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Abandoned - Railway - part 3 - Pumpkin Junction - Story 62

Started by Abandoned, October 23, 2020, 07:56:10 AM

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taniu


Abandoned

#16
 ;D ;D ;D  Thanks and Happy Halloween

And yes, there are pumpkins everywhere in Pumpkin Junction because:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB-tVj9EZPk

Abandoned

Chapter 8


  It was soon back to work as usual.  The general goods merchant arrived at the trading post, he was on his way back to Riverboat Junction for merchandise but he did have some maps left.  They were very expensive, we only had enough trade goods for one.  Young Trinidas, age 13, took a look at the map at the town hall and said he could easily make copies of it if he had a place where he could work undisturbed.  A house was built for him next to Grisellene's Sweet Shop, maybe they would become sweet on each other.

  Work on the railway continued.  By spring of year 8 we had a trestle bridge crossing the river and 2 foot bridges, one on either side of the trading post.  There were a lot of trees and rocks that needed to be cleared before track laying could continue, and there was a long way to go east and then north to reach a suitable place for a tunnel.  There were a lot of branches, wild foods, and herbs on that side of the river, we gathered what we could.  Track laying continued throughout the winter, weather permitting. 

Abandoned

Chapter 9


  By early spring of year 9, the tracks going east went past the 2nd footbridge, work had been slow.  On this side of the river, a mill was built to grind oats into flour.  We would be able to make oat bread stuffing for turkeys this year just like back in Hometown, and there would be tart berry sauce to go with it.  While looking for the best location for the mill a cranberry bog was discovered farther to the west where the river curved.

  Across the river a railway station was built but work on the railway slowed again when a large group of bears got too close.  They often had workers running back to town.  A few of the workers who lived farther away would often stay at the new rooming house that was built on what we now considered to be Pumpkin Junction's main street.  By the time hunters were sent across the river we had an early first frost.  We hoped the bears would hibernate soon.  It snowed for Halloween.  We had a new treat that year, warm roasted chestnuts. 

  There was an early thaw in late winter, folks enjoyed being outside in the park.  Work resumed across the river.  A station master was built and a coal bin was almost finished.  The warmer weather and early thaw meant track laying could continue.  We had often been short of logs and firewood that year.

Abandoned

Chapter 10


  We had built a forester workplace near the main stockpile but it was barely providing enough wood for the woodcutter and toolmaker.  Then there was  a complaint about its location.  If we were to extend the railway to the east it would be best to go around the big mountain than through it even though we would then have to build a bridge and tracks across the lake to reach the mountain to the east.  The forest workplace was right in the path.

The tunnel to the north may also be a problem.  We had to choose a location far enough east to avoid tunneling into the small stream.  The lower gulch area may not provide enough clearance for the tunnel.  It was decided that a mine built there could bring stone, coal, and iron out of a side shaft like it was done in Iron Ridge.  The tunnel would be easier to dig later and we would have coal for the train.

  Shortly after that decision was made a train with 2 passenger cars arrived from Iron Ridge.  The 3  families came from Hometown to help with the railway.  There were 7 adults with 5 children.  They would help with land clearing or track laying or whatever needed doing.  We built a forester on the other side of the tracks and 2 houses.  A house for the 3rd family was built on Main Street - they would give haircuts in their front room in their spare time, he was a barber.  We were all sad when in autumn the barber's wife died in childbirth leaving behind a grieving husband, a son, and a daughter.

  The mine was completed in early winter but mining would not start until the weather warmed.

Abandoned

Chapter 11


  By spring of year 11 the tracks were laid almost as far as the location for the north tunnel.  Work had progressed as far as the mine when the passenger train returned with 13 adults and 1 child.  They were miners and general laborers sent to help.  There seemed to be some urgency for us to complete the north tunnel.  We were told we could expect the work train to return soon.

  A 3rd bridge was built to cross the river and we began building new home there for the newcomers.  The child was little more than an infant but we were prompted to check our school situation and discovered our town school was filled to capacity.  A new school house was constructed across the river. 

  The north tunnel entrance was completed in early autumn and we celebrated it's completion at the new tavern that was built on main street.

Abandoned

Chapter 12


  We'd been aware for several years that our overall heath was not 100%.  We knew some areas of town were not getting enough variety in their diets and we had been working on that.  But during the winter of year 11, there seemed to be more coughs, colds, and fevers than before.  We chose a spot just east of town on main street to build an herbalist.  In early spring of year 12, we were all surprised to hear the distance sound of a train whistle.  The work train came through the tunnel and we all watched as it made its way to the north station.

  The work train brought the work crew and their families.  There were 10 adults with 2 children.  The crew would dig the tunnel while their families lived and worked nearby.  Our station Rooms and main street Rooms were still full, we badly needed more houses.  We also needed better tools.  The blacksmith began making steel tools.  The newcomers said there also seemed to be more illnesses back in Hometown and Iron Ridge.  Wernestone, the general goods merchant, said it was the same in other towns too, some towns were experiencing shortages of food, clothes, and tools because so many workers were out sick.  We traded some tools and pumpkins for wool.

  The apothecary was completed and our overall health began to rise as more town's people stopped by for healing.  With more workers we collected wild foods on all sides of town so all storage units had a better variety.  Branches for firewood were also collected.

  By late autumn our supply totals were all good and our overall health was 100%.  Pumpkin Junction's population was 131, 76 adults, 21 students, and 34 young children.

kid1293

You have some good influences from the native people. You don't just chop down trees.
It looks good, homey, with trees still in the town :)

I don't mind more pictures with snow. I am sitting and testing things, and I am usually
done before winter. I seldom see snow ;D ;D

Abandoned

 :)  It is hard to think snowy winter thoughts in the middle of November 70 degree heat wave  ;D  Going for a walk now  ;D

Abandoned

Chapter 13


  Some of the firewood collected went directly to the soup kettle that was set up across the river where tunnel workers and minors could warm up by the fire and have a cup of hot mushroom soup.  Before next winter we would switch to chicken soup hoping to keep more people healthy.

  While the work crew was busy digging the tunnel to the north, we were busy laying track to the south.  There was a small creek that had to be bridged before the tunnel entrance could be dug.  The work crew would have to determine if the creek would cause a problem for tunnel digging and track laying.  It may only be possible to have a foot tunnel going south.

  The south tunnel entrance was completed in autumn and work began laying tracks to the east.  By winter the junction point was completed and tracks were being laid as far as the lake.   Trees were being cut on the other side of the lake and the tunnel entrance was completed in late winter.  The bridge and remaining tracks would have to wait for warmer weather to arrived.

Abandoned

Chapter 14


  There was a late winter thaw so rail work resumed sooner than expected.  By early spring tracks extended to the lake from both the town side and the east tunnel entrance. We had a lot of builders, and workers were kept busy gathering iron.  The miners by the south station brought up iron instead of coal until the bridge and tracks across the lake were completed in late spring.

  The work had only just been completed on the tracks going east when a train of more workers arrived at the south station.  There were 14 adults with 3 children.  They were sent to go through the north tunnel as soon as it was completed and to help lay tracks going as far north as the designated area near the North Pole South Annex.  There was now a call for help sent out to anyone of elven descent, they were to report to that area as soon as possible.  This sounded serious.  The 2 passenger cars the newcomers came in would be joined to our work train.  Their engine and freight car would be headed back to Holiday Hometown.  Due to numerous illnesses, Hometown was experiencing shortages and the holidays were fast approaching.  They asked that we load the freight car with whatever holiday type foods we could spare.  They also advised us to build a hospital if we had not already done so.

  We tried not to think about what this all might imply.  We concentrated instead on the task at hand.  Having been from Iron Ridge and Hometown we knew what was needed for their Holiday celebration.  The train was scheduled to leave at the beginning of autumn, that did not give us much time.  The freight car had 3 workers, we wished we had bigger wheelbarrows.  First we would send some herbs for healing.  We didn't have enough turkeys but we had duck.  We didn't have spare potatoes, Brussels sprouts, or cranberries.  We would sent sweet potatoes, pumpkins, corn, and carrots.  What would the holidays be in Hometown without pumpkin pie.  It was time Pumpkin Junction have pumpkin pie.

  A spice shack was built in my backyard and a baker was built not far from the flour mill on the river.  We did not hesitate to build a hospital centrally located by the cemetery in town.  We began filing the freight car with a variety of foods thinking to raise the quantity as time permitted, but there just wasn't enough time, the train had to leave in order to reach Holiday Hometown by mid autumn.  We so much wanted to send pumpkin pies but they were not ready in time.  The freight train headed west and a short time later, just before the first snow, we watch the last passenger car of the work train disappear into the north tunnel.


Abandoned

Chapter 15


  So, weary traveler, here we sit.  The work train has not returned from the north and no other train has arrived from Iron Ridge.  The river boatman has past us by.  We have no idea what is happening in the world around us but we have remained healthy and as happy as possible.

  Life has continued as usual in Pumpkin Junction.  Our farmyard and forests are producing well, we have a variety of foods with all the fixings for holiday meals including turkey, cranberries, and pumpkin pie.

We have become the friendly railway junction town we wanted to be with tunnels and tracks going in all directions - north, south, east, and west.  We have a fantastic festive park area and a main street with shops and our own cartographer.  Now we can only sit and wonder and miss our Dwarf and Elven friends and families who have gone north.  Hopefully we will find out something soon.

 

To Be Continued

Abandoned

Kid Friendly Pumpkin update has been released - find link to download here:

http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3476.0

Kid Colonial City Center has been released - find link to download here:

http://worldofbanished.com/index.php?topic=3875.0