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The Train With No Name

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"The Train With No Name"

was created especially for

Ryan Patrick Burns

at the age of 5

With love from

Mommy and Daddy

2005

Ryan went to the Lunenburg, Massachusetts train station to see the big circus train

that was coming to town. Michael, Jake and D.J. went along too.

After exploring all the trains, Ryan climbed onto the back of the little track tester.

Looking around, he found some old uniforms lying next to the little train. "Hey! I can be an engineer!" said Ryan.

Ryan had a feeling the other trains didn't like having these new little visitors there.

To his surprise, Ryan heard the trains talking. They were talking about the arrival of the circus train.

"It has three big engines!" said the Two Engine Express. "...and smoke stacks as big as trees!" exclaimed The Timberline Steamer.

Then Ryan heard the little track tester say, "I can't wait to see the circus train with all the animals and clowns!"

"Who cares what you want?" huffed The Two Engine Express. "Who do you think you are anyway? You don't even have a name or an engineer." Ryan felt sorry for the train with no name.

The little track tester was sad. "I never go anywhere important, and more than anything I do wish I had an engineer" he sighed.

That gave Ryan an idea. Soon, the trains lined up to leave Lunenburg, Massachusetts. As usual, the little track tester was last in line, but this time Ryan and his friends were on board.

Ryan tugged on the whistle cord. "It looks like it's rusted shut," he said.

The little train suddenly stopped on its tracks.

"Who's that?" shouted the train with no name. Ryan proudly announced, "I'm Ryan your new engineer!"

"But, you... you can't just... " Suddenly, Ryan heard an alarm. "Look!" shouted Ryan. "There's something wrong up ahead."

The little track tester saw the circus train heading toward the bridge. "A rail has come loose!" cried the track tester. "The circus train could crash!"

Quickly, Ryan grabbed a loose spike from the track, and pushed it through the rusty whistle to unclog it.

Ryan pulled hard on the cord, and the old whistle sang out loud! The circus train heard the whistle and screeched to a full stop. This gave everyone time to fix the track.

When the little track tester returned to Lunenburg, Massachusetts, The Timberline Steamer rolled up, puffing with excitement. "You have saved the circus train," he said, "and we think it is time you had a name!"

"We've decided to call you Hooty," said Ryan. No longer a train with no name, Hooty blew his whistle and announced that Ryan was his new engineer.

Everyone cheered for Hooty, now the biggest little train in Lunenburg, Massachusetts. After a very exciting day, Ryan had learned a big lesson...

You don't have to be big to be important.