A/N The miniature engines death begins. Bert is the oldest, by basis.
Bert had had a dreadful accident. His crew told the Arlesdale controller after recovering from having the wind knocked out of them from jumping clear. Bert was taken to the Steamworks and pronounced DOA. The miniature engines' controller and crew were informed and all his friends were summoned to the Steamworks for a meeting.
The miniature engines' controller said, pulling out a handkerchief and dapping tears from his eyes, said, "We've lost Bert." His crew sobbed and sniffed into handkerchiefs, broken-hearted at their engine's death.
The engines began to cry. Mike quietly sobbed in a corner and Rex buffer pressed him, bawling his eyes out, just overwhelmed with grief. All the other engines found someone to cry with and buffer press. Thomas was with Percy.
Thomas, through wailing sobs and sniffles, gave a tearful speech about the dead engine. His driver pressed a cloth to his eyes as the tank engine said, "W-We sh-shall m-miss l-little B-Bert dr-dreadfully. B-But w-we m-must b-be R-Really U-Useful E-Engines, th-though br-broken-h-hearted, b-because B-Bert w-would w-want u-us t-to c-carry o-on w-with l-life. H-He's g-gone t-to Th-the B-Big R-Railway I-In th-the Sk-Sky." He sobbed and sobbed, weeping and wailing until his eyes went completely dry. His crew gave him a drink with a mobile water tank, then they went home.
That night, those close to Bert cried themselves to sleep and had a vision of him on The Big Railway In The Sky.
The Arlesdale Railway was closed to allow the engines time to grieve and have a memorial service for Bert. It was held in Arlesburgh, to allow the bigger engines to be there. Percy was allowed to go just as buffers to press for Thomas. Bert's more emotional friends spent time crying. Thomas and Rex cried with wailing sobs until they could cry no more.
The railway re-opened with Alistaire, a miniature diesel, taking Bert's place. He was kind, a giver of practical comfort when his friends were sad, a sensitive soul and very cheeky at times. Life took on a more normal flow on the Arlesdale line.
A/N I believe Thomas had some degree of relationship with the miniature engines and with little Bert friendly to bigger engines, it all fits in my Thomasverse.