An Invitation from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway (Part 1)

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Voice Cast

 * Mark Moraghan as the Narrator
 * Tom Stourton as Rex
 * Keith Wickham as Bert (small railway) and the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Owner
 * Tim Whitnall as Mike
 * Rob Rackstraw as Frank and Mr. Fergus Duncan
 * Colin McFarlane as Jock
 * Darren Boyd as Blister I
 * Steven Kynman as Blister II
 * Rachael Miller as Sigrid of Arlesdale
 * Bob Golding as River Irt
 * Clive Mantle as River Esk
 * Matt Wilkinson as River Mite
 * Ian McCue as Perkins
 * Hugh Bonneville as Northern Rock
 * Nathan Clarke as Cyril
 * Olivia Colman as Shelgah of Eskdale

Transcript
Narrator: It was early morning on the Arlesdale Railway. The date with December 17th, and the Small Controller, Mr. Fergus Duncan had just received  a letter from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Owner.

Mr. Fergus Duncan: Follow engines, I have just received a letter from your railway counterpart back in England.

Mike: Will you please read it to us sir?

Bert: Yeah we'd love to hear what it says.

Mr. Fergus Duncan: Okay, but listen carefully. (clears throat and reads letter)

Dear Mr. Fergus Duncan,

This is the Controller of the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway writing to you, because I need to ask you a very important favour. I was wondering if your engines could visit my railway for the holidays to spend Christmas with mine. We have a lot of stuff to do to get things ready for Christmas. This is why I need help from your engines as soon as possible. I might even let them join in the fun if they do really well.

Sincerely yours, Your good friend, the R.A.E. Owner

Frank: R.A.E.. What's that?

Mr. Fergus Duncan: These are the initials for Ravenglass and Eskdale. I imagine the owner just put those on because his full name was too long to right underneath.

Rex: Yes, well that would make sense.

Jock: And why did he send the letter sir?

Mr. Fergus Duncan: Well you do realize that your railway is shut for the Christmas holidays this year, right?

Mike: Oh yeah. Guess we forgot about that.

Mr. Fergus Duncan: And are you all looking forward to it?

All the engines: Yes!

Frank: Yeah I guess so.

Narrator: But the engines had a lot to do before they could catch the ferry for England. Mike, Jock and Sigrid had to take passengers to the stations so they could get safely home for Christmas. Rex and the Blister Twins collected ballast for the ballast chute, and Bert and Frank took the last of the wool to the clothes factory to make woolly clothes.

When finally all the ordinary jobs had been completed, the eight small engines went to their little wharf to catch the boat for the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.

Mr. Fergus Duncan: Goodbye and enjoy yourselves.

Rex: Oh and sir.

Mr. Fergus Duncan: Yes Rex.

Rex: What will you be doing while our railway's closed.

Sigrid of Arlesdale: Yeah, I was wondering the same thing myself.

Mr. Fergus Duncan: I thought no one would ask, but I'm glad they did. I'll be visiting relatives on the Mainland until the railway reopens. So good luck to you all.

Jock: Good luck to you too sir.

Blisters: Bye sir.

Narrator: It was nearly teatime when they finally arrived, but they were greeted warmly by their follow counterparts.

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Owner: Ah, thank you all for coming. Did you enjoy your ride to my railway.

Jock: Oh yes, it was great.

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Owner: And I would like to say that you will all help your own sibling in the next seven days to get things ready for Christmas. Are you all looking forward to it?

Bert: Absolutely sir.

River Irt: Hello Bert.

River Esk: Hi Rex.

River Mite: Good to see you again Mike.

Northern Rock: Welcome Jock.

Perkins: Here you are Frank, safe and sound.

Cyril: Hi there Blisters.

Shelgah of Eskdale: There you are Sigrid. Welcome.

Rex, Bert, Mike, Frank, Jock, Blisters and Sigrid: Hello everyone!

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway Controller: You can start preparations tomorrow morning. Right now, you all try and get some sleep.

Narrator: That night, while the engines were asleep, they dreamt about a white Christmas outside the engine shed, with a big Christmas tree, and lots of presents and food.