July 29th, 1962

  Roger arrived back at the shed, exhausted, very exhausted. The weekend had back-to-back service for the Roger Heritage Special, plus a couple who wanted to host their wedding at Roger Station, which added to the extra passenger service that Roger operated throughout the summer. July was always an extremely busy month for the old Porter, and he was operating more miles than a standard-gauge steam locomotive in excursion service.

  “Blimey, Roger, you look tired,” Robert looked at the old Porter.

  “Tell me about it,” Roger told the young engine, “And I have another nighttime operation to add to that. I’m happy to get some maintenance done on Monday.”

  This made Elizabeth curious.

  “What’s the longest you ever operated without an overhaul?” Elizabeth asks Roger curiously.

  “20-21 years,” Roger told the Garratt Locomotive, “From 1900 to 1920, and from 1920 till 1941.”

  Elizabeth was surprised.

  “That’s dangerous, big bro,” She told him, “I’m surprised you’re still in one piece.”

  “The summer months were the busiest,” Roger told Elizabeth, “And I didn’t operate in the off-season, which gave my crew a chance to work on me during that time.”

  “How long can you go without any sort of general maintenance?” Robert curiously asks.

  “3-4 days and weeks,” He told Robert, “As I said, I was generally in good condition, even when the ICC visited the line.”

  “Wow, you really are a living legend,” Elizabeth said. She was impressed by Roger’s durability.

  “When you lived through the decades from the 19th century, and right now, you’re used to the many operations,” Roger sighed, exhausted in his voice, “At least I could rest for a bit, at least Simon is going to be here in September.”

  “Yeah, it’s nice to have another steamer to help us with the operation,” Robert smiled, agreeing with Roger, “Do you think we’ll do a quadruple header?”

  But Roger fell right asleep. He was exhausted, and he needed sleep. It was break time, and this would give the old Porter some snooze time.

  Nighttime operations are always popular for the passengers, since the summer heat is unbearable, and cold drinks aren’t enough, so this is a way to cool down from the summer heat. Operating this special gives the railway a chance to operate a few extra trains; it’s tiring work, which is why Roger is the only engine operating this train. The Roger Heritage Special can be operated at night or morning, which gives anyone a chance to have a nice, relaxing nighttime passenger train ride, or a nice morning ride, and the revenue at the end of the day triples because of the operation, plus it gives railfans a chance to shoot some photos of Roger in the dark.

  At Roger Station, Roger was resting. It was 9:00, and the train would leave and end the night, but he was feeling a little more tired than usual, a little dizzy as well.

  “Are you okay, Roger?” Ben asks, noticing Roger looking glum.

  “Oh, I’m okay, just feeling a little more tired than usual, and a little dizzy,” Roger told Ben.

  Ben and Lizzy had a concerned look on their faces.

  “Do you think it’s time, Roger?” Lizzy asks, she looks at Roger, holding his cheeks.

  Roger thought for a bit.

  “I don’t think so, maybe?” He told the two, “I operated a lot yesterday, especially with the wedding, maybe it’s that?”

  Ben thinks for a bit.

  “Just in case, let me look through you tomorrow,” Ben told Roger, “It’s best to check something early, before it gets worse in the future.”

  “I can’t argue with that,” Roger said quietly, “But do we have the budget for the overhaul?”

  Ben nodded.

  “Thanks to the fines that Abigail has to give, we were given a million dollars, plus other fines to us,” He told Roger, “We have the money for the overhaul; it’s mostly the shop staff who would get the brunt of the damage, including us.”

  Roger was uncoupled from Taylor and ran around the train, coupling up to Charlotte.

  “Will the coaches need an overhaul?” Roger asks.

  “Since the World’s Fair is right around the corner, they will, but not much,” Ben told Roger, “Since the majority of the work we did is usually done in the offseason.”

  The coaches were happy.

  “Oh, that’ll be lovely,” Mary sighed happily.

  “It’ll be nice to have some of the seat covers replaced,” Charlotte said a bit groaningly.

  “I think we all need an overhaul,” Taylor said to her sisters.

  “Indeed, sis,” Anabel agreed.

  “Settle down, ladies,” Roger calmed the sisters, “Ben would inspect you four during his inspection of me. I think we all agree that we all need an overhaul.”

  The sisters agreed with that.

  “If we do get an overhaul,” Mary said, looking at the passengers, “Who’s going to be the leader? The voice of reason, you know, how these younger engines are these days.”

  Roger thinks for a bit.

  “Clair would be a good substitute leader,” Roger told Mary, “Even though she’s young, and was built over a decade ago, she has the mind of an old engine like Betty and me; she’s been through a lot doing her time on her old railway.”

  “Roger does have a point,” Ben told the coaches, “She does well whenever we leave to visit a different railway.”

  Once the passengers got back inside the coaches, Roger blew his whistle and slowly left the station, with calm thoughts, but expressed his happiness of having a long rest; maybe when the inspection is finished, Ben will determine if Roger needs an overhaul.

  July 31st, 1962

  This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.

  Roger was moved into the shops to begin the inspection, which would take all day. Samuel and Diana help as well. The engine shop got some upgrades, which include expanding the inside, where additional track is laid, where engines and coaches could fit all at once, which gives an engine or rolling stock some work without waiting in line. The Monday service went as usual, but the focus went on the inspection, which, while the old Porter was asleep, Ben noticed something inside the boiler. He had a concerned but calm look. He looked at his wife, son, and his son’s girlfriend, and nodded.

  Roger woke up on a Tuesday morning, back in the engine shed, and he saw Ben, Lizzy, Samuel, and Diana, who had a calm but not smiling look, which means there’s something wrong during the inspection.

  “Morning, Ben, Lizzy, Samuel, and Diana,” He greeted them.

  “Morning, Roger,” Ben greeted Roger, “We all look you over, and to keep it short, you’re going to need an overhaul.”

  Roger was surprised.

  “How bad is it?” Roger asks.

  “You needed new flues and tubes,” Ben told the old Porter, “And looking at your running gear, they needed an overhaul as well. Looking at the condition, you’ll be good till the end of August, but I would like to start on the overhaul right away, the start of August; it's better to do this early instead of last-minute.”

  Roger looked at the four, then smiled.

  “Well, let's make this last run good,” Roger told Ben happily.

  Ben smiled as well.

  “Good,” He told the old Porter, “I’ll make plans for the last run, which will be this week. I also looked at your coaches as well; they would need some refurbishment, a light overhaul, but not much, but it’ll be an overhaul as well. I want this to be very good.”

  “And you won’t leave the railway for this one, you’re staying right here,” Lizzy grinned.

  Roger chuckled a bit, but felt calm about this. After the announcement, the four left the engine shed, where the others heard about the overhaul. Though they were rightfully concerned.

  “How do you feel, Roger?” Clair asks.

  “I feel alright,” Roger told the little diesel, “It’s nothing bad, just some of my flues needed some replacement, and my running gear would need an overhaul, nothing to be extremely concerned about, but at least it won’t take too long.”

  “Your coaches are going in for an overhaul as well?” Robert asks.

  “Yep,” Roger replied, “But nothing too complex, the whole overhaul would probably not take too long before the World’s Fair, since we already got the funds from the whole Abigail incident.”

  “That’s one good thing from that incident,” Robert told Roger, “How long are you going to be in the overhaul stage from start to finish?”

  “If things go well, less than two years,” He told the young saddletank, “Ben was planning for me to have an overhaul before the World’s Fair, but I’m guessing they’re calling it early.

  “What about your coaches?” Elizabeth asks.

  “Mary and her sisters would also be getting a light overhaul,” Roger told Elizabeth, “So we’ll be out of service for the rest of the 1962 season.”

  “The railfans are going to be upset that their favorite steam locomotive will be out of service,” Clair joked.

  “And those same railfans are funding my overhaul,” Roger jokingly told Clair, “But don’t worry, Ben is planning to do something good for my last run, something spectacular, go out with a bang.”

  “Don’t worry, Roger, I’ll keep these two in line,” Clair smiled at the old Porter.

  “Hey!” both Robert and Elizabeth said in unison.

  Roger chuckled.

  August 5th, 1962

  Roger didn’t operate much the whole week until Friday, August 3rd, Ben Hutton decided to host a 3 day weekend event of special events with the old Porter before his overhaul, with the ticket sales go directly to his overhaul, Friday and Saturday had a passenger special with started in the morning and ended in the afternoon, back to back, with a nighttime excursion to end both days, back to back, now sunday was a special day, since it was the last day that Roger would operate before his overhaul.

  The morning was cool before the blaring hot Pennsylvania sun would took over for the day, Roger was in steam yet again, where he’s operating again, but for the first time in his life, or at least first time since the mid 1940s, the old Porter would haul mixed trains, two boxcars were be pulled with his coaches, passenger would get to ride on the mixed train, this was an opportunity not to miss, and it would be the longest trains that Roger pulled without doubleheading.

  “Last day,” Roger said to himself, “You did well for the last 11 years.”

  “You deserved this overhaul,” Robert told Roger. He was in steam to operate the regular passenger trains of the season, “You worked very hard in the last decade.”

  “I still can’t believe it’s been 11 years,” Roger told the young saddletank, “Time moves quite fast when you’re having fun.”

  “Yeah, you’re right,” Robert said quietly.

  The old Porter picks up on this.

  “Don’t be sad, Robert, I’ll still be here, just in the engine shop,” He told the young saddletank, “You’re a Roger Railway steam locomotive, built for the line, pride of the line.”

  Robert smiled.

  “You really helped me throughout my first years,” He told Roger, “How could I thank you?”

  Roger smiled.

  “Just operate,” Roger told the young engine bluntly, “That’s what I do, operating passenger trains always makes me happy, because I know that I make other people happy.”

  Robert smiled at the answer, then Ben and Lizzy came to the yard.

  “Ready for your last run?” Ben asks.

  “Yes, I am,” Roger smiled happily.

  “That’s good,” Lizzy smiled, kissing Roger on his cheek, “We have many passengers who purchased the tickets for the mixed train special.”

  “But no photo runbys, sadly, we did so much yesterday and Friday,” Ben added, “This special wouldn’t be back-to-back, but it’ll be just the morning, and you’ll operate the last hours of the passenger trains.”

  “Sounds like a good day to end things off,” Roger smiled happily, “Let’s get the show started!”

  Roger moved slowly through the yard and coupled up to the mixed train, which was arranged by Clair early in the morning, and thanked the little diesel. The old Porter moved to the station, where the passengers who purchased the ticket were excited to ride on the mixed train; some took photos of Roger, knowing he would be out of service for a while.

  “The scene never gets old,” Roger commented, looking at the passengers.

  “It’ll be a while until we see this scene again,” Mary sighed, “Our passengers are always this wonderful.”

  “Indeed, sis,” Charlotte agreed.

  “Our passengers are wonderful people,” Taylor commented.

  “Always makes our day good, but I’m excited for this overhaul,” Anabel smiled.

  Ben looked at the station.

  “My favorite photography scene is here,” Ben smiled at that memory.

  The passengers got into the coaches and were ready to leave. This would also be a test to see if Roger could pull a train longer than his four coaches. The old Porter blew his whistle and slowly moved out of the station, and onto the Roger Railway mainline track, to Roger station, where the journey would be the start of the last.

  The mixed train was an uninteresting sight for the railfans that are along the trackside taking photos. Roger moved along the same stretch of track. Today is the last day that the old Porter would feel these rails, but it won’t be a long wait; an overhaul is very important to a steam locomotive, and a good overhaul could last you for a long, long time.

  “Where’s Samuel and Diana?” Roger asks Ben.

  “They’re in California,” Ben told the old Porter, “They’re doing a little railfan excursion tour through the Golden State, and they’re going to be visiting the California Pacific Railroad.”

  “Oh yeah, Walt mentioned that,” Roger remembered as they passed the small bridge, “Maybe we could visit the line after my overhaul, or at least after the World’s Fair.”

  Ben put his hand on his chin, thinking for a second.

  “That doesn’t sound like a bad idea,” He smiled, “And knowing that the Central Coast Chapter of the NRHS are supporters of the railroad, I think they’re up for it.”

  “Samuel and Diana are also going to participate in the NRHS Convention next year in Denver, Colorado,” Lizzy told her husband, “They’re riding the Union Pacific steam doubleheader, with the Burlington Route steam in the mix, and also riding the Rio Grande.”

  Roger takes in the information.

  “It’s been a while since we’ve participated in an NRHS Convention,” Roger sighed, remembering the old days, “I remember our last one, 1952, for the Altoona convention, we put on quite a show.”

  “Sure, we did,” Ben chuckled, “Don’t worry, old friend, we’ll participate in another one, just not this year or next year, maybe another decade or so.”

  “Maybe,” Roger said as he whistled to a group of railfans, “But at least we got good relations with the local Chapters, look how many sponsored excursions we got over them.”

  “It’s great work,” Ben told Roger, “We’ve done a lot of excursions with them, with non-NRHS Chapters as well, I’m proud to work with them.”

  Roger smiled.

  “I am too!” He grinned.

  Roger arrived at Roger Station, and he could see some passengers were already there, taking photos or filming on his arrival, where he saw an old friend.

  “2102!” the old Porter smiled, “How are you doing? It’s been a month since I last saw you.”

  Reading 2102 was overhauled for mainline excursions 5 months ago, and Roger is quite happy to see an old friend returning to service, but it’s been a month since the two last saw each other.

  “It’s been well,” the 4-8-4 replied to Roger, “Summer excursions are quite busy, but I’ve heard that you’re going to be out of service for an overhaul.”

  “Yep,” Roger confirmed, “I’ve already felt my boiler is ready, feeling more dizzy than ever.”

  “I know that feeling,” 2102 sympathizes, then looks at Ben, “If you want, my railroad workers are offering to volunteer to help with the overhaul, which helps make the job easier.”

  Ben nodded.

  “Thank you, 2102,” He smiled, “I’ll look into it, we do need volunteers on our railway.”

  2102 then looked up and down at Roger.

  “Have you thought of getting modernized?” He asks, “Superheaters, roller bearings, the whole cake.”

  Roger thought for a bit.

  “Not really,” He told the 4-8-4, “It sounds nice, but it’s quite expensive, and using the funds we already have, I’ll stick to my old look, though. I thanked Roger Sidney for my first overhaul, which got me a boiler and firebox that would use any type of coal in America or the world instead of anthracite.”

  “Besides,” Ben said as he waved at passengers, “We’ve done well without modernizing Roger, but I see where you’re going with this, and we do have some modern engines in our fleet. Robert is quite modern.”

  “More modern than Clair!” Roger added.

  The railfans took photos of the two steam locomotives; it’s rare to see two steam locomotives in a different gauge, in the same station.

  “1251 has done well with the summer service,” Roger told 2102, “The exchange of passengers to different gauges did boost our popularity, your railroad did well for us.”

  “I’ve heard,” 2102 smiled, “He’s a tough tank engine, but a nice engine.”

  Roger could see that the passengers were going back to the 4-8-4’s coaches.

  “Well, I'll be going now. I hope the overhaul goes well for you!” 2102 said to the old Porter.

  “Thank you,” Roger smiled, “Hope your new career goes well!”

  Reading 2102 blew his whistle and slowly moved out of the station, with the sounds of his exhaust and stack talk can be heard from miles, with a trail of smoke, he was gone. Roger felt calm, but happy; he knew he had done well during the almost 11 years of operation, and he was proud of it.

  “Well, let’s go back,” Roger smiled.

  The old Porter was uncoupled from his coaches and moved to the end of the train, coupling up with Charlotte, the mixed service was a success, and now with the clock is ticking, he blew his whistle, and slowly moved out of the station, with the sound and steam, the passengers on the train and on Roger Station won’t see the old Porter for a while, but they’ll be ready when he returns.