Gordon always pulls the Express and is proud to be the only engine strong enough to do it. One day, he heads down the line with the Fat Controller onboard the train, when he sees the tunnel that Henry has been left bricked up in and abandoned for refusing to come out. Henry feels sorry for himself and wonders if he will ever be forgiven and let out.
Gordon plans to whistle rudely at Henry, only to burst his safety valve and he is forced to stop just in front of the tunnel. Upon being told by his driver what has happened and that he can no longer pull his train, Gordon is most embarrassed, especially since Henry has seen his mishap and is laughing at him. The passengers come out to see Gordon, including the Fat Controller, who promptly orders for another engine to come to take the Express, while Gordon is uncoupled and moved onto a siding. Edward is the only engine left in the yard and offers to take the train, but when he tries to push the coaches he finds that he is simply not strong enough. Gordon suggests that Henry should be allowed to try and the Fat Controller agrees, as does Henry upon being asked.
Soon workmen break down the wall and replace the rails, then Henry comes out of the tunnel. His paint is very dirty and covered with cobwebs, and feels stiff, but after having a quick run to loosen his joints, he feels a lot better and then he is coupled to the coaches. With Henry pulling and Edward pushing, the two engines manage to move the long train. The Fat Controller leans out the window to wave to them, but the train ends up moving very fast and causes his hat to blow off and land in a field where it is eaten by a goat. The two keep running until they reach the last station where the passengers cheer, and on the way home, they help Gordon back to the sheds.
Henry is rewarded with a new coat of paint and no longer minds the rain as he now knows that the best way to keep his paint nice is not to hide in tunnels but to ask his driver to give him a washdown after the day's work is done.
Comments