Henry’s Forest

**Henry's Forest** is the ninth episode of the third season and the 69th episode overall. It is based on the magazine stories Henry's Forest and Clearing Up.

## Plot

Henry has lived on the Island of Sodor for many years and would not want to live anywhere else. He likes every part of it, but there is one place that he enjoys visiting more than any other; the forest. Henry remembers the day long ago when he and Toby had brought some new trees to be planted and Terence and Trevor had helped to haul them into place.

One night, everything changes as a storm rages across the island. All the engines in the sheds are talking about the wind blowing outside, except for Henry, who hopes that it will not harm the forest. By morning, the winds have gone, but severe damage has been done to the forest. Henry is sent to help Donald clear the line of trees. The big green engine feels very devastated by all the damage done in his forest and now wonders what will happen to all the animals who have lived there.

Henry's trucks are loaded with logs to be taken to the timber mill, where they are recycled to become furniture and other things. Henry takes consolation in the fact the wood will be put to good use, but he is still sad to lose part of the place that meant so much to him. Thomas and Toby feel sorry for Henry and wish there is something they could do to make things better again. Toby later meets the Fat Director at the yards, who notices that the tram engine looks glum. Toby tells him that he and Henry are very sad about the trees and that the forest was a special place to Henry and now some of it has been destroyed. The Fat Director tells Toby that he will soon put things right and sends him to collect some trucks, loaded with small trees all ready for planting.

When Henry returns to the forest, he is surprised to see Terence and Trevor, busily helping workmen to plant the trees. Terence tells Henry that they are beginning again and that the hillside will look better than ever before. Now when Henry stops by his forest, not only can he see the new trees growing tall and strong, but the animals are returning to their home. Whatever sounds these woods bring, he is always happy to be here.

## Controversy

The Reverend W. Awdry is known for criticising this episode for its lack of realism. The major flaws he found were Henry's driver letting him stop in the forest without alerting a signalman (Rule 55), a rule that states that drivers need to notify the signalman that their trains are at a stand which would be paving the way for a severe crash with an unaware locomotive and the number of trees so close to the line that could catch fire from a spark from an engine's funnel. Britt Allcroft, who adapted the episode along with David Mitton, countered the second flaw by claiming to have seen many other railways do the same thing. Despite Allcroft countering what Awdry had said, his criticism may have inspired Henry's statement in the fifth season episode, James and the Trouble with Trees, about the Fat Controller having trees too close to the line removed for fear that they might cause trouble.

## Characters

* Thomas
* Henry
* James
* Toby
* Terence
* The Fat Director
* Gordon *(does not speak)*
* Donald *(does not speak)*
* Trevor *(does not speak)*
* Judy and Jerome *(does not speak)*
* Douglas *(cameo)*
* Jem Cole *(cameo)*

## Locations

* Rail Bridge over Road and Canal Runby
* Haultraugh Beach
* Henry's Forest
* Tidmouth Sheds
* Timber Mill
* Tidmouth Yards
* Knapford Yards

## Trivia

* Despite Henry being the main character of this episode, he only has two lines of dialogue.