Henry was feeling very sickly one morning. This was not unusual, unfortunately.
"I suffer dreadfully and nobody cares!" Said Henry
"Rubbish!" snorted James "You're just a lazy brute who has nothing better to do than make up stories! Do some work for a change!"
Henry was most upset.
For a long time, Henry had been to the Works in and out. He got new parts and was constantly being tested.
But every method failed. No one could successfully tackle Henry's problem.
The Fat Controller spoke to Henry.
"It's no use -you are far too expensive. You have had many new parts and paint, but nothing's working. If there isn't an improvement soon, than I shall have no choice but to replace you."
This made Henry and his crew very upset and hard to cheer up.
...
Henry was waiting at Knapford Station when the Fat Controller arrived in old overalls.
I'm coming with you to see what the problem is. He explained Lead on driver.
Henry put every ounce of steam of steam and determination into puffing along the line.
But he couldn't generate enough heat and he stopped outside Edward's Station.
"It's his fire sir," Explained Henry's fireman. "His firebox is too small to make enough heat to generate steam. But if we had Welsh coal brought in he'd make more steam."
"It is expensive." Mused the Fat Controller. "But if there is a solution, then I will give it a chance."
...
When the coal arrived, Henry, his driver and fireman were excited.
The driver polished Henry's brass until it gleamed in the sun. It could have been gold for all they knew, whilst the fireman set to work.
He laid larger lumps of coal outside Henry's firebox then he carefully piled smaller lumps in the middle.
"You're ruining my fire!" Henry complained.
"On the contrary- you'll have a roaring fire. We'll have the steam to power you before long."
He was right.
...
The Fat Controller was in his office when he heard a noise coming from outside.
So he hurried to see what was going on.
Henry was sitting at the station platform. Plumes of steam billowed from his pistons and there a massive smile on his face.
"Hello Henry -do you feel any better now?"
Henry responded with toots of his whistle.
"His fire's a lot better now sir- better than it's ever been." The driver reported.
"Well, in that case don't go breaking any records now," warned the Fat Controller, smiling. Don't push it."
"I don't think that's possible sir- I'll have to hold him back!"
...
Henry longed to go fast on his run, but his driver reminded him they had time and that they weren't to push it.
Still Henry felt a lot better than he had ever done. He was over the moon.
In fact he arrived early at the station earlier than he would normally be.
When Thomas puffed in, he was surprised.
"Where have you been lazybones? I don't have all day to wait for dawdling tank engines like you. Goodbye!"
He raced away.
Thomas was stunned. "Have you ever seen anything like it?" he asked Annie and Clarabel.
"No we haven't! No we haven't!" chorused the coaches.
...
Adaption request for tate310. Hope you enjoyed and please don't forget to review!
