After the ordeal with Bulgy and his ideologies, the engines of the Josephine Railway have gotten back in routine and motion, travelling back and forth along the line, shunting trucks and goods, taking passengers to and fro, even taking tourist trains to special parts of the railway. Penny and Benson also got along with the passengers and made good times working with the engines, the latter handling everything carefully and took heed of everything around the roads and railway.
However, something was about to change...
Over at the main station, Mr. Franklin was taking a look at some papers regarding the railway and expenses. After the acquisition of Benson and the removal of Bulgy, bus fares have been improved, as well as tourist operations from both road & rail. At the same time, the repair bills for Jane, Max, Belle, and Diana have come in, and he'll have to work those out.
'I am lucky to run a railway like this, and I'm sure my folks are pleased by my actions.' Mr. Franklin thought to himself.
But then, Mr. Franklin heard the telephone ringing. He picked up the phone and answered it. "Hello. Oh, Angelise. Nice to hear from you again." He smiled. "How have things been for you?" He asked.
Angelise is a close friend of Mr. Franklin, who runs her own railway and her own fleet of engines. They'd meet up every now and then to discuss about plans for connecting their railways, or even loaning engines from their respective railways to assist on one another's lines.
Mr. Franklin's smile then faded away as he heard over the phone. It turns out that Angelise's railway was now suffering from financial problems, and almost all of the businesses along her railway have decided to have their goods delivered by trucks and vans rather than on the rails, and bus services were replacing passenger services on the line since they were more economical and provided a better service. Ever since, Angelise has been struggling to make ends meet and pay for the expenses, reluctantly selling rolling stock and some engines to try and pay off until she has no choice left. In a matter of days, the railway will have no choice but to close down, and after that, all engines will be sold off and/or scrapped.
"I see... This is some bad news." Mr. Franklin noted, now writing down this information in a notebook. "Right. I think I can provide some help for you. I'll buy a few of your engines. Tell me, which ones are still on your railway as of now?" He asked to her.
The fleet of engines Angelise has on her railway are:
•Kieron: a teal LBSCR E2 0-6-0T (formerly a red GWR 1400 Class 0-4-2T tank engine)
•Colin: a Peckett Class W4 1867 0-4-0T
•Adam: an Adams Radial 4-4-2T
•Lily: an LSWR 02 Class 0-4-4T
•Winston: a Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Class 28 'Hughes' (like James)
•Jonson: a GWR 5100 Class 2-6-2T
•Shadow: a LNER Class V4 2-6-2
•Ivor: a custom-built industrial 0-4-0T
•Apps/Dark: both are Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Class 28 'Hughes'
•Sarah: a GWR 0-6-0 Pannier tank engine
So far, Colin, Adam, and Lily have been sold to work on Sodor at their section of the island. Ivor has also gone to a railway museum on the mainland. Apps and Dark have been purchased by a man from Germany to have them on display. As for Sarah, she was only saved if she was reconfigured from her Pannier engine shape to a traction engine, much to her embarrassment and sadness, but she was given a new lease on life. Shadow happened to be picked up and bought by another heritage railway, and has been going one from heritage railway to another, assisting those engines at times. The only engines that are left over are Kieron and Jonson.
"Right. I'll send two of my engines to go collect them at once. I'll be there on arrival to pay you." Mr. Franklin said to Angelise. "I understand. Take care, okay?"
With that, Mr. Franklin ends the call, and puts down the phone. He breathed a sigh to himself, then he got up from his seat, and he stepped out of his office as he looked over to the railway, seeing his fleet of engines currently at work.
'Obtaining two more engines will definitely be helpful for the railway, but I still feel bad for Angelise losing her livelihood.' Mr. Franklin thought to himself. 'Still, it's something I have to do.'
Liliana soon arrived at the station with her tourist train, looking over to see Mr. Franklin on the platform. "Hello, sir. Is there something wrong?" She asked.
Mr. Franklin turned to the little green engine, a little surprise to see Liliana stopping by the platform. "Oh, nothing is wrong, Liliana. But it does concern another railway. I'll inform you and the others later tonight."
That left Liliana in concern for what might happen as she puffed away. She wondered what could be wrong and why Mr. Franklin looked concerned and was looking about the rails. She hadn't seen the controller like so, but she focused on her job for the time being.
Later that evening, Mr. Franklin had called his engines in for an emergency meeting. All of them were curious and concerned about this meeting, whether it be of importance or of something else.
Mr. Franklin soon arrived at the sheds, all the engines silencing themselves as they waited to hear what their controller has to say. "Now, you all are aware of Miss Angelise and her railway, and how we've worked with them every now and then." He began. "However, I have gotten a call from Angelise with bad news: it turns out that her railway has been suffering financially, and has no choice but close down." That now got the engine's attention. "She has had no choice but to sell most of the rolling stock and some of her engines in order to try and pay off the expenses. She called me to see if we are willing to purchase two engines from her. I said we are willing to take them onto our railway."
This was definitely good news for the other engines to hear. They were going to get two new engines? Sure, it was sad news to hear Angelise's railway was closing down, but at least the engines will be safe.
"Who will collect the two engines?" Anna asked.
"Braedey and Diana will go forth to Angelise's railway to collect them and bring them here." Mr. Franklin replied to her question, and turned to the two engines he spoke of. "Is that alright?"
"Sure, sir." The two engines acknowledged. "Yes, sir."
"Right. You head off to Angelise's railway first thing tomorrow morning." Mr. Franklin said to them. "That will be all." With that, he left in his car, heading for home.
"Okay. I wonder who the new engines could be." Jane wondered. "I mean, they're from Miss Angelise's railway, so you all know them." She said to the others.
"Yeah, but we have no idea who they are." Max said.
"We'll find out until tomorrow." Diana replied calmly, looking over to a slumbering Braedey, and she too fell asleep with the other engines.
The next morning, on Angelise's heritage railway. The line had gone silent since the railway has had to close down and no trains have been running about. It was like a ghost town of sorts.
The shunting yard is as empty as a blank piece of paper, only the tracks being left behind, the coal bunkers emptied and cleared out. The coaches, trucks, tar wagons, flatbeds, and other rolling stock that would be in the yards are gone. The sheds looked to be clear of tools and engines, scaffolding around the buildings, all of them ready for demolition and a teardown. Some signals have been taken down and removed from the side of the tracks, as well as station signs and kiosks.
Sitting by what could be the last remaining coal bunker and water tower, there is Kieron himself, but he's been rebuilt. No longer a red GWR 1400 Class 0-4-2T, he's been rebuilt into an LBSCR E2 0-6-0T tank engine. He is painted teal green with white lining. The LBSC company initials are painted on the sides of his tanks and a number 70 is on the sides of his cab, both in yellow with red lining. His wheel rims are painted white.
Kieron sighed to himself, staring down at his buffers, feeling loss and worry for his and Jonson's future. After hearing the news of his railway home being closed due to the lack of finances. After many of his friends being sold off to other railways around the U.K, but he was not too certain about what will happen. He's lucky to be rebuilt into an E2 due to the last portions of money, but unfortunately, due to the current funds of the railway, there was nothing else the railway can do.
"You alright there, Kieron?" Kieron looked to see Angelise walking over to the teal E2 engine.
"Oh, it's just..." Kieron looked around the now-empty shunting yards and sheds. "It'll be hard for me to say goodbye to this place and to leave. It wasn't too long ago that this place was bustling along with activity."
"I know." Angelise gently patted Kieron's buffer beam with reassurance. "But don't you worry. I'll never sell any engines for scrap, and all of you have gone to good homes around the area. I promised you all that, and I keep my promise." She reassured him.
Kieron smiled gently to his soon-to-be former owner. Then, he and Angelise now heard the sound of an approaching steam engine getting close to the station. They looked to see Jonson slowing down and pulling up to the platform.
Jonson is a GWR 5100 Class 2-6-2T locomotive. He's painted in a blue colour rather than the standard GWR green colour scheme his class of engine would have, with a white GWR logo on his side tanks. He has black wheels and footplate, his buffers standing out with their red paint, and he has some brass work on top of his boiler.
Jonson is a medium-sized tank engine with a 2-6-2T wheel arrangement and designed for suburban and local passenger services. His class of engine was built between 1903 and 1949, and totalled in 209 examples. Jonson was built in Swindon in the year 1946, and he was allocated to Gloucester (Horton Rd) for all of his working life, working on banking duties before latterly working expresses to London, which lasted less than 17 years. Thanks to the proximity of Barry scrapyard to the former GWR system, 10 examples were saved for preservation. Jonson was withdrawn in February 1963 and reached Barry in November 1964, being saved for preservation in early 1973 by Angelise and her family. Jonson and his class of engine has proven to be ideally sized for use on heritage railways, handling the shorter journey times and typical loads, being economic and reliable performers.
"All the tracks are cleared and there's nothing left on the line." Jonson informed reluctantly. He sighed. "Like everything else here. There's nothing left..."
"Oh, don't be like that, Jonson." Angelise reassured to him. "The person I've contacted to purchase you and Kieron also runs a railway that uses steam engines and it's not too far away. It's literally a stone's throw from Barrow-in-Furness."
"That does sound pretty good." Kieron commented. "Though, I will miss this place. We've had some good memories of here and our railway."
"True." Jonson rolled up to the LBSCR E2 engine, stopping next to him.
Just then, two unfamiliar whistles echoed out: one sounded like a GWR whistle, and the second seems like a Caledonian whistle. Kieron and Jonson both looked to see who or what was coming up, and they both saw Braedey and Diana pulling up just outside of the yard.
"Well, well. Isn't this a surprise?" Kieron commented in surprise. "Hello, fellas."
"Hello, you two." Braedey smiled gently, Mr. Franklin jumping out of the GWR 4900 locomotive's cab. "My word, Kieron. You look very unique. Did you get a rebuild?" He asked in curiosity.
"Yeah." Kieron shrugged a little. He sighed and looked to the rest of the yard. "Looks like our time on this line is over."
"It's okay, Kieron. You and Jonson are going to be bought by our controller to work on our railway." Diana reassured to them, much to their surprise. The four engines now looked over to see Mr. Franklin both exchanging money and signing papers for purchase. "So, you'll be working alongside us." Diana said to them.
"That's excellent." Jonson smiled in relief of the good news. "A brand-new lease on life on a brand-new railway."
"By the way, there will be a lot of work for you guys when we arrive." Braedey said to the two engines, just as Mr. Franklin and Angelise began to walk towards them. "It'll be well worth it."
"Well, it's now official." Angelise informed to Kieron and Jonson. "Kieron, you and Jonson are now officially bought by the Josephine Railway, and are now part of their fleet." She now announced to the two engines.
"That's great news." Kieron smiled, although it was a bit of a bittersweet smile. "But, what will you do now, Ma'am?" He asked to her.
"Oh, don't you worry about me. I'll be fine." Angelise reassured to him with a gentle smile. "I might take the time to relax and spend it with my family. I'll also work on another railway, maybe even Sodor." She shrugged.
"Will we see you again?" Jonson asked in uncertainty.
"Of course. I'll visit you every now and then, and even tell you how I'm doing." Angelise reassured to her two engines, gently patting their buffer beams. She turned to Mr. Franklin and his engines. "You three take care of them."
"We will, ma'am." Mr. Franklin reassured to Angelise. "And we hope to hear from and see you very soon."
"We promise to take care of them, Madame." Braedey reassured with a smile and a toot of his whistle. "We give you our word."
With that, and after doing checks, Braedey and Diana hitched up to Kieron and Jonson, and the four engines with Mr. Franklin onboard puffed away and out of the empty shunting yards, Angelise watching them leave the railway. Once they were out of sight, Angelise got a large sign from her truck, and she propped it up on the land in front of the station platform. The sign reads:
'RAILWAY CLOSED'
Angelise sighed sadly to herself as she looked at the sign. She looked around at the shunting yard and the station, knowing it's all going to be ripped up and be turned into either farmland or housing, but she didn't think on that anymore. She got into her car, and she drove off for home.
At long last, Angelise's railway fell silent.
Forever and always.
Back on the Josephine Railway, everything seemed to be buzzing along normally, coaches and trucks being shunted in the yard, Jane, Liliana, Max, and Austin now taking care of the trucks and coaches, Anna pulling the Josephine Flyer.
Nearby a water tower, Charlotte and Jane were resting up and topping their water tanks for their next journey. Shadow was sitting just behind Charlotte, the big blue locomotive now waiting to get his tender topped up with coal and water.
"Today has been a bit busy." Charlotte noted. "We've been a bit busy since Braedey and Diana have gone to get those two new engines. I just didn't expect it to be so busy without Braedey to take the express trains."
"True." Shadow agreed to her. "Good thing you and I are around to handle them. Though, I do wonder which of the two engines they're collecting it might be."
"Well, since you'll know them, it'll be easier for us to know how to react and interact with them." Jane said to him, Shadow agreeing to her words.
As they sat there and waited patiently for their next trains, the sound of Braedey and Diana's whistles could be heard in the distance, and their chugging was getting closer to the main yards. Some of the engines took notice, just as the red GWR 4900 engine and the blue Caledonian locomotive steamed into view, just as an unfamiliar teal LBSCR E2 tank engine and a big blue GWR 5100 Class 2-6-2T locomotive pulled up to the coal bunker, the two of them smiling happily.
'Cool. Another E2 like me and Thomas.' Jane thought to herself.
"Hello, everyone." Kieron announced with a smile.
"Hey, guys." Shadow greeted to his old railway friends. "Good of you to get here."
"Yeah. And we've been bought." Jonson informed with a smile.
Mr. Franklin stepped down from Braedey's cab, then turned to Kieron and Jonson. "Welcome, Kieron and Jonson, to the Josephine Railway." He announced. "It may not be like your old home, but we will help out. For now, I'd like you both to do some light shunting and some light goods work and passengers, just so you'd get used to how we do things."
"Yessir." The two engines acknowledged in unison, and they headed off to go and do some work.
"Wow. They're eager." Jane commented.
"Well, when we arrived on their railway, all the trucks and coaches have been sold off." Braedey clarified to Jane, the red tank engine looking to the big red engine. "It was rather silent in more ways than one."
"Right. They'll be happy to work here." Shadow spoke up, Charlotte pulling ahead to allow him to get some coal and water.
Just then, they all heard a loud dull clunk from nearby. The engines all looked over to see Kieron had bumped the trucks into a set of buffers nearby, nearly spilling their contents.
"Sorry." Kieron apologised.
"It's okay, Kieron. Just be careful next time." Braedey reassured to him. "Little steps..."
Eventually, after a period of time, both Jonson and Kieron have gotten everything under control. They all got along with the other engines, and even the trucks and coaches were impressed by their work ethic. They both have never been happier.
That evening, all the engines gathered up in the sheds after a long day's work. Shadow got the chance to talk to Kieron and Jonson, telling one another about what they've been up to as of recently, Braedey and the others explaining to them about what's occurred on their railway.
"Wow. Talk about something." Kieron commented.
"Yeah. Bulgy and Alfred are just as bad, if not worse, than Croghan." Liliana huffed. "But we are lucky to have you two here."
"Yeah." Max agreed with her. "Having you two around will lighten our load and let us move around freely."
"Right. Let's go and get some rest." Braedey said to the others, all of them agreeing to this as they all settled down for the evening.