Morpho wasn’t happy after her first day on the line. She had made a fool of herself by taking too long of a load, and Steven made sure she knew it. 

“Timothy never pulled that long of a train,” he laughed in the yard one morning, “He’s strong enough too, but smart enough to know better!”

“Quiet you,” Edgar snapped at the small engine, “It was her first day. If it’s anyone’s fault it’s yours for giving her such a long train.”

Steven laughed as he scuttled away. 

“Pay him no mind,” Edgar said, “Engines like that eventually learn their place.”

“I hope he learns it soon,” Morpho replied.

“He will,” Edgar replied, “I usually would be taking a goods train around now, but since Timothy is gone I need to take his passengers. Would you be able to take the goods train?”

“Where does it need to go?” Morpho asked.

“Over the hill towards harbor,” Edgar answered, “It’s a hard ride, but I think you can do it. Just take it slow on the way up.”

“I understand,” Morpho happily said as she rushed away. 

Morpho was trundling along with Edgars freight. She didn’t fear the hill, as she thought she dealt with them before. However, the hill on this line was much more difficult than any she dealt with back home. She approached the bottom and started to climb.

“This will be fun!” Laughed the cars. Morpho didn’t hear them laughing at her. Her wheels grinded along the rails as she got closer to the top.

“I can do it!” She yelled with confidence. Her motor spluttered as she slid back a little. However, she pressed on. After struggling for minutes on end, she finally reached the top.

“I’ve done it!” She cheered as she started going down. Now, freight cars aren’t always trouble. Usually they come along kindly. Sometimes however, they have their fun. They usually have this fun on hills, pushing the engines down with all their weight. Morpho didn’t realize this.

“Down we go!” One of the cars yelled as Morpho was pushed down the hill. She braked with all of her strength, yet it didn’t work. She thundered down the line for miles, going faster than she ever had. Eventually they approached a station. The signalman, thinking she was a runaway, turned Morpho into a siding. Sparks flew from her wheels until suddenly, she was off them. 

Morpho had crashed right through the signal box, leaving her cars in a mess behind her. The signalman jumped from the lookout and right to the ground, landing in a nearby fruit stand. Luckily nobody was hurt, yet Morpho was left dazed. 

Morpho stayed under the signal box for three days. The top had to be held in place by wood, as the signals and points had to be operated by hand.

“You’ve caused a lot of trouble Morpho,” the brass hat reprimanded, “I thought you could stay here, but I might have to send you away if you keep causing accidents.”

“I’m sorry sir,” Morpho sadly replied as she was pulled out from rubble.

That night at the sheds, Edgar tried to console Morpho. Steven however knew she would be sent away.