BULGY THE MAIL BUS
Percy the Small Engine loves pulling the Mail Train. It's his favorite job on the whole Island of Sodor and it makes him feel Really Useful. Unfortunately, Percy's rails can't take him everywhere, so Tom Tipper the Postman helps to deliver the mail the rest of the way. Percy and Tom both know the mail is very important and always make sure it is delivered come rain or shine.
Early one morning, Percy arrived at Wellsworth Station with the Mail Train when he saw Bulgy. It was Market Day, and the Farmer was getting him ready. "Good morning, Bulgy," said Percy.
"Morning," Bulgy muttered.
"I'm dropping off the last of my mail," Percy went on. "The Farmer seems eager to sell his vegetables at the Market."
"Of course," said Bulgy proudly. "Vegetables are very important. People need to eat, you know."
"Yes, and they need to know what is going on around Sodor and beyond, so the mail is very important too."
Just then, Tom Tipper's van rolled into the Station. "Why can't all the mail be delivered by road?" Bulgy asked.
"Because Percy is much faster than my van," Tom answered. "It would take me much longer to deliver all of it myself, but Percy still can't go everywhere and that's why I'm here."
Bulgy said no more as he watched the mail being loaded and unloaded and then, Percy and Tom Tipper were on their way.
The next evening, Bulgy was resting at the Bus Garage in Knapford. He was just going to sleep when the Farmer returned. "Wake up, Bulgy," he said. "There's an emergency at the Station.
Bulgy was grumpy, but he and the Farmer made their way to the Station. Percy and Tom Tipper were waiting. "What's going on?" Bulgy grunted.
"Percy's burst his safety valve," his Driver explained. "He's not going anywhere until it's fixed."
"Then why am I here?"
"We need your help," said Tom. "The mail must be delivered, but I can't carry all of it in my van and you are the best vehicle here."
Bulgy spluttered. "But I'm not a post van. I'm not even a lorry."
"But you do have a lot of space for carrying things."
"Why can't Bertie do it?" Bulgy grunted. "He likes helping engines."
"He still can't carry as much as you," said the Postman. "Besides, he's stuck in Vicarstown tonight."
"Come on, Bulgy," said the Farmer. "The people in the towns need their mail. It's very important, like our vegetables. Everyone is relying on you."
Bulgy didn't like working with engines, but he knew what it meant to be important. "Very well," he sighed, "load me up."
Most of the mail from Percy's trucks was loaded into Bulgy and another Postman soon arrived to help. Soon, Tom Tipper drove away in one direction while Bulgy went in another. Bulgy traveled far and wide dropping off letters and parcels. Sometimes, Tom would meet up with them and take some of them in his van.
It was a long job, and it was dawn when Bulgy reached his last stop at Bluebell Valley Station. He was very tired from staying up all night. Then, Top Tipper arrived. "That's the mail for Vicarstown delivered," he told the Farmer and turned to Bulgy. "Thank you, Bulgy. If it wasn't for you, Percy and I would be in big trouble, but now, the people of Sodor have gotten their mail on time. We're both very grateful."
"So am I," said the Farmer, but there was no reply.
Bulgy hadn't heard them as he had already fallen fast asleep.