DEAR FRIENDS,

Chances are that you may have heard the story of "Henry and the Elephant," and I don't blame you for being a little confused about when it takes place. Did it happen before Henry, Gordon and James went on strike or was it some years later? Was Percy around when the Circus first traveled on the North Western Railway or not? Well, things aren't always what they appear to be, are they?

When Thomas returned after his journey around the world, Nia and Rebecca were curious about some of the engines he saw, how the other engines knew them and what Percy had to do with them. So, their friends started by telling them these stories.

As for the other engines' old friends, Nia and Rebecca still don't know much about them yet, but we already know, don't we?

THE AUTHOR

Thomas the Tank Engine had been away traveling the world. Now, he had finally come home to the Island of Sodor. He soon found that all of his friends were very happy to see him again and so was the Fat Controller. They all wanted to hear about Thomas' adventure and Thomas couldn't wait to tell them.

His chance came early one evening at Tidmouth Sheds and it was very crowded. Henry was to take the Flying Kipper later that night, Edward was to collect a passenger train for Brendam Docks and Toby had to fetch the quarry workers early the next morning.

It wasn't long before Thomas started telling everyone about his long journey; the adventures he had, the places he'd seen and the new friends he made. "I even saw some engines I wasn't expecting to see," he said at last. "Edward, do you remember your sister, Alison?"

"Alison?!" gasped Edward, "I forgot all about her! Is she still around?!"

"Yes, but she lives in China now."

"I didn't know you had a sister, Edward," said Nia.

"We used to work together on the Mainland," the old engine explained. "Is she still being Really Useful?"

"Yes," said Thomas, "she works with the maintenance crews now, but after she rescued me when I broke down, her Manager told her she can pull coaches again." Edward was very pleased. "And Percy," Thomas continued, "you won't believe who I saw in Germany."

"Who?" asked Percy excitedly.

"Otto and Alanna."

"Otto?!" exclaimed Percy, "my old friend?!"

"The very same."

"Who are Otto and Alanna?" asked Rebecca.

"They once worked on the railway with us," explained Henry. "Otto was living on the Mainland back then and the Fat Controller borrowed him to help out."

"Alanna came here on trial many years later," put in Edward, "and they went home together not long after that."

"Actually," said Thomas thoughtfully, "if it wasn't for Percy, we might never have met them."

Edward smiled. "And we might never have met Percy either if it wasn't for three engines in particular."

Gordon, James and Henry looked away in embarrassment. "Um, yes," spluttered Gordon hastily. "Interesting how things work out sometimes, isn't it?"

Rebecca was curious. "What? What happened?"

"It was a long time ago," sighed Henry. "We were very foolish engines, and I knew it was a bad idea from the beginning."

"Henry!" scowled James.

"Well, Henry is right," said Edward. "It was a long time ago and it's quite a long story."

"Oh, please tell us," said Rebecca.

"I think we may have enough time. Do you mind, Thomas?"

"Not at all," replied Thomas. "Rebecca is one of us now. She deserves to know what happened and I think she and Nia would like to know how Percy and Otto came here."

"Very well." And this is the story Edward told them.

A long time ago, the North Western Railway was much smaller and there were fewer engines who worked on it. Some engines were borrowed from the Mainland, but they couldn't stay forever.

Back then, Thomas worked in the Yards shunting trucks and coaches for the other engines, but he soon grew bored and wanted to see more of Sodor and pull trains too. It took some time for Thomas to learn all about trucks and coaches and finally had a chance to prove himself rescuing James after his first accident.

One of the Branch Lines had recently been extended to Ffarquhar to bring stone from a Quarry nearby. The Fat Controller needed an engine to collect the stone and carry passengers too and he chose Thomas. Annie and Clarabel were two coaches who had been working on the line during the extension. From then on, they became Thomas' coaches and they have been firm friends ever since.

Henry was painted blue then, but he would receive his old green paint soon enough. He was happy for Thomas, but he and Gordon became lonely when Thomas left the Yard and missed him very much. Now, they had more work to do. They couldn't wait at Tidmouth Sheds until it was time for them to leave and find their trains waiting for them. They had to fetch their own trucks and coaches themselves and they didn't like that.

Conrad and Adrian were two tank engines who the Fat Controller had borrowed from the Mainland. Conrad was a blue engine who ran the Branch Line to Arlesburgh. Adrian was dark green. He helped on the line to Brendam Docks and collected goods from Knapford. Sometimes, they were able to help in the Yard, but they still had their own work to do.

Edward sometimes did odd jobs and so did James, but James soon started grumbling too. The Fat Controller kindly gave Henry and Gordon new coats of paint, but Gordon still grumbled dreadfully and soon, Henry was too, but he was more bothered by listening to the others grumbling than doing extra work himself.

One day, Thomas was puffing happy along his Branch Line with Annie and Clarabel. The Fat Controller had come to Elsbridge Junction with Edward and was waiting on the platform. He looked at his watch as Thomas puffed in. "Well done, Thomas. You are right on time and really reliable."

"Thank you, Sir," whistled Thomas.

"Ooh, right on time and really reliable," hummed Annie and Clarabel together.

But back at Tidmouth Sheds, the big engines were not feeling cheerful at all. "We get no rest," complained James.

Henry was getting fed up with Gordon and James complaining all the time and being tired was making him grumpy too. By then, even he had to admit that none of this would be happening if Thomas was there. "Thomas was supposed to fetch our coaches," he mumbled to no one in particular. "Why can't Conrad or Adrian do it?"

James heard him as he edged angrily onto the turntable. "What's the matter, Henry? There's no rain today. Stop worrying and do some work instead."

"I'm not afraid of getting wet anymore," huffed Henry. "Anyway, you look silly enough to be a clown. You should be in a Circus."

Just then, Adrian bustled in. "Oh, so you've heard the news?"

"What news?" grunted Gordon.

"About the Circus."

"Adrian," groaned James, "what are you talking about?"

"The Circus has arrived," explained Adrian. "I've been shunting special trucks. The Fat Controller needs your help too."

All the engines wanted to shunt the special trucks and coaches. The big engines soon forgot to be tired and cross…until it was time for the Circus to leave. Then, Gordon and Henry were cross all over again when James got to pull the train away.

A little later, the Fat Controller returned to the Sheds. "Come along, Henry. A tunnel is blocked down the line. You must take some workmen to investigate."

"Yes, Sir." Henry puffed away and found two trucks to carry the workmen and their tools waiting for him. "Pushing trucks, pushing trucks," he grumbled.

They stopped outside the tunnel and tried to look through it, but it was quite dark. No daylight shone from the other end. The workmen took their tools and went inside…

…Suddenly, "HEEELLLP!" shouted the workmen and they ran out looking frightened. "We went to the block and started to dig, but it grunted and moved!" they said.

"Rubbish," said the Foreman.

"It's not rubbish! It's big and alive! We're not going in there again!"

"Right," said the Foreman, "I'll ride in a truck and Henry shall push it out."

Henry wheeshed unhappily. He hated tunnels. He had been shut in this tunnel for being afraid of the rain, but this was worse. Something big and alive was inside. "Peep, peep, peep, pipipeeeep," he whistled. "I don't want to go in."

"Neither do I," said his Driver, "but we must clear the line."

"Oh dear, oh dear," puffed Henry as they slowly advanced into the darkness…

…BUMP!

Henry's Driver shut off steam at once. Then, there was trouble.

"Help! Help! We're going back!" wailed Henry.

The block was indeed alive and very strong. It began to push the train backwards. Slowly, moving out of the tunnel and into the daylight came first Henry, then the trucks and last of all, pushing hard, a large…rather cross…elephant.

Henry's Driver put on his brakes. The elephant stopped pushing and came towards them. "Well, I never did," said the Foreman. "It's an elephant from the Circus." And he went to telephone for the Keeper.

The workmen gave the elephant some sandwiches and cake, so he forgot he was cross and remembered he was hungry. He drank three buckets of water without stopping and was just going to drink another when Henry let off steam. The elephant jumped and, 'HOOSH', he squirted the water all over Henry by mistake. Poor Henry.

When the Keeper came, the workmen rode home happily in the trucks, laughing at their adventure, but Henry was very cross. "An elephant pushed me. An elephant 'hooshed' me," he hissed.

That night, he told the other engines all about it. Gordon and James felt sorry for Henry, but still teased him. "First the rain, then an elephant," said Gordon. "What ever will you be afraid of next?"

"Never mind, Henry," murmured Edward. "I think you were brave today and really reliable too."

That made Henry feel much better, but I am sorry to say that Gordon and James were sadder than they looked. Poor engine, they thought. You have been badly treated.