Bulgy (episode)

## Bulgy

**Bulgy** is the twenty-first episode of the third season and the 81st episode overall. It is based on the story of the same name from the twenty-fourth Railway Series book, Oliver the Western Engine.

## Plot

A bank holiday is being celebrated and many visitors are traveling on Duck's Branch Line. Bertie and the engines are all kept very busy taking them to and from their destinations. One day, Duck is waiting at Tidmouth when he spots a large and unfriendly looking double decker bus. He grumbles as he sees the happy passengers boarding Duck's train and states he would not have brought them had he known they would be traveling on a railway. He bluntly tells Duck that one day, the railways will be torn up and replaced by roads. Duck is shocked by the bus' behaviour; Bertie, Algy and Brenda would have never made such claims. The bus is dismissive of Bertie Algy and Brenda's opinion, declaring them "too small in size to be of any use."

At Haultraugh, Duck meets Oliver and tells him about the bus. Oliver explains that he calls the bus "Bulgy" and simply laughs off his threats. That afternoon, however, Oliver is much more serious since another equally rude bus has arrived and is taking Bulgy's passengers so Bulgy himself can take those of the two Great Western engines to the big station. Duck insists that the route is quicker by rail, but Oliver explains that Bulgy apparently knows a shortcut.

Later, Duck prepares for the homeward rush, but is surprised to discover he has less passengers. Then, Oliver spots them in Bulgy, who has the rest of them and a sign on his side claiming he is a "Railway Bus". Bulgy leaves and Duck quickly follows after him. Sometime later, he is flagged down at a bridge where the line crosses a narrow road, where he discovers that Bulgy has wedged himself under the bridge. The passengers explain that Bulgy tricked them, as he wanted them to think railways were no good; he claimed to be a "Railway Bus", but would not accept their return tickets. Duck and his crew agree that helping the passengers outweighs the risk of the damaged bridge and cross it carefully. Bulgy begs him to stop as bricks fall from the bridge, fearing it might collapse on top of him. Fortunately, the bridge does not collapse, but Duck states that it would have served him right for lying if it had.

Duck soon arrives back at the big station and all his passengers catch their trains on time. The bridge is eventually repaired, but Bulgy's ways remain unchanged until he is eventually taken out of service. He is now a henhouse in the field beside the bridge and any lies he does tell are ignored by the resident hens.

## Characters

* Duck
* Oliver
* Bulgy
* Bertie *(does not speak)*
* Thomas *(cameo)*
* James *(cameo)*
* BoCo *(cameo)*
* Annie and Clarabel *(cameos)*
* Algy *(mentioned)*
* Brenda *(mentioned)*
* Bulgy's Friend *(mentioned)*

## Locations

* Ffarquhar
* Haultraugh
	+ Haultraugh Lighthouse
* Tidmouth
* Tidmouth Yards
* Bulgy's Bridge
	+ Bulgy's Field
* Knapford *(mentioned)*

## Trivia

* This episode takes place during a bank holiday like in the original story, and not a “special holiday” as said in the official TV Series episode.
* This episode is based on a real event from the The Evening Standard. On September 26th, 1958, a trolleybus being towed through Lewes High Street, Sussex, had gotten its electrical pole stuck on the underside of a railway bridge.
* This episode marks Bulgy's only speaking role, let alone starring role. And it’s the only time he is referred to by name until the seventh season episode, Bulgy Rides Again, which is exactly 77 episodes after this one.
* Bulgy's line "Yah! Boo! Snubs!" became a popular internet meme.