The evening on the day Evelyn the BR Standard 9F had arrived on the Josephine Railway, everyone seemed to get along with the huge BR Standard 9F locomotive, but Evelyn was still a bit shy. She gave small and quick words in response to the others, but the others understood this. They gave her space, though we're curious about her.
"Guys, I think it be best for us to give her some room." Braedey suggested to the others. "I mean, she hasn't had much contact with steam engines aside from those in the National Collection, so please understand."
"We respect that." Max answered back.
"We're sorry if we're trying to pry into you." Liliana apologised softly to Evelyn. "We're all just curious."
"I... understand. Sorry if I am..." Evelyn began.
"It's okay. We understand." Austin reassured back. "We have a Caledonian engine who's nervous and shy in a few ways." That got Evelyn's attention.
"Really?" Evelyn looked to the green shunter with curious eyes. "Where is she now?"
"She'll be back with two tank engines who work here as well tomorrow morning." Braedey answered to her.
As the other engines started to talk about their past lives and about who they've known over their years of service, Braedey was looking at the BR Standard 9F with concern in his eyes. He could see that Evelyn was a little anxious about being others. So, without anyone noticing, and under his own control, Braedey puffed out of the sheds to go and find Mr. Franklin's home. Braedey eventually arrived at the house not far away from the mainline. When he gave a small whistle, Mr. Franklin was surprised to see the crimson locomotive outside. Braedey explained about Evelyn and about his plan, and the controller of the Josephine Railway now understood, and heads back into the house to go and make some arrangements. With that sorted, Braedey puffed back into the sheds, now seeing the others all fast asleep, and he too soon fell asleep.
The next morning, the engines were slowly waking up, just as they heard the familiar whistle of a Caledonian engine. The others, excluding Evelyn, all smiled when they heard that sound. They all looked to see Diana arriving nearby the yards.
"Welcome home, Diana." Braedey greeted them warmly, while his crew got him fired up and ready to go. "Wait. Where are Jane and Kieron?"
"It's good to be home." Diana called. "And both Kieron and Jane had to stay over on Sodor to assist the engines with the heavy workload that popped up. They won't be back for a while." She now noticed the huge engine sitting in the sheds. "Whoa. Who's that?" She asked in much surprise.
"This is Evelyn, the final steam locomotive built by British Railways." Max replied and gave introductions. "She is a BR Standard 9F, outfitted with a 2-10-0 wheel arrangement."
Diana looked over at Evelyn, looking at the huge engine with curious eyes. She could see the anxiety and fear in her eyes. She's seen that before: Evelyn was like her. The two seem to share their eternal feelings. Diana was uncoupled, and she made her way over to the water tower to top up her boiler. As the other engines go off to work, Diana pulled up alongside Evelyn.
"Hello. My name is Diana." The blue Caledonian engine greeted softly.
"H-Hello." Evelyn greeted back softly. She remembers that name from the other engines from last night.
Diana took the chance to take a look at the plaques on Evelyn's smoke deflectors, reading them intently. She then looked back at the BR Standard 9F. "I understand how you feel. The anxiety and expectations of being the best and last steam locomotive ever built... it can do things to you. I figure it be best to try and filter out all the bad thoughts and think of the positive." She said calmly.
"Like what?" Evelyn asked curiously.
"Well, for one thing, you are alive." Diana clarified to her. "For some people, they see us steam engines as alive, as being actual living and breathing beings like humans. They see us like them, and that is one of the greatest things that an engine could feel deep inside." Evelyn considered the words coming from the blue Caledonian engine. "Tell you what, why don't you and me double-head a train together?" She offered.
Evelyn considered the offer from Diana. She wanted to talk to her, have small conversation with her, and get to know her better. Evelyn gave a small smile back to Diana, the Caledonian smiling back. Soon, the 9F engine was now fired up and followed after Diana.
Nearby, Braedey was now getting some coaches ready for Austin or Charlotte to take. As he does so, Braedey saw Evelyn leaving the sheds with Diana alongside. He smiled at the sight of the 9F locomotive following the blue Caledonian going to double-head a train.
"So, how do you think Evelyn will go with Diana?" Madeline asked to Braedey.
"Honestly, I don't know. But I'm sure it'll go well." Braedey replied back. "Plus, Diana and Miss Sunohara will know how to talk to Evelyn."
"That's a good thought process." Shadow remarked as he passed by with a goods train for Barrow-In-Furness.
At the station named Hilltop, Evelyn and Diana had taken a charter train up there for the passengers to enjoy a picnic over the landscape. The two were by one of the water towers and coal bunkers to top up on fuel.
"Diana. I must thank you." Evelyn said softly to Diana. "This is rather nice."
"I know this is something different to what you'd do normally." Diana began. "It is a nice day to enjoy, and it's definitely a time to stretch your wheels and get out there."
Just then, the toot of a horn could be heard approaching from ahead, and the two female engines looked to see Max rolling up with coal trucks and a water tanker coupled up behind him.
"Hey, Evelyn. Thought you might need a top-up." Max said.
Evelyn showed a small smile, Diana thanking the diesel shunter for his work. The workmen began to shovel the coal into Evelyn's tender thanks to a nearby backhoe digger, and her tender was topped up. But as her fireman put some of the coal into her firebox, Evelyn felt something odd.
"This coal is weird." Evelyn noted.
Diana was confused by this, so she had some of the coal put into her firebox to try. She too felt something odd. "Yeah. My fire is burning hotter than normal. What is this stuff?" She wondered.
"It's not any regular coal. It's Welsh coal." Max informed to the two. "Mr. Franklin was about to tell us earlier this morning, but he's been held up with paperwork and being on the phone for something. He told me to tell you and the others that we'll be trialling the Welsh coal for a few days."
"Who will be using the coal?" Diana asked.
"Only a few of us engines." Max replied. "Mostly Austin, Braedey, Charlotte, Anna, and Jonson." With that, Max rolled away with his goods, leaving the two female engines to sit and relax.
"Best we take our train along." Diana suggested.
Evelyn gently and effortlessly buffered up to the coaches, much to the surprise of the station master. Diana coupled up to the BR Standard 9F's front. Once done, and after the passengers boarded the coaches, the two engines whistled and began to puff away down the line, heading on forth down the tracks at a smooth pace.
Down at the shunting yards, Braedey had just arrived with a goods train, Austin now beginning to sort out what cargo has to be taken where, while the crimson locomotive goes to get a drink at the water tower. Shadow and Madeline had also brought in some goods and passengers, and they with Charlotte began to go about with their express, passenger, goods, and charter trains.
Just then, a whistle echoed in the distance, Braedey, Belle, Charlotte, Jonson and Austin looking over to the line leading to Barrow-In-Furness. They look to see clouds of steam rising above the tree line, then they saw an engine heading towards them with a rake of coaches behind it. But it was the engine itself that made Braedey's eyes widen in surprise at the sight of the engine.
'No... no way. It's her...' Braedey thought in surprise.
The engine happens to be a GWR 2900 'Saint' Class 4-6-0 tender locomotive. The engine is painted handsome, fully lined Edwardian livery with 'garter' arms and full brass embellishments. The engine has reddish lips with long eyelashes with great western green eyes, and a small nose. The brass sign 'Lady of Legend' was on her running board, the number '2999' sits on the side of the cab.
"Welcome, Carol." Mr. Franklin announced, now walking up to the GWR green female locomotive.
"A pleasure, sir." Carol greeted softly to the man. "It is nice to be here on the Josephine Railway. Ryan has told me so much about this place, and those who work on the railway."
"Wait. How do you know about Ryan? And about our railway?" Jonson asked in surprise.
"Oh, he didn't tell you about me? I was built at the Didcot Railway Centre." Carol clarified to the blue GWR tank engine. "It's nice to meet you, Jonson. You too, Charlotte, Belle, and Austin." She then saw the crimson locomotive sitting nearby the water tower. "I am so happy to finally lay eyes upon you."
Braedey was at a loss for words. He felt his fire inside his firebox flickering and swelling, the water inside his boiler turning into steam almost instantly. At once, his cylinder cocks opened, steam erupting from his pistons all at once as well as his funnel.
"M...Mother..." Braedey muttered in surprise and shock. That caught the other's attention. Braedey called this engine his mother? They then remembered Braedey did mention about his relatives awhile ago, and had talked about an engine 4942 also known as 'Maindy Hall' who had been rebuilt into another class of engine.
"Hello, Braedey. It's been a long time, hasn't it?" Carol smiled gently to her relative.
"Why... why are you here?" Braedey spoke softly, and almost inaudible. "What happened to you?"
"Isn't it obvious, Braedey?" Mr. Franklin spoke out, the other engines looking to their controller with confusion on their faces. "Miss Carol here is on a rail-tour. We will be having some of those appear and come around the Josephine Railway every now and then." He turned to Madelyn. "Miss Carol here will be helping out here while on tour before going back to Didcot."
"I'd be happy to help out, Mr. Franklin." Carol smiled. She looked and smiled at Braedey. "And it'll be great to work with you too."
"Uh... y-yes, sure. I won't let you down." Braedey replied quickly and abruptly puffed away, the others in surprise by his actions.
Carol just giggled. "Oh, just like how he acted back during the days of the Big Four years ago."
"By the way, Miss." Charlotte spoke up, the others now looking to her. "Braedey mentioned that you're part of the same class he and Ryan are of. But you don't look the part."
"Oh, you've noticed." Carol remarked casually. "Well, that is a story to tell." She began to think back...
Many years ago, Carol was once known as 4942 'Maindy Hall'. She was completed at Swindon in 1929 and spent most of her life in Wales and the West Country with a final move to Didcot in 1962. Eventually, Carol was withdrawn in 1963 having completed over 1,300,000 miles, but was sent for scrap to Woodham Brothers in 1964. From there, she was bought ten years later by the Great Western Society with the specific intention of using it as the basis for a new 'Saint' class engine.
In the Saint Project, the GWS plans to rebuild a Saint 2900 Class, the prototype for the Hall Class, using many parts from the 'Hall', since none of the Saint class locomotives were preserved. It was decided to rebuild Carol from scrapyard condition. This is appropriate as the original 4900 class prototype of 1925 was converted from 2900 class engine Saint Martin. It was also decided (like 60163 Tornado) to number the locomotive as a new member of the class. The original driving wheels for the Hall are 6ft(1.8m) in size while the size of the driving wheels for a Saint were 6ft 8 1/2 inches (2.045m), the front bogie wheels were also smaller than those for a Saint as they were 3ft (0.91m) and the front bogie wheels for a Saint were 3ft 2" (0.97m). Some of the parts used in Carol's construction are original Saint parts, including a connecting rod from 2906 Lady of Lynn and the whistle from 2910 Lady of Shalott. The chimney is also an original part, but from a 6800 class 4-6-0. Carol was built in original form, with straight frames and lever reversing gear; these engines were named after historical, mythological or poetical 'Ladies', which corresponds with the name Lady of Legend chosen for Carol. Eventually, Carol was steamed for the first time (though did not move under her own power) as a complete locomotive prior to her public launch the following month.
"Have to say, that's something." Austin commented.
"Definitely quite impressive." Liliana agreed, who had pulled up earlier with her inspection train. "You've gone over 1,300,000 miles in your past life, and that isn't something to bat an eyelash at."
"I thank you for that. Now, I'd better go and help out wherever I can." Carol smiled back, and she puffed along with her coaches.
"She's nice." Austin remarked.
"You can definitely see where Braedey got his good manners from." Charlotte added in. She then saw Diana and Evelyn puffing in with their charter train. "Hey, girls. We'd like you to meet Carol. She is what you could call Braedey's mother." She introduced.
Carol looked at the blue Caledonian and the huge green BR Standard 9F nearby. She could see the two have somewhat the same personality in a way, and she showed a gentle smile to the two. "It is very nice to meet you two." She greeted them.
"Hello." Diana called.
"Good morning." Evelyn added in.
"Say, why don't you two travel with me? We can triple-head a train?" Carol offered to the two engines. "That way, we can learn more about each other."
The two engines thought it was a good idea, as did Mr. Franklin as well. Arrangements were made, Charlotte and Austin collecting some coaches for the trio, and they coupled up to the train: Carol leading, Diana behind her, and Evelyn coupled up to the coaches. The three blew their whistles, and they go on down the line.
That evening, things have gone badly. Braedey, Austin, Shadow, and Jonson had unfortunately fallen ill during the day, and have gotten too weak to pull any train. The mechanics had deduced that the coal they have wasn't Welsh coal, but a bad coal from the mainland that burns poorly and builds up ash in their smokeboxes. The engines didn't feel too good, and their fires had been dropped for their safety.
"This is not good." Mr. Franklin said to his engines when he arrived to see how the male engines were. He saw only Max was alright, though the others weren't. "Almost all the male engines are out of action until their smokeboxes and coal tenders can be cleaned, and the next few days are going to be busy." He shook his head.
"Sir." Charlotte spoke up, now getting the controller's attention. "What if we can handle it?" She referred to herself, Madeline, Carol, Diana, Liliana, Anna, Evelyn, plus Ken and Max. "With Ken and Max, us girls can take care of the workload and do whatever we can."
"Of course. We can do it." Liliana agreed.
"If we couldn't, we wouldn't have been built at all." Anna added in.
Mr. Franklin considered the idea the female engines have proposed to him. He cupped his chin in thought, looking over to Braedey, Shadow, Austin, and Jonson and considered their sick condition.
"Do it, sir." Braedey spluttered out. "For the railway..."
Mr. Franklin looked to the crimson engine, then he turned to the female locomotives. "Very well. Do your best tomorrow, girls. Show them what you're made of!" He announced. The engines whistled in response, Max and Ken both smiling to one another and the other engines.
They were going to make this count, and show what for.
When the sun rose above the horizon, Anna left early with the Josephine Flyer Express to take to and from Sodor in quick succession. Madeline was fired up, and she soon began to take the heavy goods to and from Barrow-In-Furness. Diana and Charlotte were both allocated to take stopping trains. Liliana was taken off inspection trains to assist with shunting alongside, Belle, Ken and Max, the four of them doing very well. As for Carol, she was given the fast passenger trains to and fro, and she did this with flying colours and without any time lost, showing her strength and her prowess. Braedey, Austin, Shadow, and Jonson smiled to them as they go by. The female engines were charging onward with their work, much to Mr. Franklin's surprise as well as those on the railway, but they managed to get the work done well ahead of schedule, much to many's surprise by this, and this continued on forth for the next five days.
After a hard week's work, all the engines arrived back at the sheds, all of them exhausted and tired, but very relieved that they've done so well.
"Phew. I feel like my wheels are gonna snap off." Liliana sighed in relief.
"I feel like my valve gear could break at any second." Diana muttered.
"Have to say, you really exceeded expectations by others." Braedey remarked to the female locomotives. "Never seen anything like that for some time."
"And that's something." Charlotte wheezed.
"I agree. Great work." Max agreed. "You girls did rather well."
"So did you and Ken." Belle added in.
"Evelyn, you really turned the tide of heavy goods for us. I have never seen an engine like you haul so much at once." Madeline compliments to the BR Standard 9F. "I doubt that Peter would be able to hold a candle to you and your strength. You even broke the record of the most goods shifted across the Josephine Railway."
"Well... thank you." Evelyn thanked softly.
"Evelyn." The engines now looked to see Mr. Franklin walking up with the National Railway Museum curator alongside him. "I have to say, I couldn't be more proud of you than I already am." The curator said.
"Thank you, sir." Evelyn smiled gently. Carol smiled at the large locomotive, seeing her anxiousness starting to fade.
"After everything you've done, you deserve some rest time. Tomorrow, you are to head back to the National Railway Museum." The curator then told Evelyn. "I can only allow you to travel on British rails for one more day since the ban of 9Fs on the mainline are still in force."
"I understand, sir. At least I got the chance to run under my own steam and actually pull trains." Evelyn then smiled at the engines of the Josephine Railway. "And I am happy to meet some new friends."
"And we were happy to meet you too, Evelyn." Braedey added in next. The others smiled back, all of them agreeing with Braedey's words.
Carol was very impressed of how mature Braedey was. "Have to say, you have definitely changed a lot ever since we parted ways." She remarked to him. "Last time, you were bumping into trucks and such." Braedey now blushed in response to this. "Oh, you don't have to blush." Carol said with a smirk.
The other engines laughed in response to this, along with Mr. Franklin and the museum curator, all of them laughing. Eventually, Braedey broke into laughter along with his friends.
The next morning, Evelyn was given a farewell party by all the engines and the workers on the railway, much to her smiling and whistling goodbye to everyone around her. The BR Standard 9F thanked everyone for letting her come over to their railway, and she hopes to come over again before she left for York.
Soon, it was time for Carol to leave on her rail tour. It was a bit disappointing that she had to go, but the manager of the rail tour had to keep on schedule and such.
"We hope to see you again soon." Max said to Carol.
"It was fun to learn more from you." Diana added.
"And you're all welcome at the Didcot Railway Centre if you're around." Carol smiled back to them. "I'll tell Ryan all about what's going on, and maybe we'll see each other again."
"We also hope to see you soon too." Mr. Franklin added in with a nod of his head to the locomotive. With that, Carol blew her whistle, and she puffed away from the Josephine Railway, heading off down the line back to the mainline of British rails.
"Sir. Do you know who'll be the next rail tour engine?" Austin now asked.
"Not sure of who right now, but I've got information the engine is an LMS Compound 4-4-0." Mr. Franklin replied. "So far, there's not much I've got about the engine, so we'll just have to wait and see."
"We understand, sir." The engines all replied in unison, and they soon head off to work.
Little did they know of what was going to happen...