One morning, Nia returned to Knapford after delivering a consist. She was just pulling up underneath a coal hopper when Sir Topham Hatt walked up to her.
Sir Topham Hatt: Ah, Nia. Are you busy at the moment?
Nia: Not at all, sir. In fact, I've just come back from taking some freight cars up to Harwick just like you asked.
Sir Topham Hatt: Ah, perfect! Well, in that case, would you like to work with Annie and Clarabel next?
Nia: That sounds great, but...aren't they Thomas' coaches?
As if on cue, Thomas reversed into the yard and backed down onto some vans.
Thomas: They are, but I'm helping Toby with his market train today and there's no other engine to take my passengers at the moment. That, and admittedly, you're one of the few engines I can actually trust with my coaches, Nia.
Annie: He's very protective of us.
Clarabel: He is.
Thomas: I am.
Just then, Thomas heard Toby call from the other end of the yard.
Toby: C'mon, Thomas! Farmer McColl needs those extra vans if he's going to get his produce to Toryreck Market on time!
Thomas: Oops. Sorry, Toby. Seeya later, Nia; have a nice day!
And with that, Thomas and Toby left the yard and Nia was coupled up to Annie and Clarabel.
Sir Topham Hatt: All you need to do is head over to Platform 2 and take Thomas' passengers along his branch line. That is all.
Nia: Platform 2? Oh...sure, I can do that.
Sir Topham Hatt left the yard and Nia made her way to Platform 2...or at least what she thought was Platform 2.
Annie: This is Platform 5, Nia. Sir Topham Hatt said our passengers were on Platform 2.
Nia: Wait, this isn't...huh...
So Nia made her way to another platform...
Nia: Ok. This must be my platform. Oh, here comes Rebecca. Wait, why is she-
Rebecca: Watch out, Nia!
Nia shut her eyes and braced for impact as Rebecca came racing towards her! Thankfully, the yellow express engine didn't bump into Nia that hard.
Rebecca: Nia, what are you doing here? Don't get me wrong, it's great to see you, but...you're on my platform.
Nia: Oh...so this isn't Platform 2?
Rebecca: No, this is Platform 1. Your platform is over there.
Nia silently made her way over to Platform 2 and her passengers climbed aboard Annie and Clarabel. She then made her way onto the open line. But it wasn't too long before Nia ran into trouble again.
Nia was going so fast that the signalman didn't have time to switch her onto the branch line. She was now heading down the main line and towards Knapford Bend!
The stretch of track that led up to the bend was undergoing maintenance and workmen had placed speed limit signs to warn the engines to slow down as they passed through the area.
But Nia was going so fast in order to make up for lost time that she couldn't properly read what was on the signs. But Annie and Clarabel saw what was on the signs and it opened up their eyes!
Annie: Clarabel, was that a speed sign?
Clarabel: I think it was! Oh dear, there's another one! Nia, stop, there's a bend ahead!
Nia: Oh, no!
But it was too late! Nia couldn't slow down in time and she derailed at the bend! Thankfully, Harvey, who had been helping the workmen, was nearby and was more than happy to rerail Nia. Sir Topham Hatt, on the other hand, wasn't too happy when he heard the news. He was glad Nia wasn't hurt, but he was still cross.
Sir Topham Hatt: Nia! Didn't you see those speed limit signs?
Nia: Well...yes, but-
Sir Topham Hatt: Well then, you should've known that they were telling you to slow down. Not to mention you shouldn't even be on the main line.
Nia: Oops.
Sir Topham Hatt: Never mind. You aren't damaged and you have permission to reverse back down to the junction so you can be switched onto the branch line. Just...be more mindful in future, Nia.
Nia: Yes, sir. I will, sir.
And with that, Nia reversed back down the main line and was switched onto the branch line. Annie and Clarabel could tell that something was wrong and decided it was best to find out what.
Annie: Are you ok, Nia? I get that you were racing down the line so we wouldn't be late...even if we were on the wrong track, but…
Clarabel: Why didn't you slow down when the speed limit signs came into view? Surely you must've seen them, right?
Nia: I did, but I couldn't understand what they meant. I guess this is a good time to explain something.
And so Nia told Annie and Clarabel why she didn't slow down when she saw the signs. After dropping off all of Thomas' passengers, Nia shunted Annie and Clarabel into a siding at Ffarquhar and went to collect her next train: stone cars bound for Ulfstead Castle. Sir Robert Norramby and his engines were delighted to see Nia, but she was still upset about what happened earlier in the day.
Stephen: What's up, Nia? You look upset.
Nia told Stephen, Millie and Glynn all about her getting the platform numbers mixed up and about her derailing because she couldn't read the speed limit signs.
Nia: The thing is…I'm able to count alright, but...I can't read the numbers you use here on Sodor. I guess I never got the chance to learn them. They look very different to the ones I used back home!
Glynn: Is that so? Well, that is quite the predicament. I think I know just the person that can help you. Stephen, Millie, are you thinking what I'm thinking?
Millie: I think I do.
Stephen: I'm thinking about what Sir Robert wants to do with all that stone...oh, and how we intend to help Nia. That too, of course.
Nia followed the estate engines into the castle to inform Sir Robert Norramby about her plight. After she was done explaining, Sir Robert smiled understandably.
Sir Robert Norramby: Of course I can help you, Nia!
Nia: *gasp* Do you mean it, sir?
Sir Robert Norramby: I sure do!
Sir Robert walked into the castle building and came out holding a notebook.
Sir Robert Norramby: You see, I went traveling around the world for a few years before returning to Sodor. I visited many countries and learned many new languages. I even visited Africa and assuming my notes are correct, I should be able to help you.
So as Nia shunted her stone cars to where Sir Robert wanted them, he rode along in Nia's cab and helped her learn the numbering system used on Sodor. It wasn't easy at first, but after a few tries, Nia was able to understand them more than she did in the morning.
At last, the cars were shunted into their proper places and Nia had to go.
Sir Robert Norramby: So, Nia, do you think you have a better understanding of the numbers we use on Sodor?
Nia: Uh, I think so, sir. I definitely understand them better now than I did in the morning, I'll tell you that! Thanks again for the help!
And with that, Nia said goodbye and descended the hill from Ulfstead. She made it to West Maron Junction and was about to head onto the main line when Hank puffed quickly past, hauling a train.
Hank: Hello, Nia! Wonderful day, isn't it? Sorry I can't stop, these freight cars won't make it to Knapford themselves!
Nia: No worries, Hank; you carry onto...Knapford?
All of a sudden, Nia felt a bad feeling in her boiler. She thought about what she learned up at Ulfstead and remembered what the speed limit signs near Knapford Bend said.
Nia: Oh no. If Hank continues going that fast, he's sure to derail at Knapford Bend like I did this morning. Hank, slow down!
And Nia hurried after Hank as fast as she could. She whistled in an attempt to get his attention, but neither Hank nor his crew understood. They thought Nia was whistling to say hello. Thankfully, Hank's guard saw Nia. After hearing what she was trying to warn him about, he put the brakes on in his van. That got Hank's attention and he stopped just before Knapford Bend.
Hank: Nia? What's going on?
Nia pulled up behind the brake van, all out of puff.
Nia: You were going a bit too fast and I had a feeling you would derail at the bend just like I did this morning. Once I remembered what was written on those signs, I just had to stop you somehow.
Hank: Is that so? Well...thank you, Nia.
And with that, Hank and Nia slowly made their way to Knapford. At first, Sir Topham Hatt wasn't pleased with Hank as he ended up being late, but he soon forgave him after hearing what had happened. Sir Topham Hatt then praised Nia for warning Hank and for preventing an accident.
Nia: And I was only able to do that because The Earl helped me with the numbers used here on Sodor. That's actually why I derailed earlier today, sir; I couldn't understand what those signs said. But now I do!
Sir Topham Hatt: Well done, Nia. You know, you always impressed me ever since you've arrived on Sodor, but today's events have only proved even further that I can always count on you. Hahaha!
Nia: Haha, you certainly can, sir!
That evening, just as the sun was starting to set, Nia was at the animal park, making her last delivery of the day. Thomas, Annie and Clarabel were passing by on their way home. When Nia saw them, she knew just what to do. She grinned, pulled up next to Thomas and spoke.
Nia: Hello, number one engine!
Thomas: Oh, hello, Nia...wait, did you just call me number one engine?
Nia: I sure did!
Annie: So...you mean that you learned your numbers, Nia?
Nia: Yes, yes; Sir Robert Norramby helped me learn them! I was even able to use what I learned to prevent an accident!
Nia explained everything as she puffed along with Thomas.
Thomas: Good for you, Nia. Good for you.
Nia: Although, with all this number talk swirling about in my smokebox, I now have a question on something I haven't really thought about until now.
Thomas: And what would that be, Nia?
Nia: Well...I've noticed that not all of us have numbers, Thomas. You're number one, I'm number eighteen, Toby is number seven, you get the idea. But some engines like Hank or Stanley don't have a number. Not even Emily has one!
Thomas: Hmm, that's very true, Nia. Maybe that's something Sir Topham Hatt could look into changing one day. Let's tell him when we get back to Tidmouth Sheds.
Nia: Yes, let's. I'm sure he'll have something to say on the matter…