The next morning on Sodor, it was a bright and sunny day. The engines were well-rested and ready for the day ahead of them. Braedey felt relaxed as well, and he was more than ready for today. Plus, he'd like to see more of Sodor if he can.
"So, what's for the morning?" Braedey asked.
"Well, since I'm back in action, I'll be taking the Wild Nor' Wester. I again thank you for yesterday." Gordon said to Braedey.
"No problem with that." Braedey replied. "I guess I'm going to be on stand-by in case."
"Stand-by?" James echoed. He hadn't heard of that phrase before.
"It's something me and my team would say whenever one of us didn't have much work to do." Braedey clarified to James. "It also means we take light-tourist trains; two small coaches only, and with an amount of passengers." He added on.
"That's interesting." Edward noted. "Well, I'm sure that Sir Topham will have something for you to do."
Sure enough, Sir Topham did have some work for Braedey: he was to help out with some shunting, plus small passenger and goods runs. Braedey didn't mind this, for it did give him time to travel small distances, instead of going for miles.
Later on in the day, Braedey was making his way down towards what was the 'Little Western', also known as the Arlesburgh Branchline, a coastal line operating from Tidmouth to Arlesburgh West. He had to admit, the line was very unique, especially with a view of the sea. Braedey was very impressed by the sight of the sea, and there was a lot to take a look at.
"Hello thare. Ye must be thon new engine Gordon telt us aboot at the works." A Scottish voice spoke out.
Braedey looked over to see two Caledonian Railway McIntosh 812 Class 0-6-0 goods engines nearby. The two engines were painted in BR lined black, both engines with red nameplates that have the names 'Donald' and 'Douglas' in gold, as well as the number 9 and 10 in gold with red lining on the tenders. Donald has the number 9, and Douglas has the number 10.
"Well, a pleasure to meet you both, Donald and Douglas." Braedey greeted back to them. He then realised something. "Hang on. You're Caledonian engines, right?" He asked.
"Aye. That's richt. We were once part o the Scottish region o British Railways, where we were 57646, an 57647." Douglas clarified to Braedey.
"Interesting. I have a friend who's also a Caledonian engine." Braedey said to the twins. He then looked to the signal, and he saw it turned from red to green. "Well, I have to be on my way. Nice talking with you two." With a whistle, he soon left the station, Donald and Douglas whistling back in unison.
Back on the Josephine Railway, the engines were slowly waking up, and getting ready for the day ahead. Liliana picked up her inspection train to go and check out the tracks. Austin and Max began to head off to do shunting at the coaling plants, while Diana had to take some time to get her steam up.
As she waited to get up to steam, Diana could hear the sound of a steam engine approaching. It sounded like a small engine, but it wasn't Liliana nor Austin. She looked to the line leading to the mainline to Barrow-in-Furness and other lines across the United Kingdom, and she could see an engine chugging up into view, stopping nearby the signal tower.
Diana looked over at the engine. The locomotive, who happened to be a woman, was an LBSCR E1 Class 0-6-0T steam locomotive, her class designed by William Stroudley in 1874, for short-distance goods and piloting duties. Her class was classified E, and known as "E-tanks"; They're reclassified as E1 by D.E. Marsh. She's painted in light orange with white lining around her boiler and side tanks, the lettering 'N.E.R' on her side tanks, and the number 645 behind her cab. She has eyelashes and red lips, while having a dainty face.
The first six locomotives of this useful and long-lived class were built at Brighton and appeared in traffic between September 1874 and March 1875. They performed well and further orders were placed at regular intervals until December 1891, when the class consisted of eighty locomotives, used throughout the LBSCR system, principally for goods and shunting, but occasionally for secondary passenger duties. In 1884, Stroudley also built one example of the class (No. 157 Barcelona) with a larger boiler and Gladstone-type cylinders, with valves underneath to work on steeply-graded lines between Eastbourne and Tunbridge Wells. This Special E-tank was withdrawn in 1922.
"Hello there." Diana spoke to the LBSCR E1. "You must be the engine taking over Braedey's work until he comes back. I'm Diana. And you are...?"
"I am Belle. I hail from the Embassy & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, a few miles away from Yorkshire." The E1, Belle, introduced herself to Diana. "May I ask what my first job will be?" She asked.
"Well, since you're not as big as myself or other engines, you'll be running from Marion to Barrow-in-Furness." Diana explained to Belle. "From there, another engine will take the train to Vicarstown. After that, you take the return train to Marion, and come back here." She added on.
"Okay. Thank you for that." Belle thanked, and she made her way over to the platform.
Belle stopped by the platform, seeing the coaches ready to go. She soon got turned around, coupled up to the coaches, and she began to make her way down the line, letting out a whistle as she left the station. Once Belle had left with the passengers, Diana chuffed over to the carriage shed, collecting two coaches, and she made her way over to the platforms. Now, with her confidence coming back, she felt like she can handle her trains without worrying. She waited patiently for a few minutes, as the passengers climbed onboard her coaches. Soon, Diana chuffed off down the line to the Lake District, letting off a whistle as she goes along.
Back on Sodor, Braedey was taking a small passenger service, heading down the Elsbridge Loop Line; a line going from Tidmouth to Crosby via Elsbridge. He made it to the station a full five minutes ahead of schedule, and the passengers were rather impressed by the smooth ride and comfort he gave to them.
Elsbridge Station. Elsbridge serves as the junction between Thomas' branch line and the Loop Line that runs from Tidmouth to East east of Crosby. The station has a large overhead footbridge, four platforms, with a canopy covering two, and five go-through tracks. There is a small yard, which has an engine shed and a carriage shed.
Braedey looked over to the opposite platform, looking to the clock hanging from the roof. He waited patiently for Thomas to arrive with his passengers. Braedey would also look about to see other engines like Henry, Gordon, or even one of the diesels go by with their trains.
Sure enough, a two-tone high-pitch whistle came from behind. Braedey smiled in knowing, as Thomas pulled up to the opposite platform, coming to a stop, along with his two coaches. Annie and Clarabel are both LBSCR four-wheeled passenger coaches. They're both painted in an orange-tan livery with their names painted on their sides in white.
"Morning to you, Thomas." Braedey greeted you the blue tank engine. "Sounds like both Annie and Clarabel are pretty full." He commented.
"Oh, yes. We are." Annie replied.
"Indeed, Annie. Fit to burst." Clarabel added.
Thomas chuckled at the two coaches. "From the way you two are complaining, one would think you weren't fit for passengers." He joked.
"Oh, such a charmer." Annie joked sarcastically, Braedey and Thomas laughing in response to this.
Eventually, it was time for Braedey to leave. With a toot of his whistle, and in a cloud of steam, he began to head off down the line to Crosby. Fortunately, he had gone by Crosby, and he knew how to get to Knapford and Tidmouth without a problem.
Sure enough, after completing his task, Braedey headed back to Tidmouth Sheds. Now, he's got all the time to relax and cool down. A few moments later, James pulled into the sheds. He wasn't in a good mood, and what's worse? A fly was buzzing around him, and it was causing him bother, and he was getting annoyed.
"Sandal, fly. No... flu, fly. No. Shoo, fly! That's it!" James told the fly, which flew away.
Braedey chuckled at James's misfortune, then as she looked ahead, he saw Thomas was reversing down into a siding next to his berth. "Better still, buzz off!" James snapped at the fly, which got Thomas's attention, and without noticing, he bumped into the buffers.
"Botheration!" Thomas cried out, his eyes spinning wildly.
"You weren't concentrating, Thomas. Lucky for you that the buffers are there." James told him.
"That's what buffers are for." Thomas hissed steam. "To stop engines from crashing." He stated.
"And by the way, what are you doing here in the sheds, James?" Braedey asked, looking to James. "Did something happen?"
"I'm been feeling a little blue, which isn't so hot when you're red." James told Thomas, and he got a confused expression from the blue tank engine. "I was naughty, and Sir Topham Hatt told me to think of all the ways I can be really useful. Then, I could come out again." He clarified to Thomas, and the blue LBSCR E2 smirked.
Braedey rolled his eyes, and he began to make his way over to the water tower to fuel up and be ready for any job at hand. He then made his way down to Knapford, and he stopped by Platform 2, waiting to have some coaches behind him, but no coaches were coupled up.
Braedey then saw Sir Topham Hatt walking up on the platform. "Ah, Braedey. Good to see you." He greeted the GWR 4900.
"Afternoon, sir." Braedey greeted back. "Is there something wrong?" He asked.
"No, Braedey. I have a job for you." Sir Topham replied to Braedey. "You must go to Crosby, and collect a goods train there. It's bound for Suddery for goods and services. It's heavy, so be careful." He advised.
"Understood, sir. I'm on the job." Braedey whistled, and he steamed out of the station, heading off for Wellsworth.
By the time Braedey arrived at the yards in Wellsworth to collect goods train, the weather had changed for the worse. The weather had become stormy and rainy, but Braedey didn't care. All he cared about was getting the job done.
"Who's this red behemoth?" One truck demanded, as Braedey buffered you to the goods train.
"We want James or Edward." Another truck demanded.
"Nice 'olour, mate. Pity about yor face, though." A coal truck said in a Scottish accent, and all of the other trucks in the yard laughed about this.
Braedey huffed, and he bumped the trucks behind him sharply, then tugged on the chain, making them shiny back suddenly and stop. The trucks groaned in pain. "I don't want any insubordination from any of you trucks." Braedey demanded firmly. "Unless you wish to be turned into firewood and splinters, you'd all best behave right here and now." He added sternly.
The trucks remained silent from this, and they did so for the rest of the day. Braedey gives off a whistle, and he heads off down the line to Brendam with his train. He charged through the rain, keeping to a respectable 35mph, especially with the rain pounding against his bodywork. Soon enough, he came to a hill, and both he and his driver figured he was going to have a difficult time.
Meanwhile, up ahead of Braedey and his train, an old tree, sitting close to the tracks, was being blown by the strong winds, and the heavy rain had weakened the slope. All of a sudden, the tree began to move down the slope, and it blocked both of the North and Southbound tracks. Braedey, unaware of the danger, steamed through the wet weather, trying to make up for lost time he lost back in the shunting yards. But then, as he rounded the bend, he saw something ahead of his tracks... the tree was blocking the line!! Braedey immediately slammed on his brakes, sliding across the wet rails, but he soon came to a stop, and skidded to a stop, before running into the tree.
"What in the..." Braedey looked at the tree ahead of him. "Oh, that's just great. Stupid tree." He mumbled. "This is the last thing to deal with..."
Braedey shifted his controls into reverse, and tried to reverse away from the tree, but his train was too heavy. Braedey struggled to move backwards, his wheels spinning uselessly on the slippery and wet rails. He struggled to move on backwards, but all to no use.
PEEP-PEEP!!
Braedey suddenly heard an engine whistle in the distance. He stopped struggling to try and move his train backwards, and he thought about who might own that whistle. "Wait... I know that whistle ...It's Thomas!!" He called out in happiness, then began to blow his whistle frantically and loudly to tell Thomas where he was.
Just down the line behind Braedey and his train, Thomas was steaming down the Northbound track. The blue tank engine can hear Braedey's whistle in the distance, and hurried to the rescue. Soon, Thomas saw the brake van of Braedey's train, and he slowed to a stop just before it. Braedey was concerned Thomas would laugh at him, but Thomas didn't. He knew this wasn't time for teasing at all. As Thomas's crew climbed out of his cab, and coupled the blue tank engine up to Braedey's train, the tree started to lean forward and back, and it made Braedey look on in concern.
Once done with the coupling, Thomas' crew climbed back into he cab, and prepared to go. "Peep-peep! I'm ready!" Thomas whistled to Braedey.
Braedey whistled back immediately. "So am I! As ready as I'll ever be!!"
Thomas pulled with all his might, as Braedey shunted back, and the long train began to move backwards. Then, as Braedey was clear of the obstruction, the tree fell forward, and crashed onto the line.
"Phew. Timber." Braedey muttered with a sigh of relief.
They were just in time. Braedey and Thomas head back to the yards with their goods train, and to raise the alarm about the obstruction.
Once back at the yards, and having the trucks in sheds, both Braedey and Thomas were looked over to see if anything were broken. Fortunately, the two were unhurt, and they got themselves a good rest back at the sheds.
As they rest in Tidmouth Sheds, Braedey spoke to Thomas. "Thanks for rescuing me back there, Thomas." He thanked him.
"Oh, that's alright." Thomas replied to the crimson red engine. "Us engines must get through together, whatever the weather."
"Sounds like you've had an eventful day." Gordon commented to Braedey.
"You could say that." Braedey sighed. "By the way, do things like that happen to you on this island?" He asked.
"We've had a number of incidents over the years." Henry replied back. "Many of them were serious, but fortunately, only a few injuries were conflicted among those injuries."
"I see." Braedey acknowledged. "In fact, we've had a few incidents on my railway."
"Really? Such as?" Thomas inquired, curious about this information.
"Well, it happened about three years back. It involved with a friend of mine, Shadow. He was visiting to provide some help." Braedey began to explain. "He was shunting some coaches and trucks nearby in the yard. He stopped by an old brick water tower to relax, and take a drink. But, what happened next was a shocker; one brick broke out from the tower, hitting Shadow right on the dome with a clang, as water leaked from the hole down on top of him. Then, before anyone could react, the brick water tower collapsed under its own weight, falling to the ground with a clutter of bricks and a splash of water. All that was left was the bottom part of the tower."
The engines were rather surprised by what they heard. "Did anyone get hurt from that?" James asked in concern.
"Fortunately, nobody was around the tower." Braedey reassured. "However, Shadow had a number of dents as a result of the falling bricks, and he was drenched in water. He did get a cool-off, but got dented up as if he were a golf ball." He chuckled.
"Well, that's an event." Edward commented. "So, did Shadow get fixed up?" He asked.
"Yes. It took him some time, but all the dents were buffed out." Braedey replied back with a smile.
Back on the Josephine Railway, the engines had returned to the sheds, all of them now relaxing after a long day of work. Belle was fortunate to finally have a rest after her work today, especially since she's been going back and forth from Marion to Barrow-in-Furness.
"I can see why your friend does that run from here to Sodor. It's a long distance for an engine like me to make." Belle sighed, steam swirling around her wheels.
"I understand it's a bit of a distance." Diana said to Belle. "If you want, I can take the next train for you tomorrow, and you can handle my trains around the Lake District." She offered to Belle.
"That would actually be nice, thank you." Belle thanked to her.
"Well, you two are getting along pretty well." Austin commented. "Maybe one of you could handle some trucks, and I can take coaches. I mean, after I have a wash down before I take a train." He offered.
"I think I can do that." Belle then spoke up. "I'll cover your coal trains in and out of the coaling plant, and you can take my passengers." She said to him.
"Okay, then." Austin acknowledged. "Thanks, Belle."
"Well, we should get some sleep." Max sighed, now backing into his berth. "We'll have another busy day tomorrow."
With that said and done, the engines soon headed off to sleep, the stars twinkling up in the night sky.