How Thunder Hoof got his name, by Matthew Quilliam

	Pinewood (Wokingham) Miniature Railway
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Thunder Hoof

Thunder Hoof was one of the North American C19 Class 2-8-0's at Pinewood Miniature Railway. With a black tender, green boiler and a brown cab with black and white wheels, Thunder Hoof was the most multi-coloured miniature locomotive on the railway. Thunder Hoof was very cheerful and knows how to have fun. However, he is very forgetful and cannot remember things for long! Thunder Hoof was originally named Old Glory, and this is his story.

Old Glory had been sent to Andy Walton's Denver Light Railway workshops for repairs. He was kept at the back of the shed and was probably forgotten about most of the time. There was Erin, Gillian, Chessie, Winson, Union Pacific and Mikado. They didn’t take much notice of him. Mr. Andrew was busy doing other chores too. Old Glory thought back to the time when he was brand new. He went round the Pinewood Miniature Railway circuit with pleasure and pride. Old Glory then thought back to the day when his front wheels had snapped on the stiff points. He had been taken away by lorry and dumped in the back of this mouldy engine shed.

Old Glory was feeling stuffed up. He was very angry. He didn’t like it at the back of that dark shed. The other locomotives didn’t even look at him. Gillian was very clumsy and actually forgot Old Glory was there! Eventually, Mr. Andrew took Old Glory out of the shed and took him for a test run. There was trouble the moment his fire had started.

Old Glory’s front wheels hadn’t been replaced yet and Mr. Andrew was thrown out of the tender quite a few times. Then, the real problems started. Old Glory’s boiler was full of cobwebs and dust, and he couldn’t work properly! His built-on snow plough was starting to scrape the track. The whole locomotive started shaking and wobbling. Old Glory started to derail! Then, it was too late! He crashed into a hut and was ruined from top to bottom.

“Time to get you fixed!” Mr. Andrew said. He was aged around 39 with quite a deep accent. Mr. Andrew was up all night long fixing Old Glory. Soon, he was so clean and new that you had to put sun glasses on up to ten metres away! Old Glory felt all fresh and clean! He was as good as new! After a short sleep at front of the shed, Old Glory was on the main line going as fast as ever. He went so fast that Mr. Andrew had to rename him Thunder!

After a few more test runs, Thunder was taken back to Pinewood Miniature Railway. He was reunited with his old friends. Thunder was given a welcome back party, and later on was give the nickname Thunder Hoof when his whistle went wrong and he sounded like a moose. Thunder stuck with his nickname, and chuffed happily ever after!

Click her for the story "When Moose Jaw was too thirsty".

© Pinewood Miniature Railway Society Limited 2011
Registered Office: - Pinewood Miniature Railway Society Limited, Pinewood Leisure Centre, Old Wokingham Road, WOKINGHAM, Berks. RG40 3AQ