I do not own Thomas the Tank/Thomas & Friends or I would have kept them in their models forms.
At Knapford Station, Edward was sharing a coffee with the guard of his train as they waited for Thomas to do his first return journey so Edward could take his passengers to his branchline to drop them off at Brendam Station.
"Where is Thomas? He usually isn't late." Edward said a bit concerned as he looks out of Number 2's cab in hopes of seeing his fellow co-worker pull up.
"Oh, dear, what can the matter be, Johnny's so long." The guard jokingly sings and Edward couldn't help but laughed as he responded. "Never mind about Johnny. We can't wait any longer for Thomas. Hopefully we can run into him at Elsbridge."
He started up Number 2's fire and soon as steam was building up in the water-tank, Edward made the train head off while pulling two of the Long White Coaches, seeing James didn't have a Express run to do today and the Short Reds & Old Coaches were back at Wellsworth so Edward decided to borrow these coaches.
He rode down the line to Elsbridge Junction with good time, though he was still wondering where Thomas was and hoped Thomas was just at the junction than he could grab his passengers than there would be no problem.
However, when he got to Elsbridge he still saw no Thomas which had him worried a bit as he wondered what could have happened to the younger driver and he decided to wait a bit to see if he did show up, but he knew he couldn't wait too long so after sometime he went on his way towards his Wellsworth.
When he did eventually arrive at Wellsworth he asked the Stationmaster there if he knew what was going on and if there was any change the schedules he missed back at Knapford to explain why Thomas hadn't arrived. However, he learned there was no change that they knew of and this did worried and annoyed Edward a bit as he set off to head down his branchline. "Where is Thomas?!"
However, as he went down the turnoff to his branchline he didn't see Bertie come racing up to the crossing quickly.
"Wait wait! I got Thomas's passengers!" Bertie shouted out the window as he honked his bus's horn hard trying to catch Edward's attention, but by the time he reached to a stop Edward already was down the turnoff and heading out of sight quickly.
"Bother! Bother Thomas getting the flu, why did I agree to get his passengers to Edward? I already missed him at Knapford and Elsbridge." He grumbled before racing across the crossing when the gate was opened and raced down the road on the otherside. "But a promise is a promise."
Bertie chased Edward trying his best to catch up to him and the passengers that were originally Thomas cheered him on as they knew he was trying his best to get them to their train.
He raced up a hill and saw Lower Suddery where Edward was currently stopped at which made Bertie grinned as he floored it down the hill. "Yes I can catch him now!" He exclaimed proudly, but as he came down the hill his grin fell as the crossing gate was closed and he saw Edward racing away.
"No…I'm sorry everyone…" He sighed sadly as he rests his head against the wheel.
"It's alright Bertie, we know you are doing your best." One of the passengers kindly said to them and Bertie hearing the kind words soon hops out of the bus as he races over to the station. He soon raced back to the bus and hopped back to the chase. "We got him now! He always had trouble with the Long Express Coaches and he has to climb hills so that will give us time to catchup, also I asked the Stationmaster here to send word down to Upper Brendam." He said as he resumed the chase.
Down the line Edward approached the hill before Upper Brendam and he could feel Number 2 having troubles with the heavy coaches. "Come on girl you can do it." He said as he pushed the train to keep on going through the struggle.
Soon he arrived at Upper Brendam and waited for the passengers to hop off before getting ready to get going…only to be waiting there for a bit. He was confused by that and leaned out of the cab to find out what was going on and to his surprise saw Bertie come pulling up.
Edward was confused by his appearance than the Stationmaster for Upper Brendam explained everything to him and he looked apologetically at Bertie. "Saw for the chase."
"My fault. I should have sent word down the line, but I was so determined to catch up to you. I admit I did kind of enjoy the race, I think you are faster than Thomas was when we raced." Bertie said and both men laughed before Edward went on his way finally with the passengers he needed to get to their boat on time.
Days later Thomas had heard of the race that had happened and found himself determined to one day race Edward to see who had the fastest Blue Branchline Engine.
Hope you all enjoyed
