Rusty's Boat Ride

"Well done, little diesel. I'll take it fom here." "You're welcome, big diesel!"

- BoCo and Rusty

Rusty's Boat Ride is a magazine story with a quiz afterwards.

Plot
As usual, Rusty is working hard looking after the tracks on the narrow gauge railway. As he is working, first Rheneas puffs past with passengers for the top station. Then, Peter Sam steams past with urgent supplies for the top station buffet.

That night, Rusty joins his friends in the shed, looking sad. Rusty says that he knows that looking after the line is important work, but he wishes he could pull passengers or special loads for once.

The next morning, Peter Sam spots a big steamboat moored by a lake. The skippet of the boat, christened 'Water Dancer', says that the boat needs to go for repairs at the boatyard, but it's too big and heavy to go down the twisting mountain roads. Peter Sam has an idea and shares it with Rheneas and Skarloey.

Later, they all go and see Rusty and tell him that there's an important load to be taken and they are not strong enough to take it. Skarloey adds that it's a job only a very sturdy diesel can do. Rusty is eager to find out more and he soon does. The following day, Rusty goes to the lake with a flat truck. A crane lifts the steamboat onto it. A crowd gathers to watch the operation and as soon as Water Dancer is secured, Rusty sets off to the boatyard.

Rusty carefully takes the unusual load along the line. Hill walkers stop and stare and the children on a coach trip point in surprise. Rusty hauls his precious cargo all the way to a station where BoCo meets him. BoCo congratulates the little diesel on a job well done. When Rusty returns to the top station, the other little engines whistle and cheer for him. Rusty feels very proud.

Characters

 * Rheneas
 * Peter Sam
 * Rusty
 * BoCo
 * Skarloey

Goof

 * In the final illustration, Rusty is oversized.