Trama

Henry collides with a goods train while pulling "The Flying Kipper". The Fat Controller sends him to Crewe for repairs and he comes back with a new shape and a larger firebox meaning that he no longer needs special coal.

One winter night, after his day's work is done, Henry's told by his driver that they'll be leaving early in the morning to pull The Flying Kipper, a special goods train from the quay that carries fish from the harbour to the Mainland. The driver tells Henry that his special coal's working so well that if he pulls the Flying Kipper nicely the Fat Controller might let him pull the express, a thought that makes Henry very happy.

At five o'clock next morning, Henry arrives at the quay ready to pick up the Flying Kipper. Everything goes very smoothly and Henry leaves the harbour without a hitch. After getting the vans to come along quickly and quietly, Henry begins to enjoy his journey, marveling at the countryside as the sun rises.

Soon Henry comes to a yellow signal indicating "caution". Henry's driver initially prepares to stop until he sees the home signal's down, indicating that the line ahead's clear. With that, the driver allows Henry to continue at full speed. What Henry and his crew don't know however, is that the points to the main line have been frozen towards a siding and the home signal, which should have been set at "danger" had been forced down by snow.

In the siding stands a goods train, which is waiting to let Henry pass. The driver and fireman are enjoying cocoa in the brake van when they see that it's nearly time for Henry to pass by, so they decide to go back to the engine. Their exit comes in Just in time, as Henry comes barreling into the siding at full speed and crashes straight into the back of the train, causing him to derail and land on his side.

When daylight comes, the Breakdown Train's brought in and the clean-up effort is underway. While Henry's crew jumped clear before the crash, he feels miserable. The Fat Controller comes to talk to Henry and kindly reassures him that the accident wasn't his fault, but was caused by ice and snow. He then tells Henry that he's going to be sent to Crewe, an excellent place for sick engines. As well as repairing him, they'll also give him a brand new shape and a larger firebox. As a result, Henry will feel much better and won't need special coal to run properly anymore.

A few weeks later, it's springtime and Henry returns from Crewe in his new shape. Although he enjoyed his time there, he's happy to come back to the Island of Sodor, and is welcomed home by a lot of people waiting at the station to see him in his new shape. When he rides through, he looks so splendid and strong that the crowd gives him three cheers much to Henry's gratitude. Unfortunately, a lot of children are now often late for school as they want to wait to see Henry puff by and often see him pulling the express. He's able to pull it so well that Gordon becomes quite jealous.