It was a beautiful morning on the Island of Sodor. As the summer was coming to an end, all the engines were busy with the sudden traffic increase, with passengers preparing to leave the island or coming back home. But no matter what, the engines were focused on getting their work done – even with the weather being very hot and humid.
Down at Wellsworth station, Edward was resting on a siding. He had done a lot of work that morning, from passenger trains to pulling trucks, and was glad of a rest. Edward just rested in the siding, allowing the heat to repel off his sky blue paintwork, and watching the other engines steam past.
As Edward watched the engines steam by, he wondered off into a deep thought, and began to look back at memories from a very long time ago – back at his time on the Furness Railway.
Edward was built in 1896, and between then and 1915, he worked on the Furness Railway. He remembered how he use to work along the Cumbrian Coast Line, with two of the most memorable engines in his life – his sister Edith, and his mentor Raymond.
As Edward continued to go deep into his memories, his eyes became heavy, and soon found himself sleeping on that siding, venturing further into his memories.
The sun beamed down at the Furness Railway. Small, fluffy clouds glided overhead. Within the gorgeous valleys, a little red tender engine could be seen puffing along the line. The engine was painted in an Indian red coat, with the letters FR on his tender, and behind his tender, he had three blue coaches gliding behind him.
The engine beamed happily as he carried on along the land, picking up the pace as he looked around at his beautiful railway.
He whistled long and loud as he brushed through the beautiful valley, and looked excitedly as children ran up to the fences along the line, waving and cheering for him. The engine smiled and gave off a loud, friendly whistle!
As he turned a bend, he saw another engine heading his way. It was a tender engine with 4 large wheels, and he was hauling a long train of trucks.
"Good morning Edward." The engine chuckled, whistling proudly.
Edward just laughed cheerfully, "Good morning Raymond!" and he gave off a cheeky whistle as he steamed past, leaving the other engine chuckling at the sight of the eager, young engine.
Soon, Edward was steaming along the coast line. This was Edward's favourite spot. A solitude spot where he could watch the waves crash against the rocks, and the salt sea air swirled around his funnel.
He took a deep breath and exhaled the sweet air, gazing out at the sea. The moment was just perfect – but it was about to get better.
The sound of a very familiar whistle echoed around the coast, Edward looked to his side and beamed at the sight of a familiar engine – a very familiar engine – steam up beside him. The engine was purely identical to Edward, apart from her face baring more feminine features.
"Edward!" the engine giggled excitedly.
"Hello Edith." Edward chuckled, "My dear, little sister."
Edith just giggled, "We're the exact same size silly!"
Edward just laughed with his sister. To him, Edith was the most important engine in his life. They have been together since the start. Edward always referred Edith as his little sister. They were going to be twins, but due to delays in production, Edward was finished first, and Edith wasn't finished until a few days later – but Edward stayed by his sister's side, and he was the first thing she saw when her eyes popped open.
The two engines have been inseparable ever since.
"Isn't today perfect Edward?" Edith sighed dreamily.
"Definitely is Edith." Edward agreed, "Just another day in Furness paradise..."
The two engines just gazed at the sea, enjoying the view and one another's company. Just then, Edith looked at her brother and smiled cheekily.
"Race you to the station!"
Edward was taken aback by the sudden challenge, but laughed along with it, "Oh you're on!"
And with a blare of their whistles, the two engines sped on down the line, heading for the big station. Edward laughed as he took off ahead of his sister, leaving Edith giggling as she tried catching up.
"Edward! Edward!"
"EDWARD!"
Edward suddenly jolted awake from his memories, his eyes shot open in surprise, before looking around, responding to his name. To his right, he saw Thomas, the little, blue tank engine was at the platform with a flatbed of spare engine parts.
Thomas just laughed cheekily, "Sleepy head! Maybe you should get more sleep Edward." he teased. Edward just smiled and rolled his eyes.
"I wasn't sleeping Thomas." he chuckled, "I was just resting."
"Oh...so sleeping?" Thomas teased again, and Edward couldn't help but chuckle at the cheeky tank engine.
"Oh, Thomas. You never fail to bring a smile to my face."
Thomas giggled cheekily, "What were you thinking about? Looked like you were having a nice dream."
"Oh, nothing important, Thomas." Edward replied, "I was just looking back at old memories from my early days, when I use to work on the Furness Railway."
"Wow!"
"Back when I use to work at the big station, with my mentor Raymond and...and..."
Thomas looked at Edward anxiously, as he noticed his face fall, "Edward?"
"...and my sister Edith."
"Oh...I think Raymond mentioned her when I met him for the first time." Thomas said, "She sounded like an amazing engine."
"Oh she was...I can't describe her, she was perfect to me in every way. She was so hard working, so dedicated, and she adored me...she stood up for me if I was ever insulted..."
"Wow..."
Edward then gave a small smile, "No worries though Thomas. I am sure she is always thinking of me. Besides – I have my own work to keep me busy."
Thomas smiled, "You really are a credit to the railway Edward."
Edward blushed a bit at the compliment, "Well, I have been working here since 1915." He chuckled, "And it's soon to be my anniversary of working here anyway."
"Oh! Got anything planned?"
"Why would I need to plan something?" Edward chuckled, "As long as I make myself useful, and all my friends are with me, I don't care what happens."
Thomas beamed brightly at Edward. Ever since his first day on Sodor, he had looked up to the old, wise engine. Edward has always acted as a mentor to the young tank engine – similar to how his old mentor Raymond taught him.
"Edward, this flatbed is really heavy for me to pull on my own...could you help me?" Thomas asked, "Please?"
"Of course Thomas." Edward chuckled, "Anything for you." And soon, Edward chuffed behind Thomas, buffering up to the flatbed, and the two engines slowly made their way towards the Steamworks.
Sooner than they expected, Thomas and Edward arrived at the Steamworks. It was noisy and very busy, with workmen making engine parts, and Victor and Angel, the Steamwork engines, and Kevin the crane, were busy pushing trucks where they were needed.
Thomas and Edward gently shunted the flatbed into the Steamworks, and looked around in awe. Victor steamed up eagerly towards the flatbed, very proud to see the spare engine parts.
"Ah, there are the spare parts!" Victor chuckled, "Thank you Thomas, and thank you Edward."
"You're welcome Victor." Thomas chuffed.
"All part of the service." Edward chuckled.
"Well, we need all the parts we can get." Victor sighed sadly, "We've been having a major...decrease of engine parts lately..."
"Huh? Why?" Thomas asked.
"That's the thing." Angel responded, puffing up alongside Victor, "We don't know why."
"There was a truck there and then, POOF!" Kevin exclaimed – falling onto his side as he explained, "...gone, just like that."
"So, these parts are being...stolen?" Edward dared to stutter nervously.
"Indeed." Victor confirmed, "Look at poor Anastasia." He said, looking up – all the engines looked up, and Thomas and Edward gasped, to see Anastasia being suspended above the Steamworks, and she looked rather...annoyed.
"Are my new brakes here yet!?" She yelled angrily.
"Not yet I'm afraid." Victor said, "But we will have them here really soon, I am sure of it."
"OH! Come on!" Anastasia moaned loudly to herself, "I'm so bored! And my wheels have gone numb!"
Thomas couldn't help but giggle cheekily at Anastasia's displeasure, "How you 'hanging' there Ana?" He teased, causing Anastasia to groan indignately. Edward, Victor and Angel just groaned at the joke. But Kevin just laughed.
"Poor Anastasia's been waiting for almost 2 weeks for her new brakes. She's got to wait for them to come from Russia." Angel explained, "But she is starting to become...difficult to handle."
"Do you have any idea where the spare parts have gone?" Edward asked.
"I'm afraid not." Victor confessed, "But we're running really low on spare parts...we're just hoping no other engine gets into any trouble until we get to the bottom of this mystery."
"Oh...my..." Edward gasped in shock. He began to wonder where the spare parts could've gone.
Just then, a workmen ran over towards Edward, he had some urgent news.
"Gordon is stuck on his hill Edward. I've been told that you are needed to give him a push."
Edward just grumbled to himself, "Not again!"
Thomas just watched Edward sadly, "Do you need any help?"
"No thank you Thomas." Edward sighed, "Just getting...really annoyed by this whole 'push Gordon up the hill' thing." and without saying another word, Edward reversed out of the Steamworks, heading towards Gordon's Hill.
On Gordon's Hill, Gordon was waiting at the bottom of the hill, sulking impatiently, "Oh where is that Edward!? I'll be late!"
Just then, Gordon heard Edward's whistle nearby, and looked at him crossly. Edward just smiled innocently as he gently buffered up to the Express coaches, "Hello Gordon! I've come to push!"
"You took your time Edward!" Gordon huffed, "You're so old and slow, I'm surprised you haven't been preserved yet!"
Edward just looked in shock at Gordon's comment, but tried to keep calm as he began to push Gordon up the hill. He strained through the pain, and pushed Gordon up to the top – only for Gordon to speed up and leave Edward stranded.
"Express coming through!"
"...Still not even much of a thank you..." Edward sighed sadly.
Later that night, all the engines arrived back at Tidmouth Sheds, all ready for a good and well deserved rest. As they rested in their sheds, they discussed the day's events and laughed together. Edward remained silent, much to Thomas' worry.
"Edward, are you alright?" He asked.
"Yes, I'm...fine Thomas." Edward spoke quietly, "I just keep thinking of...you know."
"Oh, Edith?"
"Yes..."
"Well don't worry, it'll soon be your anniversary Edward!" Thomas beamed excitedly, causing Edward to blush with embarrassment as the other engines overheard.
"Didn't you help build this railway Edward?" Henry asked.
"Yes Henry, I did."
"Wow!" Percy exclaimed.
"That's amazing! Emily cheered excitedly.
"No wonder you're so old and wise." James teased.
"I'm surprised you've not been preserved." Gordon chuckled, as the other engines gasped in shock at Gordon's comment. Edward just glared, his anger boiling inside his boiler, "Maybe we would all work much faster and better if you left and got presevred or something, like that Raymond friend of yours-"
"THAT'S ENOUGH GORDON!"
All the engines gasped in shock at Edward's sudden outburst. They have never known Edward to get angry like this, but to Edward, Gordon has now crossed a line.
"If you really want to treat me like that, then I will not help you up your hill any more!" Edward cried hysterically, "If I am so old and slow as you say, then push yourself up your hill!"
And before Gordon could say another word, Edward reversed into his shed, refusing to speak another word to anyone. All the engines just looked at one another sadly, glaring at Gordon.
Edward just sighed, and closed his eyes, hoping to return to his memories to help him calm down.