The Maple Town Express

 

Brendan had been helping me - to a fashion - singing along to a new composition that Chris Snow-Warren and I had been creating. We had been engaged to write a school song and Brendan was having fun altering the words. My boy's inventiveness was making me laugh and we must have sounded terrible. Not to everyone, though.

"I like that!"

 

We turned to see Hughie Grunt and Nolly Persis; Nolly had been jigging to the music. In fact he was still jigging and humming the tune after I'd stopped playing the piano.

Hughie nudged Nolly to stop.

"What?" said Nolly. "The words are funny."

The boys were expected. Brendan went to greet them.

"Hi, crits," he said. "Don't settle down. There's been a change of plan. We're playing at Lucky's house. He's got a new climbing frame in his garden."

"Should be good," said Hughie, giving Brendan a playful push. "I guess you have something in mind.'

 

"Oh!" said Brendan. "What's that smell, Hugh? A sort of spicy orange!"

Nolly laughed. "I told him he ponged."

Hughie closed his eyes. It was clear he'd had this conversation before. With a sigh he explained in a monotone.

"It's not a pong. It's supposed to be sophisticated."

At this, Nolly clamped a paw over his mouth, suppressing a guffaw. 

Hughie ignored this and carried on. "I've been visiting my Uncle Frey. He'd just finished washing after work and was putting on his eau de cologne..."

"Oaty clown," giggled Nolly.

"...as he likes to smell nice," Hughie continued, determined not to be distracted. "You see, Brendan, his job can get a bit stinky handling concentrated fireglass."

"On the train," nodded Brendan.

"Right. Anyway, my Uncle sprinkled a bit of his eau de cologne..."

"Oaty clown."

"...on my paw, as a joke."  

 

"Well, it does smell funny," said Brendan, winking at Nolly. "Anyway, come on. Let's make a move. Let Lucky sniff you and give him a laugh."

"You're rotten, you two," smiled Hughie.

"But you love us," said Brendan as he escorted his pals towards the door. "Bye, dad."

Alone at last, I pondered over the boys' conversation. Frey Grunt. An apt name, albeit coincidentally. Frey drives the Maple Town Express and is also responsible for controlling the fuel that powers the engine. Concentrated fireglass can get smelly when ignited. No wonder Frey is sensitive to the stench and wants to mask the odour with his cologne.

 

All of which reminds me. I've never mentioned the Maple Town Express before.

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Yes, we do have a train that comes to Mellowdene. It's just that it hasn't come up in conversation before now. I've undoubtedly mentioned that we've got riverboats at our docks, a canal following the edge of the foothills, and roads that continue out of the county through woodland or across the river bridge. You can now add a railway line to that list.

The track was laid in order that Mellowdene could be connected to the Sylvanian Rail Network. This is run by a company that has its origins in Maple Town. They have major stations all over Sylvania and they call these hubs. The nearest hub to us is beyond the boundary of Mellowdene County and there was an agreement - some years ago - to run a single rail track from that hub into our county all the way to our train station, Lucerne Halt. There is a solitary train that uses the track - Maple Town Express Number Five - and after visiting the station it loops back to return along the same track.

The station is just outside the village and it is managed by Station Master Diesel Traynor. I've mentioned Dock Lane before; my home street of Dandelion Lane connects with it. Well, Dock Lane extends to the crossroads at the Village Circle. If you ignore the left turnoff towards the canal and the right turnoff that is Mellowdene High Street and continue straight on, the road changes its name to Lucerne Road. It is on this road you'll find Pickleweed's Pizza Emporium but stifle your appetite and carry on past the Mews and you will exit the village. Lucerne Road bends to the right and eventually joins up with County Road. En route you will find Lucerne Halt.

Although Lucerne Halt is the terminus for the Maple Town Express, there is another train stop within the county. This is shortly before the line pierces the woodland at our border. Sometimes our Cornflower relatives will seek an alternative to their pony and trap, walking to Greenwood Station and catching the "Number Five" to reach the village. It must be said that Greenwood Station is an exaggerated name - it merely comprises a small shelter besides the platform. 

Maple Town is rightly proud of the Sylvanian Rail Network and you'll often find representatives of the town will move to any place their railway reaches. We have some descendents of Maple Towners living here. Most live on a crescent called Mapleton Road. I wonder if the road builders had any association with the railroad construction? Merlin would probably know.   

It is a while since I travelled on the Maple Town Express. Given Hughie Grunt's family connection to the train I wonder how long it will be until Brendan wants to go on a railway journey?

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