This Tale was written as an entry for Twitter User sodorproduct's 'TTTE Story Competition'. While it didn't win, I'm still very proud of it, and I hope you can see why.

Beached!

Written by Broa Island

Proofread and Corrected by BNSF1995

Isle of Sodor: 2018

It was the height of the summer. Holidaymakers from all across the world flocked to the Island of Sodor every day of the week for a variety of reasons. Some wanted to experience the island's high mountain-tops and breathtaking valleys, while others came to see it's railway in action. The western coastline was a particularly popular site for the tourists, much to the dismay of Duck and Oliver.

To make matters worse, Donald and Douglas had recently been relegated to the Steamworks for their ten-yearly overhauls, leaving the two Great Western tank engines to juggle the Little Western's trains between themselves. The other engines of the NWR's 'utility fleet' were busy elsewhere, meaning they couldn't be spared to provide assistance to the branch line. And the current heat wave wasn't helping matters either. Although they didn't want to admit it, Duck and Oliver were feeling rushed off their wheels.

"Everything's gone a bit mental," Oliver complained wearily one night in the sheds. "No sooner am I done with one train: another's due out! There's no denying it, we're being overworked, at least in my opinion!"

"I promise you, Oliver, the feeling is mutual. We do… need… an extra pair of… b-b-buffers around here," said Duck with great difficulty. He was a rather proud engine, and didn't fancy the idea of them 'crawling' up to the Fat Controller, and begging for help. Fortunately for Duck, they didn't need to.

"Ask and you shall receive!" said a familiar voice. It was the Fat Controller!

"I've been aware of your situation for quite some time now," he said, "and I'm pleased to inform you that I can spare one of main line engines to assist here for the time being until one of the utilities is available. I trust you two will show him the ropes?"

"Yes, sir! Thank you, sir!" Duck and Oliver cheered in unison, but secretly they were having their doubts. They knew about the big engines' rather strong opinion on branch lines, and they could only hope that whoever would be helping them would be understanding of their situation.

Unfortunately, Henry wasn't.

On his way to Arlesburgh West the following morning, Henry complained bitterly about his new assignment. "Why should I be sent to work on a tiny little branch line, and with Duck no less?" he grumbled. "Why not Ruby, or Edward, or even Thomas?"

"They all have their own work to do," retorted his driver. "You know what chaos the summer season brings for the railway. Besides, a change of scenery will do you good. I'm sure of it."

Henry just ignored him.

When he arrived at Arlesburgh West, Duck and Oliver gave him a warm welcome. Henry tried hard to be polite, but he was still rather cross. He and Duck had a rather bumpy relationship ever since the 'tenders' incident.

Temporary arrangements were quickly made. Henry would handle the Little Western's goods traffic, leaving the tank engines alone with the passenger trains. Although he was quite startled by them at first, Henry soon made friends with the small engines, especially Mike, much to the others' amusement.

Over time, Henry began to appreciate the beautiful coastline scenery the Little Western had to offer, but he still believed that the line itself was beneath his 'main line' status.

One particularly scorching morning, Oliver was returning from Tidmouth, Isabel and Dulcie's compartments were packed with excited beachgoers. The train was going quite smoothly… until they past the lighthouse that is.

At Tidmouth Beach, the line runs in-between the large cliff-face and the beach itself. Unfortunately, this meant that during the summer, the rails were exposed to the sun, which caused them to bend and buckle in the heat. Oliver knew he had to be extra careful when going over the beach track, especially in this weather.

But even so, as he puffed past Bulstrode, he felt a powerful BUMP!

Acting quickly, Oliver brought his train to a stop just after the bad bit of track. Neither he nor the passengers were hurt thankfully, but they were all rather shaken up by the experience.

Dulcie's guard climbed down from the coach and inspected the track. She then trudged through the sand over to Oliver's cab.

"One of the rails snaped clean in two as we went over it!" she groaned. "It's a miracle we didn't come off!"

Oliver silently agreed, but it was his driver who spoke up next. "We should be able to make it to Arlesburgh West. We'll rase the alarm there," he said, "I doubt the passengers would want to be exposed to this heat any longer then they have to. I know I don't."

With that, the guard climbed back into Dulcie, and Oliver, carefully, set off again.

When they arrived, Oliver's driver hurried into station building to inform the stationmaster of the situation. Duck was preparing to depart with a passenger train bound for Knapford while Henry was over by the small engines' chute waiting for his trucks to be loaded with ballast, the trucks complaining loudly as usual. Oliver told them everything.

"Goodness me!" exclaimed Duck. "How serious is the damage, Oliver?"

"I didn't get a good look at it," Oliver admitted, "but from what the guard said, it's something we shouldn't take lightly."

"It's just a harmless sun burn," Henry scoffed. "Nothing a big and strong engine such as myself can't handle! I'll just reduce my speed, and pass over that section no problem, something you 'common tank engines' cannot possibly comprehend, being the reckless speedsters you are!"

Duck scowled. "What part of 'snapped clean in half' do you not understand? Even if you do slow down, your pilot wheels could derail or worse! It'll be for the best if we-"

"I don't have time to chat with you two," Henry interrupted, "I've got one last train to take before I make my triumphant return back to main line services! I thank you for the warning, Oliver. But unlike you, I don't need such pity!" And with that, Henry puffed away, violently jerking his trucks into motion.

"OH! OH! OH!" they screamed, but Henry gave them no notice.

As Duck watched the green engine fade into the distance, he whispered something to Oliver. "Get the Breakdown Train. We're going to need it."

Henry thundered down the line, his pistons roaring loudly and his boiler producing a good head of steam. The trucks were still sore after their rough departure, and wanted to pay him out for bumping them.

"Why couldn't Duck or Oliver take us rather than this big green hippo?!" said the truck closest to the brake van.

"You know why!" called another. "Out of all the engines on the island, Henry's the least slowest! Besides, Fat Hatt's got to promote that new elephant exhibit at the Sodor Zoo somehow!"

"Quiet back there!" Henry snapped. He was losing patience, and that was exactly what the trucks wanted!

As they raced past a station, a truck gestured to one of the waiting passengers and shouted, "SPEED UP! I THINK THAT MAN HAS CHICKEN POCKS!"

Another truck gasped dramatically. "Don't worry, Henry. We'll find you a nice dry tunnel for you to hide in!"

"SHUT IT YOU WOODEN DEVILS!" Henry was so busy trying to block out the trucks' taunts and teasing, that he didn't notice the gradual increase in his speed!

Henry's driver became concerned. "Steady boy," he said, "We're not running a race!" But Henry didn't hear his driver. He couldn't possibly have over the trucks' racket!

The faster the green engine went, the louder the trucks' catcalls seemed to become! As the beach and the bad stretch of track came into view, Henry had reached the end of his tether!

"RIGHT! THAT'S IT!" he bellowed. "IF YOU DON'T STOP WITH THIS NONSENSE, THEN I'LL ASK THE STATIONMASTER AT ELSBRIDGE TO TURN YOU LOT INTO MULCH FOR HIS GARDEN! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR YOU MISERABLE-"

CRASH!

Henry felt a sharp pain in his leading axles before feeling his body swerve violently to the right! Before he could fully comprehend what was happening, Henry and the first few trucks were engulfed by a thick cloud of dust as they came to rest on the beach!

The trucks cheered loudly when they saw the result of their handy work. "Someone call the Coast Guard!" they chortled, "A large green whale has gotten itself stranded!"

Lucky, no one was hurt, as the beach had been closed due to recent sightings of tiger sharks in the area, and the driver and fireman had jumped clear before the crash, the soft sand breaking their fall. Henry, on the other hand, lay dazed and confused, his wheels and running board half buried in the burning hot sand.

The guard, who wasn't badly injured, quickly jogged back up the line to alert the nearest signal box that the line was blocked.

Soon, Oliver arrived with the Breakdown Train. After the paramedics had confirmed there were no fatalities, Oliver allowed himself to burst out laughing.

"Well, well, well," Oliver chuckled. "I thought the signalman was pulling my wheels when he said we had a 'beached whale' situation! But I didn't realize how accurate he was!"

Henry didn't reply. Either he was still in a state of shock, or was too embarrassed to speak.

The recovery operation was long and difficult, but eventually, Henry was loaded onto a flatbed, and Oliver took him to Tidmouth Station.

When they arrived, the Fat Controller was waiting for them.

"Henry," he said sternly. "I'm pleased with your work over the past week but not with your actions today! Not only were you speeding in what is usually a highly populated area, but you also disregarded a clear warning given to you by a fellow engine!"

Henry was too ashamed to say anything. Either that, or he was coming down with a case of heat stroke.

"You shall go to the works to be mended," the Fat Controller continued, "and in that time, you can think about how you can improve your behaviour in future!"

"Yes, sir," said Henry meekly. But it wasn't the punishment that awaited him that he was most concerned about it. He knew that, when they heard about the day's events, James and Gordon would have a field day with it.

Soon, Penny the Works Diesel arrived to take Henry to the Steamworks. The Fat Controller then turned to Oliver.

"I'm sorry to ask this," he said. "But could you and Duck handle the work on the Little Western for the rest of the day? I will send Rosie to fill in for Henry starting tomorrow."

"Oh, yes sir! We will, sir!" said Oliver. And with that, he puffed back down the branch line. He couldn't wait to tell Duck about the time he'd rescued a stranded green whale.