chiaknight

[chiaknight]

Henry/Percy frankenstien engine solidarity.

I've just had a realization about Henry Mk1, the fictional sodor locomotive that was rumored to be built to stolen plans by an engineer jealous of Sir Nigel Gresley, but who stole the wrong plans. The engine was so flawed when built that they unloaded it to the first desperate buyer--Mr. Topham Hatt--who "wanted an Atlantic, but that ----- ------ ------ sent me that!"

So Henry I is said to have an undersized firebox, but he's also said to look like Gordon, and most of the best guesses for Henry's basis is that it was a modified Ivatt Atlantic stretched into either a ten wheeler or a Pacific. He also looks to have as wide a firebox as Gordon's in the illustrations and in the classic show.

an Ivatt Atlantic.

The A0 prototype--also thought to be Gordon as built, though he would have been heavily modified until he was mechanically identical to the A1s. (i.e., Flying Scotsman, Great Northern, etc)

Suppose Gresley's first thought was to stretch an Atlantic into a ten wheeler, and not a Pacific. With no room for the driving wheels, he'd have had to cut into the firebox, changing it into a narrow "keyhole" shape like Edward's. He would have done some calculations on the firebox's heating rate versus the power output of the engine, and determined that the loco wouldn't work, and then tossed the plans--right into the thief's hands.

My theory is that Henry I had the boiler barrel of a Large Boiler Atlantic, and he was built with larger cylinders (comparable to Gordon's, rather than the original Atlantic's). Maybe even three or four cylinders, maybe intended to be a compound like some of the Ivatt Atlantics iirc, but built by the thieves incorrectly as a simple-expansion engine. But he had a thin 'keyhole' style firebox squeezed between the rear drivers.

So Henry was lugging around Gordon-type weight, held a Gordon amount of steam and water, and had just as much tractive effort as Gordon... but with a firebox barely larger than Edward's. He'd take ages to build pressure, and when he did, he'd exhaust it faster than he could build up more.

He looks like he had a wide firebox like Gordon because in order to mask this obvious oversight, Henry's builders built the boiler jacket, the smooth painted outer hull, to be the same shape as an Ivatt Large Boiler Atlantic's boiler jacket, but most of it was just hollow.

Combine that with generally poor build quality--valve gear out of time, low factor of adhesion despite the extra driver due to oversized cylinders, leaky fittings and cylinders--and you got yourself a "deplorable" locomotive, but one that is ultimately recoverable if he's given the care he deserves.

Plus I like Henry being a ten wheeler pre- and post- rebuild.

[chiaknight]

Pardon me for bothering, just wanted to say I was enamored with Alice when I first found your art after stepping into this fandom; she has a wonderful design and your art is lovely! Are you alright with folks asking questions about Alice? Keep up the good work otherwise!

First of all, thank you so much! 😁😁

And yes yes, absolutely I am!! Good questions are really the ones that get me thinking about her and sometimes even improve her, so ask away!

[chiaknight]

Alice is back!! Actually I've been making a TON of changes to her, which is why I haven't posted about her in a while... (and her name may not technically be Alice anymore-) but I wanted show off some little idea sheets I've been cooking up over the last year!

[chiaknight]

Down the Mine pilot being released was NOT on my 2025 bingo card and yet here we are!

Semi-related: I cannot look this man in the eye

[chiaknight]

RIP Pursuit 😔

[chiaknight]

Don't mind me, just reblogging one of the top three Henry episodes

Happy Earth Day!! 🎉🥳 🌍🌎🌳🌲🌊🌬️🏜️🏞️🌅🌅🏖️🌈🌊🌀🌪️⚡☔💧☁️🌏🪴🌵🍁🌼🥀🌷🌸💮🌹🌻🌼 Here's a special Classic Thomas the tank engine episode! "Henry's Forest" Enjoy!!!

[chiaknight]

Gordon napping while a worker cleans out his smokebox.

[chiaknight]

What’s better than ONE Henry?

MULTIPLE Henrys of course!

Collection of mostly recent doodles of Henry, gotta give some love to the forest loving green engine ☺️

- Mod Mar

[chiaknight]

- It takes a village -

Even though steam engines are these dirty, great, machines built for purpose, for some inexplicable reason they have a soft spot for kids.

I love it, it's so cute.

(Toddlers are adorably rambunctious and all of the babies I get given to hold at work, always sort of stare right into my soul, they're people in progress.)

So with locos, most of them would try to stay focused on their work, but as things go, when a member of railway staff has a baby, word quickly spreads and gossip ensues.

You can't keep a railway quiet, don't even try.

At first the engines may feign interest, but soon they begin asking a few too many questions, and pretty soon you'll find they're arguing at the sheds about the proper way a nappy/diaper is supposed to go on.

---

"Obviously it goes on the head."

"Pah, clearly it's a catching impliment."

"No, no, no, it's animals at the front and tape at the sides."

"You're all wrong, children are animals, so obviously they belong outside."

"A baby? In the wild? Don't be daft!"

"They'll be fine, we'll give them a tent."

"You'll have them hunting next..."

--- What's the point? ---

There's this theory among some loco behaviourists, that engines actually consider humans at any given age to be *Ahem* "very cute and precious."

This is likely due to our size and relatable fussiness, although a fair few engines have been less kind in describing us.

"fickle time-wasters that should spend less time asking questions and more time getting onboard the coaches."

Now kids are otherwise innocent, until they smash your windows or send you packing down the line of course, but aside from that, they're mostly angels.

They aren't big problems in the grand scheme of things, it's when they grow up and start complaining that things become difficult.

"Are you getting onboard or not?!?" James hissed steam furiously.

"No, your attitude stinks."

"Say it to my face."

Customer service is number one here.

--- Why do they even bother? ---

No matter how big a workaholic the engines may seem at first, sooner or later they will find themselves met with distraction. They can't resist pulling a face, or having an opinion after all.

The infant latching instinct quickly takes hold. "Oh look, a baby."

Edward himself has been on the railway for many years. He's seen generations of passengers grow up and go on to have families of their own. Even so he still can't help but smile whenever a child comes up to greet him.

"I remember when your grandfather was little. Day in, day out all i'd ever see was his poor mother pushing him up and down the platform in his stroller, he was inconsolable."

"His colic was so bad, passengers desperate for peace would be marching around taking turns trying to soothe him. I felt dreadful for them both, but as my driver says, the road to parenthood didn't come with a map."

The old engine was very wise, trains can't be parents of course, he did however manage to learn a few tricks.

Parental methods can be useful for dealing with naughty tank engines.

The Fat Controller himself has been heard quoting his mother almost verbatim when a loco's in hot water. It's funny, when it comes to handling small children and big locomotives, the skills involved are almost transferable.

Minus the changing, bottle feeding, and bedtime stories... Almost.

*cleans out ash box, fills up with coal, and tucks the engine into the shed for the night*

---

"The midnight express is here." Soothed the fireman.

Gordon: *Aggressive snoring*

---

Some locos consider human young to be something of a nuisance. They do come around with time, but others remain indifferent. You can't blame some of them for holding a grudge.

James: "It smells weird, it sounds weird, I don't like it."

Gordon: "I've had quite enough of those little screaming demons today, thankyou."

--- Later that evening ---

Gordon was quietly waiting at his berth after a busy day. He didn't know it yet, but his crew had a big suprise for him.

Soon his driver slowly approached him, carrying an adorable baby in his arm.

"Hey big fella, I want you to meet someone very special."

The driver then slowly and gently rested the infant on the engine's running board. The small child cooed and drooled, their pacifier was almost as big as their face. Gordon stared down at the child as they clapped excitedly at him.

*Gordon's face shifted slowly, melting into a warm doting smile*

"We're in the fostering stages right now, but I thought you two would like to get acquainted," the driver told him proudly, waving the baby's arm.

Now Gordon wasn't normally the type to let his guard down, but when as soon as he looked into the little baby's eyes, the driver immediately knew he was lost.

The big engine always was a big softy.

*Silly noises ensues*

The bigger they are, the harder they fall. Gordon's heart is no match for a tiny baby.

--- Babies, how do they work? ---

In recent years, it's become somewhat of an informal tradition for the engine crews to introduce some of their newest arrivals to their work.

The engine would be left to wait at the platform or sheds, the Fat Controller would step up with the parents, and one or both would gently introduce the little bundle.

Everyone loves a suprise and heaven knows it lights up that paticular loco's day. Even when the first initial meeting goes a bit awry, the loco usually comes around quick when they find out the infant shares their name.

The competition for the crew's attention fades quickly, and soon the silly machine will find themselves inexplicably third wheeling in their crew's family affairs.

"I'm your kid's uncle now, no arguments."

--- What happens next ---

You will get some locos insisting on an "official" Sodor tour, from the safety of the coaches mind.

Because it's good to start early introducing kids to the wonder of railways.

"On the footplate son, we leave at noon."

Thankfully, common sense often triumphs these days. No more babies next to smokey fireboxes or near fume vents, thankyou gentlemen.

The Fat Controller's has enough headaches without worrying about infant driving the trains.

--- Oh Lord, not the seating ---

Finally, there's the matter of "code baby," rarely and only ever used by people in the know, namely the railway staff.

This always sends alarm bells ringing and the poor crew screaming down the line to the nearest signal box.

"There's a woman in labor, the coaches are screaming, a gentleman has fainted, and the only doctor onboard is an orthopedic!"

These phonecalls are always met with slight panic, but almost as fast as the Fat Controller's sanity can spiral, he spurs into action.

"Oh lord in heaven, the poor upholstery!"

Once the panic settles, the railway quickly gets moving like the well-oiled wooden machine it is.

The Fat Controller was on the case.

"The signalman called for an ambulance and it'll be at the nearest station soon."

Then he turned to his awaiting team.

"You call the stationmaster, you call the cleaners, you send an alert out to halt traffic and clear the line, and you call the clinic and have my foot appointment moved up."

Everyone was on the toes, and word spread quickly to the sheds and workshops.

"There's a baby being delivered on a coach!"

"Oh no, not the upholstery!"

As the drama unfolded onboard, passengers quickly backed away and open windows to let in air.

"You find someone with water, you make her comfortable, and you search the luggage and look for towels."

"Anything I can do?" Asked the kind doctor.

"Her ankles are swollen."

The guard has been here before and he was prepared.

"This baby ain't waiting."

The coaches were mortified, but desperate times called for desperate measures.

The engine on duty ran as smoothly and quickly as possible, taking every shortcut and blazing down every line.

In no time at all they'd made it to the nearest station where the ambulance was onhand, but by then the job was done.

To the sound of applause and cheers, the passengers echoed as they erupted out of the coaches.

"It's a girl, it's a girl! They sang and cheered.

The guard had managed to pull off an awkward delivery while the engine was in motion. Soon the paramedics rushed in to check on mum and baby.

The Fat Controller had rushed down himself to personally help manage the crowds.

The guard and engine were indeed heralded as heroes that day. He got a handshake, a crate of beers and was even featured in the local paper.

"Sodor man makes special delivery."

The mother hadn't forgotten about the loco that helped her that day either.

For as old as that engine was, they had not only managed to get everyone to the station early, but in record time too.

And in their honour, the baby was christened the name Emily.

The Fat Controller even threw in a lifetime rail pass, a more than fitting gift for a baby born on his railway.

[chiaknight]

Yes. Yes it does.

Source: I have watched this five hundred times

does this count as art

editing is an art right

i have more thomas fans on this blog than i do my other so im posting this here

[chiaknight]

Cranky having a healing moment in the book 'Really useful stories for growing up.'

[chiaknight]

[chiaknight]

Why is Hank called “Handsome Hank”?? He’s not handsome at all!

[chiaknight]

Gordon: calls Henry a treehugger and scoffs at him

Gets roundly slapped by low hanging branches as he passes through the forest

Returns home covered in leaves and twigs

Thomas: Did you get your own branch line, Gordon?

Henry: nearly bursts his boiler laughing

[chiaknight]

"Here comes Henry, belching smoke as usual," Gordon grumbled.

"Cheer up you galloping sausage," laughed Henry. "Look up!"

[chiaknight]

My Bois

[chiaknight]

cutie patootie