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Description
Theft is a nasty crime whose effects can go beyond the original item stolen. The case of Sodors first 4-6-0 tender engine is proof of this.

In 1918, engineers from an unknown railway (the GCR or NER are the most popular contenders for this prize) stole plans of Sir Nigel Gresleys planned Pacific locomotive. However it was of an earlier vintage and had many faults. Recognizing this the engineers, to put it bluntly, butchered the design to make it workable.

What came out of their works was a fusion of a GNR A1 and a C1 locomotive with a missing pair of trailing wheels and the oddest tender in England at the time. The thieves seemed to have called the locomotive Henry as he recalls them saying that name while pointing to him. Nowadays the accepted explanation is that they were calling him King Henry, as in the 8th monarch of that name who was egregiously fat, something Thomas would latch onto as soon as he heard.

The thieves soon found out that no one wanted Henry as they were either making their own locomotives of that wheelset or were suspicious of his origins. Luckily for them, in 1921 there finally came a buyer desperate for an engine.

Sir Charles Barker, a former W&S chairman and now on the NWR board came to their workshop in the North and watched Henry pull some demonstration trains. Convinced of his utility, the man had the locomotive purchased and delivered to Vicarstown. When there Sir Topham Hatt took one look inside and proceeded to scream at the clueless gentleman for the next twenty minutes.

Over the next year, Sir Topham and his engineers worked hard to make him usable. However, Henry rarely made things easier as he himself had no clue as to how bad his situation really was. This eventually led to his crew at the time being sent to test Gordon, a much better deal for the NWR, and a inexperienced crew being given him.

The crew did not have any desire to cooperate with their engine or keep up the customs of the previous crew, like painting Henry every weekend. Henry did not take this treatment well and went into the tunnel in a story we all know. During his stay he was given boiler duty, meaning he was fired up to steam a fireless locomotive who was there to assist workmen with expanding the tunnel.

After he rescued Gordon with Edward, the big green engine strove to behave better. However during his time in the tunnel it seems he had developed several mechanical faults. This led to him getting several bouts of illness and periods of sitting in a shed while workmen sought to correct him. After a 1931 overhaul this was finally corrected.

For the first eight months after the overhaul it seemed that Henrys issues were quashed at last to the point he could pull the express. After this he became one of the Big Engines Club in every way. A membership that would last until the strike.

In 1934, during an attempt to cut costs, the railway board purchased much lower quality coal over the protests of Sir Topham.

Henry was the one who suffered most due to this coal quality due to his smaller valves and firebox. After ascertaining the cause of his troubles l, Sir Topham gave the board a set of choices.
1). Scrap Henry and replace him
2). Purchase Welsh Coal for only him
3). Return the coal to its pre 1934 quality

The board, eager to not spend too much decided to go with two to the surprise of the Fat Controller and anger of the tender engines.

Henry performed well as a thanks to the board. However during the period of Summer 1934 to Winter of 1934 several major events occurred.

One was the theft of a shipment of Welsh coal by Gordon. This led to Henry stealing an important Express from him several weeks later. The Fat Controller chose to punish both.

Gordon was put on several coal trains every weekend for his theft. However, Henry's messing with the schedule with his crews help led to him being given goods only duties including The Flying Kipper.

This then led to an event in November where James was put on a bet that he couldn't handle the Kipper and then lied causing Henry to get in trouble. However James was soon found out and given the Kipper duties while Henry was given James's post and milk trains.

This state of affairs lasted until January of 1935 when the Fat Controller, impressed with Henry decided to allow the big engine to run passenger trains again. All Henry had to do was one last express.

We all know what happened there. The Fat Controller took two actions immediately, one he ordered the replacement of the upper quadrant signal system despite being a personal fan of it and two sent Henry to Crewe. For two years the big engine sat as he was rebuilt piece by piece to become another hybrid.

But that is another story.

(Own headcanon here, feel free to use)

Description
Theft is a nasty crime whose effects can go beyond the original item stolen. The case of Sodors first 4-6-0 tender engine is proof of this.

In 1918, engineers from an unknown railway (the GCR or NER are the most popular contenders for this prize) stole plans of Sir Nigel Gresleys planned Pacific locomotive. However it was of an earlier vintage and had many faults. Recognizing this the engineers, to put it bluntly, butchered the design to make it workable.

What came out of their works was a fusion of a GNR A1 and a C1 locomotive with a missing pair of trailing wheels and the oddest tender in England at the time. The thieves seemed to have called the locomotive Henry as he recalls them saying that name while pointing to him. Nowadays the accepted explanation is that they were calling him King Henry, as in the 8th monarch of that name who was egregiously fat, something Thomas would latch onto as soon as he heard.

The thieves soon found out that no one wanted Henry as they were either making their own locomotives of that wheelset or were suspicious of his origins. Luckily for them, in 1921 there finally came a buyer desperate for an engine.

Sir Charles Barker, a former W&S chairman and now on the NWR board came to their workshop in the North and watched Henry pull some demonstration trains. Convinced of his utility, the man had the locomotive purchased and delivered to Vicarstown. When there Sir Topham Hatt took one look inside and proceeded to scream at the clueless gentleman for the next twenty minutes.

Over the next year, Sir Topham and his engineers worked hard to make him usable. However, Henry rarely made things easier as he himself had no clue as to how bad his situation really was. This eventually led to his crew at the time being sent to test Gordon, a much better deal for the NWR, and a inexperienced crew being given him.

The crew did not have any desire to cooperate with their engine or keep up the customs of the previous crew, like painting Henry every weekend. Henry did not take this treatment well and went into the tunnel in a story we all know. During his stay he was given boiler duty, meaning he was fired up to steam a fireless locomotive who was there to assist workmen with expanding the tunnel.

After he rescued Gordon with Edward, the big green engine strove to behave better. However during his time in the tunnel it seems he had developed several mechanical faults. This led to him getting several bouts of illness and periods of sitting in a shed while workmen sought to correct him. After a 1931 overhaul this was finally corrected.

For the first eight months after the overhaul it seemed that Henrys issues were quashed at last to the point he could pull the express. After this he became one of the Big Engines Club in every way. A membership that would last until the strike.

In 1934, during an attempt to cut costs, the railway board purchased much lower quality coal over the protests of Sir Topham.

Henry was the one who suffered most due to this coal quality due to his smaller valves and firebox. After ascertaining the cause of his troubles l, Sir Topham gave the board a set of choices.
1). Scrap Henry and replace him
2). Purchase Welsh Coal for only him
3). Return the coal to its pre 1934 quality

The board, eager to not spend too much decided to go with two to the surprise of the Fat Controller and anger of the tender engines.

Henry performed well as a thanks to the board. However during the period of Summer 1934 to Winter of 1934 several major events occurred.

One was the theft of a shipment of Welsh coal by Gordon. This led to Henry stealing an important Express from him several weeks later. The Fat Controller chose to punish both.

Gordon was put on several coal trains every weekend for his theft. However, Henry's messing with the schedule with his crews help led to him being given goods only duties including The Flying Kipper.

This then led to an event in November where James was put on a bet that he couldn't handle the Kipper and then lied causing Henry to get in trouble. However James was soon found out and given the Kipper duties while Henry was given James's post and milk trains.

This state of affairs lasted until January of 1935 when the Fat Controller, impressed with Henry decided to allow the big engine to run passenger trains again. All Henry had to do was one last express.

We all know what happened there. The Fat Controller took two actions immediately, one he ordered the replacement of the upper quadrant signal system despite being a personal fan of it and two sent Henry to Crewe. For two years the big engine sat as he was rebuilt piece by piece to become another hybrid.

But that is another story.

(Own headcanon here, feel free to use)