Story - Santa's Lucky Train

Santa's Lucky Train -

The Route Director’s Tale

Some years ago, not too many, in a town which cannot be named to protect identifying the site, the following tale unfolded.

It was Christmas Eve and the Route Director whose name was Mr Able known to all his railway friends as Very, was sitting in his office above the station.    He could see the tracks in all directions from his office and so he was well aware of the train movements.    The service was closing down for Christmas and the trains but one had returned to the depot.   The Drivers and Guards had all finished their shifts and he had personally shaken everyone’s hand and wished them a Happy Christmas before they set off home to their families.

He could see from his window that the Signal Box still had lights on and he knew that Mr Lever was there, he was known to his workmates as Switch, as he set the signals and points for the train service to the correct routes.   Very rang Switch to check which train was still due and discovered it was the last one of the day.    Now railways are good at naming trains on routes like the ‘Flying Scotsman’ or the ‘Ocean Express’ and Switch said it was the ‘Lincolnshire Greengrocer’.   This was the train that carried farm produce from Lincoln to the City fruit and vegetable market.

At this time, unknown to Very and Switch, Santa was on his sleigh delivering the presents to all the homes in the village.    Santa was sitting back enjoying the ride when he noticed the sleigh was slowing down and he checked the reindeer to see if they were okay.    They nodded to say that they were tired and needed some carrots to give them a boost.   Santa realised that if they did not eat then he had a choice to make, either deliver the presents left and not get back to Lapland or get back to Lapland and not deliver the presents.    “What shall I do then” he said, when he saw the two lights on the railway and decided to get the reindeer to land next to the station.     He jumped from the sleigh and went to get the emergency carrot supplies from the back of the sleigh.   “Oh!!!” he exclaimed, “No reserve supplies in the back.   Help I must do something urgently.”   He walked up the dark platform towards to office light checking which platform he had landed next too.    “No 7, that’s going to be lucky,” he thought.

Switch the signalman had not seen Santa land and was unaware of the reindeer and sleigh sitting next to platform 7.    Very was sitting in his office doing the final paperwork for the day and was also unaware that Santa had landed at his station.    Very became aware that there was a creaking on the stairs and suddenly a KNOCK on the door startled him.    In walked Santa and said, “I need your help rather urgently. “   He explained his problem with the reindeer, could Very help him?      Very said without thinking, “Well yes I can! “    He rang Switch and asked how long it was until the Lincolnshire Grocer was due.   Switch replied 15 minutes!!

“Great!” Very said, “What I want you to do is slow the train down and programme it to come into platform …  Wait a second,” turning to Santa, “Where are you parked?”     "By lucky number 7,” said Santa.    Speaking again to Switch, “Put the train in Platform 7 to stop by the signal, then set the route ready for normal and I will give the Green light when ready.”    “OK,” said Switch.

In the driver’s cab of the Lincolnshire Grocer, Driver Green, known as ‘Bright’ and co-driver Claret known as ‘Big Red’ because of his size were checking the signals when suddenly the next signal changed to double white.    This means prepare to slow down only two more signal zones before the red stop.    “That’s unusual,” said Bright to Big Red.   “Get ready and start to slow down the train.”    The next signal was single white which meant that they might have to stop at the next signal if red, so they slowed the train down to 10 miles an hour and crept towards the signal.     It suddenly changed from Red to White but with a righthand direction arrow which the drivers knew would take them from the main line to a platform.    “Very unusual this,” said Bright to Big Red for the second time, “Must be a problem up ahead.”

Bright used his phone to contact the signal box and Switch told Bright that they had been directed to Platform 7 and that Very was there to meet them.     This has never happed before, “What could have happened?” said Bright and Big Red together.    They slowed the train right down and stopped at the signal at the end of the platform where Very was waiting for them together with a man in a red coat with white edging.    Very shouted up, “Come down both of you we have an important job to do.”    They made their way to the platform and were astonished to see Santa with Very.   “What’s to do?” asked Bright.    Very said, “I want you to open up Goods Van number 1 and get a big sack of carrots out.   Don’t worry I will deal with all the paperwork.    Just hurry up!!”    They opened the Goods Van and Big Red grabbed a sack of carrots then shut the door.    “Quick up the bank,” he said to Bright and Big Red, “and open up the sack and feed the reindeer.“    The drivers thought Very had lost the plot and this was a big practical joke.    At the top of the bank they then saw the reindeer and split open the sack and fed the reindeer.     With that Santa thanked, Very, Bright and Big Red and gave the reindeer the command to carry on with the present delivery before going home.

Very then turned to Bright and Big Red, “Tonight we have done a great service to the village but remember you cannot say anything to your family or friends, this is top secret.   Switch is setting your route for an express run into the city and you should arrive on time as if nothing happened.    You understand you cannot tell anyone what has happened.”    “Yes!” they said. Very shook their hands wished them a merry Christmas and then ushered them back on board.   He gave the Green light signal to Switch.    The signals changed and Bright and Big Red took the Lincolnshire Grocer out of Platform 7 onto the main line for the fast run into the city.

Very phoned Switch to say thank you and Merry Christmas and said he too must log a small technical issue in the signal box record which cleared itself when reset and that he could not tell anyone what had taken place.   Switch made his note and then closed the signal box switching off the lights and made his way home.

Very went back to his office to make his notes and then closed the office and switched off the lights and made his way home.

On Christmas Morning at Switch’s home there was an extra present which no one had put under the Christmas Tree.  It was addressed to the Signalman    He opened the present and it was a pair of binoculars, just what he wanted.     At Bright’s home there was an extra present addressed to the Driver and when he opened it, it was a new Drivers Hat with “Driver First Class” on it, just what he wanted.     The same happened at Big Red’s house a present addressed to ‘The Co-Driver’ and when he opened it, it had a pair of Reindeer Gloves, just what he needed.

At Very’s house the family tradition was to open presents from under the Christmas Tree at 10.00am and everyone was excited.    The presents were given out and one remained addressed to The Route Director.   Very could not think who this had come from and the family all said it was not them.     He started to open the box undoing the ribbon taking the lid off the box and then taking out a carousel with a set or 8 reindeer and Santa in a sleigh.

He pressed the on button and the reindeer turned with the sleigh; it was all lit up, with bright Christmas music.    Very was convinced that all the reindeer turned and winked at him and Santa waved to him too!

© copyright Andrew Barnard 2020

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