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Streamlined Struggle - ThomasNATION Fanstory

June 22, 2024

I don't think Connor and Caitlin need any introduction. They're both streamlined engines from the Mainland who often take passengers to and from Ulfstead Castle or the Main Line. But despite being best friends, Connor and Caitlin are both polar opposites. Where Connor is more sensible and prioritizes being bang on time, Caitlin always wants to have fun and race the other engines, which can often land her in a spot of bother, as she was about to find out one morning at Barrow-in-Furness.
"Morning, Connor!" Caitlin chirped, excitedly. "What are you up to?"
    "Nothing, really." smiled Connor. "I'm just about to head to Ulfstead Castle."
Caitlin gasped. "Really? I'm headed to Ulfstead Castle! We could race there!"
    "Really?" Connor sighed. "Caitlin, buddy, I'd love to, but Sir Topham Hatt told me to be careful on the hill. After last nightā€™s rainstorm, I think the tracks are meant to be really slippery."
"Aw, are you scared you'll lose?" teased Caitlin.
    "No!" laughed Connor. "And how do I know you're not projecting? Are you the scared one, Caitlin?"
"What?" Caitlin asked. Connor had really done it now. "Oh, it's on now!"
    "Okay, you twisted my wheel." Connor rolled his eyes. "Let's do this. First one to Ulfstead Castle is the winner. May the better engine win!"
"I plan to." smirked Caitlin.
    Connor chuckled, and soon, the race was on as they raced through the Vicarstown Bridge. It was a high-speed race of epic proportions, the victor unpredictable. Sometimes it looked like it was going to be Caitlin. Other times, Connor would pull up ahead. This race was anybody's game. But the fun soon ended when they reached the hill leading to the castle. Connor had maintained a steady lead, but he was right - the tracks were really slippery. So slippery that Connor couldnā€™t get a grip on the rails and slid right off, crashing near the mine. Luckily, nobody was hurt.
ā€œConnor!ā€ Caitlin cried as she raced over to the accident site. ā€œAre you okay?ā€
ā€œI think so.ā€ groaned Connor. ā€œI knew racing was a bad idea.ā€

Later, Connor had to be escorted to the Steamworks. Victor was inspecting the damages.
ā€œLetā€™s seeā€¦ā€ Victor mumbled, ā€œā€¦busted coupling rods, cracked lamp, punctured boilerā€¦ā€
Caitlin watched on, horrified at Connorā€™s state...and a little at herself. ā€œThis is all my fault.ā€
ā€œDonā€™t say that, Caitlin.ā€ Kevin reassured her. ā€œItā€™s not like you made it rain last night.ā€
ā€œBut it was my idea to have that race.ā€ Caitlin sighed. ā€œIf I had just done my job as I was told, none of this wouldā€™ve happened.ā€
Just then, Sir Topham Hatt walked in, looking over his schedule. ā€œOh dear, oh dearā€¦ā€
ā€œWhatā€™s wrong, sir?ā€ asked Connor.
ā€œYour accident really put Sir Robertā€™s timetable in a bind, Connor.ā€ explained Sir Topham Hatt. ā€œWith you out of commission, Iā€™m not sure we can handle the extra passengers visiting the castle.ā€
ā€œSurely thereā€™s another way?ā€ suggested Connor.
ā€œI donā€™t really know if there is one.ā€ thought Sir Topham Hatt. ā€œAll the other engines have their other jobs to do. I may need to move some stuff around.ā€
ā€œWhat if I took the extra passengers?ā€ asked Caitlin.
ā€œReally, Caitlin?ā€ asked Sir Topham Hatt. ā€œAre you sure?ā€
ā€œYeah, I can handle it.ā€ smiled Caitlin. ā€œIf I can sort both the Flying Kipper and the mail in one night, a few extra passengers will be a breeze! Besides, I still feel like Connorā€™s crash was my fault. I need to make up for it somehow.ā€
"Well, okay." Sir Topham Hatt smiled. "I'm trusting you to sort both you and Connor's trains. I'm counting on you, Caitlin."
As Sir Topham Hatt walked over to talk to Victor, his last few words stuck in Caitlin's head. "He's counting on me. Huh."
"You okay?" asked Kevin.
    "Yeah. No pressure, right?" smirked Caitlin. But whoa, was she feeling way more pressure than she was letting on.

The next day, Caitlin had an extra coach to fit her and Connor's passengers and she was ready to get cracking. She met up with Spencer and Gordon at Barrow-in-Furness.
"Mornin', Caitlin!" called Spencer. "What, no Connor today?"
"No, he's had an accident," Caitlin explained, "so I'm handling his and my train today."
"Bad idea, Caitlin." sighed Gordon.
Caitlin was a little puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"This sort of thing happened to Thomas once," Gordon recalled. "his habit of racing Bertie got out of hand and he had to take his passengers. Had to make all these unscheduled stops."
"That won't happen to me, Gordon!" laughed Caitlin, confidently. "Me and Connor follow the same route. I'll be okay."
"Don't be so sure," sighed Spencer, "this won't end well for anyone. Not you, not Connor, not...uh..."
    "The passengers?" Gordon rolled his eyes.
"No, not quite..." Spencer thought. "...oh! I got it! It won't end well for Sir Topham Hatt!"
    "...how?"
"If Caitlin doesn't pull through, everyone's going to complain that it's a bad railway. And who are they going to go to?"
"Guys, you're overthinking it." Caitlin chuckled as she left. "I'm tellin' you, I'm going to do okay!"
"Ugh, don't you streamlined engines ever stop?" groaned Gordon.
    "What's that supposed to mean?" asked Spencer, a little offended.

Little did Gordon and Spencer know was that Caitlin's whole "I'm gonna be fine, you guys are overreacting" thing was only a facade. Truth is, she was still really worried. A lot of that pressure was still weighing on her shoulders...or I guess her boiler. You know what I mean. Her troubles were only starting, because...
"Oi!" cried one passenger as she passed through Maron. "That was my stop!"
    "Oops!" sighed Caitlin. "My bad."
...yeah, turns out Connor and Caitlin's routes were much different. Left and right, Caitlin kept missing stops, running late, causing delays for other engines and overall messing up the timetable. The passengers grew more and more frustrated, saying what a bad railway it was. Needless to say, Sir Topham Hatt was not amused.
ā€œYou told me you could handle a few extra passengers!ā€ scolded Sir Topham Hatt. ā€œAll day, Iā€™ve had people yelling and shouting and saying this is a bad railway!ā€
ā€œIā€™m sorry, sir.ā€ muttered Caitlin. ā€œI really thought I could manage it. We had the same stops whenever we race!ā€
ā€œWell, youā€™ll need to study Connorā€™s route by tomorrow,ā€ warned Sir Topham Hatt. ā€œWe canā€™t have any more confusion and delay, can we?ā€

That night, Caitlin had to pop by the Steamworks to talk to Connor.
ā€œCaitlin?ā€ asked Connor. ā€œWhatā€™s wrong? You look a little down.ā€
ā€œI really need your help, Connor.ā€ sighed Caitlin. ā€œYou see, when I offered to handle your route, I figured ā€œalright, me and you share the same route, thisā€™ll be easy.ā€ But I didnā€™t expect it to be so hard. Iā€™m not sure I can keep doing it. I am so sorry, Connor. I wish we had never had that race.ā€
Connor sympathised with his best friend. ā€œItā€™s okay, Caitlin. No one gets it right the first time. Not even me.ā€
ā€œWhat do you mean?ā€ asked Caitlin.
ā€œIt took me a while to nail my route when I first got started at Ulfstead. But yā€™know who got me through it?ā€
Caitlin chuckled. ā€œI think I know where this is headed. Is it me?ā€
ā€œYeah. You told me that itā€™ll be hard at first, but once you know the way around, itā€™ll be a breeze. And now look at meā€¦well, not now, but in general. You and me are both bang on time every time. Just keep at it and youā€™ll get better. Just like I did.ā€
Caitlin smiled at her friend. ā€œThanks, Connor.ā€
ā€œAnytime.ā€

Soon enough, Caitlin kept persevering on Connorā€™s route. It wasnā€™t easy mesmerising the different stops, but with enough practice, she was able to manage. And not a single complaint!
ā€œLooks like someoneā€™s found their way!ā€ smiled Sir Topham Hatt as Caitlin stopped at Ulfstead Castle. ā€œNot too shabby, Caitlin.ā€
ā€œThanks.ā€ laughed Caitlin. ā€œItā€™s like the saying goes, practice makes perfect!ā€
Just then, a familiar whistle blared through the castle grounds. It was Connor!
ā€œHey! Look whoā€™s finally out and about!ā€  chuckled Caitlin.
ā€œThanks again for taking my passengers,ā€ Connor said, ā€œyou were a great help. Did you get my route down okay?ā€
ā€œI think so,ā€ smirked Caitlin, ā€œI may need a bit of practice before I fully understand it. But now that youā€™re okay, I may have plenty of time to rehearse.ā€
ā€œGreat to hear.ā€ smiled Connor. ā€œHey, wanna race back to the Mainland?ā€
       ā€œNah, maybe some other time.ā€
"Aw, are you scared you'll lose?" teased Connor.
Caitlin gasped. ā€œOh, itā€™s on now!ā€


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