Tunnel Vision

Based on "Henry's Freight Cars/Henry's Trucks"

"...the engine went into a tunnel, squeaked through it's funnel and never came out again."

There were quiet chuckles in Tidmouth sheds, but Henry was not laughing. James was reminding everyone of the time when Henry the Big Green engine once stopped in the tunnel because he didn't want his lovely green paint to be ruined by the rain.

"Must you keep reminding everyone of that incident?" Henry asked crossly. "It was back in the 40's when it happened, this is the year 2000 for goodness sakes."

"And even now it's still funny," chuckled James and many of the other engines agreed with him.

"Hmph, says the engine who ran into tar wagons."

James spluttered and glared crossly at Henry. Henry said no more and puffed away to the yards.

His job that day was to collect trucks from all across the Island and take them all to the end of the line at Vicarstown. As he backed down on the tracks, he bumped them hard.

"Oh, oh, oh!" groaned the trucks. "There's no need to bump us."

His Driver spoke firmly with him, "I know you don't like being reminded of when you were sealed up in a tunnel Henry, but you don't need to take it out on the trucks."

His fireman patted his boiler, "you shouldn't let those words get to you Henry," he said. "Besides, since that time, you have become a wiser engine and proven yourself time and time again."

This made Henry feel much better and he puffed away once the guard was ready.

All went well during the journey, Henry picked up the trucks with no trouble and no bumping and he was running to perfect time. That was until he reached a station where two nasty looking engines could be seen. They were the Ironworks Diesels; Iron 'Arry and Iron Bert. They were collecting trucks to take to the smelter's yard.

"Looky here 'Arry, isn't that Old Square Wheels?" Bert asked.

"Why yes, I do believe it is him Bert. Maybe he's heading to our yard, perfect timing to be scrapped if you ask me."

Henry snorted at the diesels as he came to a stop. "I'm not heading to your yard for your information, I'm taking these trucks to Vicarstown yard. And besides," he added, "you can't scrap a Fat Controller's engine, remember the trouble you got into for almost scrapping Stepney?"

The diesels snarled at Henry.

"We would've scrapped him had it not been for the Fat Controller," snorted 'Arry.

But Bert had a devious idea on how to get back at Henry. He called out to the trucks, "it's such a shame you lot have to be pulled by a silly engine like Henry."

"Why is he silly?" they asked.

"Don't you know? Henry once stopped in the tunnel and refused to come out. For his silliness, the Fat Controller locked him up and left him in there for a long time."

The trucks all burst into laughter, "what a silly engine Henry is."

Henry was cross, "thanks alot, now I have to deal with that all the way to Vicarstown."

"Glad to be of service," they smirked and rattled away with their train.

Henry was right, from that point onwards, the journey became rather difficult. The trucks would hold back and sing rude songs, and once in a while, they would bump Henry. It only got worse as more and more trucks were added to the train.

Needless to say, by the time Henry reached Edward's station, he was exhausted. He wanted a drink, but the trucks made it difficult to pull up to the water tower. His Driver had to reserve him and move him forward several times before finally stopping in the right spot.

"Why can't you trucks learn to behave?"

"We'll behave, on the day when you stop being silly," said the lead truck and the others laughed even more.

Just then, Edward arrived with the stopping passenger train. He could see the look of despression on Henry's face.

"What's all this laughing about?" Edward asked.

"Henry is a silly engine," they all said. "He once stopped in a tunnel and was bricked up," said one of them.

Edward was annoyed by the laughter, but not as much as Henry. Then Edward came up with an idea. He winked to Henry, then spoke to the trucks.

"Yes well, if an engine is silly and doesn't do their job right, they probably do get punished and locked up for what they did."

The laughter just continued, that was until Edward said; "it's a shame though, the coaches and trucks have to pay the price with the engine too."

That's when the laughter stopped.

Now Henry joined in, "yes, it is horrible, they have to suffer for what an engine does. I remember when I was in the tunnel, the coaches were trapped with me. The Fat Controller let the passengers go, but can you imagine if he didn't?"

The trucks gulped, "you mean, if Henry doesn't pull us properly and doesn't arrive on time, we could get bricked up with him?"

"It's possible," said Edward. "Horrible thought isn't it?"

The trucks were silent. Henry looked across to Edward and whispered a "thank you" to him. Edward replied back with another wink.

After getting the trucks from Wellsworth, Henry was able to continue on his way and I'm happy to say that the trucks didn't bump, hold back or sing rude songs about Henry. Even in Henry's tunnel, they didn't do anything.

"We don't want to get stuck in here," they said to each other.

Of course we all know that the coaches were removed when Henry was bricked up, but I think for Henry's sake, it's better not to tell the trucks.