The Scarlet Controller had announced that a new engine was due to come on the railway.
"His name is Akemi, and he should arrive at tomorrow." She said to the engines.
"Wow, a new engine." said Kenta.
"I hope he's as strong as me." said Hiroto.
"I think it's so that if one of us gets into an accident, the railway doesn't get delayed." said Shiro.
"That's exactly why we're having Akemi." replied the Scarlet Controller.
The next day a JGR Class 5500 pulled into the Human Village station.
"I'm Akemi, I'm supposed to take this train to the Hakurei shrine?" He introduced himself.
"So your the new engine the others have been talking about. I'm Ichihiro." Ichihiro said to the new engine.
"Hello Ichihiro." Akemi said back.
"Your coaches are on platform three."
"Thank you."
Akemi took the passengers and later took some empty trucks to depot in Kappa Valley. He was termed as mixed-traffic by the executives and this had gotten to his smokebox. He boasted this to the other engines in the shed.
"I can pull both coaches and trucks!" he said happily to the other engines.
Hiroto and Kenta rolled their eyes, first Ichihiro, now this fool?
"Be quiet!" said Hiroto.
"Hmph! At least I can pull freight." said Akemi, under his breath.
Akemi had a fatal flaw in his construction. Some corners were cut and while the quality of his build was good, his brakes and injector were bad. It wouldn't affect until the next day, when Ichihiro was working in the yard.
He had pushed some cars for Kenta's next train, when Akemi sped past.
"Help! Help! My brakes have failed!" Akemi wailed as he thundered past.
Not even fifteen minutes have gotten by when the yardmaster spoke over the intercom.
"Akemi is off the line, the breakdown train is needed." she said.
The breakdown train consisted of two cranes and a special coach for rail workers. Ichihiro was the only engine available and had to help out.
Akemi had turned over on a curve and into a field, his crew were feeling him over for any damage. Ichihiro brought the breakdown crane and the workers went to picking up the spilled cargo. Ichihiro shunted away the unhurt cars and set to work taking the rerailed cars. It took a while to get Akemi back on the tracks. Ichihiro took Akemi back to the sheds to be repaired.
The Scarlet Controller was waiting for them at sheds.
"Well done Ichihiro!" She said.
"It was good that you were around when Akemi was in need."
"Thank you sir!" said Ichihiro.
"As for you Akemi, you will get your brakes mended and a new injector." the Scarlet Controller said to Akemi.
"Thanks." Akemi said.
"For your work today, I'll let you pull more trains. In fact, I'll even let you take trains on the Eientei branch." She said.
"This is wonderful sir!" Ichihiro said excitedly.
Akemi had his braking systems repaired and put into better working order and Ichihiro now takes trains to the Eientei branch line. He even has coaches specifically for him, their names are Ani and Kuraraberu. Ichihiro is much happier now that he doesn't do as much of the same monotonous work.