HENRY RUNS HOT

Written by Zack Wanzer

Set during series 3-5

One afternoon, Edward was resting at Brendam docks. The old blue engine had had a busy morning, and he was feeling exhausted.

"Might be time for a trip to the Steamworks, old boy," said his driver. "We don't want to risk you overworking yourself."

At that moment, Edward heard two whistles coming into the docks. It was Bill and Ben, dirty and running late.

"What have you two gotten up to at the clay pits?" he asked curiously.

"Well, it was Ben's idea to play about rather than arrange our trucks to take them to Wellsworth," said Bill. "And thanks to him, we're behind schedule!"

"How is that my fault?!" squeaked Ben. "You were the one who suggested we play those games, so it's your fault!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"That's enough, you two," scolded Edward. "If you want, I can take these trucks up to Wellsworth while you go back to the clay pits and pick up more."

"Are you sure you want to do this, Edward?" asked his driver. "We could always see if BoCo could help out."

"He's already out on another train," said Edward, "and my next one isn't due until this evening. We've got plenty of time."

"Well, if you're sure," said the driver.

Bill and Ben were grateful for Edward's help, and the blue engine was soon coupled up to their trucks and set off.

As Edward puffed along his branch line, he was beginning to feel exhausted. The line from Brendam to Wellsworth was on an upward slope, and by the time he had arrived at the junction to the main line, Edward was feeling out of puff, but he wouldn't give up so easily.

"Just one more trip after that," he panted to himself, going to the water tower for a rest. Edward felt better after a long drink, and once his tank was topped off, he set off once more for Brendam docks light engine.

However, on the journey back, Edward began to feel a sharp pain.

"Ouch!" he exclaimed. "I feel very hot somewhere!"

His driver carefully brought Edward to Suddery and drove him onto a siding out of the way.

"One of your axle boxes has run hot," he told him. "You can't go anywhere until it's cooled off. Looks like we'll have to phone for help after all."

Edward wanted to protest otherwise, but he knew that his driver was right. It wasn't long before Donald was called in to take Bill and Ben's other train of china clay to Wellsworth. Sir Topham Hatt was on board so he could speak with Edward.

"Your driver's told me about your axle box running hot, Edward," he said, "and it seems that you've been working harder than usual. I think you deserve a rest for all the work you've done these past few weeks."

"Thank you, sir," said Edward, "but who will manage my evening train?"

"BoCo shall handle it," said Sir Topham Hatt, "and Donald and Douglas will take it in turns to handle your work on the branch line. It's only for a few days, so you shan't be away for too long."

Edward was promptly sent to the Steamworks for some servicing, and the other engines were talking about his current situation the next morning.

"It's no wonder Edward's been sent to the Steamworks," said James. "Apparently, even branch line work is too much for him, the poor old thing!"

"Smarten up, James," scolded BoCo. "Or have you forgotten that he saved you while you were a runaway, and that he took some enthusiasts home despite being damaged?"

"Maybe you should consider branch line work yourself," agreed Henry. "It'll be a nice change from rushing about on the mainline all day."

"Certainly not!" retorted James. "How can I be expected to show off to a lot of people if I'm stuck on some branch line. And besides, Henry," he added with smirk, "you're almost as old as Edward. Maybe you should be the one running on branch lines for a change. Or are you too fat for their rails like Gordon?"

Henry let off steam indignantly, but his words of protest were drowned out by the sounds of James' laughter.

Henry was still cross as he set off down the line with a pick-up goods train to Vicarstown. One of his stops was Wellsworth, where Donald was waiting with some trucks full of china clay.

"Hullo thare, Henry," said Donald. "What's bitten yer wheels th'day?"

"James thinks I'm too old to run the mainline," grumbled Henry. "He thinks I should be running on branch lines like Edward."

"Ne'er ye mynd whit he says, Henry lad," said Donald. "Mynd how ye gang aboot th'day or else ye'll end up at th' Steamwirks."

Donald meant this genuinely, but Henry took it as if the Caledonian engine was making fun of him as well.

"Just get your trucks attached to my train so I can be on my way again," the green engine snapped.

"A'richt, a'richt," said Donald. "Nae need tae bite mah tender aff."

As soon as Donald's trucks were attached to Henry's train, the green engine set off once more, still crosser than ever.

"Think I'm too old, do they?" Henry snorted as he headed towards Gordon's hill. "Well, I'll show them! I'll show them!" He charged at the hill, going faster than he'd gone before, and made it over the other side with absolute ease.

Henry made it to Vicarstown in good time, but as he pulled into the station, his driver noticed a smoky smell, and then he heard a loud squealing noise.

"Oh, what could be the matter now?" groaned Henry. His driver hopped down from the cab to inspect his engine.

"Your piston valves must be overheating," he said at last. "And it sounds as if your brakes are worn out. No wonder, what with all that rushing about you've done. We'll have to rest before our next train so your rods can cool down."

Once Henry had been moved onto a siding, his driver and fireman set about oiling his piston valves and inspecting his brake blocks. Although Henry was grateful for the rest, he was still not very happy.

Later, Henry was taking another goods train back to Knapford, but he had forgotten about his driver's warning and was putting on speed. As a result of his carelessness, Henry had entered the yards much too quickly, and his driver tried putting on the brakes, it was already too late.

"Flatten my funnel!" exclaimed Henry. "BoCo! Watch out!"

"Oh, good glory!" exclaimed BoCo. He was resting at the diesel fuel pump and was helpless in avoiding the inevitable. The green tender engine collided head on with the big diesel, sending both of them flying towards a good shed and straight through the back wall!

Both drivers and the fireman had jumped clear, but BoCo and Henry lay dazed and dirty.

"Well, that's one way to stop a runaway," BoCo muttered to himself. "Ow…"

James had brought Judy and Jerome to help clear away the mess, and Sir Topham Hatt had arrived to assess the damage.

"Henry, what on earth were you thinking of?" he scolded his number three engine. "With Edward at the Steamworks and you and BoCo needing repairs, we now have to stretch out our motive power across the Brendam branch line and the mainline! Perhaps this will teach you not to go rushing about while in a bad mood."

"I'm sorry, sir," said Henry sadly. He felt very silly for letting James' words get the better of him.

"Since we are currently three engines short," continued Sir Topham Hatt, "James, Donald and Douglas shall take it in turns to handle trains down the Brendam branch line. Duck can also help out if he's available."

James just stared in utter shock at what he'd just heard. Henry quietly smirked at the red engine; at least some poetic justice had been served, he thought.

James was not too pleased about working on Edward's branch line, but what he hated most was having to deal with Bill and Ben.

"Is Edward back already?" teased Bill. "And with a new coat of paint, no less?"

"Don't be silly, Bill," scoffed Ben. "That's James."

"But it can't be James," said Bill. "He thinks no one will be able to see him stuck on some branch line."

"Maybe he's getting old," joked Ben. "No wonder some trucks called him Rusty Red Scrap Iron."

Bill and Ben laughed loudly while James just seethed with fury, going redder than ever.

James was more than relieved when Edward finally returned from the Steamworks.

"I have no idea how you deal with those little monsters," the red engine remarked. "They almost drove me over the pier! I wanted to shunt them off the pier myself!"

"It's alright, James," said Edward calmly. "I'll make sure to have a word with them when I get to Brendam."

When Henry and BoCo returned from the Steamworks as well, things returned back to normal, although Henry noted that James was a lot more quiet when it came to the subject of age.

THE END

Author's Comments

Another new story from me in this set, this being based upon the 1988 magazine stories "Edward at the Works" and "Overheated Henry", both originally written by Andrew Brenner. It was nice to write up something shorter that's on par with the classic era in terms of length, right down to the small cast of characters (the presence of Judy and Jerome and the Steamworks, of course, is an anachronism, although it's likely in the same universe as The Adventure Begins). I really liked adding in a bit of Henry and James' friendly-rivalry from the Christopher Awdry books, and the latter ending up having to work on Edward's branch line during a brief locomotive shortage was a fun bit of indirect karma to incorporate.

More stories to come!