After a playful wash down, and a brilliant polish job done by the workmen and villagers, they all left the engines in peace, allowing the engines to discuss amongst themselves, preparing for a well earned sleep that night.
Edward felt much better, now knowing that his new friends on the Lost Railway will be so generous to help him get back to Sodor. From their shed, Edward could see Sodor. All of his memories began to flash through his smoke box, as he let off steam sadly. He then noticed the old bridge, and wondered.
"Um, why can't we use the bridge to get across to Sodor?" He asked, to no engine in particular.
"Oh, that bridge." Ernest uttered, "It's not safe."
"We have tried to use it before Edward..." Zephyr mentioned nervously.
"But the whole thing just rattles, shakes, and parts of it keep falling into the ocean." Thorn explained.
"And it certainly hasn't been checked since we've been here, so it's probably gone unmaintained for almost a century, maybe longer!" Blair exclaimed.
"So we can't take any chances of crossing it." Ashlyn spoke severely.
"Even though, a couple of engines seem to think its funny to play tricks on it." Janet boomed, eyeing the five younger engines, who all looked down in guilt.
"That explains why it was so wobbly, loose and kept falling apart when I crossed it..." Edward uttered, "But how do you get across to Sodor to get parts?"
"We use the bridge." Scarlet admitted, "It is the only way onto Sodor, but we have to be very slow and very careful. That's why we all don't cross it. If something happens, we can't risk being away from one another. So we all take it in turns to go to Sodor to find parts. If we lost one another...we don't know what we'd do."
Edward listened wisely, "You mean...you're all like-"
"Like a family." Sherlock stated.
"Oh..." Edward sighed sadly, "That...kinda reminds me of my friends on Sodor...I see every one of those engines as my family, especially those who stay in the sheds with me..."
The engines all looked at one another, and thought it was best to get some sleep. Edward just began to slowly smile. He couldn't wait to get home.
Just as the engines all began to doze off, a voice broke through the silence.
"Edward?"
Edward opened a sleepy eye, and looked at the direction of the voice, it belonged to one of the triplets.
"What is Sodor like?" Noah asked.
"Do you have best friends?" Leo wondered eagerly.
"What did your shed look like? Leon questioned.
"You three, now's not the time..." Janet uttered sleepily.
"No, it's perfectly fine Janet-" Edward chuckled, but before he could answer the triplets questions.
"Is there a nice long run?!" Blair beamed, eagerly.
"Blair-" Ashlyn scolded.
"I'm just asking!" Blair confronted.
"Is Sodor bigger than our island!?" Lacey asked eagerly!
"What type of engines are there?" Heidi asked, her voice barely audible.
"Are there any big, grand engines like myself – or maybe bigger?" Thorn chuckled.
"Are there plenty of trucks?" Zephyr wondered with a curious smile.
"And passengers? Are there plenty of those?" Janet ended up asking.
"And your stations – are they beautiful?" Ashlyn wondered, stirring up in the many questions about Sodor.
"What about your Steamworks? What's that place like?" Ernest wondered enthusiastically.
"What are your friends all like?" Scarlet asked.
Edward just chuckled as the engines all began to ask everything about Sodor. Asking about the stations, the rails, the trucks, coaches, passengers, and some were asking about the other engines on Sodor.
Sherlock just dozed through it all, with a small smile on his face.
Edward just beamed, and spent the whole night telling stories and facts about Sodor to all of his new friends.
The Lost Railway engines just grew more and more excited as they listened to every detail.
Back on Sodor, Thomas was listening to Edith as she explained every detail that Edward told her – how he felt about each of his friends, and how he described them to his sister. Thomas just listened in awe.
"Wow..." Thomas gasped, "What about us? At Tidmouth?!"
Edith giggled a bit, "Where do I begin."
Thomas just beamed, listening to Edith's soft words.
"Well, Edward told me about Toby." Edith giggled, "A special steam tram he is. He and his faithful coach Henrietta are true credits to the railway – they'll do whatever is given to them, and never let their age put them down."
"That is so true!" Thomas peeped, "Who else?"
"He also told me about Emily." Edith spoke, thinking, "How she always acts as a big sister figure to every engine whenever they need it, and she just does whatever it takes to make others happy."
Thomas just continued to listen with a smile, as he and Edith slowly glided down the line. Edith showed a smile all the way, although Thomas could see she looked troubled.
"And then there's Percy. Best mail engine he knows, and always a reliable engine who will stand up for anyone. James, he may be vain, but when he has a job, he will do it – even if he can be pouty. Gordon, the strongest and fastest engine he knows. Despite Edward always feeling down whenever Gordon teased him about being old and unreliable, Edward's always ready to help him, and he knows Gordon always does his best. And then there's Henry. One of his oldest friends and strongest engines he knows. He may have his worries, but...he's never afraid to back down a challenge."
Thomas listened with every detail. From what Edith was saying that Edward told her, Edward barely said a bad word about anyone.
"And then...there's you Thomas." Thomas quickly looked up, eager to hear what Edith had heard from Edward about himself, "You're the number one on Sodor. No matter what happens, you always find a way to put things right, and even when things are because of a fault by you, you do whatever it takes to make it right, and make things better. Sodor wouldn't be what it is without you. You're so cheeky, and innocent...but yet, so mature and ready to do whatever it takes for the railway. You are a true credit to the railway..."
Thomas was almost speechless – was this really what Edward thought of him?
"And..." Edith continued quietly, "He is so proud to have been your mentor..."
That was the blow for Thomas. As soon as those words hit his funnel, his eyes started to water, and he couldn't stop the tears from falling.
Edith watched this, and looked at Thomas sympathetically. She knew he must miss his close friend very much...just like how she misses her brother...
