Chapter 8
TYWYN WHARF
The girls walked out of the gift shop and towards the station. The locomotive, a small red steam engine, sat there coupled to four coaches and a brake van.
SYDNEY: It's so cute!
CERI: Yep. That's her. Dolgoch.
SYDNEY: So, that's what our hotel was named after?
CERI: Well, technically, it was named after the Falls. But, more or less, yes.
Two men walked up.
MAN 1: So, I hear you two are taking a footplate ride with us today.
Ceri nodded.
CERI: Yep. I'm Ceri. This is Sydney.
MAN 2: Good to meet you two. I'm Jerry. I'll be firing up Dolgoch today.
MAN 1: And I'm Tim. I'll be the driver.
SYDNEY: Nice to meet you.
JERRY: You too.
Ceri and Sydney shook hands with Tim and Jerry.
TIM: So, who wants to go first?
The girls looked at each other.
SYDNEY: You can go first, if you want.
CERI: Are you sure?
SYDNEY: Totally! I wanna see the view from the coach first.
CERI: All right. I'll see you at Nant Gwernol.
Ceri and Sydney kissed. Sydney went back to sit in one of the coaches.
TIM: Right this way.
Ceri folowed Tim and Jerry into Dolgoch's cab. While Jerry put some coal into the firebox, Tim explained some of Dolgoch's inards.
TIM: So, here's the steam pressure gauge. We, of course, have the firebox down there. This is the regulator, which makes the train move. This little tap right here controls the input of water into the tank. And this...
He pointed to a cord.
TIM: Is the whistle cord.
They heard a whistle coming from the brake van.
JERRY: That's our cue.
TIM: Would you like to do the honours, Ceri?
CERI: I'd love to! Thank you!
TIM: All right. Two long pulls should do it.
Ceri pulled the whistle cord twice, as Dolgoch whistled loudly twice.
TIM: Put your hand on the regulator.
Ceri did, and Tim put a hand on the other side of it. Together, they pulled the lever, and the train started off.
This is Dolgoch:
Watch
this video to see some of the sights of the Talyllyn Railway.
NANT GWERNOL
The train pulled in to the terminus. Tim nodded at Ceri.
TIM: Go on. Give it a blow.
Ceri pulled the whistle chord, and Dolgoch let out a loud whistle.
CERI: I've wanted to do that for years! Thanks, Tim.
TIM: Not a problem. Hope you enjoyed the journey.
CERI: I did! I really did!
Ceri shook hands with Tim, and then Jerry.
CERI: Thanks, Jerry.
JERRY: Glad to meet you, Ceri.
CERI: You too.
Ceri climbed down from the cab. She walked along the platform, where Sydney was waiting for her.
CERI: Hey.
SYDNEY: Hey.
They kissed.
SYDNEY: How was it?
CERI: Awesome! You're gonna love it!
SYDNEY: Sweet!
CERI: How was the ride?
SYDNEY: It was nice. It's so pretty here.
CERI: I know. I love it!
SYDNEY: So, something interesting happened during the ride.
CERI: Yeah?
SYDNEY: Yeah. I saw someone we both know.
CERI: Who?
Just then, they both turned as they heard the guard's whistle.
GUARD: Tickets, please!
Ceri turned to see who the guard was.
CERI: No.
SYDNEY: Yep.
CERI: What's she doing here?
SYDNEY: I guess she got a job as a conductor..I mean guard here.
CERI: Oh...great.
Ceri walked over to the window in the brake van.
CERI: Hello, Lillith.