Chuggy was an old blue engine who had run on a hill track for years. He liked to go along the mountainside, chugging and whistling. People stopped to wave at him. When he felt cold, the engine driver would add a little coal into the furnace, and away would go Chuggy, hauling five coaches full of passengers behind him.
Then one day, a man in a blue suit came to the station where Chuggy was resting.
He spoke to the guard and the station master, “We are switching over to the new engines. Soon you’ll have diesel and electric engines. We will send all the old engines into the yard to be broken up and sold off.”
Chuggy stood there and large tears fell from his eyes. He knew he could do nothing about it. The man in the blue suit went away. The station master and the guard were left on the platform.
“I say, sir,” said the guard, “Can’t we do something about the old engine? It’s such a shame to break it up and throw it away!”
The station master, Mr Jeff, was a man who thought things out slowly. So, it was while before he replied, “Come. Let us go to the big man at the headquarters. I have an idea.”
When they reached the headquarters, Mr Jeff went in and spoke to the big man there. He came out with an official-looking paper; he had a smile on his face. The guard ran up and asked him what had happened. Mr Jeff gave him the paper to read and soon there was a smile on his face too.
They returned to the station where Chuggy was still standing, looking miserable. Mr Jeff collected his staff on the platform. Several people from the town were also there along with the passengers who were to catch the next train. “I have an announcement to make,” began Mr Jeff, “We have received an order to run this engine on a special trip daily for children and tourists. There will be a special prize every day for one passenger, like a lucky ticket. It will give the passenger a chance to travel once on any route free of cost. It will be called the Chuggy Award!”
All the people on the platform broke into applause, clapping and shouting. Chuggy was so thrilled! “An award with my name! Oh, boy! This is too good to be true!” And Chuggy began to whistle happily.
