Heating Things Up
Summer could be a rather dangerous season for the engines. Occasionally the tracks become damaged due to the sun heating and expanding them, and the grass around the lines can become very dry. One small runaway spark could start up a huge blaze that could seriously endanger passing trains. Toby and his coaches were in more danger to fires due to them all being made of wood, so they must tread very carefully when going near grassy areas.
Meanwhile, more enthusiast parties where arriving. Some came for specific lines while others travelled all around Sodor. Every engine on Sodor was exceptionally busy. Toby's next enthusiasts train was going to be a special photographers train.
"What exactly is a photographers train?" Victoria asked the evening before.
"It's when we give the enthusiasts more of a chance to take pictures of the scenery and the engines without having to stop at every station." Toby explained.
"I love those trains." Henrietta said. "I like having my picture taken. Not many people took pictures of us back on our old line, so it's nice to be noticed more."
The next day, Henrietta awoke early and twittered excitedly to the others until Daisy told her to be quiet. She was still very excited when it was time to go.
"Stop shaking or you'll probably tip everyone over." Toby chuckled. Two special trucks was shunted in front of Henrietta. They had benches attached so that photographers could be outside to take pictures if they wanted to. When they were ready, they set off down to Knapford. Bear was waiting for them.
"You'll have your work cut out for you with this lot." Bear said. "They take so many pictures that you probably won't know what way to look."
"Thanks for the tip." Toby smiled. Half of the photographers got into the trucks while the rest got into the coaches. Bear gave a honk and the two trains headed off.
Despite Henrietta's original excitement, she began to grow bored as the trip went on.
"They aren't taking any pictures of us." Henrietta huffed to Victoria.
"Well, they aren't just here to see us." Victoria retorted. Percy came by with a train and was slowed down so that he could be photographed. Henrietta glared at him as they passed. Eventually, they reached Ffarqhuar and Toby travelled around so that he was facing Victoria. The photographers briefly got out so that they could take photos around the station.
"There are far better things to take pictures of." Henrietta huffed. Daisy gave a toot as she passed them with her passengers. Toby rang his bell in reply and the photographers began to climb back onboard. One of the photographers that was going into Henrietta rudely slammed the door with her face on.
"HEY!" Henrietta snapped. The guard didn't seem to mind though and just blew the whistle and waved the green flag. Henrietta was furious.
Daisy was enjoying her trip. She wasn't as fussed about fires starting as the others and preferred enjoying the scenery. Daisy came out of the Hackenbeck Tunnel and saw Terence collecting logs along the nearby road.
"Hello Terence!" Daisy tooted and was glad to get a toot back.
"This scenery looks much nicer." Daisy commented. "Though green is still the best colour for anything." Inside of her, the guard was trundling up and down her talking to the passengers. However, one of the passengers at the back of Daisy was smoking.
"Put that out right now! You can't smoke in here." The guard snapped angrily.
"Ok ok, jeez!" The man huffed. The guard walked away and the man looked for an ashtray, but couldn't see one. So, he opened the window and threw the cigarette out.
Toby picked up some speed as they headed back to Knapford. The train seemed to be gliding smoothly along as they moved. The photographers were taking fewer pictures this time around, though Henrietta was still annoyed.
"Idiot photographers, the best picture is right in front of them and they can't see it!" Henrietta growled.
"What's wrong with you?" Toby called out.
"Her axles are in a twist because she isn't being photographed." Victoria explained with a sigh. They went through the tunnel and came out to blazing sunshine.
"Did it get hotter while we where in there?" Henrietta spluttered, shutting her eyes and only got a brief glimpse of Terence who was starting off down the road. The photographers in the coaches asked to have the curtains drawn on the side of the sun and the photographers in the trucks looked away from the sun. Henrietta was hoping to get their attention and stared at them, hoping that would make them notice her. That was when she saw something in the distance that seemed to be spreading…
It was a fire.
The cigarette that had been thrown out the window had quickly started a small blaze that was in danger of spreading. Henrietta gasped and looked around, hoping that someone had noticed it. But everyone was too busy taking pictures of some farm animals opposite from the blaze.
"Victoria, Toby!" Henrietta cried.
"We don't want to hear about the photographers." Toby shouted back. Henrietta was now getting worried. They were getting closer and they could all easily catch ablaze. Henrietta looked at the trucks and suddenly got an idea. She waited until they were at the right pace and then Henrietta furiously bumped the trucks and then bumped Victoria. The photographers in the trucks toppled over and the guard flew onto a passengers lap. Toby's crew toppled over and the driver pulled the brakes to hold himself up. Toby came to a halt.
"HENRIETTA, what were you playing at?" Toby yelled.
"There's a fire down the line." Henrietta exclaimed. The photographers, crew and guard looked and saw the spreading blaze. The driver quickly pulled the brakes and then started to reverse Toby back down the line.
As they raced down the line, they saw Terence on the road.
"Go back!" Everyone yelled. "There's a fire down the line!"
"Thanks for the warning!" Terence cried. Toby thundered threw the tunnel and then screeched to a halt at Hackenbeck. The guard leapt from Victoria and rushed into the station and quickly called the fire brigade. Toby let out a long cloud of steam as the photographers got out of the coaches.
"You saved us all Henrietta!" Victoria smiled.
"Well, I thought it was my duty." Henrietta blushed. The photographers suddenly started to crowd around Henrietta, taking pictures of her in every angles. There was a lot of flashes and Henrietta had to close her eyes in order to stop them from hurting.
"I thought you wanted your picture taken." Toby chuckled.
"Yes, but I didn't want them crowding me!" Henrietta whimpered.
The photographers went home on Bertie and the fire brigade managed to put out the fire without much damage done. However, Henrietta now cringes at the thought of having her picture taken and jumps whenever there so much is a tiny flash.