One evening, Henry arrived at Vicarstown Yard with some trucks for the Mainland. He was just slowing down when he heard a creak and a groan below his cab. "What was that?"

His Driver uncoupled the trucks and examined him. "Something's wrong with you tender coupling, Henry," he said at last. "We'll have to take you to the Steamworks."

"Is that safe?" the Fireman asked.

"May I be of some assistance?" said a voice. It was the Flying Scotsman.

"How?" asked Henry.

"Scotsman's pipes are leaking," said the Driver. "We can't go back to the Mainland until they're fixed."

"As we're both going to the Steamworks," added Scotsman, "I can push you; less chance of your tender coupling giving out." So, Henry's Fireman damped down his fire, Flying Scotman coupled up behind and they set off together.

At the Steamworks, Victor and the workmen looked over the two engines. "Not to worry, my friends," said Victor. "With luck, you two will be ready to leave in the morning."

As the two engines rested, Henry looked back at Flying Scotsman's tenders. "Scotsman, didn't you visit Sodor years ago?" he asked thoughtfully.

Scotsman smiled. "I did, actually. I was covering for another engine, but my Owner wanted to keep quiet about it back then. Not even Gordon recognized me. I suppose he didn't know what the number on my second tender meant."

Henry sighed. "I remember that. Actually, I was jealous of you back then. Gordon, James and I thought tenders were marks of distinction and I felt I deserved another one. Then, Duck tricked me with some tenders he found. There were six of them, but they were very old, dirty and filled with boiler sludge."

"Oh dear," chuckled Scotsman, "you must have been quite a sight."

"I felt very silly too. I shouldn't have gotten so excited." And it wasn't long before the two engines were asleep.

"Wake up, Henry!" said his Driver next morning. "There's trouble. Gordon isn't feeling well, and James and Rebecca are busy. The Fat Controller needs you to take the Express."

"But his tender coupling isn't fixed yet," said a workman.

"I know," said Scotsman. "Henry, take one of my tenders."

Henry was surprised. "Yours? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm not going anywhere anytime soon."

"Well, we should be quick," added Victor.

So, Henry and Flying Scotsman swapped tenders and Henry's Fireman raised steam as quickly as he could. There wasn't time to uncouple the second tender, so when Henry was ready, he was off two Knapford with Scotsman's tenders behind him. "You know, you are quite lucky, Henry," said his Driver. "Scotsman's tenders are bigger than yours, so won't have to stop for coal and water as soon as you usually do." Henry liked the sound of that.

At Knapford Station, the Fat Controller was most surprised. Henry's Driver explained the situation. "I see," said the Fat Controller. "Well, you're right on time, Henry and you should do well."

The Guard blew his whistle and Henry was off. All along the line, people cheered and waved at him. They must think I look rather grand, he thought. The Driver was right; it was some time before Henry had to stop for coal or water and he liked having a long run to stretch his wheels. He made good time as he traveled across the island to Vicarstown, to Brendam Docks and back to Knapford.

That evening, the Stationmaster was waiting for him. "Just in time, Henry. A fish delivery has arrived early, and you must take the Flying Kipper soon."

Henry was surprised. The Flying Kipper usually left at night, but he left his coaches and trundled to the Harbour. The sun didn't even finish setting when the Flying Kipper was ready to go, but Henry made his way across Sodor delivering the fish.

Usually, the Flying Kipper stops at Vicarstown and another engine takes it to the Mainland, but that night, there were no engines in sight when Henry arrived. The Stationmaster came up. "With the Flying Kipper leaving early, the Mainland Engine isn't ready yet and the Fat Controller wants you to take the train on."

"Come on, Henry," said his Driver. "Let's show them what the Fat Controller's engines can do."

Henry was concerned. He was starting to feel tired; not because it was night, but because he hadn't been stopping for more coal or water as often as he usually did. "Shouldn't we refill the Flying Scotsman's tenders first?"

"No need for that. We have plenty of coal and water to make it to our final destination." So, with a determined whistle, Henry was on his way again.

The journey took a long time and when Henry reached the end of the run, it was very late and he was very tired. "Right on time," said the Yard Manager. "I just got a telephone call from Sir Topham Hatt. "He wants you to take some trucks to Bridlington for Hank to collect in the morning."

"Please, Sir, can another engine take the train? I need to rest before I go back to Sodor."

"I'm afraid not. I hear Caitlin took the Flying Scotsman's passengers and he has been doing your work. So, you will be doing his work starting tomorrow morning."

Henry could not believe what he had heard. He had no rest since he woke up, he was very tired and now, he was going to be doing the Flying Scotsman's jobs. It was too much for Henry. "No!" he cried, "I can't do this anymore! I won't! This isn't right! I want to go home!"

"Henry, calm down," said his Driver. "You're still being Really Useful. Henry…Henry…"

"…Henry!" Henry woke with a start to see his Driver looking at him. "Henry, what's wrong?"

"I can't do it! Give the Flying Scotsman his tenders back, please!"

"What are you talking about, Henry?" Victor asked. "You don't have Scotsman's tenders. Look."

Sure enough, the Flying Scotsman was puffing out of the Steamworks with both of his tenders behind him. Henry gave a huge sigh of relief. "I must have been dreaming. Thank goodness."

"Well, here's some more good news, my friend. You're tender coupling is fixed, and you'll be able to leave soon."

"Thank you, Victor."

Later that day, Henry saw the Flying Scotsman at Vicarstown Station. "Hullo again, Henry," he said, and Henry replied in kind. "Now, what's this I hear about giving my tenders back?"

Henry blushed. "It was all a dream. I was needed, but my tender wasn't ready. So, I used your tenders, but and couldn't stop working. I was so tired, and I was told that I would do your work while you were doing mine."

"Well," sighed Scotsman, "maybe tenders aren't so important after all, are they?"

"Certainly not…but without my tender, I would still be in the Steamworks right now."

The two engines laughed. "Even so, the Fat Controller and my Owner would never do that," added Scotman. "The Island of Sodor is your home, and everyone would miss you. Even me." And Henry just smiled.