Henry the Green Engine

Henry the Green Engine was first published in 1952. It was written by the Reverend W. Awdry and illustrated by C. Reginald Dalby.

=Stories=

Coal
Henry is feeling ill. One day, Henry runs out of steam at Edward's station, and Edward takes his train. Henry's fireman tells the Fat Controller that Henry's firebox is too small, and make enough steam. The Fat Controller arranges for James to get some Welsh Coal, and Henry feels a much better engine.

The Flying Kipper
It's Henry's turn to take the "Flying Kipper", and he is pleased at the thought of being allowed to pull the Express. Henry makes good time, but a broken signal sets him on collision course with a goods train. After the accident, Henry is sent to Crewe, and comes back as good as ever, and no longer needs Welsh coal.

Whistles and Sneezles
Gordon is jealous that Henry got a new shape, and makes a fuss that Henry left all his work for them to do, and he whistles too much. Although Henry is sad, Percy and Edward cheer him up. The next day, at Edward's station, Henry sees Gordon rush through with his whistle bellowing the whole way - his whistle valve is out of place. At the Big Station, Gordon leaves his train and two fitters knock his whistle valve into place. Later, Henry repeats Gordon's words, to increase his embarrassment.

Percy and the Trousers
One cold morning, Percy is complaining that he wants a scarf, and even though Henry rebukes him, Percy is still cross. When he goes to shunt some coaches, he approaches the station so quietly that he runs over a trolley two porters were carrying over the line, scattering luggage everywhere. The Fat Controller, furious, seizes his top-hat off Percy's lamp-iron and sends Percy away with a pair of his trousers coiled around his funnel!

Henry's Sneeze
Henry is enjoying himself in the countryside when some silly boys drop stones on him from a bridge, spoiling his paints, injuring the fireman and breaking some carriage windows. His crew cook up a plan to get revenge, and, on the return run, block his smokebox so Henry sprays smoke and ashes at the boys, who returned with some friends to throw more stones. Although Henry has never sneezed again, there have been no more boys with stones.

=Featured Characters=
 * Henry
 * James
 * Thomas
 * Annie and Clarabel
 * Gordon
 * Percy
 * Edward

=Trivia=
 * In the first version of this book, the boys were described as being "as black as niggers" after Henry sneezed at them. This caused a controversy so great that it was reported in a national newspaper. The Reverend W. Awdry apologised for his racially offensive comments, and nowadays that sentence reads "as black as soot".
 * This is the first and only Railway Series book to feature five stories.