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Description

Vol-14

Late one evening, a steam engine was the talk of the entire shed, but only because he was doing most of the talking. His old driver had retired from service after several years on the job, and the Fat Controller had come by to tell him that his new driver, Carl Casagrande, would be one of a kind and told him just how that was. This had made the engine puffed up in the smokebox, and he had bragged to the others all night long about how this meant that not only had the Fat Controller given him the best driver ever but because of that, he’d be taking on more important passenger trains from now on. Percy, Edward and the others couldn’t care less. They just wanted to get some rest!

The next morning was the beginning of the new life of Carl Casagrande. It was a year of firsts for Carl, who was now a young man. His first year as a husband to his childhood sweetheart, the now Mrs. Adelaide Casagrande-Chang, his first year living together with his wife in their new home at Tidmouth, and his first child due in a few months. And now, today was his first day working for the North Western Railway as a locomotive driver. But not just any ordinary driver. Before getting married a year ago, at the age of 21 years old, Carl Casagrande had made Sodor history by becoming the youngest person to earn that title, showing a prodigious level of competence and skill that usually took several years to hone.

It was only a matter of time before Carl’s enthusiasm for engines led him to this point. After years of studying and apprenticeship, both on his own free time and through training programs, the young man soon worked his way through the ranks, became licensed, and signed up for work as soon as he could. And now, his chance had finally come. In a matter of hours, Carl was going to meet the engine that he was assigned to and the Fat Controller would be there to greet him and show the engine off at Tidmouth Sheds. Carl, of course, had a familiarity with the engines, starting all the way back to his days as a cleaner, but he couldn’t help but feel like it was like meeting them for the first time.

Later that day, the Fat Controller greeted Carl at Tidmouth Sheds and led him over to the berths. Most of the engines had already left for work, but one engine remained. From this, Carl knew that this engine would be his responsibility. “Here you are,” the Fat Controller said to Carl once they approached the engine. “I’m pleased to have you working here with us, Mr. Casagrande. I can tell that you’ll have a very bright future ahead of you.”

“Not as bright as my paintwork, of course.” the engine said boastfully.

Carl chuckled. He knew what to expect, having known James the Red Engine since his cleaner days. He also had a feeling that he’d have plenty of stories to tell his wife about his days working with, perhaps, the most vain engine on the island. Some of those stories are ones that we’ll get to see for ourselves. Won’t that be fun?

Description

Vol-14

Late one evening, a steam engine was the talk of the entire shed, but only because he was doing most of the talking. His old driver had retired from service after several years on the job, and the Fat Controller had come by to tell him that his new driver, Carl Casagrande, would be one of a kind and told him just how that was. This had made the engine puffed up in the smokebox, and he had bragged to the others all night long about how this meant that not only had the Fat Controller given him the best driver ever but because of that, he’d be taking on more important passenger trains from now on. Percy, Edward and the others couldn’t care less. They just wanted to get some rest!

The next morning was the beginning of the new life of Carl Casagrande. It was a year of firsts for Carl, who was now a young man. His first year as a husband to his childhood sweetheart, the now Mrs. Adelaide Casagrande-Chang, his first year living together with his wife in their new home at Tidmouth, and his first child due in a few months. And now, today was his first day working for the North Western Railway as a locomotive driver. But not just any ordinary driver. Before getting married a year ago, at the age of 21 years old, Carl Casagrande had made Sodor history by becoming the youngest person to earn that title, showing a prodigious level of competence and skill that usually took several years to hone.

It was only a matter of time before Carl’s enthusiasm for engines led him to this point. After years of studying and apprenticeship, both on his own free time and through training programs, the young man soon worked his way through the ranks, became licensed, and signed up for work as soon as he could. And now, his chance had finally come. In a matter of hours, Carl was going to meet the engine that he was assigned to and the Fat Controller would be there to greet him and show the engine off at Tidmouth Sheds. Carl, of course, had a familiarity with the engines, starting all the way back to his days as a cleaner, but he couldn’t help but feel like it was like meeting them for the first time.

Later that day, the Fat Controller greeted Carl at Tidmouth Sheds and led him over to the berths. Most of the engines had already left for work, but one engine remained. From this, Carl knew that this engine would be his responsibility. “Here you are,” the Fat Controller said to Carl once they approached the engine. “I’m pleased to have you working here with us, Mr. Casagrande. I can tell that you’ll have a very bright future ahead of you.”

“Not as bright as my paintwork, of course.” the engine said boastfully.

Carl chuckled. He knew what to expect, having known James the Red Engine since his cleaner days. He also had a feeling that he’d have plenty of stories to tell his wife about his days working with, perhaps, the most vain engine on the island. Some of those stories are ones that we’ll get to see for ourselves. Won’t that be fun?