A/N Sir Handel's an older engine, as shown by his later appearances as a wise old engine.
Thomas was at a place where his tracks and his narrow-gauge friends' railway met. While they were there, the little engines' controller came. with Sir Handel's.
"Sir Handel's gone, as in he died. Deathly ill," Mr. Percival said and pulled out a handkerchief to dab his tears. The little old engine's crew did the same, sobbing and sniffling.
Sir Handel's friends cried as well, the narrow-gauge engines buffer pressing each other and their respective drivers offered comfort. Percy came just in time to hear the news, pulling a freight train. After being uncoupled, he pressed Thomas's buffers.
Thomas, as his driver pressed a cloth to his weeping eyes, tearfully gave a speech about his late narrow-gauge friend, "S-Sir H-Handel c-could b-be cr-cross a-and gr-grumble, b-but h-he w-was w-wise a-and a-a R-Really U-Useful E-Engine. H-He's g-gone t-to T-The B-Big R-Railway I-In th-the Sk-Sky. W-We m-must c-carry o-on a-and b-be R-Really U-Useful E-Engines, th-though w-we sh-shall m-miss h-him dr-dreadfully. H-He c-cared a-about h-his fr-friends." His words came out through wailing sobs and sniffles, broken-hearted over his little friend's loss. After that, he sobbed until he had no more tears left.
Sir Handel's closest friends each had a vision of him at the golden railway.
The Skarloey Railway was closed to allow Sir Handel's friends time to grieve and have a memorial service for him. Thomas, as the Skarloey engines' closest standard gauge friend came because it was held at a place they could all go. Percy went along with his friend, just in case he needed a buffer press. The narrow-gauge engines tearfully buffer pressed each other, as Thomas did with Percy. The railway reopened and Alfred was bought to replace Sir Handel. He was outgoing, charming, logical and cheeky.
On arrival, he told the other engines, "I'm a very practical sort, not into theories. However, I'm also someone who wants to be fun friend. Real and true things are what I'm all about."
Now that Sir Handel's place had been filled, life took on a more normal rhythm. His friends recovered from most of their grief.
A/N Respect my Thomasverse. I'm alluding to developed Sir Handel some.