Another Thomas rewrite, this time it's "Tender Engines" from Season 3. Enjoy and comment.

One morning, Gordon was at the coaling plant, taking on a large amount of coal.

As he was being loaded with coal, James puffed up.

"That's the third amount of coal you've had this morning!" said James. "You're being really greedy."

"I'm an important engine." replied Gordon grandly. "Important engines need plenty of coal, but I doubt you understand that James."

James crossly puffed away to do his work.

Later, Gordon had to take on water from an old wooden pipe, because the water tower was out of order.

Then, Duck puffed up.

"If I was you, I wouldn't drink too much of that water! It might give you "boiler ache"

"Rubbish!" snorted Gordon. "This ain't the day to be educating me! First it was James, now it's you. Big engines have big needs, and little engines are just annoying!"

"Don't come crying to me if something goes wrong!" laughed Duck as he puffed away.

Later, Gordon steamed into the yards at the big station.

Then, he noticed something.

In the yards, were two brand-new, shiny tenders.

"That's what I need!" exclaimed Gordon. "With those tenders, I wouldn't have to stop so often, and listen to those silly engines!"

"Those tenders belong to a visitor!" said his driver.

Diesel then oiled over near Gordon.

"I'm afraid those tenders won't save a big engine like you. We diesels are planning on taking over, and we don't need tenders to be important."

This made Gordon very upset.

He felt just the same next day.

"I'm not happy!" he pouted.

"Must be boiler-ache." said Duck.

"No it isn't!" protested Gordon.

"The water must be bad!" said Henry.

"Don't be like that." huffed Gordon as he coupled up to the Express.

Sir Topham Hatt was on the platform.

"Cheer up Gordon!" said Sir Topham Hatt.

"I can't sir."

"Why?"

"Because Diesel is taking over."

"It will never happen on my railway!"

"And why did the visitor have two tenders?"

"Because he lives on a long-distance railway between coaling depots."

Now Gordon felt better.

But then, Henry started to complain.

First, he banged some cars crossly.

"I always work hard enough for two!" he snorted. "I deserve another tender!"

Duck whispered to Donald.

He was going to pull a trick on Henry.

"Would you like my tender?" asked Duck.

"What do you have to do with tenders?"

"Never mind." said Duck. "Would you like them Donald?"

"Of course!" said Donald.

"I'm only a tank-engine, but James might want them."

"Wait!" cried Henry. "How many tenders do you have?"

"I have six. I'll give them to you this evening!"

Henry was delighted!

That evening, the other engines came to see Henry's six new tenders.

But Henry's new tenders weren't splendid at all. They were old, dirty, and filled with rotten boiler sludge.

"Have a good wash-out, and you'll feel a splendid engine!" said a voice.

Henry wasn't so sure, but he knew that the voice came from Gordon.