Down at the sheds, Hayden was with Maverick and Henry, the former two listening to the LMS 'Black Five' and his story regarding him and Emily's marriage.
Emily used to work on the Great Northern Railway with Henry. Often times, when Henry would break down, Emily would come to help him. Once, a man said Emily would be better as a pumping engine than an actual locomotive. This enraged Henry, who doused the man in steam, and refused to take his next train to comfort Emily. Naturally, being around each other all the time, they fell in love. A Vicar officiated their marriage in their engine shed with their crews as witnesses.
"And ever since that day, we've been a happy couple. Of course we bicker every now and then, but that's what happens in a relationship." Henry finished his story, the silver King Class locomotive and Class 52.
"Have to say, that is quite a story." Maverick now said.
"Yeah, that is impressive." Hayden agreed. "You are a lucky engine to have someone like Emily, Henry."
"Aye, I am very fortunate to have found a lovely woman like Emily." Henry commented back.
"If only I was so fortunate..." Maverick now said as he looks down at his buffer beam.
"Maybe you'll get the chance soon enough." Henry reassured to the Class 52 diesel, Maverick showing a small smile back.
A yard foreman now walked up. "Maverick, you're needed to take the next express. Gordon's reverser has jammed, and is ironically stuck in reverse. He won't be able to take the next train. You're the only engine that is available." He informed.
"Sure. No problem." Maverick got his engine rumbling to life. "Sorry, fellas. I've got to go." With that, he rolls away to head to the station.
"Maverick must be so happy to be back in motion." Henry now said to Hayden.
"Definitely. After everything he's been through ever since he got withdrawn and caught by the D.G.S.S.E., Maverick deserves his newfound freedom." Hayden replied to him.
Just then, Henry could see Bertie the Bus driving by, though he looks to be in a hurry of sorts. "Huh. Wonder what has gotten Bertie in such a hurry." He wondered.
"Maybe he has heard something from his bus depot officer. Maybe that's why he's even rushing about for." Hayden guesses to the green 'Black Five'.
"Well, whatever is going on, let's hope it won't put a dent into Bertie's radiator." Henry said. He and the others got along very well with Bertie and it would be a shame if he were to be taken out of service or worse...
Speaking of Bertie, he was driving through the streets, heading forth to the nearby rail yards to try and find Thomas to talk about the news he heard from his depot manager. As he drove along, he eventually found Thomas talking to Jane, who'd been loaned from the J.R to assist the tank engines.
"Oh, Bertie. Good to see you." Jane the red Tank Engine greeted to the AEC Regal Country Bus, Bertie's driver heading off to have his lunch break.
"Bertie, what are you doing here?" Thomas asks to the red bus. "You look like you have something important."
"That, I do." Bertie answered. "I've heard word from my manager that they've made a purchase of a new bus."
"Really?" Jane asked in surprise. "Didn't expect that."
"Yeah, isn't there enough buses?" Thomas questioned.
"That's what I asked to my manager." Bertie chuckled. "However, due to the fact that there's been a surge in passenger numbers, our bus services are stretched out to the limit. So we've had to go and get another bus."
"Sounds good. So who's the bus?" Jane inquired.
"Her name is Emilia. She turns out to be a double-decker bus like Bulgy." Bertie informed.
Thomas and Jane both groaned in exasperation. "Oh, no. I hope that she isn't the same as her predecessor." The blue LBSCR E2 tank engine muttered.
"I've dealt with that horrid bus once before, and I don't want to deal with something like that again." Jane adds in with a grunt before shunting some trucks into line.
"I hope so too." Bertie agreed, then he saw his driver coming back from his lunch break. "Oh, I'd better go." With that, Bertie reverses away before driving away.
"Huh. Sounds like Bertie is going to get some well-needed help." Jane commented. "But just as long as this Emilia doesn't cause problems."
"Agreed." Thomas acknowledged before collecting his trucks and departs the yards.
Down at the bus depot, Bertie was getting his fuel tank topped up, as well as having his tyres checked over, along with his headlights. Bertie is annoyed internally over this maintenance, but he knew it was necessary. As he waited for his checks to be done, he could hear the rumble of a bus engine approaching the depot, and he looked to see a female bus driving up before stopping just outside.
"Hello there. You must be Bertie." The double-decker bus greeted. "I am Emilia."
Emilia is a green AEC Routemaster Coach Lengthened (RCL) model double-decker bus, rolling on Dunlop branded tyres. She also has what looks like makeup on her face, while painted in Green Line livery. She is 30ft long from front to rear bumper, with a capacity of 70 passengers, as well as outfitted with independent front suspension, power steering, a fully automatic gearbox and power-hydraulic braking.
"Good to see you, Emilia." Bertie greeted back, just as he was lowered down onto his wheels. "So, you here to assist?"
"Yeah, and to be helpful and reliable." Emilia smiled.
"Sounds like you're already better than Bulgy." Bertie commented.
Emilia scoffed aloud. "Oh, lord. Don't even talk about that arrogant bus. He gives us double-deckers a bad name. I can't even tell you how many times he's driven myself and others around the bend, pun not intended." She muttered.
"You really don't like him, don't you?" Bertie mused.
"Despite being an AEC Bridgemaster bus, Bulgy and I were built in the same factory alongside one another." Emilia clarified to Bertie and explained to him about her history with Bulgy. "However, before he got purchased to go to Sodor, he bragged on about being better than the railways. The other buses and myself couldn't get him to shut up, so it was a relief to us when he left, but none of us bothered to listen to his words and we all carried on with our own work without Bulgy's prejudice towards railways."
Bertie smiled after hearing this. "Sounds like you and I will get along just fine." He commented, him and Emilia chuckling and laughing with one another.
Emilia, with the registration of RCL2233, was one of 43 Routemaster coaches built for Green Line use and entered service in June 1965, from Romford on routes 721, 722, 726. Repainted into a simpler Green Line livery in May 1968, Emilia worked on routes 704 & 705. In January 1970, she is transferred to London Country and in 1972, was downgraded to bus services. Emilia was bought back by LT in December 1977, and the following month, she became a trainer vehicle out of West Ham, still wearing her green livery. In December 1978, Emilia was repainted red, although she was still on trainer duties. In 1980, Emilia was converted to a bus (with her doors removed, bell chord installed, re-seated, and stanchion fitted) and she entered service on the 149 from Stamford Hill until December 1982 when she was withdrawn from service. She was then brought for preservation by Alan Brown in February 1984, but due to a mix-up, Emilia was nearly scrapped by Norths in Sherburn. Alan restored Emilia back to her early Green Line livery and rallied her for many years, her eventually working for the Big Red Bus Company for charity tours and services, and she was purchased by the Sodor Bus Company to assist Bertie.
Emilia has had some repairs done overtime: internal re-painting of the driver's cab, stairs & rear-platform area, complete refurbishment of the luggage racks, mechanical work including replacing the B-frame (rear sub frame). In addition, all her tyres have been replaced; mechanics have changed the registration plates to the correct font, replaced the indicator 'ears' and purchased a complete new set of destination blinds. Whilst her AEC AV590 (9.6ltr) bus engine fitted to 2233 was a good engine, it was underpowered with being much heavier (8 tons 3cwt) than a standard Routemaster (7 tons 7cwt). Emilia was originally built with an AV690 (11.3ltr). Her mechanics decided to find an AEC AV690 engine that she would've had when new. Mechanics eventually found one and was fitted.
Throughout the morning and the rest of the day, Emilia proved to be a big hit with the passengers wherever she went. They greeted her with curiosity and awe, while she greets them back in a friendly tone unlike her arrogant and right-wing anti-rail forebear Bulgy. They commented on her smooth ride and soft seats, as well as her manners and courteous attitude. She also got along with most of the engines on the mainline and on Thomas' branchline, though she did struggle with Duck due to his surprising hostility emanating from Bulgy and past events.
That evening, Emilia parked herself outside of the sheds alongside Bertie to have a nice conversation to some of the engines, and by 'some', it's mostly with Duck. The others, however, didn't mind Emilia and were more than happy to talk to the double-decker bus.
"Sounds like you did not get along with Bulgy." Toby mused.
"That's an understatement, Toby." Emilia rolls her eyes. "I couldn't even stand being in the same garage." The others laugh in agreement with Emilia.
"I can imagine." Mack spoke sympathetically to Emilia. "I've had to deal with Bowler's antics for decades long before I was bought by the NWR."
"Yeah. We are very glad that we have you instead of him, Mack." Gordon agreed with the Class 40 diesel.
"That, and I'm much more pleasant than Bowler." Mack joked, the others either laughing or agreeing.
"Well, you must be happy to get out and about, Emilia" Henry spoke up. "I'd be feeling the same if I was stuck in a museum or anywhere not able to do anything."
"Actually, that's not what I'm happy about: it's the fact I get to take people with me again." Emilia corrected the green LMS 'Black Five'. "It'll be nice to take passengers around the island once again."
"I see. Well, I wish you the best of luck." Edward said to Emilia.
"And you'd better not steal all those passengers from us!" Duck abruptly shouted, everyone all glaring at the GWR 5700 Pannier tank engine.
"What? What do you mean?" Emilia was taken aback by the Great Western tank engine. "Steal passengers? What are you talking about?"
"You know exactly what I'm talking about, you scarlet-faced deceiver!" Duck grunted.
"Duck, that was very uncalled for." Edward berated at Duck, the latter just scoffing and looks away. "That's very rude to say to someone like Emilia."
"I don't trust her." Duck huffed.
Bertie looked to Emilia. "I think it be best if we go back to the depot for tomorrow." He suggested.
"Okay, Bertie." Emilia sighed. She gets her engine going, and she follows Bertie back to the bus depot.
"Good riddance." Duck huffed.
"Now look what you did, Duck." Hayden spoke back harshly. "You've really made Emilia upset."
"Aye, ye did, Duck." Donald added in. "Th' wey ye spoke tae young Emilia wis ower despicable. A'body would've thought that ye wur arguing wi' Bulgy."
"So what? She deserves it." Duck harrumphed. "She's just like Bulgy. You can't trust double-decker buses."
"Duck, your feud with Bulgy has got to stop." Hayden stated back. "It's been many years since that incident. Let it go."
"Hayden is richt. Yer bein' ridiculous." Douglas agreed.
"You think it's so easy to forgive and forget, right." Duck interjected. "Well, not so with me, Hayden. You can be friends with Emilia all you want, but I know she's out to steal our passengers."
"Emilia is not Bulgy, Duck." Thomas spoke back. "She is very different."
"I'll just have to agree-to-disagree with you on that front, Thomas." Duck interjected.
Donald and Douglas both looked at each other. "That soonds lik' th' pot cawin th' kettle black." They said in unison, the others agreeing with the two Scottish twins.
Duck just rolled his eyes, all the while being ignored by the other engines as they talked to one another. As they do so, the Great Western pannier tank engine was thinking about Emilia and began thinking of the worse.
The next morning, down at the bus depot, Emilia was resting peacefully in the garage, Bertie also asleep next to him. As they sleep, their drivers soon arrive on the scene to get the buses ready to go. Emilia awoke from the feeling of her engine soon rumbling to life, and she smiled as she began to roll out of the garage into the warmth of the rising sun.
"Oh, today feels like a good day." Emilia commented, just as Bertie woke up and rolls up alongside.
"Don't be fooled by appearances, Emilia. Thomas told me this once: 'Red sky at night, sailor's delight. Red sky in the morning, sailor's warning'." Bertie stated.
"Oh, does that mean a storm on the way?" Emilia asks.
"Yep." Bertie acknowledged, just as Thomas puffed up with Annie and Clarabel. "Morning, Thomas."
"Morning, Bertie. Morning, Emilia." Thomas greets back to the two buses. "Emilia, I'm lucky to find you this morning. Listen, about what happened last night-"
"Thomas, don't worry about it." Emilia reassured to the blue tank engine. "I've had some bad comments sent at me from others. It's nothing out of the ordinary."
"Well, it will take some time for Duck to come around." Thomas said to the double-decker bus. "He is kind of like James, and can be quite stubborn when it comes to settling down."
"That's an understatement. Remember, Thomas?" Bertie pointed out, the two now sharing a laugh with one another. "Well, best we get going for today."
"Agreed." Emilia smiled before she drives away, Bertie also following on as Thomas puffed away. "Take care!"
Emilia drove along down the many roads around Sodor, heading from the Ffarquhar Branch and heading off towards Brendam. She took the time to now enjoy the new scenery, as well as seeing a number of engines all around the area. But whenever Duck would be at the station when Emilia arrived, he'd blast steam from his pistons at the double-decker bus, much to Emilia's dismay as the pannier tank engine would then leave.
'For Routemaster's sake. What's it to take to make that Great Western flat-tank see I'm not a threat?' Emilia thought to herself as she drove along.
As this is going on, the weather is beginning to change for the worse; with clouds beginning to form up above, as well as the wind beginning to pick up a little, an icy bite accompanied with the wind, along with the faint drizzling of rain to begin with. The engines could tell this is bad news heading their way.
Over at Crosby Station, Hayden was talking to Peter the LMS 8F regarding some events during the days of British Railways, just as Henry and Maverick arrived at the station, the two of them looking concerned, with the red BR Class 52 coming from Edward's branchline, while the green LMS 'Black Five' has a set of six express coaches coupled up behind him.
"Henry, Maverick. What's up?" Hayden questioned. "Something wrong?"
"I've just gotten word from the Star Tugs. They're bringing in the Queen Mary 2 into Brendam Docks." Maverick explained.
"The Queen Mary 2? Isn't that the huge transatlantic ocean liner of the Cunard Line?" Peter questioned.
"Aye. The Tugs just brought the ship in. It had been damaged in the storm that's fast approaching the island while it was en-route from America to Norway." Henry clarified. "Reports say it's suffered some engine damage to one of its diesel engines and also one of its propulsion units."
"That's not good, but why bring it into Brendam?" Hayden asked. Why would a huge ocean liner like that be directed to Sodor?
"It's the only port available for a ship that of size. The ship is 1,132ft long from bow to stern, has a beam of 135ft, while being 236ft from keel to the top of its funnel." Maverick stated. "Now, the ship can't keep going and has to moor up, while it's 2,600 passengers have to be relocated."
"All of its passengers? Relocated to where?" Peter echoed in surprise.
"Anywhere they can go." Henry stated to the others. "Barrow-in-Furness had to cancel any and all trains going in and out of Sodor on their end due to the weather approaching."
"Sir Topham had told me to send out the message to anyone I can find so they can all help." Maverick answered. "That's why Henry is heading to Brendam Docks right now."
"Aye. Any engine that can get coaches, they have to go and help out." Henry added before he puffed away at once. "Every other train we have, everyone else will have to handle it as best as they can, especially with that many passengers."
"I'm heading off to go and tell the others." Maverick now rolls away quickly, Peter and Hayden both looking to each other, knowing they have to help out. "Spread the word!"
Soon, the storm of torrential rain and gale forces struck Sodor, making the relocation of the passengers of the Queen Mary 2 much more dangerous and difficult. Every engine from ant accessible branchline and the mainline were called in to help. At the same time, the Sodor Bus Company had been called in to go and help out as well, so their multitude of buses, including Bertie and Emilia, have all been assigned to help out in any way they can.
Over on the East side of the island, Emilia was driving along at a respectable speed due to the wet conditions on the road. She looks up at the sky as the rain pelted down around and on her, the double-decker bus now wanting to return to her warm garage.
"Steady, old girl. Steady." Emilia's driver warned.
Emilia slows herself down a little more, being cautious of the road. As she goes along, she could see a train on the rail line up ahead, a guard waving a red flag to them. Emilia slows to a stop with a hiss of her brakes as the guard ran over to her and her driver.
"You alright there, mate?" Emilia's driver asked, after opening the door for him.
"Duck's safety valve had burst at the worst possible moment." The guard explained. "Right now, he's got a lot of passengers to take down the line. Can you get them to Wellsworth? Gordon or Anna should be there to take them the rest of the way."
Emilia looks to see Duck's coaches were loaded with so many passengers. The double-decker bus could only carry about 70 passengers in her seats, while another 35 can stand. It sounds like a tight squeeze, but she knew they can't stay out here in the cold and wet. She plucks up some courage.
"We'll do it." Emilia declared before rolling towards Duck, who looked exhausted and weak. "Duck, I'll take your passengers-"
"You'll do no such thing, you ugly bus!" Duck abruptly spoke back. "You'll just take them away-"
"Duck! That's enough!" The pannier tank engine driver now berated. "Emilia is here to help us, not to take your passengers away! She's not Bulgy! Why can't you just accept that??"
Duck, despite his safety valve bursting, gave a glare. "You can't trust double-decker buses. They're nothing but scarlet-faced deceivers! I'll keep going!"
"No, you're not, Montague." Duck's fireman stated back, the pannier tank engine looking like he'd been struck by lightning. "You're not going anywhere, and your passengers have to get somewhere warm. And right now, Emilia is the only one here who can do that."
"B-B-But, what about Bertie? Can't he-" Duck was cut off before he could try and protest.
"Duck, I'm not going to argue with you because you are just too stubborn to admit that you are wrong." Emilia now spoke back. "Right now, your passengers need to get to their destination for now until the storm passes. And one way or another, I'm getting there, even if I have to break every single rule of the road if I have to." Duck couldn't get out a single word in response to that.
Sure enough, Duck's passengers have been transferred to Emilia, the double-decker bus now feeling the weight of the people inside of her, as she begins to roll down the road. She might not be as fast as Bertie, but she makes up for it in her capacity. Despite her heavy weight, she carried on forth, heading to Wellsworth.
Over at Wellsworth Station, Anna was sitting by the platform waiting for Duck and his passengers to arrive. Gordon, Hayden, and even Peter had passed her by with fast express trains, but she hoped to make up for lost time as soon as Duck arrived.
"Where is Duck?" Anna muttered impatiently. "We're running out of time here-" She then heard a bus horn, and could see Emilia driving towards the station. "Huh. What's Emilia doing here?"
Emilia eventually rolled up to the station and came to a stop. "Okay, last stop. Everyone off!" She called, and the passengers immediately began to leave the green double-decker bus, heading to Anna's train. "Sorry for being late. Duck blew his safety valve."
"Kinda serves him right for bad-mouthing you." Anna said, just as the guard blew his whistle. "Thanks for the help, Emilia!" With a blast of her whistle, she steams out of the station as Emilia watches her go.
"Good job, old girl. But no time to rest." Emilia's driver praised his bus. "We've got to help out in any way we can." Emilia smiled before she heads out onto the road again.
Soon enough, Barrow-in-Furness was back in working order, the passengers from the Queen Mary 2 could be brought to the Mainland. Many of the passengers would return later in the years on as tourists. The storm was soon gone by dusk. It took a few days to clean up the mess left by the storm, and life soon returned to normal for the island. For Emilia, she had been given praise from other engines and passengers for her efforts that day, and she felt much better after that.
One evening a day after the storm had hit, Bertie and Emilia were back at Tidmouth Sheds to talk to the engines there. Duck was also there, but he was looking down at his buffer beam silently.
"Well, we have to thank you both for the help." Edward said to Bertie and Emilia. "Without you both, we would have been inundated."
"Aye. He's right." Henry agreed with Edward's words.
"You really are a reliable bus." Hayden commented to Emilia.
"I believe someone has some words to say." Thomas now looks over to Duck, clearing his throat. "Duck? Do you have something to say to Emilia?"
Duck now looked at Emilia. "Fine. Emilia, I am sorry for my rude comments. I was wrong about you, and I did not mean to offend you with such harsh comments."
"It's no trouble, Duck. I've dealt with comments worse than that before." Emilia shrugged her front wheels. "Besides, your passengers needed to get somewhere safe and dry. That's what mattered to me most."
"So... you weren't going to take them away." Duck now realised, then looked down. "Wow, I feel like such a prat."
"You are a prat at times." Gordon pointed out. "And you do that while we're doing our work."
Duck gives a look back. "You should know, Gordon. There are two ways of doing things. There's-"
"We know!" Everyone abruptly spoke at the same time at Duck, cutting him off and silencing him. Bertie and Emilia couldn't help but laugh in response.
The next morning, Emilia had to make a small stop on the Little Western. She was there to see someone and tell them what for. She drove along the winding roads of the countryside; eventually coming up to Bulgy's Bridge. Emilia slows to a stop, seeing the marking sign that reads 14' 9", and she knew her height at the moment of 14' 4" would be alright, but she isn't going to risk it.
"Driver, we need to get lower." Emilia stated. Her driver now flips a switch in her cab, and she begins to slowly drop down in height, eventually coming down to about 12' 10". "Thank the mechanics for installing airbag suspension for me." Emilia said to herself before she slowly rolls under the bridge and without damaging the bridge or herself. "Nothing to it."
Emilia now looks over to her left, rolling towards what's there and stopped with a hiss of her brakes. There, broken and lying in a field of hens and chickens, was none other than Bulgy himself.
"Well, well. Look who we have here." Emilia smirked.
"Oh, yes." Bulgy smiled triumphantly. "Another double-decker bus is here, to free the roads from-"
"Oh, shut up." Emilia's voice snapped, Bulgy taken aback by her words. "After all these years, even after being purchased and given a chance, you still act like the disrespectful, arrogant, self-entitled, bad tempered and miserable double decker bus I've known back then. You just don't know when to give up on that stupid plan of yours to 'free the roads from railway tyranny'." Emilia rolls her eyes. "God, I cannot take that nonsense. Well, I hope you enjoy your days here as a henhouse."
With that, Emilia reversed away, and drove off down the road, feeling satisfied with herself after telling Bulgy what for.