The Winx Club's Sodor Adventures - Season 1

Episode 19: The Flying Kipper

One winter evening, Flora came to visit Henry. She had important news for him. "We'll be out early tomorrow," she said, "because we're going to take The Flying Kipper. Don't tell Gordon, but I think if we pull the Kipper nicely, Sir Topham Hatt will let us pull the Express. The special coal we gave you is working well."

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

All kinds of ships use the harbor at the big station by the sea. There are passenger ships, cargo ships, and fishing boats also come here. They unload their fish on the quay. Some of it goes to shops in the town, and the rest in a special train to other places far away. This is the train the railway men call "The Flying Kipper".

Henry and Flora were ready at 5:00. There was snow and frost. Men hustled and shouted, loading up the crates of fish. The last door banged, the guard showed his green lamp, and the Flying Kipper was ready to go.

"Come on! Come on! Don't be silly! Don't be silly!" puffed Henry to the freight cars.

The cars shuddered and groaned. "Trock-trick! Trock-trick! All right! All right!"

"That is better. That is better," puffed Henry.

Clouds of smoke and steam poured from his funnel into the cold air, and the fire's light shone brightly. To Flora, it all seemed to be a magical moment for her.

"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" panted Henry.

They were going well, the light grew better, signal lights shone green as they passed.

Then a yellow signal appeared ahead. Flora prepared to stop, but the home signal was down.

"All clear, Henry," said Flora. "Away we go."

They couldn't know that the switches from the main line to a siding were frozen, and the home signal should have been set at "danger." But snow had forced it down.

A freight train was waiting in the siding to let The Flying Kipper pass, and the driver and fireman were drinking cocoa in the caboose.

"The Kipper is due," said the conductor.

"Who cares?" said the fireman. "This is good cocoa."

The driver got up. "Come on, fireman, back to our engine."

They got out just in time.

When Henry rounded the bend, he was shocked to see the train in front of him. "Bubbling boilers!" he cried.

"What is it?" said Flora.

"No time to explain, Flora!" cried Henry. "Jump out, or you'll be killed!"

Flora had jumped clear from Henry's cab. When she saw Henry crash into the brakevan, she screamed, "Henry!"

The next morning, Henry regained his consciousness after the crash. He laid on his side in the snow, dazed and surprised. The first thing he saw was Flora with a worried look on her face.

"Flora, is that you?" he asked

"Yes, Henry, but are you alright?" asked Flora.

"I may have suffered a few dents on my boiler," said Henry, "but otherwise I'm okay. What happened to the Flying Kipper? Is it still intact?"

"I'm sorry," Flora replied sadly, "but our train got destroyed in the impact. But I'm not worried about that, I'm worried about you. You got hurt while trying to save me." Some tears rolled down her face. "I went to the nearest signal box to get help. I hope Sir Topham Hatt will understand this."

"I hope so too, Flora," said Henry. "I really do."

A hour later, James and Stella arrived with the breakdown train to help clear away the mess. Sir Topham Hatt came to see Henry and Flora.

"The signal was down, sir," said Henry.

"It's true, sir," said Flora. "We didn't know we were diverted into the siding."

"Cheer up, you two. It wasn't your fault. Ice and snow caused the accident. Henry, 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 you won't need special coal any more. Won't that be nice?"

"Yes, sir," said Henry doubtfully.

Henry liked being at Crewe, but was glad to come home. Flora was so proud of Henry's new shape, it was like he hadn't change at all. A crowd of people waited to see him arrive in his new shape. He looked so splendid and strong that they gave him three cheers, and the one who cheered loudest of all was surprisingly Flora.

"Peep, peep!" Henry whistled, "Thank you very much!"

I am sorry to say that a lot of little children are often late for school, because they wait to see Henry and Flora go by. They often see them pulling the Express. They do it so well, that Gordon is jealous. But that's another story.

The End