Henry The Great
Today, Henry the green engine had started his day by taking a milk train at 7:30 in the morning. He returned to Tidmouth Sheds just in time to hear news from the Fat Controller.
"Who's the new engine?" Henry asked. "Shh," Percy whispered, "The Fat Controller will tell us in a minute. Now." The Fat Controller is standing next to a tank engine whom the others had never met before.
"Hello," the tank engine said. "All right," The Fat Controller said, "Go on ahead, please."
"My name is Kayla," the tank engine said, "I'm really happy that I'll be living here." "Excellent," The Fat Controller said, "Now show Kayla around, everyone."
"Yes, sir!" answered the engines. The engines spent hours showing the new tank engine what kinds of jobs they do on their railway.
But Henry was thinking of something else. "I hope I can do a great job of showing her what I do," Henry thought to himself.
The next day, Kayla set out for her first job on the railway. She had been sleeping in a nearby spare shed for the night, close to Tidmouth Sheds. Henry is one of the first engines to wake up.
He waited for the orders from the Fat Controller. "I hope I can do a good job with the new engine today," he thought.
Soon enough, the Fat Controller arrived. "Henry," he said, "Today, I want you to go with Kayla and help her with the goods train at Brendam Docks." "Yes, sir!" Henry answered.
So Henry and Kayla set off together to Brendam Docks. Of course, Salty and Cranky were working there. "Ahoy, Henry!" Salty called out, "A new friend, I see?" "Yes," answered Henry, "I hope I can do a good with her today." "Yes," said Kayla. "Well, come on!" grumbled Cranky, "I've got to get started."
"Right away, Cranky," said Henry, then he turned to Kayla and said, "Cranky is being just cranky today, don't mind him." "If you say so," said Kayla. Soon, both Henry and Kayla collected their train and they set off together.
"Take care," said Salty. The two engines enjoyed their run through the woods together. "So, how are you enjoying you life now?" Henry asked. "So far," answered Kayla.
The two ran through a plain part of the line through a valley. Rocks surrounded the railway on several parts of the line. The two engines had to be very careful running through these parts. "Careful here," said Henry. "If you say so," replied Kayla.
Then there was trouble. The rails underneath Kayla's wheels started to break apart. "Uh oh," said Kayla. Suddenly, the rails completely broke and Kayla derailed to her right. Her wheels hit the rocks really hard.
"Stop!" shouted the drivers. Henry stopped immediately. "Oh no!" cried Henry, "Kayla, are you all right?!" "I think so," answered Kayla. "Don't worry, Kayla," Henry called out, "I'm going to get you out of this!" Henry left his goods train in a siding and removed Kayla's train.
The guard protected the goods trains. The rest of the crew examined Kayla's wheels. "Some of your wheels have been bent from the impact on the rocks," Kayla's driver said, "Henry can't pull you back onto the rails!" "Then I'll go get Rocky!" Henry said urgently, "Hold on, Kayla!" "Okay!" replied Kayla.
Soon enough Henry got Rocky and lifted Kayla onto a flatbed, ready to take her to the works. "Sorry about this, Kayla," said Henry, sympathetically, "I should have kept a good look out for you. I was the one who should have derailed, not you." "That's real nice of you to say that, Henry," said Kayla, "But don't say that you should have derailed."
"Fine," said Henry as he took Kayla to the works. Murdoch and Satsuki took over the goods train duty. After Henry had dropped Kayla off, he met up with the Fat Controller. "I've heard about the accident, Henry," he said.
"I let Kayla down, sir!" Henry said sadly, "I'm really sorry that I let it happen!" "It wasn't your fault Henry," said the Fat Controller, "Those tracks at the rocky valley should have been checked. Don't worry, Kayla will be back up and running again."
"Thank you sir," said Henry. "She can try again then," concluded the Fat Controller then left. "I hope so," said Henry in a worried tone of voice.
Days later, Kayla returned to work with Henry. "Let's try again," he said. "Right!" agreed Kayla. So together, they made the runs with the goods train again and this time, they succeeded. Also, the broken part of the valley railway line had been repaired by this time.
At the end of the day, both Henry and Kayla had finished their jobs the right way together. "We did good together, didn't we asked Kayla. "Yes," agreed Henry, "We did." The two friends set off for home together.
