Chapter 92: Bulgy Rides Again

The work on the Little Western had increased. More and more passengers came to visit the line. Duck and Oliver were rushed off their feet.

"I'm so busy that I don't know if I'm coming or going," Duck groaned.

"Tell me about it," Oliver complained.

Sir Topham Hatt came to speak to them later that day.

"I understand that you are overworked," he said, "Rest assured that I am working on a solution."

But try as he might, there was no one available to help Duck and Oliver. He was soon forced to turn to the Bus company for help.

"Well, there is one option," said the depot manager, "But you won't like it. After all, he has caused them trouble in the past."

"I'm afraid that I don't have much of a choice," sighed Sir Topham Hatt, "Duck and Oliver need help, and I have no one who can help. Be sure to warn him to be on his best behavior."

The next day, Duck and Oliver were preparing their engines for the day's work when they heard a familiar horn. Duck and Oliver gasped in horror.

"No! It can't be!"

But it could, and it was. Strolling into the depot was a bright red double decker bus and sitting in the driver's seat was nonother than Bulgy himself.

"Bulgy! What are you doing here?"

"Relax, I learned my lesson about stealing passengers. I've spent enough time cleaning out henhouses as is. I'm here to give you two a hand. Trust me, I come in peace"

"Yeah right, I'll believe it when I see it."

"Well get ready to believe it, Bub."

Bulgy worked hard, taking passengers up and down the line all day. Even the engines on the Arlesdale Railway were impressed.

"Think he can help us with our passengers?" Joked Mike to Rex.

"Stuff it, Mike. If you hadn't been such a crosspatch about your whistle, you wouldn't be stuck on passenger duty."

"If that stupid cow would've just up and moved, that wouldn't have happened."

Even Duck and Oliver were happy. They finally had time to rest between trains. But they still didn't fully trust Bulgy.

"He is a big help, I'll admit," Duck whispered to Oliver, "But I just can't get over his lies."

"Agreed, but we'll have to manage I suppose."

The next day, Duck was taking a train of tourists to the seaside. The sun was shining, and the passengers were singing. But Duck was still worried about Bulgy.

"I just can't shake the feeling that he's up to something," he thought to himself, "I want to give him another chance, but I just don't know."

But Duck wasn't watching where he was going. A bad bit of track lay ahead, and before Duck knew it his engine was off the rails.

Duck wasn't badly hurt, and the coaches remained on the rails, but they had no way of rerailing the engine. Just then, they heard a familiar toot.

"Bother, that'll be Bulgy," Duck moaned, "He'll laugh at me for sure."

But Bulgy could see that Duck was in a pickle.

"I'm on my way to the seaside right to pick up passengers myself," Bulgy replied, "And I have just enough room for your passengers. I'll take them, and phone for help as soon as I can."

Everyone agreed, and all of Duck's passengers climbed into Bulgy's bus. It was a tight squeeze, even with two floors, but before they knew it the bus was full and Bulgy sped off. Oliver soon arrived to retrieve Duck and his engine.

That evening, Sir Topham Hatt arrived.

"Bulgy, I have heard nothing but praise from passengers about your performance," he said, "You are a really useful bus driver."

"Thank you, sir," Bulgy said.

"Now, I've spoken to the bus manager, and he's agreed to let you be the main bus driver for this branchline, as well as give you a raise. You should be proud of yourself."

"We sure are," Oliver said.

"Three cheers for Bulgy!" Duck said, and so they gave them three cheers.

All three are now good friends, and Bulgy is happy to be able to work on the roads again. It's certainly better than dealing with chickens!