“IRWELL’S BIG DAY OUT”

Big boxes of cat food!

Large cartons of milk!
Lovely warm comfy cat basket!
Loads of friendly cats to play with!

HOOT! HOOT! HOOT!

Irwell awoke from his dream to the loud sound of the

station klaxon.
The 7.30 express to Leeds was due to come thundering
through the station any minute!

Irwell’s basket felt really warm and snug that morning

as he tried to wake up at Rawtenstall Station.
Irwell was the station cat and he loved it there.
He loved the trains, and all the people on them.

But today was his “Big day out!”

Station Master Ben had promised Irwell he could go on
the special steam train to Ramsbottom, and take some
friends with him.

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As soon as he remembered this he jumped out of the
basket all excited!
The station shook as the express train roared through
And Irwell tried to imagine himself driving it.

“You’ll soon be on your train Irwell” said Ben as he put

out some food and milk for Irwell.
“And I know you’ll love it!”

“Hello Irwell!” shouted his friend Mansell, the Manx

cat.

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Irwell liked Mansell, but couldn’t understand why he
didn’t have a tail like all the other cats.
“Hello Mansell, are you looking forward to the train
journey?” said Irwell.
“Ooh yes” said Mansell “It’s going to be great!”
Mansell lived in the car showroom opposite the train
station, and had been friends with Irwell for a long
time.

“What time is our train?” said Mansell.

“8.30, not long to go now” said Irwell, “Do you want to
share my milk while we wait?”
“Yes please” said Mansell.

“Hi, guys”. It was Irwell and Mansell’s other two

friends, Tom the Ginger cat, and Charlie the Persian
cat.

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“Hi, fellas are we all ready for the trip?” said Tom.

“We certainly are!” said Mansell.

“Who’s got the food for the trip?”

Charlie and Tom looked at each other confused.

“Don’t worry” said Irwell, it’s all sorted.

When we get to Ramsbottom, Ben has arranged a meal
for us with his friend at the station, Mr. Peel.

“Great!” They all shouted.

TOOT! TOOT!

“Here comes our train” said Tom excitedly.

The big steam engine pulled into the station

majestically, amongst big clouds of white steam.

The four friends couldn’t wait to get on.

Just as the train pulled to a halt, Ben, the Stationmaster

approached them.

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“Irwell, you can’t go in the carriage today”, said
Ben.

The Cats all seemed stunned. “But”……… said

Ben.” We have a surprise for you all.”

“You can ride with the driver if you like”

“Yes!!!!!!” the friends all shouted, “that’s

brilliant!!!”

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They waited until all the passengers had got off,

and then Ben took them to the front of the train, to

see the driver, Casey.

“Hi guys” shouted Casey from up on the driver’s

plate. “Look what we’ve got for you?”

The four friends couldn’t wait to see, and Casey

didn’t disappoint them. He threw them down four

train driver caps from the engine, each with their

own names on.

Irwell couldn’t believe it and all his friends were

excited too!

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“Thanks very much” said Mansell, “what a

fantastic surprise!”

“Come on up then!” shouted Casey, and they all

climbed the ladder onto the engine.

“See you later!” shouted Ben, and he waved as he

went back to the station.

Whilst they waited for all the new passengers to

board the train, Casey explained all the controls,

and gave them each a job to do.

Irwell would drive the train,

Mansell would sound the hooter at every station

and tunnel,

Tom asked could he shovel the coke for the engine,

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And Charlie was the brake man.

They were nearly ready, all they had to do was wait

for Ben to wave his green flag when everyone was

on board, and when the junction box signal went to

green, they could set off.

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 “Ok chaps, lets roll!” shouted Casey, and as

Ben waved his flag, Charlie let the brakes off and away

went the train.

The cats all loved it, and as the train slowly pulled

through the small halt at Irwell Vale, Mansell sounded

the hooter “TOOT” “TOOT” “TOOT!”, and all the

people out walking for the day waved at them.

The cats waved back and couldn’t wait to see

everyone at the station at Ramsbottom.

Casey let Irwell drive like a real train driver,

Mansell sounded the klaxon at every station and

halt, Charlie controlled the brakes when the train

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 was going downhill, and Tom was shoveling like

mad to make it go faster!

Suddenly, as they got close to the viaduct at

Summerseat, Irwell noticed something up ahead on the

line and shouted “Stop the train!” Quick as a flash

Charlie pulled the brake lever, and Tom stopped

shoveling. Mansell sounded the klaxon to warn

everyone “TOOT” TOOT” TOOOOOOT!”

When the train stopped Casey jumped out of the engine

followed quickly by all the four friends.

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There seemed to be a big furry animal on the line

ahead.

When they got there straight away they realized it was a

big Spaniel dog, and Casey said “you’ll have to help me

lift him onto the train guys, we’ll take him to the vets at

Ramsbottom, Mr.P.Nutt”.

Now the cats all looked at each other bemused,

normally they kept well away from any dogs, but they

soon realized this was an emergency, so they all got

stuck in and lifted their new furry friend up onto the

train.

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“TOOT” “TOOT” Mansell sounded the klaxon again

and off went the train.

“We’re not very far from Ramsbottom station” said

Casey, “we should be there in about 4 or 5 minutes”

The cats had covered the spaniel with Casey’s jacket to

keep it warm, “what are we going to do with the dog

when we get there?” asked Irwell.

“We’ll take him in to Mr.Peel,s station office to keep

him warm, and he will take him in his car to see

Mr.Nutt, the vet, I’ll ring ahead now on my mobile”,

said Casey. Casey made the phone call just as the engine

pulled the train into the station.

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As the four friends helped Casey carry the dog from the

train to the station, all the people waiting to get on were

watching.

“Hello” said Mr. Peel the Station Master, “I’ve called

Mr.Nutt and he’s ready and waiting, I’ll take our furry

friend now”. “Oh, by the way I’ve booked you guys in

for dinner at Fishy Fred’s, out of the station, turn left

and it’s at the end of the street, Bye!”

And without further ado, he carried the spaniel out to

his car and sped off up the road.

“Right” said Casey “I’m really proud of you guys, you

are real heroes!”

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“Off you go for dinner, and I’ll be back at four with the

last train back to Rawtenstall”

“Bye”, said the friends, and they all went out of the

station excitedly.

Fishy Fred’s sounded good to them, as they all loved to

eat fish, “I wonder what we’ll be having?” said Charlie.

“I hope its Cod fish” said Mansell, “that’s my

favourite”

As they turned at the end of the street, they couldn’t see

Fishy Freds. “Where is it?” said Tom. “I’m not sure”

said Irwell. But they kept looking.

They went past all the well known shops, Woolywads,

Boats the Chemist, Barton’s clothes shop, Watersteams

the book shop, and then……..suddenly it was there

Fishy Fred’s, a Fish & Chip shop!

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“Wow!” said the cats. They had never been in a Fish &

Chip shop before. Just then a large man came running

out of the shop to greet them. “Hi fellows, I’ve been

expecting you!” “I’m Fred, from Fishy Fred’s!” “Come

on in, your table is set”.

Fred took the four friends into the seating part of the

shop, where all the tables were full with people, apart

from one, in the middle of the room, which was set

ready for them.

As soon as they walked in everyone cheered and

clapped them.

They all looked stunned.

“Its ok fellas, Casey rang me and told me what you had

done for the Spaniel, now everyone knows you are the

big heroes today, sit down and we’ll serve you!”

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The cats all felt so proud and Fred served up some

fantastic food, fish, biscuits, meat, jelly and loads of

cream!!!

They ate everything, and when it was time to go and

catch the train, they thanked Fred for his hospitality

and headed off to catch the train.

Casey pulled the train into Ramsbottom station right on

time and all the guys jumped up on to the engine

straight away. They had had a taste of train driving and

couldn’t wait to try it again.

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“How’s our doggy friend?” asked Irwell. “Oh he’s on

the mend already” said Casey.” You might see him

soon”.” Now let’s get our passengers back to

Rawtenstall.”

The four friends all had great fun again driving the

train, and Casey promised them they could do it again

sometime.

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“Rawtenstall station coming up! Pull the brakes on

Charlie!” shouted Casey.

Mansell sounded the klaxon again “Toot!” “Toot” and

Charlie pulled the brakes on.

As the train slowed down and stopped amidst a cloud of

steam, Irwell noticed that there were quite a lot of

people on the platform, which was unusual because this

was the last train today and there were no more.

Suddenly, a brass band started playing and all the

people clapped and cheered and waved flags.

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Ben was waiting for them, “Hi guys!” he said, “We’ve

got a big surprise for you!”

The four friends climbed down from the train, and

everyone was still cheering them.

The band played loudly, and then they saw a large

figure at the end of the platform.

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It was Mr.Cowpe the Mayor of the town, and he was

coming towards them carrying a large bag.

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Ben, the Stationmaster welcomed them “Hi, guys”

“Look whose here to meet you!”

Just at that moment, all the people on the platform

gathered round.

“Hello gentleman” said the Mayor.

All the cats looked at him surprised, they had never met

anyone as important as a Mayor before.

“We are all so proud of you today, you are all heroes

today!” and as he talked to them he started to rummage

in his bag.

“As the Mayor of Rossendale, I am extremely proud to

present you all with the Medal of Honour!”

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All the people clapped and cheered, and the band

started to play “Congratulations”.

Just then Ben stepped forward “That’s not all guys,

look who we have here?”

The crowd parted and there was the Spaniel that they

had rescued earlier!

“Thanks so much fellas, The vet has fixed me up and I

feel much better” he said.

“I hope we can all be friends forever”

That night as Irwell curled up in his basket at the

station, he dreamed of the big day they had all had

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together and looked forward to the next big Irwell

adventure!

THE END

Irwell and friends will return in the next book,

“Irwell’s trip to the City”

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