When it comes to Christmas, the railroad industry is busy 24/7, but with the Roger Railway winding down, the season was going to be over, and for the past almost 5 months of operation, since reopening as a heritage line. The Roger Railway has grown into a perfect example of railway preservation, with passenger numbers increasing and, recently, another steam locomotive added to its fleet to help with passenger trains. This was a perfect day to end the season and year.

  It was Sunday, the 23rd of December, and Roger and 16 were operating the last few trains to end the 1951 season. It snowed, and it was very cold, but the old Porter was happy to bring Christmas cheer to the passengers. This was like a Christmas present for the local folks of Westminster; the city itself was also in the holiday spirit, with many department stores, bakeries, and toy stores ready for the Christmas cheer, with the city advertising the railway for its Christmas trains with small flyers being placed around the city by volunteers, costing 10 dollars to produce.

  “Are you excited for Christmas?” 16 asks Roger happily. They were at the station, resting after operating the noon Christmas train.

  “Christmas is always a favorite time on the railway,” Roger smiled, answering 16’s question, “Back then, we always had a Christmas party with me in steam to give rides for the families of the staff.”

  “Really!?” 16 was surprised, “That’s something I’ve never heard before. In my case, I just relaxed in my shed.”

  “John Harrison, the second owner of the railway, and Saul’s older brother, started this tradition,” Roger explained to the tank engine, “It was like a party for the staff for being good folks during hardship and war times; it’s been a tradition ever since.”

  “I’m guessing it stopped in 1950?” 16 asks the old Porter.

  “Yep,” Roger confirmed, “Though it wasn’t that bad, the Juniata Shop was warm, and the staff were appreciative, hopefully we’re going to do it again for this year.”

  Then, walking into the snow-covered station was Mr. Hutton, who did a great job overall in making the railway like a Christmas wonderland and making this railway a successful preservation icon.

  “Walking in the snow is somewhat nostalgic,” Ben sighed as he got into the old Porter’s cab, “Reminds me of home in Britain, I would walk in my mother’s garden, and when I moved to Pennsylvania, it was oddly not the same feeling.”

  “I’m guessing the British winter isn’t as hellish as in Pennsylvania compared to summer,” Roger joked to his friend, to which Mr. Hutton chuckled a bit.

  “Winter is so cold back at home that mother used the cold winter to leave groceries and meat on a table in our garden on a table, and they wouldn’t go bad,” He told Roger, “My wife got two nice prime rib roasts for a good price at the butcher.”

  “Two? Why do you need two roasts? Are your relatives visiting?” 16 asks Ben curiously.

  “Because,” He got out of the cab and grinned at Roger, “We’re having a Christmas party at the railway.”

  This made Roger very happy.

  “Well, this is an unexpected present,” the old Porter smiled cheerfully, “I can’t wait for the Christmas party.”

  “What went on during the Christmas party back then?” 16 asks Roger curiously.

  “It usually happens on the 24th of December, I’m usually in steam to give cab rides to the staff’s family, back then, John and his wife would cook up a feast,” Roger told the tank engine, “It’s like the last send off before the end of the year.”

  “That seems nice,” 16 smiled, “Can Will and I join?”

  “You guys are already on the list,” Mr. Hutton smiled at the tank engine, “I asked him last week, to which he said yes, and to invite his crew from the Indian Valley Line, which he told me that only a few are coming since the weather is shit in both Pennsylvania and New York.”

  “Wow, this is like a Christmas miracle!” 16 exclaimed happily.

  “It is indeed,” Roger smiled, “The volunteers are going to be happy for this.”

  The old Porter could see the mist of the cold from the passenger’s breath; it was very cold today on the little railway.

  “This is probably the coldest winter I’ve ever felt,” Roger commented as he shivered, “Plus with the show, I wonder how our passengers are faring up.”

  “The cafe has been selling hot chocolate and Christmas cookies all month, and it seems like they’re doing well,” Mr. Hutton pointed out, “The cookies were sold out almost every week.”

  “Dang, children love their sweets, do they?” 16 was surprised to hear this.

  “Well, actually, it's the adults,” Mr. Hutton grinned, “I saw some of our volunteers carrying a bag of sugar cookies and eating them in the engine shop.”

  “Well, at least we know who has the sweet tooth,” Roger smiled, “I still can’t believe the year is ending in 8-9 days.”

  “The New Year is always a celebrated event,” Mr. Hutton said as he pointed at the sign, which said ‘New Year's Event on the 30th!’.

  “One last big hurrah before the year ends,” Roger looked at the sign, “Anyway, it’s going to be a great Christmas.”

  “And a break as well,” 16 sighed, “It’s nice to have my wheels rest after operating on these icy rails.”

  “Indeed,” Roger agrees with the tank engine, “But then you know it, it’ll already be springtime.”

  “The Christmas party will be the ticket to 1952,” Mr. Hutton joked to the two engines, “A new year, and new memories.”

  Roger smiled, “I do agree.”

  December 24th, 1951

  Sunday's operation went as well for the railway as usual. “Santa Claus” gave joy to the children, while the passengers enjoyed a nice train ride through the snowy weather, although it hadn’t snowed since Saturday, the weather was cold enough to keep the snow frozen for days. With the season ending, the volunteers enjoyed their Christmas and winter break until the New Year’s event, which gives the volunteers of the railway time to work on projects before the limited operation in January and February. Despite the holiday season, it was a busy winter break.

  Monday felt like a normal day, but Roger knew that it was Christmas Eve, an important day, and a day when people would be shopping for last-minute holiday items like food or gifts, and today it’s the Christmas party, from experience from the past, Roger knew that the events would happen in the afternoon until night time, and the old Porter was excited to operate at this Christmas party, showing the hard work that the volunteers did in the short amount of month.

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  Roger could see the volunteers going in and out of the engine shed, mostly getting projects completed in a short amount of time, but he could also see folks from the Indian Valley Line giving both 16 and the parlor car general maintenance after operating the Christmas trains. Roger remembers that some of the folks from the Indian Valley are invited as well, though limited. For a Monday, it was a normal day; with the looming approach of Christmas, it was a special Monday.

  Roger could feel the warmth of the fire in the firebox; it was a nice feeling that it’s something that he always enjoyed. He looked at the clock in the shed, and it was 3 pm. Time moves fast, as usual, and the old Porter knew from the start that the party was going to be great. He could see volunteers pushing 16 out of the shed, to which he could see Mr. Hutton walking inside the shed and climbing onto Roger’s cab, with his wife following him.

  “It seems like the party is getting started,” Roger joked as he moved slowly out of the shed.

  “Starting a little later by an hour,” Mr. Hutton told the old engine, “I’m just getting the prime rib cooking in the camp oven.”

  Roger could see a black pot on the ground, above some coals, to which some were spread onto the lid; he could see the volunteers were talking, enjoying themselves with some tasty snacks and drinks during this cold weather, among the other folks. Mr. Hutton and his wife were in the cab, giving cab rides to the volunteer’s family, free of charge, since they work so hard on preserving the railway.

  The smell of meat cooking in the camp oven and the other foods cooking was something nostalgic for Roger, like the past had called out for him. It wasn’t easy operating an already old railway from the 19th century, but the old Porter, and the help of Mr. Hutton, has beaten the odds, and now the railway has become a heritage railway, but a successful one.

  The next few hours were simple at best. Drinks were drunk, and the food was devoured, and everyone enjoyed the cab ride in the yard, not too far. 16 enjoyed the party as well, despite not being in steam, because his crew is planning to get some maintenance throughout December before the New Year’s event. It was already dark, and everyone was giving out presents and talking about plans for tomorrow. Roger could see Mr. Hutton whispering something to his wife, to which she nodded and went in the cab, to which Mr. Hutton followed.

  “We’re going for a stroll,” Mr. Hutton told Roger, to which the old Porter smiled.

  “Alright,” the old engine smiled.

  Roger blew his whistle and left the yard. Typically, nighttime operations are somewhat uncommon for the railway. In the past, trains would stop at 5 pm, but sometimes, when the railway used to haul freight, the railway would operate until 8-9 pm, even later during the war years. It was an odd operation, which Roger admitted, but it did bring some extra revenue. Operating through the forest in the dead of winter with no train and snow on the ground was an interesting experience.

  His side rods clank on the tracks. He wasn’t going fast, but he wasn’t going slow. The little Porter strutted his way through the winter line, though he didn’t know when to stop. The cold air felt like his face was plastered with ice; it was cold, it was goddamn cold, and Roger was hoping that they weren’t going too far.

  “Let’s stop here,” Mr. Hutton told the old Porter.

  They stopped where they’re close to the small bridge, the same bridge where the photo charter happened. Passing the bridge many times was always a beautiful sight, and Roger knew that a place like this was perfect for talking.

  “How beautiful,” Mrs. Hutton commented, “The scenery is like that of a Disney movie. I never get tired of seeing this scenery.”

  “It’s a common sight in the past,” Roger noted, “Nothing has changed throughout the railway when it comes to seasons.”

  “Say, Roger,” Mr. Hutton got out of the cab and looked at the old Porter, “Despite you only seeing her a few times throughout the year, and many times that I visited your railway in the past, I like to meet my wife, Lizzy, or Elizabeth.”

  Mrs. Hutton got down from the cab and walked in front of Roger. She has a striking beauty that reminds him of the standard-gauge engines he met during his lifetime at the interchange station.

  “Hello, ma’am,” Roger smiled at the woman, “Your husband has taken great care of me.”

  “I hope he does,” Lizzy joked, “He talks to our children and me about you all the time.”

  “Oh, I do not,” Mr. Hutton brushed aside, though his cheeks were in a pink tinge.

  “Something must be important if we’re far away from the yard,” Roger asks the husband and wife, “Is something important coming to the railway?”

  “Yes, we do,” Mr. Hutton said, getting to the point, “Welcome to your new co-manager.”

  Roger blinked a couple of times; the railway didn’t hit a year of preservation, and now a big news like this surprised the old Porter; the year hadn’t even ended yet.

  “Before you say something,” Ben put his hand up, “But this was planned last year.”

  Roger was surprised, but also, why wasn’t he informed? He felt left out.

  “Don’t worry, sweetheart,” Lizzy said as she came up and cupped both of her hands on the old Porter’s cheek, “It was actually my idea to keep this secret. I felt like it was too overwhelming for you before you left for your overhaul.”

  “I see,” Roger said quietly. While he was a bit upset, he was actually excited about the prospect that Ben’s wife was a co-manager.

  “Does that mean she could operate on me in the next season?” Roger asks Mr. Hutton, to which he nods.

  “I’ve taught some of the basics, and today was a simple run, light engine,” Ben told the old Porter, “She did a great job, and is on her track to be a qualified locomotive engineer, or engine driver as I like to call it. The New Year’s event will be a test for her.”

  “Wow, I’m impressed,” Roger smiled at the women, “You did a great job!”

  “Aw, thanks, sweetie,” She smiled at the old Porter, and kissed him on the cheek, “I’ll be glad to work with you from now on.”

  “Though,” Roger looked at Ben, “What about your sons?”

  “Don’t worry, Lizzy would only drive you on the weekends, and when my sons are old enough, then the weekdays as well,” He assured the old Porter, “We mostly do the regular paperwork at our house since this railway doesn’t have an office for the paperwork side of the railway, which is odd, but it’ll be part of the 10 year planning process.”

  “10 years?” Roger asks Ben curiously.

  “I developed a 10-year project plan for the railway, which includes new offices, a volunteer resting building, new coaches, and a new steam locomotive,” He told the old Porter, “Fundraising hasn’t started yet, but it’ll be announced during the New Year's event.”

  “That’s a big project,” Roger told Mr. Hutton, “But I have faith that the passenger trains would be filled to the brim, which can help fund the projects.”

  “I’ve also been talking with the National Railway Historical Society about grants, since they’re impressed by our railway operation,” Mr. Hutton told Roger, “Though we’ll use the ticket sales for next year, hopefully it’ll be enough for the projects.”

  “I believe you on the projects, but…” Roger worryingly asks.

  “I always have faith in the volunteers,” Mr. Hutton told the old Porter, “But we’ll have a backup plan.”

  “I’m sure you’ll announce the co-manager part at the New Year’s event?” Roger guessed, to which Ben nodded.

  “And the biggest one is the steam locomotive project,” Mr. Hutton sighed, “I’ve talked to locomotive builders in the U.S., some are willing, but for a high price.”

  “For how much?” Roger asks.

  “50-80k,” Lizzy answered, “Obviously, that’s too much for the railway that started operating heritage railways, including Sandley Light Railway Works, though, some are already building diesel locomotives, and it’ll take at least 3-4 years to raise that kind of money without grants in the pace we’re going.”

  “So the second option is my home country, the United Kingdom,” Mr. Hutton finished his wife’s sentence, “I asked many builders, and some were willing for a good price, but plus getting that engine shipped to the United States would be tough.”

  “He was looking at the Peckett & Sons catalogue, and was interested in the narrow gauge part of the catalogue,” Lizzy said as she sat on Roger’s footplate, “Though at the same time, 16 would help us through the season.”

  “Hearing this big project that’s going to happen, it’s exhilarating,” Roger looked at the snow-covered ground, “At first, I thought, I thought there would be bad news.”

  “I don’t blame you,” Mr. Hutton chuckled, “It’s quite odd to have your owner take you in the middle of a snowy railway at dark.”

  “I don’t know, it is a romantic night,” Lizzy teased, “Especially with Roger here.”

  The old Porter chuckled a bit.

  “It is a beautiful night,” Roger commented on the darkness and the snow-covered area, “Though the volunteers are going to be wondering what happened to us, I think we should go back.”

  “Yes, we should,” Mr. Hutton agreed with Roger, “Samuel and Samson are going to wonder where mum, dad, and Roger are.”

  “Well, I hope you two enjoyed a very Merry Christmas,” the old Porter smiled at the husband and wife, “Thank you for changing my life after you saved my railway.”

  “Aw, thank you, sweetie,” Lizzy smiled and kissed Roger on his cheek, and got into his cab.

  “You really changed our life as well, Roger,” Mr. Hutton smiled, and went back into the cab, “And I thank you for that.”

  Roger blew his whistle, smiling, and slowly went back into the yard. Small dots of snow were sprinkling as the old Porter left the area. A white Christmas is mostly going to happen, and the old engine is happy that his new life is operating with happy passengers for years to come.

  May 10th, 2021

  “That was a beautiful story,” a redheaded woman leaned out of the cab. It was May, but the heat of the summer was coming through slowly.

  “I didn’t expect Mrs. Hutton to be co-manager until Samuel told us,” said a blonde woman, who was wearing a Yuru Camp lanyard.

  “Nothing much happened in 1951,” Roger sighed, missing the memories, “But it’s the best year of my life despite the short season.”

  Then, the blonde woman felt her phone vibrate. She picked it up and saw a text.

  “I got a text from Samuel, he told me that there’s another anime cosplay theme chartered special that is getting made,” the blonde woman told the redhead.

  “What’s the charter, Skylark?” the redhead asks Skylark.

  “It’s a fan charter excursion for an anime called ‘Horimiya’,” Skylark told the redhead, “I’ve watched a few episodes, but it’s not for me.”

  “Not a fan of high school anime?” the redhead teased.

  “Not something for me, though, I do love the main character, as an older sister myself, I could relate to her a bit,” Skylark sighed, “High school anime are always a popular genre for most anime fans, though, I’m more of a slice of life lady.”

  The redhead nodded.

  “Another of this anime cosplay photo charter?” Roger asks; he didn’t hate it, but he did operate three of them in the winter and last year for an anime called Yuru Camp, and a few from that year called Demon Slayer.

  “Yep, and Samuel told me that there will be a meeting about it tomorrow before work,” Skylark told the old Porter, “Esmee, are you willing to operate Roger by yourself?”

  “Fuck yeah, I am,” Esmee grinned happily, “Time to put my skills to the test.”

  Skylark put her phone back in her pocket before asking Roger something.

  “Oh yeah, are you excited for your 70th anniversary of your railway being preserved by volunteers?” She asks the old Porter.

  “70 years?” Roger looked at Robert and Elizabeth, who were displayed outside of the shed, “I remember it was just yesterday that Robert and Elizabeth came to the United States, and here we are, we’re both fucking old.”

  Skylark and Esmee chuckled.

  Roger chuckled a bit as well. It has really been 70 years, though, the old Porter knew that Mr. Hutton would be happy and proud of what his action had done.