As Rusty was due with his maintenance train, Lexi hitched a ride to the carriage shed via Rusty's brakevan.

"Be careful," Warned Rusty, as he whirred along the line. "These coaches mean well, but they're extremely fussy. If you keep calm and polite, you'll be alright."

"Why? Who struggles to work with these coaches?" Asked Lexi.

"Well, usually Duncan and Sir Handel." The little diesel admitted sheepishly. "But if you're anything like your father, you'd be best to try and keep out of trouble."

"Can't promise that." Lexi replied, cheekily. "My family always gets into some kind of trouble or other- and we outfox it quicker than an axe fall."

"Hm."

"What's it like, doing maintenance?" She continued.

"Well, it's not the most exciting job," Replied Rusty, honestly. "But I enjoy it. Mr. Hugh, my driver, and the workmen are great men to work with and talk to. I also get the chance to slow down and appreciate this railway and its sights; Duncan just rushes around."

Lexi laughed. "Duncan seems a wild ride," She commented.

Rusty shuddered. "You have no idea."

"I must see your line sometime," Continued the teen, folding her arms before leaning on the brakevan. God, it felt strange trying to talk to someone on the opposite end of a train. But Rusty didn't seem to mind. She certainly didn't, either. Rusty was a sweet little diesel.

"Luke told me that Mr. Heron lives a stone's throw away from Crovan's Gate Station." Rusty said, confused. "If our railway's right on your doorstep, so to speak, how come we've never seen you come here?"

"My dad didn't seem very keen for me to come near the railway." Lexi replied, frowning. "As a matter of fact, none of us really went near here. He acted so strange too…. He kept a lot of stuff about his day hidden from us…" she trailed off in thought. She thought of the times when she would sneak out to the station, early in the mornings and head for the bridge.

Not for any wrongdoing, of course.

"Did he now?" Asked Rusty, curious now. Lexi was startled from her daydream.

"15 years." Lexi continued. "He never let me near here for 15 years; and suddenly I'm allowed to work here? I don't understand."

Rusty had a thought; it could have been that Geoffrey didn't want his daughter, or anyone in his family, to find out about Luke, in case it was innocently mentioned to the wrong person. Not that that helped- Paxton found out and told Diesel.

Still, the others didn't hold it against him. He hadn't meant to put Luke in danger, and he redeemed himself by retrieving Victor from the Steamworks to explain the whole story behind that fateful day at Brendam…

But he didn't mention it to his new companion.

…

At last, they reached the carriage sheds, so Lexi hopped off the brakevan, and ran around to say goodbye to Rusty.

"Remember, blue coaches, Lexi." Rusty reminded her, just to ensure she wouldn't get confused.

"Okay!" Lexi chirruped. "Thanks for the ride, Rusty! I really enjoyed talking to you."

"Likewise," he replied. "And you're welcome, Lexi," he replied. "I'll see you later."

"See you, Rusty!" And she watched as her new friend trundled cheerfully away, humming a little tune to himself as he went, waving until he was away; before running towards the carriage shed, bubbling with excitement for her first job on her first day.

….

Unfortunately, Lexi soon found out how difficult the coaches were. It all went horribly wrong the moment she threw open the doors with a bang and a little sing-song note in her voice. Having accidentally disturbed them from their slumber, the coaches were disgruntled at how rude Lexi had been.

"Ooohh!" they grumbled, their frames shaking with indignation "whoever is this young upstart? Fancy banging the doors like that! Our regular cleaner opens them gently and apologises if he wakes us up!" They fumed.

"Well, I'm not one who's taking your nonsense today," Retorted Lexi, determined to prove herself to the engines- that she can and will polish these coaches without incident. She took a deep breath to calm herself a bit, and with a smile, she added cheerfully. "I'm here to clean you from top to bottom, whether you five like it or not."

The coaches didn't like Lexi's tone, and began whispering things under their breath- namely, that the young had come to ruin these days and that the world would be worse off for it. But Lexi paid no attention to their mutterings. She merely took rags and a bucket of soapy water; before grimly marching over towards them.

Agnes was particularly very vocal about her protest. "I won't have you polishing me!" She boomed, authoritatively. Her eyes narrowed in suspicion as she appraised the teenager "Whoever told you to come here?"

"Peter Sam," Lexi replied. "He said you guys needed a clean, and I need something to do, so here we are."

The coaches were furious; they didn't like Lexi and wanted their regular cleaner back. But she ignored them, and boldly went straight to Beatrice to start polishing Beatrice first; which disgruntled Agnes a great deal. To have a mere guard's van polished before her, the Skarloey Railway's first-class coach, rubbed her the wrong way, and she was determined to see Lexi out of these sheds, come hell or high water.