't," Daemon answered.

"All right then," Bruce said. "I have to go discuss a few things with Sir Topham Hatt and I'm kind of hungry. I'll leave you to get acquainted with the rest engines."

"Sure thing Mister Bruce," Daemon said. "I'll see ya later when we git the midday express."

"So tell us about yourself Daemon," Thomas encouraged.

"Yes, please do," Emily insisted. "You can park in the stall next to me if you like."

"Well that's right neighborly of you lil' darlin'," Daemon said. "Let me git turned around here and we all can have a chat." After spinning around on the turntable and settling in the stall offered to him, Daemon began to tell them about himself. "Well now, I'm originally from a place called Pine Bluff, Arkansas, but I worked in a much bigger city called Dallas. As I said, my railroad was the St. Louis and Southwestern but we was affectionately known as the Cotton Belt Route. Now back in them days…"