Authors notes: After seeing WildNorWester's special 'Winds Of Change', I have decided to get the engines in wartime black and for them to use the 'Black Out' approach during this time period. IE, no signals are on.

The Flying Kipper

Narrator: Lots of ships use the Harbour at the big station at Tidmouth which is close to the sea. The big passenger ocean liners have spotless paint and shining brass, whilst other ships though smaller and dirtier are important as well. Cargo ships and tramp steamers take coal, machinery, and other things abroad and bring back food, timber and other things we need. Fishing boats are also frequent here. They unload their fish on the quay. Some of it is transported by lorry to shops in the town and some goes on special express goods train to other places far away. The railway men call this train "The Flying Kipper". One winter evening, Henry the green engine rolled back into Tidmouth sheds. He had been working with Rachel, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Normally, Rainbow Dash would work with Gordon. But after a near accident with his breaks recently, he had to be sent to the works for mild repairs. Then, Rachel climbed down from the cab and spoke to Henry and the ponies.

Rachel : We'll all be out early tomorrow morning. We'll be taking the flying kipper. We need to be at the docks at 5am so we'll all need a goodnight sleep.

Rainbow Dash: Well guys, see you tomorrow.

Narrator: She flew back to Knapford Hotel.

Fluttershy: Goodnight Henry. Sweet dreams.

Henry: You too Fluttershy.

Narrator: Rachel was the last to leave, but before she did, she whispered to Henry.

Rachel: Hey, don't tell Gordon but I think if we pull the kipper nicely, the fat controller will let you pull the express. Besides, that welsh coal we gave you is working well.

Henry: The express? Oh hurrah! That will be lovely.

Narrator: With that Rachel, piled into her 1940 Ford Anglia 8HP car and drove home whilst Henry yawned and went happily to sleep. The next morning, Henry was woken gently up by Fluttershy.

Fluttershy: Wakey wakey sleepy head. It's time to get ready.

Narrator: Then, Rainbow Dash flew into Henry's cab and began to make his fire. Rachel and the ponies then climbed onto the footplate and Rachel drove Henry out of the sheds and into the cold Sudrian winter air. Though being a very athletic pony herself, Rainbow Dash was a little bit tired.

Rainbow Dash: (Sleepy groan) Why must the Flying Kipper be taken so early?

Fluttershy: I don't know Dashie. But I think it's a very important load.

Rachel: Indeed it is. The reason why we're taking it so early is so that the shops can have the can have fresh produce to distribute to their consumers. Milk trains use the same principle too, along with other produce trains.

Fluttershy: I see. That makes perfect sense. So that the supplies are there for the people just when they need them.

Rachel: Exactly Fluttershy.

Narrator: At 5am, Henry reached the docks where a very strong smell of fish hung in the air. There was snow and frost. Men hustled and shouted loading the vans with crates of fish.

Rainbow Dash: Phew! Thank goodness Rarity isn't with us. She would probably never let us hear the end of this smell.

Rachel: Don't worry… once you've been working here as long as me and William have, trust me, you'll get used to it quick. But you do have point Rainbow Dash.

Narrator: And they both giggled. As Rachel backed Henry down onto the train, Rainbow Dash coupled Henry up whilst Fluttershy changed Henry's lamp codes. Soon, everything was ready. The last door closed with a bang, the guard waved his green flag and the flying kipper was ready to go.

Rainbow Dash: Ready Henry?

Henry: Sure am Rainbow dash. Take us away Fluttershy.

Narrator: Fluttershy opened the regulator and Henry steamed off. Henry slipped on the icy frosty rails and was cross with the vans.

Henry: Come on! Don't be silly! Don't be silly!

Narrator: Fluttershy Flew up and gave the vans the stare.

Fluttershy: You vans better get move on!

Narrator: The vans shuddered and groaned.

Vans: Trock trick! Trock trick! Alright! Alright!

Narrator: And Henry felt happy as the train began to pick up speed.

Henry: That is better! That is better!

Narrator: Thick clouds of smoke and steam poured from his funnel into the cold air and when Rainbow Dash shovelled in more coal into his firebox, the fire's light shone brightly on the snow around.

Henry: Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

Narrator: Rachel noticed that Fluttershy looked a little tired and offered to take over to give her a little break. They were going well. They hooshed under bridges and clattered through stations, flags showing green as they passed. Fluttershy was very impressed as she looked out the cab window from Rachel's side.

Fluttershy: Oh! I'm so excited. Maybe if Henry does this job well, he'll get to pull the WildNorWester.

Rainbow dash: Yeah right. No offence Fluttershy, but Henry would never be as good as Gordon.

Fluttershy: Dashie, don't be like that. Don't forget the safety valve incident where me and Edward had to help rescue the train.

Rainbow Dash: Oh yeah, and remember, it took two engines to pull the express. Sorry Fluttershy. But Gordon is the only one who can pull the express.

Rachel: How do you explain when James pulled it then?

Rainbow Dash: Uh… he was just lucky to get it on 1st try.

Rachel: Yeah, sure he was 'lucky'.

Narrator: They were just about to reach Kildane junction when a guard with a yellow flag appeared ahead in the distance.

Henry: There's a distant yellow flag up ahead, take caution!

Narrator: Rachel shut off steam and prepared to stop the train. The two ponies looked out the window.

Rainbow Dash: Looks clear to me Henry, and the flag is green.

Fluttershy: All clear Henry. Away we go.

Narrator: However, they didn't know that the points from the mainline to a siding were frozen and that that the flag should have been red. But a lazy guard forgot to check this. A goods train was waiting in the siding to let the flying kipper pass and the driver and fireman were drinking hot cocoa in the brake van. The guard pulled out his watch.

Goods train Guard: Hmmm… You know guys the kipper's due to pass any second now.

Goods train fireman: Ah who cares about the kipper, Rodger? This is good cocoa.

Narrator: The driver got up.

Goods train driver: Oh come on young Charlie. Lets get back to Simmors.

Goods train fireman: (Grumbling) Oy! But I haven't finished my cocoa yet Jasper!

Narrator: Then it all happened at once. Henry saw to his horror the goods train setting right in front of their line.

Henry: SSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPPPP! THERES ANOTHER TRAIN IN FRONT OF OUR PATH

Narrator: Sure enough to all of their horrors, Rainbow Dash, Rachel, and Fluttershy saw the goods train right in front of them.

Fluttershy: (Gasp) Oh my! He's right!

Rainbow Dash: STOP THE TRAIN! STOP THE TRAIN!

Rachel : GREAT SCOT! Brake! BBBBRRRRRAAAAAAKKKKKKEEEEEEEEEE!

Narrator: Rachel reached for the brake handle, braked hard, set the reverser hard over full steam in reverse and pulled the whistle chain frantically. The rails were much too icy for them to stop in time. Henry went into a screeching slide, sparks flew from his wheels showering the rails! They came closer and closer to brake van of the goods train. Fluttershy covered her eyes.

Fluttershy: HHHHHHNNNNNGGGGG! I can't look!

Rainbow dash: SSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!

Rachel: JJJJJJJUUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMPPPPPPPPPP!

Narrator: Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy grabbed Rachel, and the 2 pegasus ponies flew Rachel from the cab, as poor Henry sped on. Then there was sudden terrible ear piercing crash. The brake van broke, the three men shot in the air like jacks in a box. Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash rushed over and caught the flying driver and fireman, the guard landed safely in the snow and whilst poor Rachel had been placed too deep in the snow.

Rachel: Get me out of hear! Come on! Help me out!

Narrator: Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy quickly dug their friend out of the snow.

Rachel: (Gasp) Thanks! I thought I was going to turn into a snow woma… aa… AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHCCCCCCCCCCCCCOOO!

Narrator: Henry had sprawled onto his side looking dazed and surprised as the front fish vans we're piled in a smashed heap. The goods train fireman angrily waved his broken empty mug.

Goods train fireman: YOU CLUMSY GREAT OAF! THE BEST CUP OF COCOA I'VE EVER HAD AND YOU BUMPED INTO ME AND MADE ME SPILL IT ALL!

Goods train driver: Never mind your stupid cocoa! Just phone the breakdown gang.

Simmors: You guys alright?

Henry: Far from it my friend… ow!

Narrator: James and Rarity cleared away the remnants of the goods train, whilst Edward, Applejack and William helped Rainbow Dash Fluttershy and Rachel clear the remnants of the kipper. The Fat Controller came to see them.

Henry: Oh Sir! Please don't scrap me sir. The flag was green, sir.

Fluttershy: Please sir. It wasn't Henry's fault.

Rainbow Dash: Calm down Fluttershy.

Fat controller: Cheer Henry and Fluttershy it wasn't Henry's fault. Ice and snow caused the accident, as for that signalman with the green flag, I gave him a warning this morning. I'm sending Henry to crewe, a fine places for sick engines. They'll give you a new shape and a larger firebox. You'll be a different engine Henry and won't need welsh coal anymore, won't that be nice?

Henry: (Doubtfully) Yes Sir.

Narrator: 4 years later, Rachel and Fluttershy were waiting at Vicarstown to work with Simmors, when they heard a whistle that made them jump.

Henry: Hullo Rachel and Fluttershy.

Rachel : Bless my soul! Henry!

Fluttershy: HENRY! OH YOUR BACK!

Henry: They've overhauled me as good a new. And they rebuilt me into a Stanier Black 5. Or when the war ends, should I say a standard green 5? Heheheheh.

Narrator: And Rachel and Fluttershy laughed. The fat controller climbed out of the cab.

Fat controller: Welcome back Henry. You look marvellous. To celebrate your return, I'd like you to take the Wild Nor Wester. Fluttershy, you and Rachel will be driving Henry on his return train. You all think you can do it?

All three: Yes Sir!

Narrator: Henry enjoyed being at crew, but all the same he was glad to be home. He pulled out for the first time with the WildNorWester. As Henry sped along the line, a crowd of people waited to see him arrive in his new shape. He looked so splendid and strong that they gave him three cheers. Henry whistled happily.

Henry: Thank you very much.

Narrator: Heheh I'm sorry to say that a lot of little boys and girls are often late to school, for they can't wait to see Henry come by. They often see him pulling the WildNorWester. He does it so well that both Gordon and Rainbow Dash were jealous. But that, is another story.

Yep. Not much else has changed here. This takes place in 1939 and early 1943. Look out for the next one.