"Are you ready Henry?" Said the driver. "Sneeze hard when I tell you. Now!" He said "Achoo!" "Well done Henry!" Laughed his driver

I had no idea that Awdry’s story “Sneezes and Whistles” was based on a true event! I always found it so funny when the boys would get sneezed on by Henry and can’t imagine the good laugh the driver and fireman had afterwards😂

If it's coal dust doesn't that mean that the driver technically threw stones back since coal dust is just small rocks of coal?

I know many of the Railway Series stories were based on true events, but it never crossed me to think if this ever actually happened. Either way, this was very interesting to know.

I similar story happened during Flying scotsman's trip to the USA. On a test run before the tour actually started, some locals gathered on a bridge over the line and threw stones at Scotsman as it passed, even a gunshot was heard. On the return journey, the crew in the cab threw pieces of coal back at them

Interesting fact that this story was picked by Wilbert Vere Awdry, author of Thomas the Tank Engine series, and adopted in the story, Henry's Sneeze.

Fun fact: in Boston during the 1970s and 1980s, people throwing debris over bridges was such a big problem that locomotives were fitted with metal bars in front of the windows to protect the drivers from falling objects. These metal bars eventually got the nickname of “ghetto bars”

I can tell you as a firemen myself there are 100s of stories like this that exist out there somewhere, this was just how life on the footplate was. Footplates crews are a stern bunch you should not mess with thats for sure

As soon as I heard Henry's theme I knew where this was going! Didn't realise until now that the classic episode was based on actual events 😅

He was doing a bit of trolling

I always found the story where Henry got back at those boys by sneezing coal dust on them hilarious. One of Awdry's best stories

I never knew this was an actual event that happened, I had only ever heard the story from the early Thomas and Friends series!

That sure was a satisfying way to get back at those boys, yet another great video! Keep up making these, I'm interested to hear more incidents and amusing facts about railways!

Another story very similar to this, I was told this by my uncle (whether it’s true or not I can’t remember) but there was a gala at a heritage railway, there was this group of children who would sit on the line and then when the crew got down to talk to them, they’d simply dive into the river nearby and swim away. The trains were getting more and more late and so one driver thought of a solution. He was driver on a Great Western engine (famous for their ‘bark’) and so when he approached, he wound the reserver back and opened up the regulator, the engine started barking like mad and the kids dived into the river in horror and swam off. They were never seen mucking about on the line again.

"Henry is going to sneeze at those boys" The fact the thumbnail is a black five too lmao

So this was the real life story that inspired the story of Henry the Green Engine sneezing at some naughty boys who threw stones at him and his crew and passengers on a bridge.

Really taught the boys a lesson. With a little coal soot.

Nowadays the families of the boys would sue the railway company.

Oh wow, I never realised the original story Awdry took inspiration from came from down the road from where I lived XD. I used to walk across that same bridge all the time as a kid.

When Henry's theme played, i knew exactly what this event inspired

One of those "if it's not true it should be" stories that I'll add to my Pub Facts™ file.

Somehow this reminds me of that shirt or bumper sticker "Do not meddle with the affairs of dragons..." Being large, smoke-belching, and steam-blasting, even green in some cases from this era, a steam locomotive is basically a steel dragon, and messing with one is likewise foolish.

This was one of my favorite stories involving Henry the Green Engine! I can't believe it actually happened!

I had a similar event on a heritage line. Instead of coal dust I got all the men at the depot to pee in a bucket. Passing under the bridge I threw this into the firebox. I wonder if they still smell 20 years later!

Moral of the story: If you get someone steaming mad, you will get scalded in return.

Wasn't this also a story adapted into Thomas and friends?

Took me about 15 seconds to realize why Henry’s theme was playing. When you mentioned boys on a bridge, I knew exactly where this was going.

I’ve watched the Thomas the tank engine episode whistles and sneezes loads of times as a kid and didn’t realise it’s possibly based on a true story. Good effort, very clever and great dose of karma

Fun fact the story possibly could’ve been the inspiration for the Reverend W Awdry‘s railway series story Henry sneeze but the story has lots of controversy because when Henry sneezes on the boys the line The boys “were black as a n!&&?2” was in the book for over 20 years until it was removed until a more appropriate line was added.

THIS IS AMAZING LOL This channel is the find of the century lmao. I remember finding it a year ago.

*Soon they could see the boys, and they all had stones.* *"Are you ready, Henry?" said his driver. "Sneeze hard when I tell you."* *"Now!" he said.* *"A-Choo-Shoo!"* *"Well done, Henry!" Laughed his driver.* I find it amazing that this real-life event was the blueprint for that Thomas the Tank Engine story, "Henry's Sneeze", and then “Sneezes and Whistles” in the TV show.

As a kid I always wondered where they got the idea for the story but never seriously thought it was real but overtime I had heard it was based off of truth. Glad I finally got the details explaining how the actual event went, and even though it sounds outlandish remember truth is stranger than fiction so Its probably safe to say it happened. I'm also glad you used Henry's theme as I could easily see why you were going for.

There one thing, I love about Steam Engines, they have very unique personalities of their own, especially being very protective towards their passengers who wants to enjoy their trip without any trouble on the rails.

Instinct tells me this did really happen. It's too characterfully British not to have *XD* . (never let it be said we don't enjoy getting even with someone who's got it coming) Gave me a good laugh too, a bit like "Never underestimate the power of a Steam Engine; or concequently, the power of Irony"

the driver shall be remembered in railway history

I had a feeling a knew where the video was gonna go when I saw the title. Hearing your music choice only confirmed it for me. I love how you knew exactly what to do to make the connection obvious without even saying a word about said connection. AWESOME VIDEO

Things like this have happened, like on Scotsman’s US trip. Amazing video, anyway!

This seems familiar.... I hope the driver gets to pull the express after that incident

Amazing absolutely amazing! I didn’t know that this story was taking inspiration to whistles and sneezes.

Revenge is sweet. What a great way of dealing with vandals.

“I’m gonna give those boys a REAL scolding!”

So now I know where the inspiration for that Thomas and friend story with Henry in the trouble some boys throwing rocks that his coaches came from I figured there was always a real source to it and not just a fun story😊😊

When I saw the thumbnail I immediately knew what this story was going to be about before even clicking

Henry's driver: Are you ready? Now Henry: AAA-CHOO!

a beautiful case of life imitating art (in a way)

wow, Train of Thought is a big Thomas fan from adding Thomas music, to making videos about real story that inspired the Rev Wilbert Awdry in his thomas books. and that's how the story of Henry's Sneeze was born.

Fun fact this inspired one of R.W Adry stories

The true inspiration of the Thomas and Friends episode Whistles and Sneezes

Henry's theme in the background, very clever

This must’ve been the basis for the Rev. W Awdry’s story Henry’s sneeze… But I guess that’s why you had the theme from the Thomas TV series as background music. All the Rev W’s stories were based on true events, I’d imagine this was no exception.

I knew this story would sound familiar, but the fact that you used Henry’s theme song takes the cake. Love it!😂

This story is slightly less fun when you realize that those children probably suffered severe skin burns as a result of the hot, high-pressure steam

i have, in the pat, used the diesel loco steam generator (for the train heat supply) for just this purpose. It did need some time to set up, but the 'next day', the idiots would be there again, so arranged with the driver to blow the horn at the right time, I was in the engine room, with my hand on the safety valve test lever. On hearing the horn, I let fly as we approached the bridge with said idiots on it. Probably never hurt them (sadly) but it made them think better of coming back any time soon!

The fact that he used Henry's theme in the background shows this was the adaptation for "Henry's sneeze".

I like Henry's theme in the background. Nice homage to the RWS

Fantastic! It's amazing what you can do when you know your way around a steam locomotive. It also made for a really good Railway Series story and its TV adaptation. I love that you added Henry's theme to the video.

Nice story, Im gonna be a party pooper here, so dont read further beyond this line if that bothers you: - increasing boiler presure is not needed, most steamloco's usually operate verry close to max pressure since thats when they are most efficient. -the safety valves usually have a lever for testing purposes so those can be opened at a distance (i.e. from the cab) - opening the smoke box to add slag and what have you doesnt help either, there will acumulate enough in the smokebox as the days trip advances - in regular cases there will be a debris-screen in the firebox to catch any debris that could hurt, damage, or set fire to anything next to the railway. - Removal of the screens in the smoke box would have sufficed. In short, yes the driver may have removed the screens (i wonder where he'd have put them, i guess in the coal tender) at a station just prior to pasing the bridge. And then to let slow down the train to a low speed approaching the bridge, and then close to the bridge to open up the regulator as far as possible without getting in to a wheelspin, That is all it would take to blast them with soot, smoke, steam and hot burning pieces of coal! (and yes i'm a steamloco driver my self)

I love how he doesn’t mention the story but knows we will

The first bridge story was actually adapted in Thomas and friends

I can’t tell if this was the inspiration for the story Henry’s Sneeze or if it’s just a coincidence.

Perfect choice of music and _brilliant_ move to upload this on Earth Day

I love the theme you had in the background, nice touch

"We do a little bit of trolling" _Uno Reverse Card_

Somehow I knew EXACTLY what story this was going to be about.

Music couldn't be more appropriate for this one. Great story, great video.

Of all the things I want to be true, this is probably near the top of the list!

That's nothing to sneeze at.

This is where the story Whistles and Sneezes came from, Specifically the Sneezes part. This was inspiration for one of Audrey’s stories.

I think timing the safety valves to lift at just the right moment would be difficult. I don't know if this was only on oil-fired locos, but I've heard that (on some occasions) when the regulator was opened wide on a long cut-off the fireman would chuck a couple of shovelfuls of sand into the firebox, which would be sucked through the tubes thus sandblasting the accumulated soot out of the chimney. I do know that on some New Zealand steam specials, standing on the outside platform of the old wooden wild-west style carriages, you could feel fine grit descending on such occasions (and I washed plenty of it out of my hair afterwards). So, I would suggest that (if available) would be a suitable treatment - regulator shut, several shovels of coal on the fire (to generate plenty of smoke), then open it wide and a couple shovels of grit at the critical moment.

I love the Henry theme in the background telling us where most of us would've seen it first

"Don't piss off an engine's crew,worst mistake of my life"-Sun Tzu,The Art Of War

Love how you used Henry's theme. Nice to hear the true story behind Whistles and Sneezes.

I knew this had to be that henry story and his theme playing is perfect lol

Well golly gee, I had no idea this was a real story! Great video!

WOW. with the music I just got whiplashed by nostalgia from the old old Thomas episodes.

That is where Henry's Sneeze came from. Well this definitely shows how Rev. W. Awdry worked this tale in the RWS and TVS of Thomas and Friends

Once again, the perfect background music was chosen for a video, but I think it could've been ever so slighly louder.

The coal dust story was actually shown in Thomas and Friends, where it was Henry who was being pelted with stones and he technically sneezed at the kids at his driver's signal.

This driver is a mad lad

I heard Henry’s theme, which is actually fitting since this actually happened in a story with Henry, nice

"The passengers weren't hurt, but they were cross. 'Call the police!' 'No,' said the driver, 'leave it to Henry and me.' 'What will you do?' they asked. 'Can you keep a secret?' 'Yes, yes!' 'Well, then,' said the driver, 'Henry is going to sneeze at those boys.'"

This is the greatest story I’ve ever heard, how haven’t I heard it before?

“Can you keep a secret? Henry is going to sneeze at those boys.”

Love the music! Reminds me of something I saw on tv one time!

I wonder if those boys are still alive and could tell that tale (if it actually happened).

GREAT story thanks for your work, give us more pls^^

I like how you never connect this story to Thomas but rather heavily imply it by using Henrys theme

Exactly like Henry's whistles and sneezes!

This story was used in Thomas and friends called ‘whistles and sneezes’

So now we know how Henry held his sneeze in the show and how any steam engine can sneeze when their smokebox/firebox is full of something (mostly soot and burned out fuel) or as we seen how Bill had a pipe in his funnel when Ben got new buffers.

as soon as i heard Henry's theme i realised this was potentially the inspiration for "Whistles and Sneezes"

Did anybody heard henry's theme in the video? That Henry episode "whistles and sneezes" was based on this event, cool!

The background music is *100%* spot on

I love the use of Henry’s theme here! 😁

This made me smile.

Henry: write that down, WRITE THAT DOWN

*Henry’s Theme* ah, I see where this is going, excellent!

I assume this was the inspiration for Henry’s sneeze.

"There are regular fools and worthless fools, such as these who think that dropping heavy objects from bridges at cars driving beneath is a good idea" - Wendy Northcutt, paraphrased

Just read the Railway Series version of this to my daughter a couple days ago! 😂