Some time had passed since A.J. and company came across their friends Leach and Fiesta. A.J. had found a near by clearing and had built a fire to help his crew dry off from their “Fishing Trip”. Aleu also helped roll over a log for her friends to sit on. In the distance the whistle of the GFRR’s Mason Bogie #7 bass by, hauling a local freight heading to Gunpowder Falls. Leach had taken of his shirt and was ringing it out near the fire. He and Fiesta had removed their clothes say for their Long Johns.

“Well, one more day to go until the ‘Big Event’!”

Said Aleu; trying to lighten up Leach and Fiesta’s mood. They both sighed a little and they were a bit embarrassed, due to their current states.

“Hey, aren’t you guys excited?” The Wolf asked.

“Yeah, I mean C’mon! This is the first time we’ve gotten to vs. someone other than ourselves with skill!” A.J. said joining in on the conversation. Leach looked up at his friends.

“Well, it ain’t cause we’re not excited. Its just I hate that Miss Aleu has ta’ see us in this predicament.” Leach said in a timid tone. Aleu just laughed.

“Trust me Leach, I’ve seen worse things then you two in your Long Johns!” Laughed Aleu; patting Leach on the back.

Meanwhile back in Wolf Creek, errand boys were running all over town like ants! They had been putting up posters about Rail Fest every where for the last few days! Even in Gunpowder Falls they posters went! The coming event was all over ALL the local papers and near by towns. The story was even getting National Attention! Baltimore, Boston, New York, Sacramento, and even Nome Alaska was hearing the news! It was the thing to talk about! Every passenger train coming from the East was jammed packed full of people coming to see Rail Fest! All the Hotels were getting booked fast. The local economy was skyrocketing! Both the GFRR and the WOLF were profiting off of the coming visitors! More so the WOLF though. This was also the First Time, aside from the Gold Shipment incident, that the Gunpowder Falls Railroad was known outside of Colorado and New Mexico!

So many people were coming to witness the exhibition that the Mayor of Wolf Creek ordered that Bleachers be built so the visitors can get a perfect view of the Rail Yard! One of the things that made Rail Fest unique form anything else is that there wasn’t any prize to be won. Not Money, not operating rights, just the satisfaction of knowing whose skills were best, and a firm handshake. The media was soaking up the whole story and Rail Fest was front page news almost every where! The Top Brass of both Railroad companies were busy figuring out how to reroute some of the freights and passenger trains so as to not interfere with the competition and not harm the schedules too badly.

In the yard Both WOLF engines and the smaller GFRR locomotives hurried about like bees in a hive. They were moving and switching out cars and making sure that the yard was clear for the competition. Preparations were well under way. In the Depot the Wolf Creek Station Master was in his office, reclined in his wooden desk chair drinking a cup of coffee and reading the paper. He looked out of the window to see the many locomotives steaming to and fro. Their “Stack Talk” filled the air and sometimes even the glass of the windows vibrated slightly on occasion. He took another sip from his tin cup and then set it down on the desk. In the room next to the office he could hear the clicking of the Telegraph. Then the Station Master looked up and the Clock hanging on the wall, it read 5 passed 2 pm. A West bound Express was due in 10 minutes on the WOLF side of the Depot, being pulled by one of their new Pacifics. He turned another page and then took another sip from his cup.

On the Far side of the yard was the Colorado Southern RR’s “Smith” locomotive. He’s a virtual twin to Aleu’s TEXAS, who still rested in the Roundhouse, a Civil War veteran 4-4-0. His Enginess ran him about, making up their train before heading out once more on the High Iron. His high pitched whistle echoed off of the mountain sides. The engine paused, with a Box Car in tow, as he yielded the Right-Of-Way to another freight coming in from the West. The Engineer mean while watched workers put up the Bleachers preparing for the coming competition.

“Well Aleu, now we get to see how good you REALLY are.” She thought to herself. The freight then cleared and she opened up the throttle and prepared to depart.