The Caledonian Dock tank obtained by the NWR proved to be of great use, and before long, Tidmouth's expansion was finished ahead of schedule. Consequently, the engine was sent to extend the Elsbridge Line to Ffarquhar, allowing the Coffee Pots to focus on other jobs. They were pleased about this too, as extending the line was very time consuming and was proving to be too much for the two to handle. However, the Caley Tank still had no face, and nobody could figure out how to awaken it.
"It's very creepy," TKE #2 said one night. "It works hard, true, but the fact it has no face…I don't even know what to make of it."
"Pooh!" snorted TKE #3. " You're one to talk: you know both of us aren't exactly like normal engines."
"At least we have faces!" TK #2 snapped, angered at her brother. "This engine doesn't have any!"
"My point still stands," snorted TKE #3, "our vertical boilers aren't what you expect when you see a steam locomotive. So not having a face shouldn't be an issue."
"It's still creepy," muttered TKE #2. "I sometimes feel like it's staring into my soul."
"How could it? That engine doesn't have eyes!"
"That may be true," said TKE #2, "but there's something strange about this engine."
"You're worrying too much," said TKE #3. "Just go to sleep."
The next morning, they were woken up by an unfamiliar voice.
"Good morning," it said. Both coffee pots opened up their eyes slowly, then stared in shock: in front of them was the Caley Tank, but something was different: instead of a smokebox door, there was a face! The coffee pots suddenly screamed, and so did the Caley!
When the screaming stopped, the Caley Tank shouted, "WHY ARE WE SCREAMING?! THERE'S NOTHING SCARY HERE!"
"Someone slap me!" shouted TKE #2. "This has to be a dream!"
"What has to be a dream?" asked the Caley Tank.
"Well, uh…uh…" stuttered TKE #3, then sighed. "There's no easy way to say this, so… I'll be blunt. You had no face until today." The Caley Tank was more confused.
"You mean…I wasn't just built?!"
"Does this place look like a workshop to you?!" snapped TKE #3. "What kind of workshop is made of wood? That's a fire hazard! Furthermore, all of this area, aside from this shed and other sheds, is exposed to the open."
"It's surprising to me too," said the Harbourmaster, stepping out of the Caley Tank's cab. "It seems this engine somehow developed a face overnight. But for goodness sake, no need to be so rude TKE #3: he just awoke!"
"Sorry sir," said TKE #3.
"Well, now that he's awaken, show him the ropes," said the Harbourmaster, and he walked off. The coffee pots looked at the now-sentient Caley Tank.
"So," said TKE #2 slowly, "what is your name?"
"My…name?" the Caley Tank asked, confused.
"Every engine is called something," TKE #3 replied. "For example, my sister and I go by TKE #2 and #3 respectively. Only numbers, yes, but we're happy to keep it that way. What do you go by?"
The Caley Tank looked around, as if he was trying to find something.
"I…don't know," he said at last. "I don't see anything that could tell me what my name is. All I have is a very, very basic memory of a place called "Caledonian Railway" and another called "Glasgow Green," is this it?"
"No this is the North Western Railway, on the Island of Sodor," said TKE #2. "Tidmouth to be exact. The Caledonian's all the way in Scotland. Speaking of which, I'm surprised you don't have a Scottish accent."
"Scottish…accent?"
"It's how people and engines from Scotland talk," answered TKE #3. "That said, since you awoke here, it's possible you won't develop one."
"Is that going to be a problem?" asked the Caley.
"No, not really," said TKE #3. "Much easier to understand you when you don't actually have one. Now come on, let's get to work. My sibling and I will show you what to do."
The three engines set to work shunting around Tidmouth Harbour. Despite having been used ever since last November, the Caley Tank proved to have no knowledge of shunting or pulling trains. The coffee pots chalked this up to the fact he had just awoken, thus, wouldn't be able to know. TKE #3, however, couldn't help but notice something that couldn't be explained by that: he seemed to be trying to avoid any cranes.
"I just don't understand it," he confided to TKE #2. "That Caley just awoke, there's no way he can be afraid of cranes already!"
"I'll admit, that is odd," said TKE #2. "We can't blame it on a bad experience with cranes: he hasn't had any yet. I've no idea what's causing it."
"Is everything ok, you two?" asked Edward, pulling up alongside.
"Eh…sort of," said TKE #3. "You know that tank engine from the Caledonian Railway?"
"You mean the 498 Class? I do," said Edward. "Is that it coming towards us? I thought it didn't have a face."
"He does now," said TKE #3. "Somehow managed to grow one last night."
The Caley Tank stopped nearby, needing to take on more coal and water.
"Hullo, my friend," said Edward. "I see you finally grew eyes. My name is Edward."
"What's an Edward?" asked the Caley Tank.
"You're looking at an Edward," the K2 chuckled, while the Coffee Pots rolled their eyes. "Do you have a name?" he asked.
"I don't know," the Caley Tank admitted. "I only know I'm from Glasgow…it's all very fuzzy…"
"That's understandable: you did just awake," said Edward. "Are TKE #2 and #3 treating you well?"
"Yes, you can say so, I guess," said the Caley. "Anyway, I think it's time I went back to work."
"TKE #2, go with him," said TKE #3. "I need to talk to Edward alone."
TKE #2 did so, and they both went back to the Harbour.
"What exactly did you need to talk to me about?" Edward asked.
"It's odd, I tell you," said TKE #3. "Not his lack of knowledge: that's expected since he just awoke. What is odd, however, is that he seems to be trying to avoid cranes. I can't figure out why: it's impossible to have a bad experience with them if you haven't awoken until now!"
Edward pondered this, but had to admit he didn't know.
"It's odd indeed," agreed Edward. "Lingering memories from before his awakening, maybe?""
"How can you possibly have memories from before you awaken?" TKE #3 pointed out. "You can't remember what you didn't experience."
"Did you try asking him?" Edward questioned.
"I don't see a point in doing so when he wouldn't be able to know," snorted TKE #3.
"It still wouldn't hurt to ask," Edward pointed out.
"Ugh, fine, I will," said TKE #3. "But not right now: I have a passenger train to take to Elsbridge."
"Then I guess I'll have to ask him myself," said Edward.
And both engines steamed out of the sheds. TKE #3 went to collect some coaches, and Edward went off to the Harbour.
The K2 found the Caley Tank moving some trucks into a siding. The trucks didn't seem to be too happy.
"What's got you trucks so mad?" Edward asked.
"I'll tell you what," one of the trucks snorted. "He's a complete bore: we made a joke and he just asked what we were talking about!"
"Be patient with him," said Edward. "He's young, he just awoke." The truck just huffed. Edward turned to the Caley.
"Ignore them," he soothed. "Harbour trucks like to joke around and get upset when somebody doesn't laugh with them. Now then, I'd like to ask: why are you avoiding cranes?"
The Caley Tank looked confused.
"What are cranes?" he asked.
"Those tall things over there."
"So…those monsters have names?"
"They're not monsters, they're machines, just like you and me," said Edward. "I don't even see why you'd think they were monsters."
"Well, there's that long, curvy thing…" the Caley Tank shuddered.
"That's called a hook," Edward replied. "It's used to help the cranes lift and load cargo."
"You mean…it's not dangerous?" the Caley Tank asked.
"Only if used improperly," Edward said with a smile. "Fortunately, the crane operators are skilled people: they know exactly how to handle them."
The Caley Tank gave a smile.
"Thanks Edward," he said.
When TKE #3 returned, Edward told him everything.
"I guess I can't really blame the kid," said TKE #3. "A hook can damage an eye if the pointy end comes into contact with it."
"You see? It's all down to the fact he just awakened!" Edward replied. "Why, I remember my own awakening rather vividly."
TKE #3 interrupted Edward before he could go on another nostalgic rant on his past.
"Yes yes, I get it," he said. "I wonder how he'll handle passenger trains?"
"You're already thinking of putting him on a passenger run?!" Edward asked in surprise.
"Well think about it: he's bigger and stronger than me, surely he can handle the job!"
"Except he's never pulled passengers before," the K2 pointed out. "We don't even know what he prefers."
"Neither does he," said TKS #3. "We should let him pull passengers and see if he'd rather stick to goods or do passenger runs."
Edward couldn't come up with a counter argument.
"Very well," he said. "Just make sure somebody goes with him."
"I'll follow closely," said TKE #3. "We can double-head the train."
"If you say so… I better be on my way back to Vicarstown, Thomas and his partner don't think straight when left alone."
The 498 was given the news. He couldn't help but feel confused.
"What exactly is double-heading?" he asked.
"Well," said TKE #3, "double-heading is when two engines team up and pull a train together. The smaller engine, that would be me, leads, while the larger engine, that's you, is coupled up to the train."
"Does it matter which engine is in front?" asked the Caley.
"Not usually," TKE #3 replied. "According to Olive, the GWR sometimes has the small pilot engine behind the larger main locomotive, especially when it came to tank engines without leading bogies."
"What? Who is Olive? What is the GWR? And what are bogies?"
"I'll explain during the journey," said TKE #3, who couldn't help but feel exasperated with all these questions.
Soon, the Caley set to work collecting the coaches, but he got the wrong ones: Caledonian bogie coaches instead of the usual four-wheelers.
"No, no, no! Not those ones!"
"But…they're coaches," said the Caley.
"Bogie coaches, not four-wheeled coaches," said TKE #3. "Right now, those bogie coaches are WAY too heavy for the Elsbridge line. Too heavy and the track will be damaged."
The Caley still didn't seem to get it. TKE #3 sighed, and fetched the coaches: it was clearly going to be a long day.
Finally, they were at the platform, waiting for the signal to hit green.
"Is another train incoming?"
"At least you know how signals work," remarked TKE #3. "But we also have to wait for the guard to blow his whistle and wave his green flag: that means all the passengers are on board. We also have to follow the timetable: we arrive late, passengers get upset. That said, arriving late can't always be helped."
"So what happens if we arrive early?" the Caley asked.
"It throws off other schedules," TKE #3 replied. "Space for what should have been there at the time gets taken up. Again, can't always be helped. Even so, it's best to avoid arriving late or early."
TKE #3 couldn't tell if the Caley understood: he seemed to be rather silent. The Coffee Pot brushed this off as him taking in what he had just learned.
Eventually, the guard did blow his whistle. TKE #3 responded with two blasts and started to move. The Caley followed suit. It was a rather slow journey, which worried the Caley.
"Shouldn't we be going faster?" he asked.
"I'm afraid this is my maximum speed," TKE #3 replied. "Fortunately, the timetable is set to accommodate this, so there's no need to worry about arriving late."
The Caley was still unsure though. He needn't have worried: they arrived at Knapford right on time. The Caley couldn't help but feel relieved when he saw this.
"How you enjoying your first passenger run?" TKE #3 asked.
"It's going…alright," said the Caley. "Why do you look different from TKE #2?"
"My enclosed design was needed for the roadside tramway passenger service going to Elsbridge," TKE #3 answered. "My sister doesn't need such modifications"
"And why are your wheels covered?"
"Part of the line runs near a road," TKE #3 answered. "Engines running near public roads are required by law to wear these. Shouldn't be too much of a problem for you though."
The Caley didn't seem to be sure about this.
At that moment, Olive passed by with the express. That train almost never stopped at Knapford.
"That engine there," said TKE #3, "is Olive. She comes from the Great Western Railway, one of many railway companies around the country."
"You mean: this isn't the only railway on the Island?" the Caley asked.
"Railways aren't just limited to this island," said TKE #3. "There are many all over the United Kingdom, too many to count."
"So, why didn't Olive stop?" asked the Caley.
"She was pulling an express train," answered TKE #3. "Unlike stopping trains, which is what we're pulling, express trains don't stop at every station, only a select few. They take priority over everything else. Well, normally they do: Circumstances are different right now, which means goods trains take top priority."
TKE #3 decided it was best not to talk about the Great War: he didn't want this young engine to be traumatised and frightened. The guard blew his whistle before the Caley could ask about the different circumstances. The rest of the journey was uneventful, aside from having to wait for TKE #2 to pass them at Dryaw with a lead train. But as they arrived at Toryreck, the Caley asked another question.
"How come there isn't a TKE #1?" he asked.
"There used to be," TKE #3 replied. "It was built at A. W. Dry & Company in Tidmouth. The Ulfstead Mining Company wasn't willing to spend the money needed to build a new engine, even though the line was too large for horse-working, so in 1905, the CME of the Tidmouth Knapford and Elsbridge Light Railway, Sir Topham Hatt, gathered together any spare parts he could find and mounted an old portable boiler onto a wagon chassis. This was driven via reduction gearing. A few years later, this boiler wore out and Hatt substituted it with a vertical steam donkey engine he got from a ship. By 1910, the chassis was starting to show signs of coming apart under the strain. Thus, me and #2 were built, while #1 was withdrawn and only used as a spare engine. Two years later, the TKE amalgamated with the Wellsworth and Suddery Railway to form the Tidmouth Wellsworth and Suddery Railway, and #1 was sadly scrapped."
"He…can be rebuilt, right?" asked the Caley.
"I'm afraid not," said TKE #3. "When a vehicle is scrapped, they don't come back from that. Same with people: death isn't reversible, but that's the way life is. But don't worry about that too much: nothing lasts forever in this world: everything must come to an end eventually. Instead of dwelling on your eventual end, you should enjoy living your life as much as possible."
The Caley didn't say anything about this, and TKE #3 couldn't help but wonder if it was too soon to tell this engine about death. The guard blew his whistle at that point. Suddenly, TKE #3 found himself bumped forward!
"Whoa! What was that about?!" he asked in surprise.
"You did tell me to enjoy living my life as much as possible," said the Caley. "That's what I'm doing."
"Ok, well…try to enjoy it more gently: coaches hate being bumped."
"So why haven't these coaches said anything?" the Caley asked.
"That's…actually a good question!" TKE #3 exclaimed. "Perhaps these coaches don't have sentience. Or maybe they do. I've heard there are people who are physically unable to speak. Perhaps these coaches are the same."
"So…what exactly determines whether or not a vehicle is sentient?"
"Nobody knows for sure," TKE #3 replied. "There are many theories about this, but none can be proven. It's probably best not to dwell on that question."
They arrived at Elsbridge and went to take on more coal and water, leaving the coaches in the platform.
"So, how did you enjoy your first passenger run?" TKE #3 asked.
"I don't know," replied the Caley. "It felt rather…slow."
"I don't really blame you," said TKE #3. "I can't really go that fast. Tell you what: I'll let you take the return run on your own. Just remember: don't bump your coaches and stick to the timetable. We must look after the people on our line."
"Ok, thanks," said the Caley. Arrangements were made and when his tanks and bunker were full, the Caley buffered up to the coaches. TKE #3 went down to the Lead Mine to collect another mine train. For the Caley, the return journey was also uneventful. He managed to keep to time and be gentle with the coaches, but he still found it all boring, and was glad when he finally made it back to Tidmouth.
"How did your first passenger run go?" Edward asked.
"Boring," answered the Caley. "Stopping everywhere, waiting around…I feel like I should be doing more than that!"
"Yes, it can be boring at first," Edward admitted, "but the more you do it, the more fun it becomes. Besides, there are ways to pass the time while doing your job."
"I think I'd rather stick to shunting right now," said the Caley Tank. "It's much easier to have fun doing that."
"I understand," said Edward kindly. The Caley Tank went back to the Harbour, leaving the coaches in the platform.
Later, that evening , TKE #3 and TKE #2 told the Caley something about a meeting to be held that very night at Maron.
"What sort of meeting?" he asked.
"To meet all the other engines on the NWR of course," said TKE #3. "#2 and I can't go: we're still needed here. You'll be on your own for the run, but all should be fine."
"Where's that place?"
"You won't miss it, mate: you'll be taking a goods train there, the signalman will guide you," reassured TKE #3. The Caley wasn't sure, but said thanks and went to the Harbour to collect his goods train.
The Caley never reached Maron: as he approached Crosby, he thought he saw something odd on the footbridge. It was a man, who looked slumped over.
"What is that man doing?" he asked his driver.
"Looks like he's…" Suddenly, his eyes widened and he went pale. "Oh my god, I think he's going to jump!" He wasted no time and slammed on the brakes! The man did jump off, landing in one of the trucks. Luckily, this open truck was loaded with sandbags, so the man wasn't harmed.
"What were you thinking?!" the driver asked sternly, walking over to him. "You know full well it's dangerous to jump off high places like that! If we didn't pass by or have these sandbags, you could've died!"
"You should've let me," said the man sadly. The driver was taken aback!
"Why should we have let you?" he asked.
"There's no point to living anymore," the man said sadly.
"That's not true, there's plenty to live for!" the Caley pointed out.
"You wouldn't be saying that if your own son died!" the man snapped. "Yeah, that's right, my son lost his life! He was my only family left, now I have nothing!"
"Then you should find something to live for!" snapped the Caley. "Nothing lasts forever in this world, and everybody dies! Instead of dwelling on your son's death, you should find something else to live for!"
"Screw you, steamer!" shouted the man, and he got out of the truck and ran off, disappearing into the night.
"Was it…something I said?" the Caley asked.
"Maybe, maybe not," comforted his driver, patting his smokebox. "Perhaps that man was too far gone to be helped. While it is concerning, it may be too late to do anything now. We better get going."
They went on, without knowing they were late to the meeting. All the while, the Caley couldn't help but think about that man. How could somebody hate life so much they'd want to end it? Noticing he was starting to lose steam, the driver made a decision.
"I don't think it's a good idea to continue," he said to the fireman. "Our boy is too upset about the fact we couldn't help that man. We'll have to stop at Wellsworth and spend the night there."
And that's exactly what they did. W&S 03 volunteered to take the train, while the Caley went into the engine shed.
A while later, Edward pulled up into the shed row next to him.
"The other engines were worried when you didn't show up," he said. "Except for Thomas, but he's a brat. Tell me: what's wrong?"
The Caley sighed and told him everything. Edward was astonished!
"Wow! That man…tried to kill himself?!"
"Yes, and I tried to tell him what TKE #3 told me, that death is inevitable and that he should find something else to live for, but he just said, "Screw you!" and ran off! I don't even understand what I did wrong?"
Edward sighed.
"I don't think you did anything wrong," he said. "That man was unwilling to help himself. It's never wrong to try and help others, but you can't help anybody who won't help themselves. Yes, it's terrible, suicide is never the answer. However, since he refused your help, the only thing you can actually do is move on." The K2 then gave a smile. "If you ever need help with that, I'm always able to do so."
"Thank you Edward," said the Caley, giving a small smile.
Nobody knows for sure what happened to that man: he seemingly disappeared after his encounter. Over time, the Caley Tank would move on from his inability to help that man. Edward and the Coffee Pots helped speed this up. When it was determined enough time had passed, he was brought over to Vicarstown by Edward to meet the other engines.
"Hullo!" said an engine with a large set of wheels. "It's nice to finally meet you!"
"Uh, you too," said the Caley. "You are?"
"My name's Emily, I'm one of two express engines on this railway."
"Two?"
"The other would be Olive," Edward said.
"I think I saw her passing by Knapford during my first passenger run," said the Caley.
"That's me!" she said, returning to the shed after arriving at the station. "Now what's your name?"
"I…don't have one," the Caley replied.
One of the engines began to laugh, 98462.
"Don't worry, none of us have at first," he said. "I used to be called Max, now I'm not."
"Used to? Why?"
"Acted bad, got punished. That's all there is to it," 98462 admitted. "I've been trying to redeem myself but…Old habits die hard, they say."
"I know that all too well," muttered Selena. The Caley heard her.
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Probably has to do with her experience of pulling passenger trains last december," said Edward. "The compliments got to her head and she became self-absorbed."
"It's not that!" Selena snapped. "It's…something else."
"What sort of something else?" asked the Caley.
"I'd rather not talk about it," said Selena. "It wasn't the best day of my life."
Olive broke the ensuing silence.
"So! You admit to having problems before," she said.
"I said I don't want to talk about it," growled Selena.
"Aw, come on Selena," insisted Olive. "You can't keep…"
"I SAID SHUT UP YOU WESTERN BITCH!"
Everyone else stared in surprise! Never before had Selena shouted like that!
"Please. Shut up… Please."
"Are you ok Selena?" Edward asked.
"Yes Edward, I'm fine," she said. "Now leave me alone, please."
An awkward silence fell over the sheds as she left for the yards.
"I'm sure Selena will get over it eventually," reassured Edward. "In the meantime… "
A familiar whistle interrupted him.
"Move out of the way, tank engine!" Lily ordered from behind the Caley. The Caley was in no mood for this.
"Piss off, hag!" he barked.
"HOW DARE YOU CALL ME A HAG!" shouted Lily. "I was built four years ago! I'm a modern express…"
"Pompous bitch who doesn't know when to shut up," snorted the Caley. "Hey, can you smell something? Smells like you didn't brush your teeth."
Lily was now really furious.
"Stop insulting me you tiny…"
"Timmy? Who's Timmy?" asked the Caley. Lily felt more furious than ever.
"I said tiny you deaf brat!" she shrieked.
"I'm not deaf, you are," said the Caley, he then paused. "Timmy…" he said slowly, and smiled. "Yes, that works. Thanks for naming me, old lady."
Lily, frustrated, whooshed steam and reversed away. The other engine stared with growing respect.
"Did you just…tell Lily to piss off?" asked Emily.
"That's what it's called?" Timmy asked.
"Who knew Lily had a soft spot?" chuckled 98462. "Nice to see she cares enough to give our new friend a name."
"Well, that engine just reminded me of the attitude that guy had," Timmy said. "At least I think she did. I'm just more concerned about what the red one's going through."
"We'll get to the bottom of that, eventually," said Edward. "For now, Timmy, take one of the berths: we have much to talk about."
As the engines and Timmy talked, Selena left the sheds to sleep elsewhere: she wasn't going to risk the other engines bringing up her mysterious past event that she'd rather keep hidden. Besides, she had an evening train to pull.