Back at the sheds, Tina was having a seemingly interesting conversation with Henry about nature as she had only discovered her love for plants and animals recently. They were engrossed in their conversation until Sandy's crew had backed her into her usual berth and let off steam, sighing.
"My god, you look terrible, what happened to you? I haven't seen you in such a miserable state since…" Tina asked, quite a bit worried, but was interrupted by Sandy.
"Tina! Please, don't ever start this topic again. You know what happened last time," Sandy answered, "And what happened?! This empty smokebox of a red mixed-traffic engine has been so damn rude today and then he even had the guts to stare at me like I was from another planet and never apologized for a single thing he said!"
The Battle of Britain class knew that her friend was annoyed and only frowned, thinking it was better not to ask any further. Meanwhile, Sandy had completely retreated into her berth, sighing heavily and trying to get some sleep but that was cut short by an all too familiar whistle from a red engine moments later. All she could do was roll her eyes and closed them again in order to avoid conversation. This didn't keep James from slowly rolling up to her though. Sandy only grumbled in discontent, keeping her eyes firmly shut as James crawled closer. He crept forward slowly, he knew that he had to get several things cleared up, but he didn't have a clue on how to start. He was sorry for what he had done and wished he could take it back, but he would never admit something like that directly to anyone but himself. James had even asked his crew for advice, but they told him he needed to sort that himself, only offering him to bring him up to face Sandy. The red mixed-traffic engine stopped only a few centimetres in front of her as he noticed how easily his buffer beam would go under hers since he had his lamp posts removed due to safety restrictions when not having any headlights on and in total height she was taller than him too. Only then he realized how the accident early in the morning probably happened and how it had felt actually made him blush.
'Come on, you fool, get your senses back together, she's only another annoying engine after all, though she's got a really nice tender… Oh damn it, focus on what you want to say!' his thoughts ran in circles while his eyes wandered over Sandy once again, he wasn't able to stop staring at her and his mouth had dropped open slightly.
Totally lost in his thoughts, he didn't even notice how Sandy had opened her eyes, a frown on her lips and her eyes narrowed at him, annoyance clearly displayed in her voice as well, "Are you done staring now?! What's actually wrong with you anyways? You don't seem to like me, yet you seek my presence."
"I've never seen such perfection…" he muttered, not even noticing what he had just uttered until Sandy let out a small growl, "Oh! Er… of course I meant myself because I can see my reflection in your eyes, I'm the most splendid after all!"
"Is that all for now? If yes then I'd kindly ask you to let me get back to sleep," Sandy snarled at him, her voice dangerously low.
James backed up and rolled onto the turntable to be turned around before he backed into the berth next to Sandy. He looked at her again, now being able to see her completely, but his eyes soon wandered to the ground in front of him as he sighed, trying to find the right words as not to annoy her further and get a proper apology to her as well without sounding too selfish.
Tina, who had watched everything intently, whispered to him so Sandy couldn't hear, "You really should apologize for whatever you have done. I haven't seen her that distraught for a very long time."
James sighed, still not sure how to proceed without upsetting her more, but soon he swallowed his own pride, "I- I didn't mean to be that rude, but please let me explain. You see, I've been the only red engine here for decades and then the Fat Controller just brought another one with him many years ago. She was a Midland Compound and she caused trouble wherever she went and people kept mistaking her for me, especially at night when seen from behind. It's only logical that I thought with two red engines, one would be hauled away for scrap and since I've been here longer my guess was that he would've sent me for scrap, especially after she kept blaming me behind my back for everything she has done even though at first she was all nice and cheerful to my face. In the end the Fat Controller luckily found out who had been the one to cause trouble and sent her back to the museum she came from where they put her on display for a long time so she learned her lesson. She had hurt me very much as she claimed to be a good friend, sometimes she said she even hoped for more than that, but I was always too wary to even consider anything more than just plain friendship. I don't know where she ended up but when I saw you I thought she was back, just in a heavily rebuilt shape since you and her got the same wheel arrangement and that made my anger come out again, not paying any attention to the obvious differences. I feared that you might be just like her and that you would take away my jobs or plot intrigues behind my back, but you didn't. We all have to follow the controller's orders, including me…"
"A simple 'I'm sorry' would've been enough you know," Sandy sighed, then went on, more to herself though, "Why are all the guys so complicated, always talking around the matter."
Her thoughts then trailed off to the time when she was on Orient Express service. She had met so many nice engines and had enjoyed their company, though there had also been some pompous but good looking males. They were also part of the finest classes for express passenger trains and therefore they thought they could get every girl they wanted. Sandy had learned that the hard way when she had fallen for that streamlined BR 03 named Johann who she met on her runs to Linz in Upper Austria. First he had promised her the world and then just dumped her for a BR 18 once he had been ordered back to Germany and completely broke all ties. Sandy sighed heavily, trying to hold back the tears that were burning in her eyes and silently, one small tear slipped out the corner of her left eye before she squeezed her eyes shut tightly to avoid more to come to the surface, she just wanted to sleep now to forget everything. This didn't go unnoticed by James whose normally stoic face clearly displayed the compassion and he silently hoped he wasn't the cause of her tears.
The next day, Sandy woke to the sound of a whistle she had never heard before. As she opened her eyes, she saw a silver streamliner backing up into the empty berth beside her. She wondered why she was the only engine left in the shed this morning but then simply shrugged it off and she had also managed to partly forget the previous day's events.
"My, my, who do we have here? One of the new mainland engines to help out," the silver engine said in Sandy's direction, "Gordon sure isn't happy that there is another express engine here now. By the way, my name's Spencer. I'm the private engine of the Duke and Duchess of Boxford. They are currently relaxing in their summer house."
"Ah, so you're the famous Spencer, same class as Mallard, right? You sure must be fast?" Sandy questioned him, raising an eyebrow.
"Why yes, of course I am. Gordon still thinks he's the fastest, but I'm obviously faster than him. Care for a little demonstration?" Spencer asked in hope he could show that new engine what a fast engine looks like.
"I got nothing to do anyways until lunch time so sure, we could also hold a race instead of a simple demonstration," Sandy said, quite sure he'd accept because he wouldn't think that she'd be fast enough to beat him anyways since he didn't know anything about her.
"I'd be delighted! Though be warned: First I know my way better around here and second I'm streamlined, so don't expect to be anywhere near winning," Spencer said with a self confidence that one could've sliced it into pieces.
So the two engines talked their crews into agreeing to a small race and then they set off for Knapford where they were to start their race. They found Edward shunting trucks to take down to his branch line. At first he didn't notice the two engines coming into the station until Sandy gave a short blast of her whistle and started to talk to him.
"Hello, Edward! Spencer and I would need someone for a starting signal for our little race. Would you like to help us out with this, please?" Sandy asked the blue tender engine.
"I'm not sure this is a good idea. If the Fat Controller finds out, we're all in trouble," Edward stated.
Sandy rolled closer to the blue mixed-traffic engine, whispering, "You know, I want to teach that teapot over there a lesson. He thinks he's the fastest and I will prove him wrong with a trick."
"Ok then, but don't involve me when you get caught because I told you not to," Edward told her.
So they lined up, Sandy at platform 3 and Spencer at platform 1, Edward sat on the middle track between Sandy and Spencer, facing them.
"Pay attention to the signals though, you may start as soon as you hear my whistle, Gordon and Tina should have cleared the tracks with their trains beforehand so you're safe. The finish line will be at Suddery and I'll be taking a shortcut to get there to see the result," Edward stated calmly, looking at the two in turns.
"Shall I give you a little head start? As it is certain that I'll win this anyways," Spencer asked Sandy.
"Not really necessary. I want this to be as fair as possible," she answered, her plan was working out perfectly well.
"Fair?! My dear, this isn't fair at all considering I'm streamlined and one of the fastest engines in the world and…" Spencer had to laugh, quite sure of himself, but got interrupted by Edward's whistle.
Sandy could only smile to this inwardly as she already departed on her green signal, leaving Spencer behind and blowing a huge cloud of black smoke out her funnel and directly at him.
"Hey, I wasn't ready yet, that's unfair!" he coughed and spluttered, trying to follow her, but rather irritated and baffled at the smoke slightly blocking his view.
Sandy laughed and disappeared behind the next bend. Spencer tried his hardest to catch up with her. She was lighter than him, therefore being able to pick up speed a little bit faster than a heavy locomotive like he was.
"Well, seems like the streamlining doesn't help you much, Spencer! By the way, I'm Sandy. I want you to remember my name and my face, because from now on all you'll..." her words were cut off, eyes wide as she was forced to swallow her own arrogance as Spencer suddenly appeared alongside her, looking smug though a bit irritated.
"What were you saying, my dear?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
The 306's eyes narrowed slightly but she didn't respond, she was going to make him eat those words. The pair rolled along the mainline, steadily gathering speed. However it was clear that Spencer was holding back and Sandy knew this. She knew what his class was capable of and it felt as though she was being mocked. It was at that moment that she silently cursed her designer, her railway and its restrictions. As they left the outskirts of Knapford, Sandy's crew fought hard to keep her speed up but it was clear she was no match for an A4. As quickly as he had arrived, Spencer began to overtake her, wasting no time and the gap between the two grew larger and larger until he was a good distance away.
"You see my dear," Spencer called, "there is no way an old tin can like you can beat me! See you in Suddery!"
Sandy glared harshly at him, but she knew he couldn't see it. She slowly began to steady her pace at a comfortable 50 miles per hour. What had she been thinking, there's no way she could compete with these fancy, new engines! She mentally scolded herself for letting her pride get in the way and now she'd have to face the silver A4 and his gloating. It would be just like back home!
'Greeaat...' she thought to herself.
Just then she remembered Edward's words about signals and she beamed brightly and sped up again. Maybe just maybe! Once she neared the loop line junction after Crosby, her smile melted into a wicked grin as she spotted Spencer sitting in front of a red light while a slow, long coal train rolled past him towards Elsbridge.
She opened her mouth to speak, unable to stop herself, "Well, well, well looks like you youngsters still have to obey signals! As I was saying dear boy, I'm Sandy! Enjoy this face because all you'll see from now on is my tender!"
Spencer glared dangerously at the Austrian engine, yelling incoherently, but Sandy could care less. With a cheerful blast of her whistle, she made her way through Wellsworth and onto Edward's branch line towards the finish line in Suddery, being sure to take her time for it would be a while before Spencer would get the green light. Shortly before Suddery, she started slowing down, rolled into the station and stopped at the southbound platform, winking at Edward who didn't quite know what to think. Never did he even expect in the least for her to be there faster than Spencer, and not even then any signs of her being out of breath, despite him remembering she had talked about a trick to play on the silver A4.
A few moments later, Spencer arrived and came to a halt next to Sandy, mouth hanging open, his face lined with anger and stuttering, "You didn't even warn me about that, that fog of black smoke, you know how unfair that was?! And that signal, bahh..."
"Well you are faster, but being smart can even make someone fast fail, especially when it hits unexpectedly and they don't know about scheduled freight trains," Sandy chirped.
"So I declare Sandy the winner of this race," Edward stated, "You better head back to Tidmouth now before anyone sees you here and questions it."
Sandy left for the turntable, not being able to suppress her laughing. Spencer's face at seeing her there first has been priceless, he clearly hadn't expected that to happen. And another familiar laugh could be heard from over at the water tower.
"Henry, what are you doing here? I thought you were already out and on your way down the line?" Sandy said, surprised to see him at the station.
"Well, I had to stop to take on water. Then I saw Edward arriving and backing into the siding at the station entrance. When I asked him what he was up to, he told me that you two were racing to this station so I decided to stay here to see who would be winning. I never would've thought Spencer was that slow," Henry said and grinned widely, "Oh but I have to be on my way now, my train is already expected and I can't be late now. See you later!"
With that said, Henry set off, leaving a grinning Sandy and an angry Spencer behind. The silver A4 was fuming, why did he let himself get tricked into racing an engine he didn't know? And then Edward and even Henry had seen him fail. They probably would tell everyone and they would laugh about him for sure, especially Gordon.
"Now I just hope that Henry won't tell anyone because if he tells Percy or Thomas we're sure to be found out and then we got fire on the roof," Sandy mumbled to herself after having been turned around and heading back to Tidmouth.
Spencer grumbled, still not quite back to his senses after he had been defeated just like that, but then he followed Sandy back to Tidmouth. Neither of them felt the urge to hurry, the day had only just begun and the tracks were quiet with hardly anyone out between Wellsworth and Knapford so they weren't blocking anyone's way either. When they arrived at Knapford, they saw that Edward was already back and sitting at platform 4, talking to Percy before the little green tank engine left the station with some empty trucks. Edward then joined the two express engines and they went back to the sheds together. Luckily, nobody was there and so they backed into their berths, waiting for the Fat Controller to arrive. Only minutes later, a familiar blue car pulled into the yard and stopped near a siding. The controller heaved himself out of the car and walked over to the three engines.
"Good morning, Sandy, Edward and Spencer! I have a special job for the three of you. Sandy, you will take an express to Vicarstown on your own, Spencer will take a non-stop goods train to meet you there and he'll be taking the express back then. Edward will help you two with shunting the coaches and trucks correctly. I expect everything to run smoothly and right on time! And in the evening, James will double-head the special with you again, Sandy. His coupling hook spring has been repaired already," with that said, the Fat Controller drove off.
The trio left the sheds once again, heading for Tidmouth station. Spencer soon continued down the mainline when his trucks had been arranged; this might not be his usual work, but he was used to helping out when help was needed. The passengers were already waiting as Sandy backed up to the coaches Edward had shunted into place. She was nervous as this would be her first run alone, but she was determined to make it a run to remember for her passengers. Some children started taking photos of her before their parents called for them to board the train. As the guard blew his whistle and waved his green flag, she slowly moved out of the station, whistling so nobody would miss her. Soon, she was out in the open countryside, enjoying the wind blowing her smoke up and the sun glancing down on her.
Meanwhile, James was taking a slow goods train towards Maron and had just been running over Gordon's Hill, reaching the bottom, when he heard a loud, shrill whistle and then something blue and black thundered past with the express. He raised an eyebrow, his mouth hung open at the speed, she probably was that fast due to the descending track and a fairly heavy train attached to her and pushing her. Only then he noticed it had been Sandy, who else could've been that special kind of blue except for her? He caught a glimpse of the sun being reflected off her dome and boiler bands, she must have been polished to perfection. His golden eyes followed her until she disappeared in the distance. James sighed heavily, he didn't even notice the blush that had formed on his cheeks for some reason. Something had been on his mind for a while, she looked so very familiar to him apart from the fact of being a 4-4-0 compound, and he knew he had seen a photograph of exactly that blue engine somewhere, but he didn't remember where precisely.
Soon, Sandy reached Vicarstown and she even was ahead of the usual schedule for the express, she broke Gordon's average travel time with her run. As the passengers got off the train, they thanked Sandy and her crew for the fast and smooth run and praised her for being really useful. Sandy smiled, happy about the great feedback she had received for her first trip alone. Spencer had glanced at the station clock quickly and knew that she had been way ahead in time so he didn't need to hurry to take the train back and he finally had something to rub into Gordon's face too about her fast run. Sandy got uncoupled and went to the turntable and as she was turned around, a few boys stood beside the track, taking photos of her again. One of the adults standing with the boys explained that her class was famous for pulling the Orient Express and the Imperial Royal train of Austria, pointing to her number on her cab and the customly fitted crest on the back of her tender. The boys cheered at her when she rolled off the turntable and whistled, ready to go back to Tidmouth. As she passed Spencer, he grumbled at her, mumbling something like how she wasn't supposed to be faster than him by any means, but Sandy simply shrugged it off and continued down the mainline back to the sheds, collecting a few empty trucks at various stations to take them to the shunting yard as her crew had been told so on short notice via a phone call at the Vicarstown station office.
Back at Tidmouth, only James was in his berth, looking deep in thought. At first he didn't even notice the presence of another engine until Sandy let off some steam as she backed up next to him, her crew quickly running towards their accommodations. His eyes slowly wandered over to her, surveying her closer to get the information he was craving since she had shot past him with the express. It was still nagging at the back of his mind and then it suddenly dawned on him when he saw the golden crest and the number plates on her.
His thoughts started running wild as his eyes darted all over her, it came to his mind all at once, 'kkStB 306… Karl Gölsdorf… Orient Express… Empress… That book! My old driver had shown me a book about central European engines and trains once when I was very young! Her appearance seems to have changed so very much since I've seen that picture, but then again, that was before World War II… It's surprising she survived at all. But isn't she supposed to be black?! Oh well, this special blue really is the only colour for an engine of her standards, and then a famous one on top of it.'
Some words must've slipped past his lips as Sandy was now looking at him with a raised eyebrow. He quickly closed his mouth, blushing slightly, now being aware of how strange it must've seemed to her to be stared at once again. Sandy looked up at the clock outside in the yards and noticed it was almost time for their evening special and she slowly started to make her way back to the big station once her crew had returned with something to eat. It took James a few seconds to realize he had this last job to do for the day, but he soon followed Sandy in silence to get their train. The two engines didn't speak a word for their whole journey and when they came back from their run, they just backed up in their berths and fell asleep right away.