The Flying Kipper (RWS)

The Flying Kipper, also known as The Kipper Express, is the railway workers' nickname for the high-speed goods train that runs overnight from Tidmouth to Manchester. Henry usually pulls the train but whenever he's unable, James is usually given the job.

History
Henry was sent to take the Flying Kipper one morning, with the prospect of pulling the Express as a reward. After leaving punctually at 5 o'clock am, Henry made good time on the way to the Mainland, but unfortunately a set of points had been jammed by the frost and Henry was led down the line into the rear of a goods train. After the large accident that ensued, Henry was rebuilt and became a better steamer.

Soon, Henry had become the main engine in charge of the Flying Kipper. One morning, extra vans for the "Kipper" were required after a boat returned with a greater load of fish than usual and unluckily for Henry the only vans available were old, rusty and dirty. After a quick hose-out, the vans were coupled to the train and loaded and Henry made his way to Wellsworth, where Duck was acting as a "banker". On the way up Gordon's Hill, however, the tail-lamp fell off the rear van, causing Henry to lead up the hill with the "Kipper" while Duck, confused, lagged behind, until Henry slowed enough for Duck to catch up and ram the rear van. The train remained stuck on the hill until the late morning.

While Henry was away being overhauled, the engines took it in turns to pull the Flying Kipper. Everyone seemed satisfied with this arrangement, except James, who claimed that "you couldn't get the smell off your tender for weeks". As James was preparing to leave one evening, a forklift, swerving to avoid another, tipped the crates of fish it was carrying onto the rails, causing their contents to spill just in front of James. The fish were hastily picked up, but when James tried to start, oil left by the fish caused him to slip helplessly. The rails were hosed down carefully and after sand was spread on the rails, James set off at last, many minutes late.

Stops

 * Tidmouth Harbour
 * Cronk
 * Barrow-in-Furness
 * Manchester

Basis
All the rolling stock used for the Flying Kipper train are all based on real types of rolling stock found in the United Kingdom.

Livery
The rolling stock were painted brown. In The Flying Kipper and Henry the Green Engine, the vans have two white signature fish silhouettes painted on each side.

Appearances
Railway Series=

The Railway Series

 * Henry the Green Engine - The Flying Kipper
 * Gordon the Big Engine - Off the Rails
 * Really Useful Engines - Fish
 * Henry and the Express - Sliding Scales

Companion Volumes

 * 1983- The Flying Kipper and Henry the Green Engine