Mallard raced down the main line to York. He was called from Sodor to help out with something important. He didn't know what, but he would soon find out. There were four Pullman coaches coming along behind him. "I wonder what they'd want with me?" he asked his driver. "Only they can tell us. They only said we are invited to the Railway Museum in York. We may need to do some cleaning when we arrive though. It's amazing what a bit of polish can do." Mallard smiled.

He soon arrived at the museum, and was being cleaned, when he saw a small tank engine. It was an LMS 3F, or more commonly known as a Jinty.

"Hello there!" said Mallard. "Oh, um, are you talking to me?" "Yes, I am," said Mallard. "Oh well, h-hello," said Jinty. "Are you alright?" "Yes, I'm fine. I was just waiting for someone named Mallard." "Oh, that's me." "R-R-R-REALLY!?!? Oh my goodness, am I allowed to talk with someone so famous?!? I mean, you're a world record holder and I'm just........ nothing." "Nonsense!" said Mallard, "We are all important engines! We steam engines helped pave the way for the future for what it is today!" Jinty smiled, "Thank you. Oh, the others are waiting inside for you." Mallard said, "Thank you." He then backed up. "What are you doing?" "Parking my coaches." "I-" "No no, I've done this before when there was no shunter around. It was nice to meet you......" "Jinty." "Well that's just your class name. What do you think of Jerry?" "Jerry the Jinty? I like it." "Jerry it will be then!" Mallard then puffed inside the museum, and saw many engines.

"Hello!" said one, "Mallard it is an honor to meet you. I'm Princess Elizabeth, but you can just call me Elizabeth if you'd like."

"Thank you, ma'am," said Mallard. "And this here is Achilles.

This is St. Paul

And, well, I think you can guess the rest of our names based on our name plates." "Of course," said Mallard, "Oltan Hall, oh Harry has told me all sorts of things about you. All good though.

King George V

And..... Bittern, my dear sister! How have you been!"

"I've been doing wonderfully Mallard," said Bittern. "Well, I can see that there are mostly large express engines here. And......... is that Alivia?" In the very corner of the museum, left to rust, was Alivia the LMS Compound. "Yes, we heard what she did, and it was just horrible," said Bittern. "I just wish that she never sent my brothers and sisters to the scrap heap," said Oltan Hall. "But cheer up," said Achilles, "We can all make them proud by living our lives to the fullest for them!" "Indeed we shall!" said Mallard. "Come now Mallard," said Princess Elizabeth, "You must be tired after the long trip." "Well, I guess I could do with some rest." Mallard backed down next to Bittern, and he smiled, knowing his sister is still around.

The next morning, he saw that the museum was empty. "Hm? Where is everyone?" "Out here!!" cried a voice. Mallard came out, and he saw the engines all lined up, and people looking at them. "Oh, this a display show?" "Yes indeed, and you are to pull the demonstration train!" said Princess Elizabeth. "Oh, very well then," said Mallard. He was coupled up to a Mark II express coach.

Mallard pulled the coach forward, and called out to Bittern, "BITTERN, YOU WOULDN'T BELIEVE WHAT ALL HAS HAPPENED SINCE I JOINED THE STEAM OF BRITAIN FLEET!!!" He then backed down to the platform, and continued doing this. "WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING?" asked Bittern. "WELL, WE ACTUALLY SAVED ONE OF THE ORIGINAL SILVER JUBILEE ENGINES FROM SCRAP!!" "REALLY?! I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THEY WOULD MAKE IT!!" "I KNOW!! AND WE ALSO HAVE FLYING SCOTSMAN ON OUR FLEET!!!" "WELL, THAT MAKES YOU VERY LUCKY!" The whole day, Mallard pulled the demonstration train.

After the people left, he saw Jerry looking sad. "Is something wrong?" asked Mallard. "I.... I was just waiting over here, and I was hoping that someone might like to see a Brake Van Special." "Oh, and, no one came, did they?" "No," said Jerry. Mallard then perked up, "I know what will cheer you up! Come with me, in the museum and talk with the big engines." "M-M-M-M-M-M-ME!?! GO IN THERE!?!" "Yes." "I-I-I really don't think that it's such a good idea." "It will be fine. I'll be beside you the whole time."

The two engines then puffed into the museum, with Mallard in front. "Ah Mallard," said Princess Elizabeth, "It's so good to see you. Did you enjoy you-" She stopped when she saw Jerry. "What is HE doing here?" she asked. "Hm? Oh, you mean Jerry. I invited him." "Jerry?" asked St. Paul, "What a ridiculous name." "I-I should go," said Jerry. "No, no stand your ground," said Mallard. "He'll find his ground on the other side of the yard if he knows what's good for him," said Elizabeth. "I-I'm sorry!" "Are you? You come in here uninvited with your grubby little buffers, and your black suty smoke. If you were sorry, you'd clear out before we call for the CUTTER!!!" Jerry then raced out of the museum. "I'm sorry Mallard, that you weren't to know..." "WEREN'T TO KNOW!?!" "....how things work up here. This is a place for the most prestigious engines every built." "ON WHAT MEASURE!?! It can't be the one who works the most, that's for sure!!" "There is a balance Mallard. Certain things for certain places." "Steam is being threatened," said Achilles. "We're here to be symbols," said Elizabeth, "To when the world made sense. With some of us to admire, and another to pull the Demonstration Train." "With someone doing the proper work!?!" exclaimed Mallard. "Mallard, the people are here to see us," said Elizabeth, "And to see a shunter do it, well, they just wouldn't understand." "We'd soon be on the scrap heap," said St. Paul. Everyone muttered in agreement. "The diesels wait outside, beginning for our demise," said Elizabeth. "Not all diesels are like that! I work with a few preserved diesels! They are very kind!" "Then they are the only ones. But you can help us Mallard. The way you pull the demonstration train with such vigor." "BUT WHY ME!?!" asked Mallard, "why not any of you!?! You need me because....." Mallard then realized the truth, ".....because you can't run anymore, can you? None of you can move. Elizabeth, St. Paul, Achilles, Oltan Hall, King George,....... even you, Bittern?" Bittern looked down at her buffers shamefully, "Preservation is in it's infancy Mallard." "And this is it's bold first steps," said Mallard, "Secrecy and bullying because you aren't good for ANYTHING else." "It's just one of the prices of preservation," said Oltan Hall, "I just wish for a good long on the main line again." "Is it really worth bullying smaller engines!?!" asked Mallard, "Bittern, what would Sir Nigel Gresley think of you now if he saw you doing this!?!" "Now now Mallard, this is a bit hypocritical," said Elizabeth. "And how is it?!" he asked. "We brought you here because we thought you'd understand," said St. Paul. "Well, I thought I did," said Mallard, "But I was wrong. If this is how every other LMS locomotive acts, then I wish nothing to do with them." "Mallard, you are the pride of the LNER. You are the fastest engine they ever built." "My driver was right," said Mallard, "A bit of polish does hide things well. It hides the dirt right under your frames. You're a sham! ALL OF YOU!!" "THAT IS ENOUGH!!!" boomed Elizabeth, "You will understand in time Mallard, but I think it's best you spend the night some where else." "And who's going to move me?" asked Mallard.

Mallard puffed out of the museum, and sneered at all the engines. Bittern just couldn't stop thinking about what her brother said. "Maybe he's right," she said, "Are we really...." "Now now, Bittern," said Elizabeth, "If he was in your place, he'd understand." "I don't know," said Oltan Hall, "I feel like he might have a point." Mallard backed down next to Jerry, and Jerry said, "they're right about me, you know?" "No they are not!" said Mallard firmly, "Jerry, I'm sorry for taking you in there, I should've known sooner." "Well, it was exciting to see what it was like in the museum. How does it compare to your shed?" "Well, it's colder, and the company's rotten." Jerry laughed, "You're welcome here Mallard. I just wish I could maybe teach those big engines a lesson." Mallard looked down at his buffers, then he had an idea. "Wait, I think I have it!" He then whispered it to his crew and Jerry.

"Well, ladies and gentlemen, now that the little incident is behind us, I think we should....." Mallard pulled up to Elizabeth. "Oh, Mallard, you're back....... with the fitter?" "Yes, well, I thought I'd come apologize for my behavior last night. Completely out of character." "Well, I..... wait, where are your buffers?" "Oh, they're fractured, and in need of repair. Will take up most of the day." "RUBBISH!!" said Elizabeth. "He's not lying Princess Elizabeth, it will take up most of the day. As if that wasn't enough, we have a derailed truck at the light as well you know." "What about the demonstration train!?!" "Well, the shunter will have to pull it, that or one of the diesels." Princess Elizabeth gritted her teeth. "Well, we can't jeopardize the service," taunted Mallard, "It's for the best." "Get him out of my way!" snarled Elizabeth, "I'll pull the demonstration train!" "Wait, what?" asked Mallard. "Are you quite sure about that Princess Elizabeth?" asked the fitter, "I don't think you're in shape to do so." "NOT IN SHAPE!?!? I'LL SHOW YOU!! FIRE ME UP!!"

Jerry stood in front of the Mark 2 coach, when Elizabeth came steaming by. "Go play with your brake vans, you little weasel!" Princess Elizabeth was coupled up to the coach, and Mallard and Jerry looked at each other nervously. "I'll show you," said Elizabeth. She pulled, and pulled, but she only moved an inch, when the coupling broke, and she derailed. "You silly great engine," said the manager, "Now there's no train at all!! What are we supposed to do now!?" Just then, Jerry came, and said, "Is everything alright!? I heard a crash and....." Everyone saw the brake vans, and Mallard smiled.

Princess Elizabeth was taken to the works shed on a flatbed, pulled by a diesel of all things. "WE HAD IT ALL!!!" she scolded, "BUT YOU HAD TO RUIN IT!! NEVER AGAIN, WILL YOU BE WELCOME ON THESE RAILS AGAIN!!" Just then, Jerry came, and said, "Mallard, here are your passengers." "Thank you Jerry," said Mallard, "so, how was your day?" "Oh it was splendid. I showed them the whole property, the heritage line, everything! You know, once you get to know the engines, they're actually pretty nice. They were impressed with my performance, and they said I could stay in the sheds with them. I wonder if we can make room for more." "Oh that's good for you," said Mallard, "As for me, I've been 'Banished from the rails' from Elizabeth." Jerry laughed at his impression of Elizabeth, and then said "You know, we could always use an engine like you here at York." "I appreciate the offer Jerry," said Mallard, "But, I have friends who need me. I'm part of a collection too. The preserved steam engines that still run to this very day. I really hope that one day, you may join, or be part of a heritage line." "Thank you Mallard." The guard blew his whistle, and Mallard headed off to Sodor, to await when King's Cross was open to the public again.