I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. They are strictly the property of both the Awdry Family and Britt Allcroft.
Episode 19: Coal, Original Airdate: 4th December 1984
It was a clear Saturday night on the Island of Sodor, the stars were shining, and the moon was bright. In the Billinton house in the village of Ffarquhar, Thomas was putting his daughter Lucy to bed before he went out with Percy and Toby to the pub the Really Useful Engine. Both Howard and Tanya offered to look after her until Thomas got home in four hours.
"There you are Lucy" Thomas said as he lay her down in her bed, "feeling comfortable?".
"Story daddy" asked Lucy as she looked up at her father.
"You want a story, Lucy?" Thomas asked his daughter.
"Yes please" said Lucy happily.
Thomas smiled at his daughter, before thinking of which story to tell. Then then the idea for you flew into his head.
"You want me to tell you a story about Uncle Henry and how his engine once needed Welsh coal?" asked Thomas.
"Uncle Henry story" said Lucy excitedly.
"Alright then" Thomas said as he brought up the chair which he usually sat in when he told Lucy his stories, "now this began when Uncle Henry's engine problems began to get worse".
(Story Begins)
Henry Stanier was feeling miserable. His engines problems had recently started to get worse, much worse than they had previously been before. Sometimes it would pull trains, but sometimes he felt that it had no strength at all, and this of course made him feel sad.
"My poor engine" Henry said sadly to James in the Tidmouth bunkhouse one day, "she suffers dreadfully, and no one cares".
"Rubbish" said James, "it's because you don't work it hard enough".
However, James secretly felt sorry for Henry, he knew that he loved his engine very much and would be lost without it. Sir Topham Hatt came to see him later that day.
"What's the matter with your engine Henry?" he asked his employee.
"I don't know Sir" replied Henry, "it's like she doesn't have enough strength for anything".
"She's too expensive, we've given lots of new parts and new paint. But none of that has done her any good" said Sir Topham Hatt, "if we can't fix her problems soon then".
"Then what Sir?" asked Henry, dreading the answer that Sir Topham Hatt was going to give.
"I'm sorry to have to you this Henry, really I' am" Sir Topham Hatt said gently, "then I'm afraid we'll have to get a new engine to replace her".
This news made Henry feel very sad. He quietly excused himself, he then went to his engine and began to cry softly on her buffers.
"Please don't fail on me girl" sobbed Henry, "I can't bear the thought of you being scrapped".
Unbeknownst to Henry, Sir Topham Hatt had witnessed the whole thing and felt very bad. He knew that Henry loved his engine very much and to scrap her would destroy him, he then decided that he would try and find out the problem with her for himself.
Later after calming down, Henry fired up his engine and brought her to the platform at Knapford station to pull the afternoon train, which consisted of three old coaches. When he got there, he saw both Sir Topham Hatt and Chairman Ringo Starr, they were both wearing the overalls that the engine drivers on the North Western Railway wore and that there was an inspector with them.
"What are you and Chairman Starr doing Sir?" asked Henry.
"We're riding with you in the cab today to see what's the problem with your engine Henry" said Sir Topham Hatt.
"And if we're lucky we might just be able to fix it" said Chairman Starr.
Henry felt a little grateful, but at the same time he was still worried. If they couldn't find the problem then they would have no choice but to but to sell his beloved engine for scrap, soon it was time to leave and Sir Topham Hatt, Chairman Starr and the inspector hoped into the cab with Henry, and they set off.
As Henry's engine puffed down the mainline, at first every ran smoothly. But eventually after about ten miles the troubles.
"My engines a poor steamer" said Henry to Sir Topham Hatt, Chairman Paul and the inspector, "I build up her fire, but it doesn't give enough heat".
"I see" said the inspector as he took the notes down in his notepad, much to Henry's concern.
Henry tried very hard, but it was no good. Eventually his engine came to a stop at Wellsworth station, where Edward was waiting. He noticed Henry hope out of his engine, he looked at if he was about to cry.
"What's the matter Henry?" asked Edward as he walked over to the platform, concerned for his friend.
"Its my engine" Henry said sadly, "I'm afraid that she'll have to go for scrap due to her steaming problems".
Edward noticed that Henry was clearly distressed and gave his friend a comforting hug.
"Cheer up Henry" he said kindly, "I'm certain that Sir Topham Hatt wouldn't do that".
Although Henry was touched by Edward's kind and comforting words, he still didn't feel convinced. Just then Sir Topham, who had hoped down from the cab with Chairman Starr and the inspector came up to them.
"Edward I'm wondering if you can take over from Henry?" he asked.
"Right away Sir," said Edward.
Henry uncoupled his engine and moved it into the station siding, out of the way. Edward then coupled up his K2 to the train, he then looked at Henry who had hoped down from his cab.
"Don't worry Henry" he called, "I'm sure Sir Topham Hatt will find a way to fix your engine".
Charlie Sand blew his whistle and Edward's K2 then puffed out of the station. Henry then decided to get something from the station café to cheer himself up, Sir Topham Hatt and Chairman Starr, both watched him head into the station building before turning to the inspector.
"What do you think the problem is inspector?" asked Sir Topham Hatt.
"Excuse Sir's" he said, "but the problem is that the coal is wrong, I understand that you've had a poor lot lately".
Sir Topham Hatt and Chairman Starr both looked at each other, the inspector was correct in his assumption. The North Western Railway had been have a lot of poor quality coal recently and they were currently trying to fix it.
"All the other engines on the North Western Railway can managed because they have large fireboxes" said the inspector, "Henry's small however and can't make the heat".
"What do you suggest we do?" asked Chairman Starr.
"What I would suggest is that you use Welsh coal" said the inspector, "with that Henry's engine would be a different engine altogether".
Both Sir Topham Hatt and Chairman Starr thought this over. Welsh coal was famous throughout Great Britain for its high quality and performance.
"Its expensive" said Sir Topham Hatt, "but Henry must be given a chance, I'll send James to fetch some".
When James was told that he was to fetch some Welsh coal for Henry he was not pleased, but Henry was his friend, and he knew how much that Henry loved his engine. So, he decided to suck it up and fetch him the Welsh coal for his engine.
Two days later the coal had arrived Henry was excited. He was at the Tidmouth goods station, where a large pile of the Welsh coal lay.
"Now I'll show them" said Henry to himself.
Henry then carefully made his engines fire, putting large lumps of coal like a wall around the outside. Then he covered the glowing middle part with small lumps.
"There you go girl" said Henry to his engine, "let us hope that this will give you a roaring fire".
And Henry was right. When he brought his engine to the platform at Knapford station, his engines water was boiling nicely, and she had plenty of steam. Sir Topham Hatt then came out of his office to see Henry standing by his engine looking as happy as he could be. This meant that the Welsh coal was doing its job and that was good.
"How are you, Henry got a nice fire?" Sir Topham Hatt asked Henry kindly.
"Never better Sir and plenty of steam to" said Henry happily.
"No record breaking" warned Sir Topham Hatt.
"Don't worry Sir" said Henry, "with this much steam in her, I'll have to hold her back".
The guard then blew his whistle, signalling that it was time for Henry to depart Knapford with his train. Henry then hopped back into his engines cab and slowly puffed out of the station and onto the mainline. Henry had a wonderful day, his engine had never performed so well in all its life, Henry wanted to go faster, but he knew his couldn't.
"Steady old girl" Henry told his engine, "There's plenty of time".
Henry soon arrived at Elsbridge early, soon afterwards Thomas puffed into the station. He then hopped down from the cab with Howard, whilst Annie and Clarabel helped some passengers out of the coaches.
"Where have you been lazybones?" grinned Henry as he hopped back into his engines cab, "I can't wait for dawdling tank engine drivers like you. Goodbye".
Henry then puffed out of Elsbridge station and soon disappeared into the distance, leaving behind a flabbergasted Thomas, Howard, Annie, and Clarabel.
"Well I'll be" said Howard in amazement.
"Have you ever since anything like that?" asked Thomas to Annie and Clarabel.
But both Annie and Clarabel agreed that they never had. A few days later Chairman Ringo Starr came to see Sir Topham Hatt in his office at Tidmouth, he entered and saw Sir Topham Hatt sitting at his desk looking over some papers. Sir Topham Hatt then looked and saw him standing in the doorway.
"Ah Chairman Starr please come in and take a seat?" greeted Sir Topham Hatt politely.
"Thanks Bertram" said Chairman Starr as he sat down and noticed the papers, "what are you doing if I may ask Bertram?".
"I'm trying to find a current solution to Henry's engines steaming problems" said Sir Topham Hatt.
"Well the Welsh coal is obviously doing very well" said Chairman Starr.
"I know that" said Sir Topham Hatt, "but I'm afraid that it isn't a permanent solution".
"Well have you found a permanent solution then?" asked Chairman Starr.
Sir Topham Hatt nodded as to say, "yes I did".
"Have you ever heard of William Stanier?" asked Sir Topham Hatt.
"Yes I have, he invited the LMS Stanier Class 5" said Chairman Starr, "why do you ask?".
"I'm friends with his grandson and just yesterday I told him about Henry's engines steaming problems" said Sir Topham Hatt.
"And what did he say?" Chairman Starr asked with interest.
"He had that he's offering to have Henry's engine completely rebuilt into a Stanier Class 5" said Sir Topham Hatt.
(Story Ends)
"And Uncle Henry's engine was rebuilt," said Thomas.
Thomas looked down at Lucy and saw that she had fallen asleep. Thomas then smiled as he gently leaned down and kissed his daughter's forehead.
"But that's a story for another time" said Thomas quietly.
Thomas then left Lucy's room and gentle closed the door. He then heard the doorbell ring; he then went down the stairs and opened the front door to see Percy and Toby standing there.
"Hello Thomas" Percy greeted his best friend with a smile, "ready to go?".
"Sure thing Percy" said Thomas as he got on his coat.
Thomas then left the house and soon the three friends were heading towards the pub.
And done. Now as always please be so kind as to leave a preview and as always, see you all next time.