Britt: Alright, let's give Henry some love.

Starr: I see some people relating to him.

Britt: Indeed.

…

One morning, Henry was feeling very, very sorry for himself. Since he had arrived on the Island all those years ago, having been dumped there by his previous owner. Henry was recently feeling worse and worse.

Sometimes he could pull trains as easily as everyone else, but sometimes he had little to no strength at all.

"I suffer dreadfully and nobody cares!" wailed Henry.

"Just rubbish!" snapped James angrily. "It's clear you don't work hard enough, you big green fatso!" He puffed off angrily. Henry would have beaten James down for that, but he had no strength this time.

…

STH soon arrived to speak to him too.

"What's wrong with you, Henry?" asked STH.

"How should I know?..." groaned Henry.

"You've had several new parts and even new paint, but they've done you no good, big buddy." said STH. "If we can't make you better, we'll have to replace you with another engine."

This made Henry, his driver and fireman very sad and angry.

…

"Think they might get rid of Henry?" asked Thomas.

"No, I don't think so." said Gordon. "I know him like the back of my buffers at this point."

"Maybe I could help him." suggested Percy.

"Really? You blew hot steam in his face in a hellish way." said Eagle.

"Yeah, there's no way Henry wants help from you, little Percy." said Gordon.

"Hang on, isn't that STH over there?" asked Eagle.

Sure enough it was STH, having changed into blue overalls and removed his top hat. He was waiting for Henry as he backed down, ready to take some green coaches on a run.

"Hey Henry, how are you feeling?" asked Eagle.

"I feel fine." spluttered Henry as he coughed and sputtered away.

Henry had managed to start, except his fireman was not satisfied.

"Henry's a bad steamer." said the fireman. "I try to build up his fire, but there isn't enough heat."

Henry was trying very hard, but it was no good. The lack of heat and steam was hurting him.

He soon came to a sharp stop at Edward's station. 87546 ran past Henry from the opposite way on the middle line, pulling a goods train and promptly laughed at his misfortune.

"You okay, Henry?" asked Edward.

"NO!" wailed Henry. "I'll have to go away!"

Henry then went slowly onto a nearby siding, and Edward took charge of the train.

"What do you think is wrong, fireman?" asked STH.

"The name's Craig." said the fireman. "Anyways, I think it's the coal. We've had a poor lot lately, and today it's even worse than I thought."

Edward then left.

"Other engines can manage, as they have big fireboxes. But Henry's is small and can't make heat. But with something called Welsh Coal, he'd be like a different engine." said the fireman.

"It'd give him the runs at that rate." said the driver.

"I wish I could run!" groaned Henry.

"It is rather expensive." said STH thoughtfully. "But Henry deserves a fair chance. So James and Percy shall go and fetch some."

…

"Here's your wells coal, Henry!" said Percy happily.

"It's Welsh Coal, you loon." growled James, having gotten very dirty with coal dust on him.

Percy and James puffed buffer to buffer away. (Percy was in front and James was behind him)

Henry's driver and fireman were excited as they saw the little mountain of Welsh Coal.

"Now we'll show them, Henry, old fellow!" said the driver.

They carefully made his fire, putting large lumps of coal like a wall round the outside, then the glowing middle was covered with smaller lumps.

"Oh, you're spoiling my fire." groaned Henry.

"Wait and see, big buddy." said the fireman. "We'll have a roaring fire just when we want it."

…

The fireman was right, when Henry had reached the Knapford platform, he was boiling quite nicely, and had to let off steam.

"How are you, Henry?" asked STH.

"BEEP BEEP BEEP! I feel fine." said Henry.

"Have you a good fire there, driver?" asked STH.

"Never better, sir, and plenty of steam this time around." said the driver.

"No record breaking!" warned STH. "There are laws about that, so don't push him too hard."

"Henry won't need pushing! I'll have to hold him back!" laughed the driver as Henry took off.

Eagle was moving past him with a train of trucks.

"Hey Henry! Haven't seen you in forever!" said Eagle jokingly.

"Hello Redster!" whistled Henry happily.

Henry had himself a lovely day, and also just couldn't stop smiling, as it's been a long time since he had felt this well in his life, and even forced himself on Thomas' branchline.

Henry wanted to go faster, but his driver wouldn't let him.

"Steady, old fella." He'd say. "There's plenty of time."

They had arrived early at Elsbridge, and Henry spent the next few minutes waiting on Thomas.

Thomas soon pulled up.

"Where have you been, lazybones?" chuckled Henry.

Thomas was about to answer, but Henry continued.

"I can't wait for dawdling fat tank engines like you!" said Henry, and he ran off laughing himself silly.

"Well, girls." said Thomas. "Have you ever seen anything like it?"

"No." said Annie.

"I don't think so." said Clarabel.