Haunted Henry (The Railway Stories)

Haunted Henry is the second episode of The Railway Stories Installment, Haunted Tales on the Railway.

Plot
The Fat Controller is opening an old station and branchline in the forest by the lake, and Percy is chosen to take the supply trains to the station, and one night, Percy and the maintenance crew spot a figure in the station, and Percy and the maintenance crew are so badly shaken, that The Fat Controller orders Henry and a new maintenance crew to do the rest of the work.

One night, Henry gets ready to take a goods train, and Edward warns him that when an owl hoots, a mist and a ghost will roll in, but Henry scoffs at the story and accuses Edward of hanging round with Percy too much, but to Henry’s surprise, a mist rolls in. He has to slow down at an amber signal and after seeing a closed crossing gate, a red signal, a fogman’s coat on a tree branch and a light flickering in the station, Henry and his crew decide to turn back. The next day, they discover that the viaduct was unsafe and would have collapsed if they crossed it. Later, Percy teases Henry about the incident, and Henry’s driver informs him that the viaduct has been repaired and they can try to cross again tonight.

While waiting at the station, Henry gets spooked by an owl hooting and Gordon speeding by. The trucks start teasing him, and Percy arrives with more trucks for Henry’s train, and Percy reveals that he has been ordered to help Henry take the goods train. Henry and Percy leave the station, and when they arrive at the old line, the trucks see the crossing gates close and the signal turning red by itself and they become spooked too. Regardless, they charge through the gates and an anonymous figure monitors Henry and Percy. Worse still, ahead is a landslide on the line. The trucks run over the rubble and plunge into a ravine. Soon, Old Bailey the fogman arrives on a handcart and reprimands Henry and Percy’s crew for ignoring his warnings. Henry and Percy’s crew apologise and to make up for it, The Fat Controller reopens the station and branchline and Old Bailey is made the stationmaster.

Characters

 * Edward
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * Percy
 * The Fat Controller
 * Old Bailey
 * Thomas (Cameo)
 * James (Cameo)
 * Annie and Clarabel (Cameo)

Script
Narrator: "One autumn morning, The Fat Controller came to see Percy at Tidmouth Sheds."

The Fat Controller: "The old station and branchline in the forrest by the lake is going to be restored.

Percy, you are in charge of taking the maintenance crew and supply trains to the old line."

Percy: "Yes, Sir!"

Narrator: "Said Percy, but he was a little nervous.

The old station and branchline had not been used for a really long time.

Percy didn't like taking the supply trains there. There was something odd that he couldn't put his buffers on, but he didn't dare mention it to any of the other engines.

One night, Percy and the maintenance crew were working late."

Foreman: "We're almost finished for tonight Percy."

Narrator: "Said the Foreman."

Foreman: "We just need to take some of the supplies down to the viaduct before we head back."

Percy: "Yes, Sir."

Narrator: "Said Percy.

Soon, they delivered the supplies to the viaduct, and they were heading their way back, when suddenly..."

Foreman: "Whoa, Percy! Stop!"

Narrator: "Cried the Foreman."

Percy: "What's the matter now?"

Narrator: "Asked Percy."

Foreman: "That's strange."

Narrator: "Said the Foreman"

Foreman: "I thought we turned off the lights before we left."

Narrator: "Then the Foreman saw a figure inside the station."

Foreman: "I don't appreciate any of my men playing tricks on a worksite..."

Narrator: "He said."

Percy: "Um, Sir..."

Narrator: "Interrupted Percy."

Percy: "They're all here."

Narrator: "Suddenly, the figure hit the window with a loud BANG!"

Foreman: "Um, okay,"

Narrator: "Said the Foreman, anxiously."

Foreman: "I think we've seen enough for tonight.

Please take us back Percy!"

Percy: "You don't need to tell me twice!"

Narrator: "Wailed Percy,

And he steamed back as fast as his wheels could carry him.

The next morning, Percy told Gordon and Henry about what he saw."

Gordon: "A Ghost?!"

Narrator: "Laughed Gordon."

Gordon: "Honestly, Why do you waste our time with this nonsense Percy?"

Percy: "It is not nonsense!"

Narrator: "Snapped Percy."

Percy: "Ask the workmen if you don't believe me."

Henry: "Who were probably tired after a hard day's work."

Narrator: "Grumbled Henry."

Henry: "Honestly Percy!

You were most likely seeing things in the night."

Percy: "I know what I saw!"

Narrator: "Replied Percy."

Percy: That line is cursed, and I'm not going down it again!"

Narrator: "And he didn't, and neither did the workmen.

A new crew was working for the maintenance work, and The Fat Controller chose Henry to take the supply trains.

But Henry was not happy."

Henry: "Despicable!"

Narrator: "Spluttered Henry."

Percy: "What is?"

Narrator: "Asked Percy."

Henry: "I have enough work to do, and now I have to do your work as well."

Narrator: "Replied Henry."

Henry: "All because some... Ghost Malarkey!"

Percy: "It is NOT Malarkey!"

Narrator: "Wheeshed Percy."

Percy: "Besides, It's not like I MADE The Fat Controller choose you, so don't get cross with me."

Henry: "I have every right to be cross with you!"

Narrator: "Snapped Henry." Henry: "Next minute, you won't want to come out of the sheds because the sun's too bright.

Really, Percy!"

Narrator: "And Henry fumed away.

Later that evening, Percy was helping Edward finishing the shunting at Wellsworth Station."

Edward: "Thank you for helping me out Percy."

Narrator: "Said Edward."

Percy: "At least it's better than being stuck in the sheds with Gordon and Henry."

Narrator: "Snorted Percy."

Percy: "I'm telling you, Edward. I know what I saw.

The workmen can back me up. What more proof do they want?

That station is haunted! No doubt about it."

Edward: "You know I never shy away from a good ghost story, Percy."

Narrator: "Soothed Edward."

Edward: "But ghosts aren't real!

There's surely an explanation for what you saw."

Percy: "I'd like someone to spell it out for me then!"

Narrator: "Muttered Percy.

Just then Henry arrived at the Station with the goods train he was taking to the old station."

Edward: "Good evening Henry."

Narrator: "Said Edward, politely."

Henry: "A 'Good Evening' Edward,"

Narrator: "Retorted Henry."

Henry: "Is when you're sleeping in your sheds, while other engines do the work they're supposed to do.

I'm meant to be up early pulling the Flying Kipper! Not out late taking a Goods Train to an abandoned station.

Oh, and for Heaven's Sakes!"

Narrator: "He snorted."

Henry: "How does anyone get any sleep with all these owls hooting?"

Edward: "They're hooting for a reason!"

Narrator: "Murmured Edward."

Edward: "They say whenever that owl hoots, a mist rolls in.

There's a legend that when the mist is about, there's a ghost about too.

Take care on the old line, Henry."

Henry: "Nonsense!"

Narrator: "Said Henry."

Henry: "You've been hanging out with little Percy for too long Edward.

Stupid bird!"

Narrator: "He snorted, as he steamed away."

Henry: "Owls, mists, ghosts. Edward's going soft to the boiler. There's no mist."

Narrator: "But Henry was wrong."

Henry: "What's that?"

Narrator: "Cried Henry."

Henry's Driver: "It's an amber lamp."

Narrator: "Murmured his driver."

Henry's Driver: "That means 'proceed with caution'.

Who's there?"

Narrator: "No one replied.

Henry crepted slowly forward. He stopped by a tree. It had a sign nailed to it: BEWARE OF THE VIADUCT!

The driver was surprised."

Henry's Driver: "No one warned us about that before and look, the signal's red and the gates are closed. A-a-a-and there's a fogman's coat. But where is its owner?"

Narrator: "Then, they saw a light move within a station building."

Henry: "G-g-g-g-GHOSTS!"

Narrator: "Exclaimed Henry."

Henry: "Edward was right."

Henry's Driver: "Something very strange is happening."

Narrator: "Said his driver."

Henry's Driver: "I think it's best we go back."

Henry: "So do I!"

Narrator: "Agreed Henry.

By morning, the mist had cleared. A workman was talking about the unsafe viaduct."

Workman: "Lucky you didn't cross it last night."

Henry's Driver: "Yes, but we don't know who warned us!"

Narrator: "Replied Henry's driver."

Percy: Eventful night?"

Narrator: "Teased Percy."

Henry: "N-No No!"

Narrator: "Stuttered Henry."

Henry: "Quite the obvious in fact.

It's very lovely and peaceful at night.

I don't know what the fuss. That silly old branchline isn't h-haunted at the slightest!"

Narrator: "Just then, Henry's driver walked up to him."

Henry's Driver: "The Viaduct has been repaired. We can take our train back along the old line tonight."

Henry: "Oh, y-yes!"

Narrator: "Spluttered Henry."

Henry: "Why not?"

Narrator: "But secretly, he really didn't want to.

But when nightfall came, he was sizzling nicely. Suddenly, an owl hooted, and Gordon thundered by.

Just then, Percy arrived with some trucks."

Percy: "Well, well lads!"

Narrator: "He chuckled."

Percy: Is our dear Henry spooked?"

Truck 1: "He sure is!"

Narrator: "Laughed a truck."

Truck 2: "Gordon got him good."

Narrator: "Said another."

Henry: "Be Quiet You Silly Trucks!"

Narrator: "Snapped Henry."

Henry: "I'm not scared!

And, What are you doing here?"

Narrator: "He then asked Percy."

Henry: "Don't you have anything better to do?"

Percy: "I wish I had something better to do!"

Narrator: "Replied Percy."

Percy: "I was ordered to bring more trucks for your train."

Henry: "More Trucks?!"

Narrator: "Spluttered Henry."

Henry: "But that's far too many!"

Percy: "And there's Reason Number 2 for why I'm here!"

Narrator: "Percy retorted.

Percy coupled his trucks in front of Henry's train, and then buffered up behind Henry."

Percy: "Get a move on!"

Narrator: "Snapped Percy."

Percy: "I don't want to stare at your ugly tender all night!"

Henry: "Then Push!"

Narrator: "Snorted Henry."

Henry: "You're just extra weight at this point."

Narrator: "A little later, the fog came down.

As they approached, Henry saw the amber light again."

Henry: "Okay! Here we go!

Narrator: "Henry whispered to himself.

Then, unknown to the engines, the gates mysteriously closed by themselves, and the signal went red. The trucks saw everything, and they were spooked too."

Trucks: "Faster! Faster! There's a ghost about!"

Henry: "Stop! Stop!"

Narrator: "Yelled Henry."

Percy: "What's going on?"

Narrator: "Cried Percy."

(Henry, Percy and the Trucks crash through the gate!)

Narrator: "A mysterious figure watched Henry and Percy go by. Ahead was a landslide blocking the line. Henry and Percy braked as hard as they could, but the trucks hit some of the rubble and plunged into the ravine."

(Trucks Crash!)

Just then, Percy's driver saw a strange sight coming towards them."

Percy's Driver: "What's that?"

Narrator: He asked, the Fireman laughed."

Percy's Fireman: "That's our ghost. It's Old Bailey, the fogman."

Narrator: "Old Bailey was very cross."

Old Bailey: "I tried to warn you about the viaduct. Why didn't you pay attention?"

Henry's Driver: "We're sorry."

Narrator: "Replied Henry's Driver."

Henry's Driver: "Is there anything we can do to thank you?"

Old Bailey: I'd like to operate the station you're rebuilding. If you let me, I promise I won't spook Henry or Percy again."

Narrator: "And in a little while, Old Bailey's wish was granted."

The Fat Controller: "You and your station will be really useful."

Narrator: "Said The Fat Controller."

The Fat Controller: "Let's hear a hearty 'thank you' to the friendliest, uh, ghost on the Island."

Narrator: "Everyone cheered, especially Henry and Percy, who were the happiest of all."