Duncan Gets Spooked

## Timeline Details

### Year of Setting

30th October 1960 (Peter Sam’s accident)31st October 1960 (Duncan witnessing Proteus’ ghost)
1948 (flashback)

## Episode Guide

### Next Episode

Snow

**Duncan Gets Spooked** is the twenty-second episode of the fifth season and the 131st episode overall.

## Plot

The Skarloey Railway engines are busy clearing their line of branches and debris. After Peter Sam is helped by Rusty to a water tower near the top station with his train, his trucks break away out of boredom and roll onto a bridge, where they derail and plummet into the ravine. Peter Sam arrives to the scene of the incident and his driver realizes that the trucks weren't properly secured, and they will need help to retrieve them, knowing that the Thin Controller will not be happy about the accident.

Peter Sam's driver is correct; that evening, the Thin Controller scolds Peter Sam for his carelessness and punishes him by making him work in the yards until he can be trusted again. Duncan chortles that Peter Sam's trucks will return to haunt him, so Rusty asks him about being scared of ghosts. Despite Duncan brushing them off as rubbish, Rusty attempts to scare him by telling him a ghost story; long ago, there was an engine who was crossing the same bridge over the ravine to return home. Unfortunately, he derailed halfway across and fell over the side into the swamp below and was never found. In the light of the full moon, his spirit has since been seen by workmen haunting the bridge trying to get home, but he never reaches the other side. Duncan is dismissive, but Peter Sam's driver gets an idea and plans with Duncan's crew to give him a taste of his own medicine.

The next day, Duncan has to take empty trucks to the Blue Mountain Quarry and bring full ones back. As part of the plan, his crew takes him over the bridge. Duncan comments that it does not seem haunted, but he still has Rusty's story on his mind. At the Quarry, Duncan tries to rush his crew to leave, complaining that Skarloey will take his favourite spot in the sheds. His driver tells him that they have to wait until their trucks are collected and he can tell the plan is working as Duncan is nervous.

That night, Duncan is just about finished with his work and is halfway across the bridge when he stops. He begins to see flickering lights that look like an engine in front of him, though it is actually just an engine formed by fireflies. Duncan's driver then secretly throws a large rock from the cab into the ravine below. Duncan (thinking it is the ghost of the engine) gets scared and quickly runs back to the safety of his shed.

Once back at his shed, Duncan closes his eyes tightly. His driver asks if he has been spooked, but Duncan claims he is asleep and initially refuses to open his eyes. He does however, when he thinks that his driver is not looking to make sure that he is still there for him.

## Characters

* Rusty
* Duncan
* Troublesome Trucks
* The Thin Controller
* Peter Sam *(does not speak)*
* Proteus *(does not speak)*
* Skarloey *(mentioned)*

## Locations

* Glennock
* Cros-ny-Curin
* Rheneas
* Skarloey
* Old Iron Bridge
* Crovan's Gate Sheds
* Blue Mountain Quarry

## Trivia

* This episode marks the first appearance of the Blue Mountain Quarry in the series.