Author's notes: This one is based on 'What's The Matter With Henry?' and a bit of a mix in with a youtube video I have seen. Also judging by the story, it's safe to say atsf has seen it too. I also added a slight edit at the end.

Bert's Rebuild

Narrator: One morning, Bert the small blue engine was feeling very sorry for himself. He was very problematic steamer. He had a very delicate fire that needed to be fired very carefully. Sometimes he could pull his trains but almost often as not, he felt short of puff and had no strength at all.

(Bert rolls in breathlessly into the bottom station.)

Bert: (Wheezing) Oh dear… 10 minutes late. Again.

Twist: You did very well Bert.

Mr. Holden: You've really been giving it everything to day. Now come on. Let's get you to the shed's and will give those tubes of yours a good scrub.

Narrator: When Bert told the others, they just laughed. Mike and Frank thought he was just being silly.

Mike: (Tauntingly) So what's happened to you this time Bert?

Snips: Don't you start on him Mike!

Frank: Another one of your little hypochondriac mishaps.

Shady Daze: You're pushing it Frank!

Bert: Oh dear. My system's out of order again. I can hardly breath. You guys don't know what I suffer.

Frank: Rubbish! You just don't work hard enough like me.

Mr. Roberts: Hey! That wasn't funny at all! You apologise to Bert right now!

Mike: Yeah. You're too slow. You need exercise you old coot.

Mr. Hawkins: You're really pushing Mike!

(Frank and mike hoot into laughter)

Bert: That's not funny! (Nearly in tears) You guys just don't care!

Rex: Go lose your whistle, Mike!

Sigrid: Go hit a board beam Frank!

Rex/Sigrid: And leave Bert alone!

Mike: I don't get it! Now your defending that lazy idiot!

Rex: Well, I was wrong to tease him and you are too Mike and Frank.

Sigrid: Now, leave Bert alone! You'll be late with your shunting Frank and you'll be late with you're evening ballast train if you keep picking on your old brother. Or, if you keep on picking on Bert here Mike, I will ask the small controller and Princess Cadence to put you on passengers for a mouth.

Mike: Oh! Why you…

Sigrid: Mike! Leave now!

Narrator: Mike and Frank snorted indignantly and the 2 left. The whistle incident was one event that Mike wanted to forget and the support beam incident was one that Frank wanted to forget.

Bert: (Fighting tears) Sigrid…. Rex… I… I try so hard… I'm sorry for delaying you guys.

Sigrid: Oh it's alright Bert. You couldn't help it.

Rex: Yeah and you know those 2. They just don't know what age can do to an engine. But I know how age can effect an engine. Remember when my I had that leak in my boiler it. Miss Ravens noticed that the steam pipe inside me had cracked due to it being worn after so many years.

Miss Ravens: That's right. And, so me and Snails went to see the small controller and Princess Cadence about getting a new pipe to replace the old one.

Snails: Yeah… but I'm surprised you haven't been over looked at all. Maybe we can go see the small controller and Princess Cadence and see what they can do.

Twist: Oh. That's a great idea Snails. (Giggles and blushes)

Narrator: Snails blushed…

Snails: Oh. It's nothing really heheheh…. Just gotta help our fellow ponies and engines and drivers out.

Bert: Thanks guys. (Sad sigh) I do hope they can fix me up again.

Mr. Holden: Of course they will. You know, you're not the only one on this island who had steaming troubles.

Bert: I'm not?

Mr. Holden: Of course not. Edward, NWR's No.2, was a shy steamer before he was overhauled and believe it or not, Henry, NWR's No.3 had very bad steaming troubles in his early days.

Bert: The K2 'Larger Seagulls' I can understand why they were shy steamers, but I thought Stanier Black 5's never had steaming troubles.

Miss Ravens: You'd be surprised Bert. From 1919 to 1939, Henry's class was actually a mystery to us all and he was a shy steamer. In 1939 however, my friend William here managed to find a plan that Henry was based upon, and he was actually a cross between a GNR C1 atlantic and a LNER A1 pacific. This was a rejected plan, but a thief stole it, made Henry and sold him to Sir Topham Hatt the 1st when he was desperate for an engine. Luckily, we managed to save Henry by giving him Welsh coal, and then he got a rebuild at Crewe after an accident with the flying kipper the same year we got him the Welsh coal. He returned in 1944 as a Stanier Black 5, (Trying not to laugh) or should I say Stanier Green 5, (Normal) feeling better than ever.

Bert: (Astonished) Amazing! And he was a full size mainline standard gauge engine…. (sigh) I hope they can fix me up like Sir Topham Hatt the first did with Henry.

Narrator: Days passed and Bert still hadn't heard back from the Small controller nor Princess Cadence. Although he tried not to fret, his condition went from bad to worse and he struggled dreadfully as he strained to keep his trains moving.

(Bert struggling with his train)

Mr. Holden: Just hang in there Bert. It's alright. Just take it easy.

Twist: Mr. Holden is right. Just take it nice and easy.

Narrator: Then one day, Bert woke feeling absolutely terrible and to make matters worse, he had to take a full passenger train up the line.

Bert: I really don't have the strength to go out today but... I've got to try no point sitting the sheds sulking and feeling sorry for myself. Besides, I heard from Duck that passengers are urgent.

Twist: Are you sure about this Bert?

Mr. Holden: Yeah I mean, if you're not feeling good, I can always have Mr. Thompson and Tornado Bolt get Sigrid over there to take the train for you.

Sigrid: I can take it for you if you need me too.

Bert: Thank you Sigrid, but really useful engines mustn't complain.

Sigrid: Alright then. Say, Mr Thomson, is there any extra trains for me to take today?

Mr Thomson: Not really Sigrid. We'll just shunt some trucks and coaches for now. Ok?

Sigrid: Alright. At least I'm doing something useful. That's all that matters.

Narrator: And so reluctantly, Mr. Holden and Twist carefully lit his fire very very carefully, then set off to the station. As Bert, left she saw him leaving with a trail of water behind him. When Sigrid, Gingersnap, Mr. Thompson and Tornado Bolt saw this, they were more worried than ever. Frank who was still making fun of Bert decided to play a horrid trick on him. He brought his coaches to the platform but he had brought a very long line of coaches, much to the anger of Mr. Roberts and Shady Daze. Sigrid meanwhile went to speak with Princess Cadence and the Small Controller.

Cadence: Hullo Sigrid. What's the matter? You all look upset?

Small Controller: Very worried too. What's up?

Sigrid: We are worried Sir and malady, about Bert. His steaming problems have gone bad to worse and I saw him leaking water as he went to collect is passengers.

Small Controller: Oh dear… I was afraid this would happen. Bert's tubes are leaking and he's been preforming poorly lately.

Cadence: Perhaps maybe we should overhaul him.

Small Controller: I think I know just how to do it. Thank you for telling us.

Sigrid: No problem sir.

Narrator: Meanwhile, Bert had reached the platform and much to his dismay saw an enormous line of coaches, all full.

Bert: Oh dear… Why did Frank have to leave me so many coaches? He knows I'm not feeling well.

Mr. Holden: That rude engine (Sigh) well, I'm afraid we're still gonna have to take them. Just do you're best.

Twist: Me and Mr. Holden will be with you every turn of the way. Just take your time and do your best.

Narrator: Soon the guard's whistle blew and Bert huffed and chuffed and pulled his heavy train of coaches. He managed to start good and was make good time. He soon began to feel poorly again though.

Mr. Holden: Come on Bert. You can do it. I know you can Bert.

Bert: Oh. I don't know if I can…

Twist: You've got to try. Princess Cadence and the small controller are depending you.

Narrator: Bert tried very hard, but try as he might, it was no good. Bert began to strain again and eventually, Bert grounded to a pathetic halt just outside the station at the green. Soon, Mr. Holden radioed in to control with his radio telephone.

Mr. Holden: Bert's broken down. We need another engine to help him and his passengers home.

Narrator: Sigrid of Arlesdale, Gingersnap, Tornado Bolt, Mr. Thompson Miss Ravens, Rex and Snails were in the yards when they heard the call. The three ponies, the two drivers and the two engines immediately wasted no time to go and help Bert, Twist and Mr. Holden.

Sigrid/Tornado/Gingersnap/Mr. Thompson/Miss Ravens/Rex/Snails: Are you alright Bert?

Bert: No… I've broken down.

Narrator: So the 4 ponies and 3 drivers all consulted together and all agreed on the plan. Soon Miss Ravens and Snails coupled Rex up to Bert's train whilst Sigrid, Gingersnap, Mr. Thompson and Tornado Bolt helped Bert home. Bert was very grateful.

Bert: Oh thank you Sigrid.

Sigrid: Of course. Anything for a fellow engine.

Tornado Bolt: Of course. I'm just glad that we could help.

Gingersnap: Of course. Scouts honour.

Narrator: Soon they reached Arlesburgh where Princess Cadence and the small controller were waiting.

Cadence: Well done Sigrid, Gingersnap, Tornado Bolt and Mr. Thompson thank you for rescuing Bert.

Narrator: Then they turned to Bert who shut his eyes and prepared for the worst, but the Small controller and Princess Cadence were smiling.

Small Controller: You were very brave Bert. You weren't feeling well but you managed to do your best to get you're passengers this far. Miss Ravens radioed in and said that she Rex, Snails made it right on time. We've also heard that Frank was the one who overloaded your train, so we have shut him up in the sheds.

Bert: Thank you sir…

Princess Cadence: We've have heard from Sigrid, Rex, Miss Ravens Snails, Gingersnap, Tornado Bolt and Snails that you were having steaming troubles so we have decided that you were to have a special overhaul. They'll give you a brand new shape with a larger chimney funnel and narrow and a larger firebox.

Small Controller: You will be a better engine and won't have steaming troubles again…

Narrator: But the rest of their speech was drowned out by a loud course of cheers, tooting horns and whistles from the little foal ponies, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Holden, Sigrid of Arlesdale and most of all Bert. Then, Bert asked a question.

Bert: Thank you sir and Malady, but may I ask you both a favour?

Small Controller: Yes of course. What is it?

Bert: Sigrid of Arlesdale has been doing a fine job whilst I was struggling with my trains and I was wondering if she could….

Cadence: Could what?

Bert: Could she please pull trains regularly with me, Frank and my brothers Rex and Mike? I feel she deserves it.

Narrator: The small controller and Princess Cadence smiled.

Small Controller/Cadence: (Smiling) Of course she can.

Narrator: Sigrid smiled happily.

Sigrid: Oh thank you Bert… That was very kind of you. I'm so proud of you. It's better than being a spare engine.

Miss Ravens: Can I request something too?

Cadence: Sure Rachel. Spill.

Miss Ravens: Well, I really like working with Sigrid, and I was wondering, could work with her more often?

Small Controller: If Mitch agrees.

Mr Thomson: Go for it Rach. I can take over and work with Rex.

Miss Ravens: Thanks Mitch!

Narrator: So it was arranged. Now Sigrid works happily pulling regular goods and passenger services like the other engines do. A few months later, Bert did come back. His coat gleamed brighter than ever. He was a much happier engine too and doesn't have steaming troubles anymore. But although between you and me, the Small controller and Princess Cadence were grateful, they still thought that they were in need of another engine to help them. But I must say no more, or I'll spoil the next story.

I feel that I should work with the female engines as much as I can, seeing as my humansona is the only girl in the core 6. Next is 'Jock'. I know, we see Jock like, 4 stories in. But, this isn't the only time this has happened in the RWS. (New Little Engine). Deal with it.