Enterprising Engines

"Enterprising Engines" was first published in 1967. It was written by the Reverend W. Awdry and illustrated by Gunvor and Peter Edwards.

=Stories=

Tenders for Henry
Gordon is upset, and the other engines say it is boiler sludge from a dodgy water-tower on the mainland. Gordon goes to take the Express, and asks the Fat Controller if his Doncaster brothers are scrapped. He replies that there is only one left in existence, and Gordon is extremely disappointed. The Fat Controller feels sorry for Gordon, and arranges for his brother, Flying Scostan, to visit. Henry is jealous of the fact he has two tenders and claims he deserves another. Donald and Duck make a plan, and Duck offers Henry some tenders of his. Henry is delighted and accepts, but is made to look like a fool when it is revealed they are full of boiler sludge!

Super Rescue
Two diesels, 7101 and 7101, arrive. 7101 is friendly, but 199 is pompous and rude, saying diesels are more reliable than steam engines. Henry is riding home tender-first, his regulator being jammed, and meets 199 with a train of oil-tankers at a signalbox. 199, ironically, has failed, and so does 7101 after his ejector leaks and he is unable to pull his passenger train. Henry, with some help from 7101, who is still able to move, bravely takes 199 the oil-tankers and the passengers to the next station. Flying Scotsman, to the delight of the passengers, takes the train, while Donald takes the goods. 199 is sent away in disgrace, while Henry helps 7101 home.

Escape
Douglas takes the "Midnight Goods" to the Other Railway, and is preparing to return when a stranded steam engine asks them for help. Douglas buffers up, and the two crews scribble "Scrap" over Oliver to make it look realistic. However, a diesel shouts out a warning, and the foreman stops them. They manage to sweet-talk their way past him, and eventually reach the Works. A friendly foreman shows them where to hide Oliver, his coach, Isabel and his brake-van, Toad, and Douglas quickly runs home.

Little Western
Douglas arrives in time to see Flying Scotsman off, and Douglas tells the others his news. Gordon declares that Douglas should tell the Fat Controller, who overhears and enquires about the fuss. They tell him they need another engine, a steam engine. the Fat Controller sounds grave at first, telling them they are rare to find, and Douglas is about to interrupt when the Fat Controller reveals Oliver is being mended. The engines are happier after that. In the end, 7101 stays is renamed "Bear", after the growling noises he sometimes makes, Oliver, Isabel and Toadare repainted, three new coaches are rescued from Scrap and given to Oliver and Duck, and the Fat Controller re-opens the branch going to the Small Railway and asks Oliver and Duck to run it.

=Featured Characters=
 * Henry
 * Gordon
 * James
 * Duck
 * Donald and Douglas
 * Oliver
 * Flying Scotsman
 * 7101
 * 199
 * The passing diesel (is not seen)
 * Isabel and Dulcie (do not speak)
 * Alice and Mirabel (do not speak)
 * Toad (does not speak)
 * Other Railway Diesels (cameo only)