Jane the new LBSCR E2 tank engine has begun to enjoy life on the Josephine Railway. She seems to brighten up everyone's day whenever they see her, and she always smiles back to them. She was also a hard worker, making sure the goods and passenger trains were on time and have been sorted out without fuss or worry.
Jane got along with the other girl engines like Liliana, Belle, and Diana, as well as Maryellen and Susan, and she even got along with Penny the Bus. The girls seem to have a special bond of sorts among one another. For the boys, Jane sees them as fellow colleagues,
Today, Jane is taking an early morning branchline train, taking both Susan and Maryellen in place for Liliana, who had to take a maintenance train over to another part of the line. Today is a very nice day for a run.
Jane arrived at the station right on time. She watched the passengers disembark the coaches, some going to travel by foot through the forests, or even waiting for the bus. A moment later, Penny the Bus arrived at the station, a smile on her face.
"Morning, Penny. Talk about being on time." Jane commented to her friendly bus.
"Yeah. If you're not early, you're late." Penny said back to her. "Anyway, you've got a full schedule ahead of you for today?" She asked.
"No. Just got this train for this morning, then Liliana will take over." Jane replied. "Then I'm on shunting detail."
"Okay. Well, good luck." Penny honked her horn, and she drove off down the road with her passengers.
After a few more minutes, Jane was soon underway again, heading off towards Marion Station at the start of the line. She kept to time and to the speed limit, the passengers singing their praises. Eventually, she soon arrived at the station about two minutes early. Once she arrived, she was uncoupled from the coaches, and she headed off to go and do some shunting. As she does so, she could hear Braedey talking to Anna, Belle, and Diana.
"Have you guys heard the bad news?" Anna asked to the group. "Another engine over on a part of the Caledonian Railway has requested the "Final Firing"." She informed.
"That's just sad." Belle sighed deeply.
"How can that be a right for us non-faceless vehicles?" Diana asked to her friends. "I mean, that's just horrid."
"I know what you mean." Braedey acknowledged to her. "I've known a few engines that I've met back in my day during and after the war who have requested the "Final Firing", since they said they had enough. It's saddening."
"Excuse me." Braedey, Anna, Belle, and Diana all look over to see Jane pulling up next to them. "I'm sorry for eavesdropping on all of you, but what is going on?" She asked hesitantly to them.
"Oh. Hey, Jane. Sorry for that, we were talking about an engine from the Caledonian Railway has requested the "Final Firing", and we were discussing about it." Braedey explained to the red tank engine.
Jane fell silent. She had been informed about the rights and privileges of non-faceless vehicles by Mr. Franklin, and she showed a look of understanding on her face.
Non-faceless vehicles have various rights afforded to them, most importantly that they cannot be scrapped alive, as it is considered cruel and unusual. When a non-faceless vehicles' company goes under, they are presented with three choices:
1. Relocation - This means to simply be sold, and is viewed as the best option; non-faceless vehicles, due to being sentient beings, cannot be sold unless they consent to such a transaction, due to anti-slavery laws; of course, where a vehicle gets sold is a crapshoot, as their new owners may be better or worse than the last
2. Retirement - This means to be taken out of active service, though two extra options exist: one is to be sold to a heritage railway, which runs passenger services for tourists, and the other is to be put on display in a museum
3. Final Firing - The so-called "Final Firing" is absolute; when a non-faceless vehicle says they want to go, an owner must comply; the process involves a special chemical colloquially known as "Black Water" being introduced to a vehicles' system, causing them to go into a deep sleep that they never wake from; after this, their systems can never be restarted, and only then would it be considered legal to scrap a non-faceless vehicle; the reason for a vehicle choosing to die depends on the situation, be it irrepairable damage, being too proud to retire, or is the only available option
"I understand." Jane said softly.
"Sorry for dampening anything you might've been thinking of, Jane. It's just saddening that another non-faceless vehicle has passed on." Belle sighed.
Anna then looked at the time. "Darn. I've got to get my next train ready." With that, she headed off to go get her express coaches to Vicarstown.
"Jane, why don't you and I go off to the harbour to go and get some goods ready for the others?" Belle now offered to Jane, trying to change the mood. "Just to get your mind of things."
"Okay. I'm good with that." Jane agreed, and the two tank engines headed off to go get the goods ready.
Braedey smiled as she watched both Belle and Jane leave the yards for the harbour. He then sighed to himself as he thought back to the 'Final Firing' conversation he had with the girls. He did have a thought that this engine might've had metal fatigue on their form, resulting in the locomotive having to resort to leaving this world.
Metal Fatigue, essentially a terminal illness for a non-faceless vehicle, is an accumulations of cracks caused by too much strain. The only effective treatment for this illness is a complete overhaul for a non-faceless vehicle, but this is expensive and time-consuming, and that fatigue-ridden vehicles often die during these procedures. This is why most vehicles that get metal fatigue often go for the final firing.
'Those engines, they're not as lucky as we are.' Braedey thought to himself with a mental saddened sigh. 'They shouldn't be left discarded as if they're nothing useful.'
Braedey steamed out of the yards, heading off to go and collect his next train, all the while with thinking of what's going on today in the world right now.
Down over at Vicarstown Station, Anna was now waiting patiently to top up on coal and water, ready to take her next train back to the Josephine Railway. Doing these trips to and from Sodor and the mainland really gives her wheels a good stretch, and lets her go at speed.
Anna looked over to the platform where her coaches are, and she could see many people preparing to board, just as Thomas puffed by the platform, arranging another train to go. "Okay. Five minutes to go, and I'll be on my way." The big red engine said.
Sure enough, Anna was ready to go. She pulled up to the coaches, ready for her return trip, as she was now coupled up. She blew her whistle twice, and she then pulled out of the station at speed, travelling down the line faster and faster. But, as she did so, she couldn't help but thought she heard a whistle calling out to her from behind.
"Nah. I must be hearing things or something." Anna shrugged, racing onward down the line back to her home base.
About 15 minutes later travelling from Sodor to the mainland, Anna shot though Barrow-in-Furness and she finally arrived back at Marion Station. Anna felt like she had done good and she seemed to have taken some time off her original run.
"Anna." The LSWR Class T14 looked to see Braedey pulling up with a coal train behind him. "You're about five minutes early than you should. Liliana won't be here for another six or so minutes." He then looked over and noticed something amiss: he could see a column of steam from the back of the express. "Anna? Is there something you're carrying on the back of your train?" He asked.
Anna looked confused. "No. Why are you asking?" She asked back.
Braedey was uncoupled from his coal train, and he now started to steam forward to the back of Anna's train. He was confused as to what could be right behind the coaches. He slowed himself down as he got closer to the rear of the train. To his surprise, he saw Thomas coupled up to the back of Anna's express!
"Thomas? How did-?" Braedey asked in shock, now seeing the blue tank engine was exhausted and steam hissing from his pistons and funnel, as if he's done a marathon or something. Braedey immediately puffs back to Anna with a firm expression. "Anna! Thomas is coupled up behind your express!" He reprimanded her.
Anna was shocked. "What? How do that-?"
"Anna!" Mr. Franklin walked up to the two engines, Belle pulling alongside. "I've just gotten a call from Sir Topham Hatt that you took off out of Vicarstown with Thomas still coupled up behind your train. What were you doing?"
"I didn't even know he was stuck behind my train." Anna insisted to him.
Mr. Franklin took in a deep breath. "Anna, this has put me in a bit of a predicament. I'll have to try and explain to Sir Topham about what happened to his No.1 engine, and I know he'll be trying to source for someone to take Thomas' place while he's here." He ranted on.
"I'm really sorry, sir." Anna said sadly.
"Very well. For your punishment, you will have to take the heavy goods for the afternoon." Mr. Franklin said to her. "Another engine will take your train."
"I understand, sir." Anna replied softly, uncoupling from her train, and she puffed off to the marshalling sheds.
"Belle, you go and collect Thomas, and take him to the sheds." Mr. Franklin said to the LBSCR E1 tank engine.
Belle acknowledged, puffing towards the rear of the express coaches. She could see Thomas looking tired and unable to move. He was immediately uncoupled, as Belle buffered up behind him, and she began to pull him away, taking him away to the sheds. Shadow pulls up to the coaches, coupling up to them, and he began to pull them away, heading off to Barrow-in-Furness.
Down at the sheds, Jane has just pulled up into her berth after her day of working at the harbour. It was something good to take her mind off things after the conversation she had had heard from the others today.
Just then, Jane could see Belle puffing up backwards onto the turntable with something blue behind her. Jane watched on, then her eyes widened in shock as she looked over at the engine next to her: a tank engine that looks just like her, only in a bright blue.
Jane smiled. "Hello. You must be Thomas."
Thomas looked over in amazement. "You're... like me." He said, now showing a smile. "Who are you?"
"I'm Jane. Nice to finally meet you." Jane smiled back.
"Are you... were you...?" Thomas seems rather shocked to even say anything. He eyes Jane from her dome to her six wheels, taking in her construction and design. "When and where were you built? I've never met you at all back in Brighton or even Southampton."
"Thomas, I was built only a few weeks ago." Jane clarified to the blue E2 engine, much to his surprise. "I was also built on this railway, since Mr. Franklin needs a small yet fast tank engine to help with the shunting and some small work here and there."
"I see." Thomas understood her words. "Still, it's nice to see that there's another class of engine like me. Plus, your red paint really makes you stand out."
"Thank you, Thomas. You do look nice with your bright blue paint." Jane said with admiration.
"I see that you two have gotten acquainted." Thomas and Jane both looked over to see Max backing up into the berth nearby. "Nice to meet you again, Thomas."
"You too, Max. It's good to see you again." Thomas greeted back. He then groaned a little. "Ouch..."
"Oh, what happened to you? You looked like you were in pain." Jane asked in concern. Sure, she didn't know Thomas that well, but she was told to always be ready to provide support to others whenever they need it.
"It was that big red female engine, Anna, I think. I was caught behind her express when I was about to move it." Thomas explained. "I didn't know she was about to leave when she began to pull away. I tried to whistle to her to stop, but she didn't hear. I was back in the place I was in back in the 1920's when Gordon pulled the express with me stuck behind him."
"Boy, that's some bad luck." Max commented.
"Yeah. But, that Anna was much faster than Gordon, and I've never travelled at such speed before." Thomas breathed a sigh. "My axles and wheels feel worn out."
"I'm sure it's not too bad." Jane reassured to Thomas. "Once the mechanics look you over, they'll be sure of it."
"Thanks, Jane." Thomas smiled back.
Max soon left to go and get some coal trucks ready to move out, with both Thomas and Jane looking out to everyone coming and going. Jane soon had to go and do some shunting, but she promised to Thomas she'll be back soon.
That evening, the engines finally arrived back at the sheds after a good day's work. Thomas was now being examined by mechanics to see if anything is broken. In addition, Mr. Franklin was there as well to see and hear the mechanic's diagnosis.
"What's the damage, Bernard?" Mr. Franklin asked the lead mechanic.
"Looks like his axles might be worn down by the speed. In addition, his brakes could be worn down, too." The mechanic, Bernard, informed to the controller. "He will have to get some new parts."
Mr. Franklin breathed a sigh. He looked to Thomas. "I'm sorry, Thomas. Looks like you'll have to stay here for a while until I can get you some new parts. For now, you'll be stationed here."
"I understand, sir." Thomas acknowledged, then he looked down at his buffers. "I am sorry for what has happened."
"You have nothing to be sorry for, Thomas." Mr. Franklin reassured to him. "It's just some bad luck. But, do not worry. You will be fixed up, and when I can, I will get one of my engines to transport you back to Sodor."
"Thank you, Mr. Franklin, sir." Thomas sighed.
"Alright, then. Jane, I want you to work with Thomas tomorrow, also keep an eye on him." Mr. Franklin said to Jane. "You two should get along, considering your class of engine. You two will be doing light work."
"Understood, sir. I'll do whatever I can to help him out." Jane agreed to the plan, as Mr. Franklin goes off to his car to travel for home. She looked over to Thomas. "You'd best take it easy tomorrow."
"Understood." Thomas agreed with her. "So, what will we be doing tomorrow?"
"From my schedule, we'll be taking a Mail train in the morning, then do some light shunting at the lumber yard." Jane recounted the schedule she saw earlier in the afternoon when she and her crew got it. "We'll also have to do some coal runs to Barrow-in-Furness, and if they are jobs needed to be done, we'll take them."
"Alright. Sounds like a full day." Thomas commented. "Don't you get tired?"
"A little. But I guess it's just me since I haven't been running for very long." Jane took a guess. She looked over to the other engines. "You guys understand, right?" She asked.
"Yeah. We've been through that many times." Braedey acknowledged.
"Been there, done that." Liliana added.
"Yeah." Max included in.
Soon enough, the engines fell asleep. Thomas looked from one side of the shed to another, looking over at the slumbering locomotives around him. He breathed a sigh, then he too fell asleep.
Soon, by the next morning, Jane and Thomas were both ready for their day of work. Jane was coupled up to Thomas' front, so she could be his brakes when they have to stop. They began to make their way over to the Mail sorting station, where they'll pick up the Mail train.
But, as they arrived at the Mail station, they could see a cloud of smoke behind the back of the station, much to their concern. Jane and Thomas stopped by the platform, and they could see the Mail van parked up, with smoke coming from the front grille and engine bay, as a young mechanic tries to fix it.
"Mr. Joseph? Is something wrong?" Jane asked to Mr. Joseph, getting the bluenette mailman's attention.
"Oh, morning to you, Jane." Joseph greeted. He then noticed Thomas. "And who might this engine be?" He asked.
"This is Thomas, from the Island of Sodor." Jane introduced. She noticed the van. "Is something broken on your post van?" She asked to him.
"When I turned the engine over, the whole motor just erupted in smoke, and the van died." Joseph explained. "And it had to happen on the day I've got bulky cargo to carry around for today." He shook his head.
Jane looked over to the broken down van, then over to Thomas. She had an idea. "Mr. Joseph, what if Thomas were to be your post van?" She offered.
"What?" Thomas asked in surprise to Jane.
"Thomas, think about this: with your parts a bit worn or so, you're restricted to a low speed." Jane clarified to the blue tank engine. "Also, there is a tramway line that goes right through town, but we don't use it, except for Liliana. You can travel down the line with a Mail wagon with Mr. Joseph, and deliver the Mail down that way."
Mr. Joseph nodded his head, considering the factors of what he's just heard from Jane. "Yes. That could work." He agreed with Jane. He turned to Thomas. "Can you do that, Thomas?" He asked.
Thomas showed a smile. "Of course. I can do that." He agreed to him.
A few minutes later, Thomas reversed up to a dark red SEC (South Eastern & Chatham) Railway Diagram 960 PM (Parcels and Miscellaneous) van. He coupled up to the utility wagon, and he waited for the Mail to be loaded up into the wagon. Once done so, Mr. Joseph climbed into his cab with a list of the houses that need to be delivered, and Thomas puffed away out of the Mail station, heading off down slowly the tram line. Thomas made his way at only 10mph, being slow and steady, with Mr. Joseph checking his list. He then got Thomas to stop nearby some shops and buildings, then he and Thomas' crew began to unload some parcels and mail, and they began to deliver the parcels. As he waited, Thomas took note that people were looking to him, some taking pictures of him. Thomas smiled, just as Mr. Joseph arrived back, climbing back into the tank engine's cab, and Thomas pulled slowly away.
Over the next few hours of the day, Thomas and Mr. Joseph travelled on down the rails through town, the two of them delivering the mail on time and safely. The blue tank engine took his time and taking care of his speed and brakes. He did enjoy the slow pace he was going, since it was a change to the pace he was at on his branchline.
Later on, Thomas was outside of the station in a siding after he finished delivering the Mail with Mr. Joseph, the latter having gone back to the post office to see if the van was fixed. Thomas sat in the siding enjoying his drink at the water tower, just as he heard a honk from the road nearby. He looked over to see Penny the Bus driving up.
"Hello. You must be Thomas." Penny greets to Thomas. "Braedey has told us about you."
"Well, it's nice to meet you too." Thomas smiled back gently. "You remind me of my friend Bertie."
"Well, I'm sure he's a good friend." Penny then checked the time. "I'd better get going. Talk to you later." With that, she drove away down the road.
Soon, Thomas had topped up on his water, and he began to slowly make his way down the rails. He could see some of the engines running about, whether it be taking passengers, goods, or the inspection train. He then saw a small train of quarry rocks, but no sign of Liliana or Austin anywhere. So, he decided to take the trucks with him, taking it over towards the dockyard. Eventually, Thomas arrived at the docks with the trucks alongside, albeit with his brakes making it harder for him to stop. He was uncoupled from the trucks, and he now headed off to the sheds, albeit with some pain.
"So, how did today go, Thomas?" Jane asked to the blue tank engine, the latter having arrived back at the sheds.
"My brakes still feel broken or so." Thomas replied softly. "But, I am happy that you're here."
"Aw, thanks." Jane smiled gently.
Soon enough, mechanics had arrived to replace Thomas' brakes and also do some repairs to his axles and joints, much to his relief. Still, it'll be a bit of time until Thomas gets back to Sodor.