Chapter 90: Bulgy

Summer had come to the Island of Sodor, and the drivers of the North Western Railway were busy taking visitors to and from all the sights on the railway. Bus drivers like Bertie helped as well. But although most of them were friendly there were some who thought they were above working along such "outdated machinery."

One day, Duck was waiting at Tidmouth Station for a bus to come with his passengers. It wasn't long before a bus pulled in, but it wasn't like Bertie's at all. It was a double decker bus. As the passengers climbed out, the bus driver went to the refreshment stand to buy a cup of coffee. Duck had some time before his next train and decided to say hello.

"Hello, you must be new to the island. I'm-"

"I don't care. Unlike you engine drivers, I don't have time to chat. If you focused less on socialization and more on your work, you wouldn't need our help. But it doesn't matter anyway. Your railway is out of date and will be turned into a road one of these days."

Duck was horrified.

"My friend Bertie is a bus driver. He may tease our railway about being out of date, but he would never want to see it be turned into a road."

"Bah, I know Bertie. He's as delusional as all of you. Just you wait and see. Once passengers realize how much more reliable we are, your railway will be nothing but tarmac. Just you wait and see."

With that, the man drove away, leaving Duck rather upset.

Later that day he saw Oliver at the seaside station. He told him what the bus driver had said.

"His name is Bulgy. He does nothing but sulk and make rude remarks, but he's no threat. Pay him no mind."

This made Duck feel better. But when he met up with Oliver again later, it was Oliver's turn to be upset.

"Bulgy's got a friend, and he's just as rude as him. He's taking over Bulgy's evening route, letting Bulgy take our passengers."

"But that's ridiculous! It'll take much longer by road."

"Yeah, but Bulgy claims he has a shortcut."

Later that day, Duck and Oliver were at the top station. But there were no passengers on the platform.

"Look! There's Bulgy. And his bus is loaded!"

Duck looked over in horror to see Bulgy's bus wearing signs saying, "Railway Bus."

"Later, suckers!"

And off he drove laughing, leaving Duck and Oliver in the dust.

"I'll follow him. You stay here in case anything else goes on."

"Be careful, Duck."

"I will."

It wasn't long before Duck found them. There Bulgy was, his bus stuck under a bridge, and a swarm of angry passengers surrounding him.

"So, this was his shortcut."

"He lied to us! He told us he ran a railway bus service but refused to refund our tickets!"

Just then the guard came up to Duck.

"This bus won't be going anywhere. We need you to get the passengers home."

"Of course. Passengers are important."

So, the passengers all climbed into Duck's coaches, and he set off across the bridge. It groaned and bent under the train's weight.

"Hey, watch it! There's still someone down here."

"Well, get out from underneath. If that bridge collapses on your bus, it'll serve you right for being rude and telling lies."

Eventually, the bridge and bus were repaired, but Bulgy's reputation was not. He was fired from the bus service, and now spends his days as a farmhand, where his lies can do no harm. The hens don't listen to them anyway.