Gordon's Untold Story
Ch 1: A new class
1922, 8.46 A.M.
Nigel Gresley looked over the designs one last time for his new locomotive, the A1 Pacific in his new office on the Great Northern Railway. After all his years at Crew, he was now Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Railway or CME. A knock was heard at the door, breaking Gresley from the plans. "Come in," he said in a rather quiet tone. A man in blue overalls covered in grease and soot walked into the room. On his sweaty head, he wore a hat with the letters G.N.R.
"Mr. Gresley, it's finished. We're just waiting you're final inspection and approval sir." Gresley straightened up and followed the worker out of the office to the sheds. Inside the works stood a large engine with grey primer on its boiler. It was a locomotive that England had never seen before.
This locomotive was to be the first A1 Pacific. Gresley walked all round the engine, looking it over carefully. The engine watched as Mr. Gresley stepped onto his buffer beam and examined his boiler, holding on to the hand rail as he went. He climbed into the cab and did a thorough inspection of the levers and gauges. He ran his hand along the regulator, the smoothness of the steel at his fingertips.
Leaving the cab, he stepped down from the footplate and returned to the front of the engine. He looked around at all the men and the engine and at last, smiled.
"Gentlemen, this locomotive is ready for service the mainline!" At this cheers and whistles from the men filled the shed. Gresley held up his hand for silence and the men quieted down. "Job well done, men. This engine will be the first of a new locomotive class. The A1 Pacific!" Gresley walked to the engine and smiled again. "What is your name my good engine?" The engine thought for a moment. He looked at all the men and his designer but could think of nothing.
"I'm not sure sir. What could my name be?" Mr. Gresley laughed.
"Anything you want it to be. Let's see, what about Kestrel?" The engine only made a face of disgust. "All right, perhaps not Kestrel. Hmm, what about Gordon?" The engine smiled at the sound of the name.
"Yes please, sir! I like that name much better."
"Very well, Gordon it is then. Mr. Smith," He called.
"Yes, Mr. Gresley?"
"Have Gordon painted in Great Northern Green and prepare him for mainline testing." Gresley turned and walked back to his office.
And that is the end of chapter one. So, will Gordon pass his mainline tests, will they build more A1s, and will Gordon remain with the GNR? Although it pains me to say it, you'll have to find out next chapter when it gets posted. Anyways, please leave reviews.
