Another story arrives at the station! This time, it's a rewrite of a book itself, featuring one of the most popular characters, Henry the Green 5 himself! In the story is another of my characters, Klondike the C2 Atlantic. Klondike's name comes from the nickname of the C2's, after the 1897 Klondike Gold Rush. Plus you'll see a preserved engine there and...

I'll let you figure it out yourself. Note; Henry mentions having met her (or him as the book states) in book 39.


ThomasAngryBirds' Remakes and Stories

Special 1: Sodor's Green 5

Based on "Henry the Green Engine" by the Rev. W. Awdry

Henry the green engine originally arrived on Sodor in 1920. He was built around 1919 from plans that were stolen from Sir Nigel Gresley, which looked like a cross between a C1 Atlantic and an A1 pacific. It was clear as to why Gresley rejected the plans used for Henry; Henry's firebox was small, and not even the best coal in Britain would make him steam properly, and I'm sorry to say that Henry was, to say the least, a very poor steamer.

Come 1920, Sir Topham Hatt, then called the Fat Director, requested for a C1 Atlantic, but he ended up with Henry instead. The Fat Director was initially displeased with what he was given, and wanted to write a letter of protest saying there must have been some sort of mistake. But he was in need of locomotives, and locomotives for sale did not grow on trees, so he had to put up with his unexpected purchase.

Although Henry was lucky to have a home, he was still plagued with his faulty design. In other words, Henry was a lemon. In 1922, he stopped at Ballahoo tunnel refusing to come out, insisting his paint would be spoiled by the rain. The Fat Director, his crew, guard, and passengers tried to get Henry to move, even with David's help, but it was no use. As a result, Henry was bricked in the tunnel, and it was said he would be there for always and always.

Although he was given his punishment, Henry did get a chance to come out again when Gordon broke down with the express and Edward could not move the train himself. Henry did well with helping Henry, and when asked what color he wanted, Henry requested to be painted blue like Edward. However, for a long time afterward, people kept mistaking him for Gordon, much to both big engines' annoyance.

It gotten worse when Henry had a trip to Crovan's Gate, and was given spares of Gordon's buffers. By autumn 1930, he was offered a new coat of paint, and asked for green, just so he could be separated from Gordon. It worked out, much to their relief, but Henry was still plagued and had constant rebuilds and modifications at Crovan's Gate, still having not recovered from his stay in his tunnel. Sometimes he could pull trains, but he often felt he had no strength to even pull two coaches.

Poor Henry had steaming issues, which he complained constantly about, and felt little sympathy, especially when he was late. Gordon and James would make rude remarks to him, while Edward and Percy were more caring for their friend. Sometimes, Thomas would tease Henry for being late, other times he felt bad for Henry.

But come 1934, Henry had no idea his life was about to change forever...


"I suffer dreadfully, and no one cares!" Henry moaned to James at Tidmouth.

"Rubbish, Henry," snorted James, "you don't work hard enough! I don't have time to listen to your whinging all day!" He set off to take his stopping passenger train to Vicarstown.

The Fat Director (by now the Fat Controller) spoke to Henry too.

"You are too expensive, Henry," he said gravely, "You have had lots of new parts and new paint too, but they've done you no good. If we can't make you better, we must get another engine instead of you."

This made Henry, his driver, and fireman very sad. It wasn't Henry's fault; it was merely the way he was built and couldn't help it.

"Today, you will take a light passenger service along the mainline," continued the Fat Controller, "I will have a word with your crew as you puff along the track."


Percy had arranged Henry's coaches at platform 2. Henry sluggishly backed onto his coaches. The Fat Controller had taken off his coat and hat, and put on overalls. Another engine was on the platform next to Henry, a C2 Atlantic, in LNER green.

"Look who it is," the C2 snickered, "it's Henry the weakling."

"I'm not weak, Klondike!" Henry snapped. Klondike the C2 had been recently been put on trial should hope for Henry had been given up all together.

"Of course you aren't," Klondike smirked, "you are nothing more than just a failed experiment!"

"I'll let you know I've done more than you think when I helped Edward with Gordon's express!" Henry retorted. The Fat Controller and his crew heard nothing of the argument.

"Henry is a 'bad steamer'," his fireman explained, "I build up his fire, but it doesn't give enough heat."

Then the guard blew his whistle and Henry set off.

"See you never, failed engine!" Klondike laughed rudely. James had saw everything from his platform and was cross.

"Aren't you just a bully!" he snapped angrily, "The Fat Controller doesn't approve of bullying, you know!"

"Shut it, you rusty red lump of scrap iron!" Klondike said rudely, "You're as pathetic as that Henry is!"

"How dare you!" James roared, "I've pulled trucks over Gordon's hill, and I've pulled the express when Gordon was stuck!"

Klondike laughed again. "You? Pull trucks over a hill? That's nothing at all!"

Before James could argue further, Klondike set off, laughing. James was frustrated at Klondike, but James knew just how Henry felt when the former was rude to the latter.


Henry did his best, but he didn't make it far. His steam pressure was low, and he stopped outside of Wellsworth.

Oh dear! Henry thought sadly, I shall have to go away.

Henry's driver called for help, and Edward took over Henry's train. Henry was put onto a siding out of the way.

"What do you think is wrong, fireman?" the Fat Controller asked.

The fireman mopped his face. "Excuse me, sir," he replied, "but the coal is wrong. We've had a poor lot lately, and today it's worse. The other engines can manage; they have big fireboxes. Henry's is small and can't make the heat. With Welsh coal, he'd be a different engine."

Right now, the mainline engines had to deal with a poor supply of coal, and Henry suffered the worst of it.

"It's expensive," said the Fat Controller thoughtfully, "but Henry must have a fair chance. James shall go and fetch some."

Henry was anxious; he never heard of Welsh coal before, and wondered how it would make a difference.

Will it make me a healthier engine? he thought, Or am I really heading for scrap?


Henry's answer came sooner than he expected. In a couple days' time, James had brought high-grade Welsh coal from the Great Western Railway which used that sort of coal. Henry's crew were excited.

"Now we'll show them, Henry old fellow!"

James watched from the sheds, wondering if the Fat Controller had made the right choice in bringing Welsh coal. Henry's driver and fireman oiled his joints and polished his brass until it shone like gold.

Henry's fire was already lit so the fireman "made it" carefully. He put large lumps of coal like a wall round the outside, then covered the glowing middle part with smaller lumps.

"You're spoiling my fire," Henry complained.

"Wait and see," said the fireman, "we'll have a roaring fire, just when we want it!"


Henry steamed into Tidmouth station, and was surprised himself how well the Welsh coal worked. He didn't feel weak, he felt he had strength he never knew he had before. His water boiled nicely, and had to let off steam to show how happy he was. The Fat Controller had come out to see him.

"How are you, Henry?"

"Pip peep peep!" whistled Henry, "I feel fine!"

"Have you a good fire, driver?"

"Never better sir, and plenty of steam."

"No record breaking," warned the Fat Controller, smiling, "don't push him too hard!"

"Henry won't need pushing, sir; I'll just have to hold him back!"

When the guard blew the whistle and when he set out of Tidmouth, Henry did very well for the first time in years. He wanted to go fast as Gordon, but the driver would not let him.

"Steady, old fellow," he said, "there's plenty of time!"


Henry steamed into Knapford Junction. He was running quite early, and Thomas would arrive any minute with Annie and Clarabel.

"Wait till he sees how early I am," he chuckled, "that'll stop his teasing."

At last, Thomas puffed in.

"Where have you been, lazybones?" teased Henry, "I can't wait for dawdling tank engines like you!" he said as the guard blew his whistle, "Goodbye!" And he disappeared into the tunnel.

"Whoooosh!" exclaimed Thomas, "Have you ever seen anything like it?"

"I never have," said Annie.

"Nor me," agreed Clarabel, "Henry's stronger than ever."

The Fat Controller was pleased too with Henry's trial run on Welsh coal. He decided to keep Henry in service, but for Klondike, he was to be used if Henry should fail, and Klondike become concerned of his own survival and used the possibility of Henry failing to his advantage.

"I have to have a place here," he said to himself, "I will not be bested by a failure!"


Lots of ships use Tidmouth Harbor by the sea. Passenger ships have spotless paint and shining brass. Other ships, although smaller and dirtier, are important as well. They take coal, machinery and other things abroad, and bring back meat, timber and things people need.

Fishing boats also come here. They unload the fish on the quay. Some of it sent to markets at Tidmouth, and some goes in a special train to other places beyond. The railwaymen called this train the Flying Kipper.

One evening in the winter of 1935, Henry's driver said, "we'll be out early tomorrow. We've got to take the Flying Kipper. Don't tell Gordon," he whispered, "but I think if we pull the Kipper nicely, the Fat Controller will let us pull the express."

"Hurrah!" cried Henry excitedly, "That will be lovely."

But he didn't count on Klondike overhearing the conversation.

"No you won't," Klondike muttered to himself, "if you crash, the Fat Controller will scrap you, and I will be the new number three, wait and see, Henry!"

Klondike had to take a goods train before the Flying Kipper, and the C2 decided to make it seem like an accident so Henry could possibly be sent away.


In the early morning, Henry was ready at 5:00. The ground was covered in snow and frost. Men hustled and shouted, loading the vans with crates of fish. The last door banged, the guard showed his green lamp, and the Flying Kipper was ready to depart.

Henry's wheels slipped on the icy rails as he set off.

"Come on! Come on! Don't be silly! Don't be silly!" he puffed to the vans.

The vans shuddered and groaned due to the movement and the smell of fish. "Trock, trick, trock, trick, all right, all right!" they answered grudgingly.

"That is better, that is better," Henry puffed happily, as the Flying Kipper drew speed.

Clouds of smoke and steam poured from his funnel into the cold air, and when his fireman put more coal in the firebox, the fire shone brightly on the snow around.

"Hurry, hurry, hurry," panted Henry. He whooshed under bridges and clattered through stations, green signal lights shown as they passed.

They were doing well after they crossed the viaduct leading to Cronk. The sun was slowly rising, and Henry and his crew saw a yellow signal as they neared Kildane, meaning the train should slow down. The driver shut off steam, preparing to stop, but the home signal was green.

"All clear, Henry! Away we go!"

They didn't know the points from the mainline to a siding were frozen, and that the signal was meant to be red for danger, but a fall of snow forced it down.


Klondike's goods train was waiting to let the Flying Kipper pass. Klondike had tricked the signalman to have the signal at green and have the points set to the siding. The C2 knew personally it would get rid of Henry, or so he hoped.

His driver and fireman were having coca in the brakevan with the guard. He pulled out his watch. "The Kipper is due."

"Who cares?" asked the fireman, "This is good cocoa."

"Come on, fireman," said the driver, getting up, "back to our engine."

"Hey!" grumbled the fireman, "I haven't finished my cocoa yet!"

Suddenly from out of nowhere, Henry crashed into the brakevan which broke, and the three men were shot into the air like jack-in-the-boxes, and landed in the snow outside.

Henry's driver and fireman jumped clear before the crash. The fireman fell head first into the snow, kicking so hard it was difficult for the driver to pull him out.

Henry lay on his side in surprise, and Klondike's fireman waved his empty mug.

"You great clumsy engine!" he roared, "The best cup of cocoa I've ever had, and you bump into me and spill it all!"

"Never mind your cocoa, fireman," laughed Klondike's driver, "run and telephone the breakdown gang!"

Klondike felt a bump, but he wasn't shocked; his plan was so far working.

"Henry will be scrapped now!" he chuckled to himself.


Edward had brought the breakdown train and the workmen, and helped to clear away the mess. Henry felt ill once more, and was nervous when the Fat Controller was on board Edward.

"The signal was down, sir..."

"Cheer up, Henry; it wasn't your fault. Ice and snow caused the accident. I'm sending you to Crewe, a fine place for sick engines. They'll give you a new shape and a larger firebox. You'll feel a different engine, and won't need special coal anymore. Won't that be nice?"

"Yes, sir," said Henry doubtfully. Klondike was cross. He wanted Henry scrapped, not rebuilt.

"My plan is foiled," he muttered to himself. But Klondike wasn't off the hook; when the Fat Controller heard from the signalman that the C2 had involvement in trying to get rid of Henry, the Fat Controller sent Klondike back to the LNER, with a letter asking not to return him, as he was nothing but trouble.


Henry was taken to Crewe from Barrow by another engine. A man was there to greet the Fat Controller.

"Ah, Topham, my dear friend," said the man, shaking the Fat Controller's hand.

"Good to see you too, William," said the Fat Controller.

"You know him?" asked Henry.

"Why yes," said the Fat Controller, "this is my longtime friend, William Stanier."

"I hear you've had problems," said Stanier, "not to worry, my men and I are willing to rebuild you."

"How?" asked Henry.

"We are making our own fleet of Black 5 4-6-0's," Stanier began, "as you are of similiar wheel arrangement, we will take you apart, and fabricate new parts to replace your old ones."

"That's understandable," said Henry, but he didn't quite fully understand.


A few years later, in 1939, Henry was surprised when he saw himself in a mirror. He was now in the shape of a Black 5, as Stanier had promised. However, he wasn't painted green with red stripes, but rather, in light gray.

"You must be one of us," said a female voice. Henry looked up, and saw an LMS Jubilee class standing in front of him, and on the track to Henry's left.

"Well, actually," Henry admitted, "I've been having a rebuild. I'm from the Island of Sodor, run by Sir Topham Hatt."

"Did you say Sir Topham Hatt?" asked the engine in surprise, "The workmen have mentioned him here at the works."

"I did," smiled Henry, "oh, and my name is Henry, by the way."

"My number is 5596," said the Jubilee, "but I received my name Bahamas three years before, a series of islands part of the British Empire."

"Well, it's very nice to meet you, Bahamas," said Henry, "and after all, engines ought to have names, shouldn't they?"

"They should," agreed Bahamas, "it shows you belong."

Henry told Bahamas about his life and friends on Sodor, when Stanier arrived with the Fat Controller.

"Ah, 5596 Bahamas," said Stanier, "I see you've met Henry, no. 3 of the North Western Railway."

"Ah, pardon my interruption, sirs," said Henry, "but what's with my gray coat of paint?"

"Ah yes," said Stanier, "this is an undercoat, Henry. You will be painted in traditional LMS black goods livery with your number railway company on you."

"It was nice to speak to you, Henry," said Bahamas, "I hope we meet again. Goodbye!"

"Goodbye, Bahamas," said Henry as the Jubilee class left for work.


Henry was painted up in his temporary black livery. He was given red lining, and on his tender was NWR, and he had his number 3 on his cab, both in yellow.

Henry's fireman gave his engine a test on regular coal, and it burned perfectly. Stanier and the Fat Controller were pleased; Henry was now better than ever before.

It was time for Henry to make his return to Sodor. The Fat Controller boarded his cab, Henry was refueled with fresh coal and water, and he was ready for the journey to Crovan's Gate. He steamed alongside the LMS countryside, whistling to engines as he passed. The engines were surprised to see an LMS design with NWR on his tender.

When Henry reached Barrow, he was turned around for the return journey to Sodor. He wondered what the others would think of him in his new shape. When he was turned around, Henry set off for Crovan's Gate, and there, he was given his proper green paint with red stripes.

Now don't get me wrong; Henry liked being at Crewe, but he was happy to be home again. Crowds of people waited to see Henry arrive in his new shape. He looked so splendid and strong they gave him three cheers.

"Peep peep pip pip peep! Thank you very much," he whistled happily.

I'm sorry to say that a lot of children were often late for school, because they wait to see Henry go by! They often saw him pulling the express. Henry did it do well that it made Gordon rather jealous, and he was not afraid to say so.


"Why should Henry have a new shape?" he grumbled a few weeks after Henry's return, March 1939. By now, Gordon too was in a new shape, having been rebuilt himself.

"A shape good enough for me is good enough for him," Gordon continued, "he goes gallivanting off to Crewe, leaving us to do his work. It's disgraceful! ...and there's another thing; Henry whistles too much. No respectable engine ever whistles loudly at stations! It isn't wrong," he finished, "but we just don't do it!"

"You're right, Gordon," agreed James, "I mean, Henry used to be a quiet, unhappy git, and now he's just too big for his own buffers!"

Henry felt most upset.

"Never mind," Percy whispered kindly, "I'm glad you are home again. I like your whistling."

Henry felt a bit better after Percy's kind words, but still felt put down by Gordon and James.

"Goodbye, Henry," called Gordon the next morning, as he left for the express, "we are glad to have you with us again, but be sure and remember what I said about whistling!"


Gordon was still not in a good mood when he arrived at Barrow-in-Furness. There was Bahamas, waiting to take his passengers across the LMS.

"You must be Gordon, I presume," said Bahamas.

"Yes, I- Wait, how do you know my name?" Gordon asked in surprise.

"Henry told me about you while he was at Crewe," the Jubilee explained, and introduced herself to the rebuilt A0.

"I see, Bahamas," Gordon said. When he ran around his train for the return trip to Tidmouth, he told her about Henry's recent attitude.

"Henry did seem friendly when I met him weeks back," said Bahamas calmly, "and he did tell me he can get a bit boastful himself."

Gordon was surprised. It was not the reaction he expected from Bahamas. He thought she'd be shocked that Henry would be boastful. Before he could continue, the guard blew his whistle for Gordon to depart.

"I better be off then," said Gordon, and blew his whistle, but it seemed to continue blowing after his driver let go of the chain!

Bahamas cringed at the loud noise, and many passengers and station staff held their ears in annoyance.

"Oh, someone stop that noise, PLEASE!" Gordon yelled as he went along the line.


Meanwhile at Wellsworth, Henry arrived with a stopping passenger to Vicarstown.

"Hello Henry," said Edward, "you look splendid. I was pleased to hear your happy whistle yesterday."

"Thank you, Edward," smiled Henry. Then he heard something. "Shhh! Can you hear something?"

Edward listened, and far away, getting louder and louder was the sound of Gordon's whistle.

"It sounds like Gordon," said Edward, "and it ought to be Gordon. But Gordon never whistles like that."

Gordon raced down his hill, whistle blowing long and loud. He raced by at a tremendous rate! He didn't look at Henry or Edward, he was purple in the boiler, and his whistle sounded like it would burst at any moment. He screeched through Wellsworth and disappeared.

"Well!" said Edward.

"It isn't wrong," chuckled Henry, "but we just don't do it!" And told Edward what Gordon said yesterday morning.


Gordon screeched along the line. People got out of their houses, air-raid sirens started, five fire brigades got ready to go out, horses upset their carts, and old ladies dropped their parcels.

At Tidmouth, was the noise so bad! Porters and passengers held their ears, and so did the Fat Controller. He gave a lot of orders, but no one heard them as Gordon's whistle continued blowing. The Fat Controller got into Gordon's cab.

"Take him away!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, "AND STOP THAT NOISE!"

Gordon was uncoupled, and puffed sadly away onto a siding. He whistled when he crossed the points, on the siding, and even when the last deafened passenger left Tidmouth station.

Two fitters with earplugs climbed up to knock his whistle valve in place... and then was the silence.

James puffed by, but he said nothing as he went to take over for Gordon's express.


Gordon slunk into Tidmouth Sheds, and was happy that it was empty.

"Thank goodness for that," he muttered. But that evening, the others came to the sheds.

"It isn't wrong," Henry murmured to no one in particular, "but we just don't do it."

"Whistles?" Gordon sulked, "Bah."

No one mentioned whistles! Henry was happy to be home on Sodor again, and I'm sure there are more adventures about him waiting to happen. Wouldn't you agree with me?


5596 Bahamas might be making a return to the series, but that'll wait another day.

I somewhat contradicted The Railways of Sodor episode 8 and here's why; according to the illustrations and context, Gordon and Percy would have to be familiar with Henry's accident, why Gordon says "leaving us to do his work" and why Percy says "I'm glad you're home again". And why would Percy arrive in 1949 after the accident? That makes no sense, right? So I assumed Percy would have arrived in the early 1930's, more specifically, 1931.

Which brings me to the dates of the events of "Tank Engine Thomas Again" in my own RWS timeline. I think the Knapford to Elsbridge branchline would have extended to Hackenbeck by 1929, and eventually to Ffarquhar by 1933. I did see pictures on Google for 1930's British buses, and I saw some of them looked similar to Bertie, giving me a suggestion that Bertie would have arrived on Sodor in the 1920's/1930's, not the late 1940's.

And I know my timeline does look a bit messy, I just want to make events of the first twelve books consistent as I could, if you know what I mean.

Edit: 8/18/12 - I changed the date of the events of Gordon's Whistle, to 1939, as by now, Gordon would have been rebuilt to his current shape. I will be doing a season 5 rewrite to explain it, wait and see.

Edit: 7/8/14 - I've felt this and my rewrite of "Thomas and the Rumors" were outdated, so I needed to freshen them up a little.