COAL

"I suffer dreadfully and no one cares." Henry said as he was cleaned off, earlier an irate farmer who blamed the engine for being late threw some mud on him.

"Rubbish Henry, you do no real work around here." James said.

"I do. You lot just don't understand. Plus if I went you'd be stuck with my trucks." James shut his mouth then while fuming.

Henry was in a predicament, for four years he had run well to the point Gordon was jealous of him as his mechanical faults were erased. Then a few months into the fifth year he had begun to weaken.

Most days he could pull train well but a worryingly large amount of trains had been delayed or even stopped on the line. Engines like Thomas were convinced he was faking it but recently even the critics were concerned as they saw the engine struggle.

Later that day, Henry was taken to Great Waterton, his crew explained it. "We have a train from here tomorrow, just want a little extra rest."

The big Pacific sat sadly in a siding, he looked at the town which was slowly dying as the mine had closed. Tomorrow a good chunk of the stations interior and spare rails would be taken to Knapford.

"Oh dear, what will happen to me?" Henry said, "This town at least could be made useful."

Then he heard a car drive up and looked as The Fat Director came out and advanced to him. Henry resigned himself to the inevitable berating he was about to receive.

"Hello Henry." The man said.

"Hello sir." Henry replied, with pleasantries exchanged the Fat Director said "Henry, I don't like the number of complaints I received."

"I'm sorry sir. I'm trying my hardest and the ones with the farms are often caused by breaks in the line or animals." Henry said.

The Fat Director nodded and said "I understand that, I've already talked to the farmer for earlier but that is the only slack I can give you. You've had many new parts and are getting expensive with all the delays and lost contracts. I want to be fair to you but if you cannot do it, I will put you in the sheds again until we have the money to switch you or I get another engine."

Henry looked sadly at his buffers and said "I understand."

"Good, tomorrow I will be joining your crew to see what can be done." He said and then went to an inn for a room.

The next morning, the three men got into Henry and they collected the trucks and vans for Knapford. Henry ran well and felt like he could make it through the day, then he got a rest and some coal. Then he collected his next train, a local that terminated at Crovan's Gate and left the station.

As he passed the first few stations all went well until the train approached Wellsworth when his steam dropped. Henry tried hard but couldn't advance to the station and stopped right outside. He was uncoupled and sent to a siding while Edward took the train, as the older engine left Henry said "I'll be sent away, no one wants me."

The crew and Sir Topham Hatt were talking, "Henry is trying very hard. However it seems his new parts have done no good." The Fat Director said.

"That is because it isn't the parts. Henry is what we firemen know as a bad steamer. The other engines on this island have large fireboxes to accommodate the variable coal quality here. Henry has the smallest firebox I ever laid eyes on. Morgan's mine used to provide great coal until the reservoir came in and we've been stuck importing coal. We used one of the last piles of coal from the mine this morning. Barring reopening the mine, we'll have to get Welsh coal. Then he'll be a different engine." The fireman said.

"It's expensive. However Henry must have a fair chance." The Fat Director said, "I'll get some for tomorrow."

The next morning, Henry was assigned the Wildnorwester as Gordon was out of order. He was taken to another coal hopper and was filled up with the new coal, James watched indignantly and said "Why do you get this one? You won't make it."

Henry scoffed and said "I'll show you." His fireman eagerly set up a wall of coal and Henry was cross "You're spoiling my fire!"

"Nonsense. I'm not some low grade stoker. This way allows us to have plenty of steam when we need it." The fireman said proudly.

"I'll believe it when I feel it." The engine said, he wasn't trying to be rude as he knew his fireman was capable of anything with the right grade of coal. A little fun was always required between and an engine and their crew though.

The big engine came into the station where the Fat Director waited "I'm sorry I won't be joining your train today. How is the fire gentlemen?"

"Never better." The driver said as he mopped his brow. "He'll do anything you ask now."

"Excellent. I eagerly await your reports." The Director said as Henry left the station.

Henry had a lovely day and all of his trains came in on time or early leaving workers who thought they could rest while waiting for the engine scrambling as he arrived.

He did it so well the Fat Director gave him passenger duties for a month. He did it so well the other engines were jealous. How did they react? I shan't spoil.