When Bertie the Bus went away to be mended, the Fat Controller put Bulgy back into service to help on Thomas' Branch Line. Bulgy is a double-decker bus and can carry a lot of passengers. Unfortunately, Bulgy doesn't like railways.

One day, Bulgy was driving along the lane when Thomas came alongside him with Annie and Clarabel.

"Hullo, Bulgy!" Thomas called. "Care for another race?"

Bulgy snorted. "What fun is there in racing anyway, especially an engine?"

"I bet I can reach the next station before you."

That got Bulgy's attention. "Pah! roads always win."

"Well, let's find out," Thomas puffed. "Ready…Steady…GO!" And they raced off.

First, Bulgy took the lead, but Thomas quickly raced past him. Then, the road turned away from the railway, but Thomas and Bulgy kept going as fast as their wheels could carry them.

Bulgy veered around the next bend towards Maithwaite Station. "Hurrah!" He cheered. "The roads finally triumph the railway."

"Ahem," said a voice.

Bulgy looked to see Thomas at the platform. "What?! No!" he growled. "I don't understand what some buses see in racing engines."

"Never mind, Bulgy," smiled Thomas. "We can race again another day."

That gave Bulgy an idea. If I continue to race Thomas and get the passengers to the station before him, he thought, I will finally prove that roads are better than railways. "Uh, you're on, Thomas," he said. "Same time tomorrow?"

Thomas grinned.

And so, it went. Thomas and Bulgy continued to race each other. At last, Bulgy started to win and he felt very pleased with himself, but no matter how hard he tried, Thomas would sometimes reach the station first.

Bulgy was cross. "It's not fair," he grumbled to himself. "Thomas and I travel the same distance and he still manages to win. If only I didn't have to make extra stops for passengers along the way." And then, an idea flew into Bulgy's radiator. "That's it! If I only made the same stops as Thomas, then I would definitely win!"

The next day, Thomas and Bulgy met at Knapford Station.

"Hello, Thomas," smiled Bulgy. "Care for another race?"

"I never say 'no' to a race," Thomas smiled. "I'm sure I'll win again."

"We'll see about that," Bulgy chuckled to himself.

At last, the Guard blew his whistle and waved his green flag. Thomas and Bulgy raced out of the station as fast as they could.

Once more, Bulgy drew in front, but Thomas soon came alongside. "It looks like I'll win again, Bulgy!" he called.

"So you think!" Bulgy bellowed back.

When Bulgy turned away from the Branch Line, he raced past houses as fast as he could, but when he approached the first bus stop, he didn't slow down. The passengers jumped and called as Bulgy sped away.

"Bulgy, what are you doing?!" called his Driver.

"Freeing the roads once and for all!" Bulgy called back.

When the road met the railway again, Thomas saw that Bulgy was in front. "Hmm, a challenge," he puffed to himself and began to go faster.

Further ahead, Jack and Max were helping to fix the road. Bulgy saw them, but he still didn't slow down. "You won't win this time, kettle!" he called, and raced along the bumpy road. Dust and dirt flew everywhere.

"Hey! Slow down! We're working here!" shouted Max, but Bulgy paid no attention.

Thomas had seen everything. "What is Bulgy doing?"

"Those poor passengers," said Clarabel.

"He'll have an accident racing around like that," said Annie worriedly, and she was right.

Bulgy was swerving and bumping along and his passengers were having the most uncomfortable ride they ever had. Bulgy raced past another bus stop and frightened the waiting passengers.

At last, Bulgy was approaching Maithwaite Station. "At last, the roads have won!" he called.

Then there was trouble.

Bulgy tried to slow down when he heard a strange rattling noise. Suddenly, he heard something break and he started to swerve out of control. His Driver tried to stop him, but it was no use. Bulgy wobbled toward the crossing on the other side of the Station.

Then, Bulgy heard a whistle. Percy was coming the other way. "LOOK OUT!" Bulgy cried. Percy braked as hard as he could, and he managed to stop his heavy train just in time. Bulgy swerved around, trying to go slower but it wasn't enough. He bumped into the crossing gate and jolted his passengers about fiercely.

Thomas soon arrived. He had seen everything...and so did the Fat Controller who was onboard. "What were you thinking, Bulgy!?" he cried. "You left your passengers behind, damaged yourself by going too fast on an unsafe road and now, you have stranded yourself at the crossing. You have caused confusion and delay, and you could've seriously hurt your passengers."

"I was trying to arrive at the station before Thomas, Sir," sulked Bulgy. "I wanted everyone to see how useful we buses are."

"You are useful," said the Fat Controller sternly, "but I brought you back to help Thomas; not to outshine him. Thomas and Bertie work as a team and it's high time you did the same."

For several days, Bulgy was a very quiet bus indeed. He took his passengers where they needed to go without fuss, and he didn't race Thomas. Thomas was happy when Bertie came back, and they set to work at once. Bulgy stayed in the Bus Yard for a long time feeling sad and alone. Bulgy still doesn't like railways, but I wonder if he will change his mind and see that they have their uses too one day. Don't you?