Dermit’s Christmas Postal Run
By SteamLocoLtMtn 

Rating: General 

It is a very busy day in Northern Nathan Railway, all the locomotives have to work twice as hard to deliver passengers and goods to their destinations as the Christmas season is getting very busy. Perrie The Post Locomotive, who is a steam locomotive, is the busiest of all, every year on the Christmas season he takes the post train and collect letters from all the adult furries who writes letters to Santa Clause and transfers to a special station where “The Polar Express” takes them to the North Pole.

Dermit The Diesel Locomotive is taking the usual express train from Paddington to Main for all the families to meet on the Christmas season. Dermit is a blue and yellow diesel locomotive who is Dathew’s older brother, while he and Dathew look similar, Dermit has a flat cab on the back whereas Dathew has a second cab and bulldog nose; they both work together on the mainline and they both use their second cab for return journeys. Dermit arrives at Main Station where Perrie is collecting post bags filled with Christmas letters. “Interesting to see letters being sent on trains,” says Dermit, “I thought they sent Christmas messages on email on their computer.” “Well, some adult furries do,” says Perrie, “But it’s better to read on paper. The internet on the North Pole is having trouble at the moment so letters are essential.” With that, Perrie departs off to deliver the letters to a special track where the terminus station interchange post for “The Polar Express”. Dermit is uncoupled from his coaches and goes off to refuel.

Meanwhile, Dermit and Dathew are double heading together with a container train loaded with containers filled with merchandise and products, Dermit is still interested in the letters to Santa part. “So, something interests you Dermit?” asks Dathew. “Actually, yes,” replies Dermit and he explains about the conversation with Perrie. “Even though technology is there, but the hand written letters still exist,” says Dathew, “Some adult furries like to write which makes things easier in case if the internet fails.” Dermit says no more but the thought interest him a lot. “Besides,” continues Dathew, “We once did express post trains and mail trains before.” “Really,” says Dermit. “Yes,” answers Dathew, “We’re EMD diesels, we were designed for any mixed traffic work such as passenger trains, goods trains and mail trains.” Dermit and Dathew continue on their way.

A few days have passed until on Christmas Eve, there is trouble. Perrie’s boiler is worn out and his injectors have failed; and to make matters worse, this is the Christmas Eve mail run which is the last day of letter until Christmas Day. The New Strict Controller Caitlin Lucy Cat, as an adult female cat, is in a tight situation. With Perrie out of service, the post train needs a another locomotive. “With Perrie out of service due to being broken down,” says Caitlin, “I need a locomotive to take Perrie’s place.” The other locomotives look at each other, but after a long pause, Dermit speaks up. “I’ll do it, Miss,” says Dermit. “Excellent,” says Caitlin, “The extra post wagons will be attached to your passenger coaches, once you done your usual passenger run, collect as many post bags before midnight. The Polar Express is on a tight schedule today.”

Dermit wastes no time, a long train is already prepared for him, Dermit is coupled up to the train and sets off. Once he completes his passenger train duty, the coaches are uncoupled and Dermit, still attached to the post wagons, departs off to collect some post bags. Each station Dermit has to pick up every post bags with letter for Santa Clause as the Christmas spirit lives on. Once all the post bags are collected, Dermit continues on his way to the special station terminus, he approaches to a special junction called a wye but there is another problem. “The points are jammed,” says the adult furry dog railway worker, “While it is accessible to the special terminus, but only the left hand points and the wye points are working. It’ll be nightfall to get them fixed.” Dermit thinks of a solution, “How about I take the post train second cab first?” The adult furry railway worker is surprised by that, “Are you sure?” “I’m sure,” says Dermit, “My driver and I have done that several times before.” They wasted no time, Dermit finds a siding loop, uncouples from one end of the post train and runs around to the other end and couples up. Once the signal light shines green, Dermit, travelling second cab first, heads down the line to the special station terminus.

The Polar Express is waiting for the remaining Christmas mail, they are about to leave until they hear a diesel horn of Dermit. Dermit arrives at the platform and the staff quickly yet cautiously loaded every post bag from Dermit’s train to the cars of The Polar Express. As soon as the last post bag is loaded, The Polar Express departs off for the North Pole. Dermit runs around to the front end of the post train and departs off to the sheds.

The next day is Christmas Day and all the locomotives have the day off, Dermit is snoozing since from having a busy day from the day before. The New Strict Controller arrives on board Perrie. “Well done Dermit,” says Caitlin, “You have been a useful locomotive and a great help for Perrie and to everyone.” Thank you, Miss,” says Dermit. “Since you helped me,” says Perrie, “I have a new boiler and injectors from the preservation group and Santa.” Perrie then shunts an open wagon to Dermit. “Santa, and The Polar Express have told me and Caitlin about how good you have been to help me so they both give you this as a present for you.” Dermit’s driver and “off-sider” unwrap the Christmas wrapping of the open wagon, inside is Dermit’s present consisting of; A brand new spare EMD 567BC engine and spare parts, drums of diesel fuel and oil, paint cans of blue and yellow paint and a pair of nameplates with “Dermit” written on them. “Merry Christmas, Dermit,” says Caitlin and Perrie in unison.

“Merry Christmas,” says Dermit, “Thank you.” 

As the locomotives enjoy their presents while on their day off, Dermit is most happy of all. One small thing to help can make a big difference.