Another request from tate310, this time it's the classic "The Flying Kipper" from Season 1. Enjoy and comment.
One winter's evening, Henry's driver said. "We'll be out early tomorrow. We've got to take "The Flying Kipper." Don't tell Gordon, but I think if we pull the Kipper nicely, Sir Topham Hatt will let us pull the Express. The special Welsh coal is working very well.
"Hurrah!" cried Henry. "That will be nice!"
All kinds of ships use the harbor at the big station by the sea, such as passenger ships, cargo ships and fishing boats. The fish goes to shops in the town, and others to places far away, on a special train called "The Flying Kipper."
At five o'clock the next morning, Henry was ready. There was snow and lots of frost. Men hustled and shouted, loading up the crates of fish. The last door banged, the guard showed his green lamp, and "The Flying Kipper" was ready to go!"
"Come on, come on! Don't be silly, don't be silly!" puffed Henry to the freight cars.
The cars "trucked tricked" all the way, making Henry feel much better.
As the sun began to rise, Henry will still pulling "The Flying Kipper." Lots of steam poured from his funnel into the cold air, and his lights shone brightly.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry!" called Henry.
They were going well and making good time. But then, a yellow signal appeared up ahead. His driver prepared to stop, but the signal was down.
"All clear Henry! Away we go!"
But what they didn't know was that the points from the main line to the siding had been frozen, and the signal should have been set at "DANGER" but the signal had been forced down by snow.
Edward was taking a goods train that night and had to wait in a siding to let Henry and "The Flying Kipper" pass. While he waited, his driver and fireman were having cocoa in the break van.
"The Kipper will be here soon." said the conductor.
"Who cares?" said the fireman. "This is good cocoa."
The driver got up.
"Come on fireman" he said, "back to our engine. I hope he isn't freezing in this weather."
"Hey!" grumbled the fireman. "I haven't finished my cocoa yet!
They left just in time! Henry came flying down the siding at full speed! The driver applied the brakes, but Henry crashed right into the train, smashing the break van and derailing Henry!:
Nobody was hurt in the accident, but Henry laid dazed and surprised. Later that morning, Thomas brought the breakdown train to the scene. Sir Topham Hatt came to see him.
"The signal was down sir." said Henry nervously.
"Cheer up Henry! Ice and snow caused the accident. I'm sending you to Crewe, a wonderful place for sick engines. They'll not only repair you, but they'll give you a brand new shape and a larger firebox so you won't need special Welsh coal anymore! Won't that be lovely?"
"Yes sir!" said Henry doubtfully.
A few weeks later, James was waiting at Elsbridge Station for Henry to arrive. He was still puzzled through. Did Sir Topham Hatt really make the right choice to bring in special Welsh coal?
Just then, Henry tooted his whistle.
"Look, old boy! It's Henry!"said his driver. "And look at how splendid he looks in his new shape!"
Henry puffed through Elsebridge, pouring lots of stream as he went by. Everyone gave him three cheers, and James and his crew were surprised.
"Well, well, well!" chuckled the fireman. "It looks like that answers one question!"
"And it also answers the real question that everybody had on their minds!" added the driver, patting James's warm boiler.
James smiled, and then set off. It looked like Sir Topham Hatt really did make the right choice to bring in special Welsh coal after all!
I am sorry to say that a lot of little children are often late for school, just because they wait for Henry to go by. Often, they see him pulling the Express. He does it so well that Gordon is jealous, but that's another story.