"I win, Hatt" Gordon said to himself, "check mate. I am the boss now. Kneel before Zod."

When Hatt III died the next day, he passed on his 40% shares in the NWR, and options for 15% more, to the CEO. The old man died a day before having a chance to adjust his Will and give the shares to his son. Right after hauling the funeral train, Gordon exercised the options. He now had a majority share in the Railway.

Gordon no longer needed the Coalition he formed to take power, but honored some promises. The mid-sodor route was one. Blasting on the tunnel from Ulfstead commenced on his first office day, and the Arlesburgh-Hackenbeck link was swift to follow. Immediately, the need for new Engines was apparent.

Firstly, he got about the task of acquiring new passenger Engines. Caitlin and Connor would be able to fill for him, as well as Monty, and will need little training. Monty, in turn, would join Donald and Douglas on the mid-Sodor route. Donald and Douglas would be replaced by a new Engine, a Manor-class Engine hopefully. Gordon set off for Swindon, where a Manor-Class Engine could be found.

"Greetings," Gordon said, trying hard to fake a smile despite being in A) GWR soil and B) A shopping mall, "you must be Alfred."

"I am," said the depressed Engine, who was on static display.

"I'm the new CEO of the North Western Railway in Sodor, and I need an Engine."

"Well, I'm more of an Engine-shaped christmas tree."

"You're actually perfect for the job. I need a lightweight, heavy-duty Engine, and that's you. The Engines you'll be working with are both GWR Veterans anyway."

"If you want me, I'll come."

"Let me detail your duties first. You will be pulling passengers and freight on an oceanside line. Dignified work, not tourist nonsense."

"Like a proper Engine, I'll do it."

"I shall make arrangements, then. We'll restore you at Crovan's Gate, our works."

"I look forward to it. I miss being a real Engine. I haven't done proper work in half a century, and I haven't moved an inch for a decade."

"I'll have an Engine come for you tonight. Might just be me."

"Thank you. You're letting me live again."

Gordon returned to Sodor for another headache: Connor and Caitlin. He had made an agreement with the Earl, whereby Connor and Caitlin would be transferred to the NWR, and the NWR would operate the Ulfstead line on his behalf. There was an undisclosed sum transferred, but not substantial since the NWR had always been highly profitable. Regardless of finances, Caitlin and Connor needed training.

First, Gordon double-headed with Caitlin. "Now Caitlin," he said. "You must always be careful not to bump your passengers, but still go at 60mph or more. If I hear that you bumped a coach, you will be pulling a slow goods train."

Caitlin shuddered, "I will never bump my coaches."

"Now let me show you the route. Here is Haultraugh. An Electric Engine will bring your passengers from Douglas. Once given the all clear, you will go."

"At Tidmouth, 3 more coaches will be added to your train. One is a through Coach from Thomas, 2 of the others are running only as far as Crovan's Gate. Make sure Thomas' Coach is coupled first, always."

"Why?"

"The other is detached from your train at Crovan's"

"Here, you stop and exchange passengers with Edward. It is vital that you wait for him 5 minutes, but never more. You must not allow the Express to run late."

"Here, you wait for Toby, Arthur, and a narrow-gauge Engine. You will exchange passengers with them. Arthur will take one Coach, and Toby will take another. If either is late, leave his coach behind for him. From here, run straight to Barrow. Speeding is always good, but always ride smooth."

"Can I race?"

"Never. If you do, I will have your streamlining removed and make you shunt trucks."

He was bluffing, but Caitlin didn't know. With someone like Gordon, the worst should be assumed.

Soon, Gordon had his Engines running, and the future was easy, for now.

Eventually, Gordon realized that he needs to make the new schedules for after the new lines' opening. He was sure this would be fun and games, but it was not. He had to juggle, edit, and re-edit the various Engines' passenger schedules, while setting aside goods trains time. Ultimately, he found the manpower at his disposal adequate, but barely. He had bought a Swedish DMU named Jurgen to pull a local shuttle in greater Tidmouth, and Milosz, a large Tank Engine from the Czech Republic to pull the Kirk Ronan trains, in addition to Alfred, who has since been restored fully. He then got about to having some fun.

First, he got to make some tank Engines miserable.

"Rosie," he said, "why aren't Henry and Bear's coaches waiting for them?"

"I thought I was getting promoted to the Kirk Ronan Line."

"No, that's why I brought Milosz in. You're too small for that Branch line. I am transferring you to the Crovan's Gate yards tonight, which will allow you to pull trains for Arthur if you're good."

"Yes, boss," said the depressed Rosie. "Fuck Gordon" she thought.

Next was Thomas.

"You will be working the Peel Godred services. In peak hours, however, you will haul your train only as far as Elsbridge, and Toby will handle Peel."

"Sir, I can handle the whole trip."

"It's a simple matter of Economics"

"Yes, boss." He wished he could shove Gordon's arrogant ass into a ditch.

Then came Percy

"Now, little Percy, I know the mail train is getting heavier and heavier, so I have relief. The mail train on the mainline and most Branches will run with mainline passenger trains, as is done by the Americans. You will retain the job on the route of Thomas' branch and from Peel to Harwick."

"Will I have other mainline jobs?"

"No, little Percy. You are too small to run on the mainline properly. You can, if you wish, work as the Back Engine on my hill at peak hours. Edward and BoCo could use help."

"I'll do that, boss." Percy did like Edward a lot, and always loved to help his friend, even if it was raising Gordon's percentage-of-profit salary.

Now was the moment Gordon has been waiting for almost 60 years. He was to reassign Diesel.

"Diesel," the big Engine spoke.

"What do you want, stinky steamie?" asked the angry Diesel

"That's Mr. Controller to you. You're going to be working at the Magnesium mine."

"I should be pulling the Express."

"You're heading for the Magnesium mine. It's north of Peel Godred. I hope I shall not have to ship you by flatbed."

"I will head there at once."

"Know this, Diesel," Gordon said, using Diesel as an epithet rather than a name, "I will send you to the mainland. I know several people who will love to have you on static display."

Next was Diesel 10. Gordon only dared approach him with backup in the form of a shotgun mounted on him, even though he was currently in a marsh outside the dump.

"Diesel 10," Gordon said, hiding his fear behind a facade of rudeness.

"Have you come to die, steamie? Shall I pull your express?"

"I'm the new controller."

"So I'm being scrapped?"

"No, you're going to be made useful to his railway again."

"So I'm being scrapped?"

"No, you're getting a job. I will be having you work. I intend to remove your claw, repair you, and have you pull trains. We will start with metal to the smelters, but we will try to have you run proper trains if you do well. If you do not, I will put you in a position of great disgrace."

"So I'll be scrapped?"

"No, but hopefully you'll never find out what will happen."

Another pleasant job for Gordon was filming and recording various videos and announcements to be shown on trains. The welcome Video was his favorite. It went, and still goes, something like this:

*Brassy music*

*Zooms in on World map at Sodor*

*shows a master signal board as music diminishes*

*Pans to Gordon, with a train on the Peel Godred line, Culdee Fell white in the background with early Spring snow*

"Welcome to the North Western Railway. My name is Gordon Gresley (he had taken on his designer's name as a surname), and I'm your Director. The railway serves destinations throughout Sodor, and beyond."

*Pans to shots of Engines running from various angles*

"We carry Coal, food, milk, automobiles, fuel, slate, and most importantly passengers like you."

*Pans to Tidmouth Sheds*

"Our railway is one of the only places where Steam Engines still pull trains for everyday service. Our Engines, steamies or otherwise, have names and personalities, so stop and say hello."

*shot of the station or train in question*

Station: "You are currently at _ Station. Trains from here depart to (other stations). At (names of key reachable stations) you can take connecting trains to virtually any point in our Network. Your next up train is (train) hauled by (engine) to (stations) at (hour) in (platform).

Your next down train is (train) hauled by (engine) to (stations) at (hour) in (platform)."

Train: You are on the (up/down) (train) calling at (stations). The train will reach the next stop, (station) at (hour). The train will reach its final destination, (station), at (hour). Your train is hauled by (engine).

*Pan to still of Engine*

"Hi, I'm (Engine) and I will pull your train today. I have been working on the railway since (year). I hope you enjoy the ride"

With that, Gordon could lean back, relax, and get a hefty salary.

Why Gordon? As you saw at the End of the Union Series, the Engine Controller took over with Seedy tactics. The other Steamies are too nice, except for James, and James is too boastful for dealing in mud. Gordon is left. He is also the most ruthless Engine, Diesel 10 aside