Page 80 of Winter Magic on Railway Lane

This time, it was the train that was illuminated in multicoloured lights and yet more oohs and aahs rung out as Ethan climbed back down. He had tested the lighting a couple oftimes but had never seen properly in the darkness as he could do now.

He felt quite emotional as he looked along the engine to the carriages beyond, whose full length was dotted with thousands of lights. It looked magical.

With a deep breath, he went to stand in front of his grandad. ‘Will it do?’ he asked, feeling nervous.

Eddie smiled and nodded. ‘Aye, lad. It’ll do,’ he said, with a smile.

But Ethan knew that it was the actual train ride that his grandad was waiting for, as was everyone else, so they brought out the special steps that Nico had built and placed them next to one of the carriage doors.

Eddie was helped up into the carriage, along with Harriet, Katy and Ryan. Ethan was also pleased to see Philip boarding the carriage, with Libby close behind him.

He thought back to the kiss they had shared. He still couldn’t get it out of his head, but he had to for now, he reminded himself, because he had a train full of extremely important passengers to take on a special journey.

Once Grams, Flora and Nico had also boarded the carriage and everyone was safely indoors, Joe came along to join Ethan and Bob in the driver’s cab.

‘Everyone’s all set,’ he told them, as Ethan checked the oil and water gauges one last time.

Then he nodded at Joe to flick a different switch and suddenly the music of Tchaikovsky’sNutcrackerrang out over the speaker above them.

Joe’s phone lit up with a text from Harriet. ‘Yup, it’s playing in the carriage as well,’ he told.

Ethan looked at his dad. ‘Then let the Christmas train begin!’ he said.

Bob nodded before turning to pull the chain and the toot-toot of the whistle rang out. Then Ethan pulled down the lever and the train began to move.

Although they were concentrating on the track, Ethan could also appreciate the wonder that both the music, story and lighting could create in the darkness.

Philip’s narration was just enough to whet people’s appetite and describe what was about to happen before the train went past the scene with the music playing.

Ethan hoped that Libby enjoyed her longed-for ‘shazam’ when he watched the lights flicker and create the magic as the Nutcracker doll came to life. He thought of her as well as they went past the battle scene, with its red firecracker effects creating the explosions that she had described.

In between the storytelling, the wonderful music created the right atmosphere and wonder required as the steam engine carried on in the darkness, its thousands of lights causing yet more magic.

They slowed the train as they travelled past the old abandoned station, now transformed into The Kingdom of the Sweets, shining out in the darkness with its brightly coloured lollipops and candy canes, alongside wrapped candy and even a massive oversized chocolate bar.

All too soon it was time to slow the train down to a halt and begin the return journey, but Ethan was grateful that everything had run smoothly so far. He wasn’t sure the thrill of driving the train would ever lessen for him and despite the stress of getting the train ready in time for its inaugural Christmas run, he finally felt at peace.

He just hoped his grandad felt the same way.

When they arrived back at Cranfield station, everyone rushed out of the carriages to tell them how wonderful it had been.There were hugs, tears and laughter as everyone congratulated each other on a job well done.

Ethan even received a hug from Libby, although she had just given one to his dad as well. They locked eyes as she stepped away. The dark pink blush spreading across her cheeks told him that she hadn’t forgotten about their kiss either.

She stepped aside and Ethan came face to face with Philip.

‘Thank you for the wonderful narration,’ Ethan told him. ‘The storytelling was spot on.’

‘Glad you enjoyed listening to it as much as I enjoyed telling it,’ replied Philip, shaking his hand. ‘I thought the whole light show was absolutely marvellous.’

Then it was time for the most important review of all.

His grandad slowly made his way down the platform from where he had been staring up at the train, still lit up in its Christmas lights.

Ethan suddenly felt nervous. What if it hadn’t been all that his grandad had dreamt of? What if he had failed in his quest to help his grandad achieve his dream?

But as Eddie turned to look at his grandson with tears in his eyes, Ethan’s shoulders sank back down in relief.

‘You did it,’ Eddie told him, as Ethan went forward to hug him briefly.