Author's notes: I love this one. The jokes really do make the story for me and all the characters are in top form. Let's go.

A Near Miss

Narrator: Near to where the line from Tidmouth Shed joins the mainline just short of Toidmouth Station, there are a set of special points. These are simply called 'trap points' and the rails don't go anywhere at all but are just long enough to derail any unauthorized vehicle such as coaches trucks or engines to prevent it from collided with engines on the mainline, they are worked by a very powerful spring. But can be controlled from the signalbox for when the engines need to join the mainline with permission. This is a very important safety measure, but Henry never could understand why they were even there and thought they were rather, well… pointless. (Pinkie Pie plays here comedy drum song and then scampers back to Percy)

(Henry steams passed the sheds with the Flyer Of Vicarstown)

Henry: I can't understand why they have built an incomplete siding.

Applejack: Now simmer down there Henry. They're probably there for a very good reason there.

Henry: Well, if there so important then, why haven't they completed yet?

Mr. Holden: Oh for the love of pete Henry! They're for safety measures.

Henry: I beg your pardon Mr. Holden, but what can be so safe about an incomplete siding?

Applejack: Well ah don't know, but I ain't about to question why they're there. Their probably there to prevent a runaway engine from crashin' into a train on the mainline.

Narrator: But Henry didn't listen as he pulled into platform 3 with his Flyer Of Vicarstown.

Henry: Pah, useless things trap points! They can pull them up as soon as they can. Hmph! Runaway indeed. Why would we want to run away from our nice warm sheds? Tell me that.

Narrator: Mr. Holden and Applejack just slapped there faces in frustration.

Gordon Rainbow Who was with Mr. Thompson Rainbow dash and Gordon on platform 1 with the wild nor wester and James who was with Rarity and Miss Ravens who were waiting on platform 2 with the Tidmouth Thunderbird had overheard this. The big engine and the red engine didn't know either, but they weren't willing to try find out why. One night, Henry was alone in the shed. This was unusual, but Gordon with Mr. Thompson and Rainbow Dash were out with the 6:25 pm WildNorWester express and were not due back until next morning. Bear was busy taken the midnight goods with Mr. Roberts and Cheerilee whom had finished with her shift with Barry. James, Rarity and Miss Ravens had been delayed with there Tidmouth Thunderbird by a diesel whom failed on the British Railways. Belle, Blossomforth and Miss Anderson the 2nd were out on the nightly mail run. Sally, Bridget, Flitter and Cloud Chaser had to do a special evening Great Northern Flyer run. Murdoch was on an overhaul. Hank and Toe Tapper were delayed with a stopping passenger train due to an accident at the crossing. Hero had an accident with some trucks and was at the works too. Thunderlane was at the Wonderbolts camp. Ms Harshwhinny was planning about the next Equestria games. And lastly, Oliver, Sorain, Mr. Holden, Donald, Mr. Hoskins, Big Macintosh, Douglas, Braeburn, Mr. Arkwright the 3rd, Duck, Applejack and Mr. Hawkins we're all busy at the far end of the Little Western Branchline at Alresburgh West. It was a cold night and Henry felt lonely.

Henry: (Lonely) Oh dear. It isn't the same without everyone else.

Narrator: He was glad when the fire lighter came earlier than usual at 1:00am, and started lighting his fire. Gratefully, Henry felt the warmth spread through his boiler. He was drowsy and comfortable. He yawned and shut his eyes and started to dozed.

Henry: (Yawn, mutter ) Running away, who'd be daft to do something so stupid like that on a cold morning like this?

Narrator: Suddenly, he awoke again. Someone was climbing into his cab. It was the fire lighter, who thought it would be fun when no one was about to drive an engine for himself. (Even if he was too tired to think clearly when doing so)

Fire Lighter: (Too tired quietly) I'm sick of this job! Not even getting any action lighting these engines. I know… I'll drive this engine out to the yards. That will be fun… Alright, brakes off, regulator opened and all aboard!

Narrator: He unwound the brake leaver and opened the regulator, but nothing happened.

Fire lighter: Oh bother… (Yawn)…. I'm just gonna go home…. I'm too tired to even drive an engine

Narrator: Disappointed and completely tired from the neck up, the Fire lighter climbed down from the cab, falling off the last step in his exhaustion and went away for home without closing the regulator. At first, Henry was worried, but then he thought …

Henry: (Sleepily) Ah it's probably just one of those tabby cats that come in.

Narrator: He went to sleep again and when next woke, he could see it was just getting light outside then he realised what had woken him. Steam was leaking into his cylinders.

Henry: Wait a minute. This is odd. It's far too early, even for the Flying Kipper. Applejack and Mr. Holden can't be here yet.

Narrator: Very ominously, Henry felt his wheels moving slowly forwards.

Henry: Uh… Mr. Holden, Applejack, uh, the shed door isn't open. Uh, hey, could you hold on. OY! Mr. Holden, Applejack, have two you gone deaf or mad or something? What the heck are you… doing… Wait a sec. No self respected engine crew would do something like this. Then that means…

Narrator: He realised to his horror there was nobody and nopony in his cab. In a panic, he tried to stop, but without a driver, fireman/woman or pony helper, that was impossible! He tried to whistle a warning, but without a crew he couldn't do that either. He began to near the shed door. The wooden shed doors hadn't been built to stop engines, poor Henry wished it had, as he smashed right into it, demolishing it into pieces as he emerged into the open.

Henry: OUCH!

Narrator: It was cold and frosty outside as he rumbled along.

Henry: HELP! I DON'T LIKE THIS!

Narrator: But unfortunately, there was nothing he could do about it. Then a horrifying realisation hit him. He remembered the mainline.

Henry: Oh Horrors! I'm heading for the mainline! I hope nothing is coming!

Narrator: But unluckily for Henry, a green signal light and the sound of an engine approaching told him that there was indeed something coming, more or less, in his direction.

Henry: HHHHEEEEEELLLLLPPPPP!

Narrator: With no time and no means, to do anything else he shut eyes and waited for the crash. Soon Gordon approached with his return WildNorWester along with Rainbow Dash and Mr Thomson. They were happily singing a song.

Rainbow Dash: (Singing) We'll sing a song for Gordon, He's big, he's fast, he's proud

Mr Thomson: (Singing) His paint is blue, so strong and true, and his whistle's really loud!

Gordon: (Singing) The fastest train on Sodor, you can't forget my name.

(Record scratch)

Gordon: (Back to talking) GUYS! Look out!

Rainbow Dash: SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPP!

Mr Thomson: Oh horrors! We'll never stop in time.

Narrator: They shut their eyes, waiting for a crash as well, but suddenly, Henry felt his wheels slip sharply sideways. He had forgotten the trap points and soon his driving wheels left the rails too leaning to one side. Henry was just inches clear of Gordon and the WildNorWester as with a frantic whistle. With a rattle, a rumble and a roar, the big blue engine thundered by. Henry sighed with relief.

Henry: Whew! My word. That was a near miss.

(At Tidmouth)

Gordon: What in the name of Doncaster just happened?!

Rainbow Dash: I don't know, but that was a near miss.

Mr Thomson: No joke Dash. Glad that's over.

Narrator: Soon, men, women and ponies shouted and ran towards him. Applejack and Mr. Holden ran over to to see if the big green engine was alright.

Mr. Holden: Oh my goodness! Are you alright Henry?

Henry: Yes. I'm okay.

Applejack: What in tarnation happened?

Henry: Well, I felt some climb into footplate last night after my fire was lit.

Mr. Holden: Oh you've got to be kidding me!

Narrator: Soon he glanced over and saw the same fire lighter trying to sneak away without being noticed.

Mr. Holden: OY! YOU GET BACK HERE!

Narrator: The fire lighter, soon realising he was discovered, ran for it, but Mr. Holden and Applejack chased him down and Applejack lassoed him and dragged him back.

Mr. Holden/Applejack: You sir, are in big trouble!

Fire lighter: Uh, I'm dead aren't I?

Applejack: Do you realise you could have hurt my friends and cause a nasty wreck that could have severely hurt or killed somebody.

Fire lighter: Uh, well I….

Mr. Holden: You ain't getting off scotch free this time. First you crashed Thomas into Stationmaster Roger's house and now this! You're lucky we've had those trap points installed. You have to come in the Fat Controller's and Princess Celestia's office today.

Narrator: And Applejack and Mr. Holden angrily hauled him by the lasso over to Tidmouth office.

Henry: Well thank you trap points. You can stay there just as long as you like.

Narrator: Henry was soon rerailed and after sending the fire lighter to the Fat Controller and Princess Celestia, they soon climbed into Henry and got ready for work on the Flyer of Vicarstown. The careless Fire lighter was soon discovered by the Fat Controller and Princess Celestia and was soon fired for nearly causing a train wreck. Henry made up the time lost from his near miss and was feeling much better and he no longer thought the trap points were 'pointless'. (Pinkie Pie comedy drums and gallops back to Percy)

Heh, Pinkie Pie and her drums. If you thought that was funny, wait till we see 'James' Rest Cure'