Sonic's and Emily's Wedding

Chapter Eighty-Six: TAB Prequel: Edward, Gordon and Henry

Tidmouth sheds felt much bigger with just three engines in the shed. Edward, Gordon and James had more work to do on the main line now that Henry had been bricked up in the tunnel at Ballahoo. James, the newest member of the fleet, was the railway's mixed-traffic engine, but found himself taking goods trains more often. This meant that Edward had to come out of the shunting yards to take local trains on the main line and that Julie – one of the five Midland engines on a long-time loan and resided at Vicarstown sheds – had to be drafted into the yards more often to allow Edward to do that. Not that either engine minded, but it was still a problem no less.

"But I can take passenger trains just as well as you two can!" James protested.

"Not with wooden brakes, you can't," smirked Gordon. "At least Edward has brakes that can help him stop carefully."

"Now Gordon, don't be rude," said Edward. "James does his best and you know that."

"I suppose he's done better than Henry," grumbled Gordon. "Who would be scared of the rain? The rain, for goodness sake. It's just water."

"Maybe he's had a traumatic experience with water," James suggested.

"James!" scolded Edward.

"Regardless, his run into a tunnel has given us much more to do," muttered Gordon. Edward groaned; some engines had no sympathy to give out.

"Something wrong, Edward?" The blue engine glanced over to see the brown coaches Annie and Clarabel waiting in a siding.

"I was just thinking about Henry," Edward told the coaches. "Why would he go into a tunnel and be scared of the rain?"

"Maybe it's not the rain itself that scared Henry," Clarabel suggested.

"It isn't?" asked Edward.

"On the day Henry got bricked up," said Annie, "it wasn't just raining. Do you remember the thunder and lightning?"

"It was indeed scary," Edward confirmed.

"Maybe Henry was scared of the lightning in the thunderstorm," Clarabel put in.

"You may be right..." Edward said quietly. "Thanks for the insight, girls. I'd better get back to work." Just then, Sir Topham Hatt arrived to see the blue tender engine.

"Edward, I know you've been working very hard in the yard," he said, "but with Henry out of action, I need you to do some light trains on the main line. Don't worry about the yards; Julie will look after it."

"Of course, sir," said Edward. "I just hope the coal mine doesn't get too busy in her absence."

"Hopefully not." Sir Topham Hatt sighed before returning to his more cheerful demeanor. "Your first train is a passenger train up to Vicarstown. Feel free to take Annie and Clarabel with you."

Edward gently buffered up to Annie and Clarabel and then brought them to the platform.

"We're glad you're taking us today, Edward," said Annie.

"James is always rough when he takes us out," added Clarabel. "He'd damage a coach if he's not careful."

"Once, he nearly pulled my coupling loose," said Annie. "Took ages for it to be refitted."

"I hope he gets better," sighed Edward. "Coaches need love and kindness, not rough treatment." The blue engine waited as the passengers boarded the two old coaches. Everyone then waited for the guard blow his whistle and wave his green flag, but neither happened.

"Where can the guard be?" asked Edward anxiously. His driver and fireman asked the stationmaster, who hadn't seen the guard. Then they asked the porter, who had seen him - last night.