One day Gordon was at Barrow with the morning Express, waiting to return home, when a Diesel from the Other railway passed him with a load of tracks for the new Harwick line. Of course, the Other Railway workers didn't fasten them properly, so one swung a bit loose and hit Gordon's left eye. Throughout the trip back, Gordon gradually lost vision in that eye, and went to the Steamworks, leaving a delighted Henry with the Afternoon Express. There, he received the diagnostic:
Victor said: "We have 2 choices: We can either operate on your eye, which will be painful, or give you lenses". Gordon, being a bit wary of invasive surgery. Chose the latter. Namely, he chose a golden monocle, "In respect to my noble origin" as he put it.
In the evening, he rolled in for his Express run to Barrow. The Passengers were impressed, and James was very jealous.
"Fat Gordon is getting ancient!" he taunted
When Gordon got to Barrow, the Diesels were Dazzled too, but they didn't speak much of it.
"Typical Diesels" muttered Gordon "Too prideful to admit a Steamie is better"
"Stop bitching you" said his driver "always wanting to show off"
Gordon steamed on his way back, hitting 97mph on his way down his hill
"I'll miss this hill somehow when they finish the tunnel" he exclaimed
"We sure won't" said the coaches, never fans of his speeding.
As Gordon rolled into the sheds, James, Percy, and Thomas taunted him.
"Old Sausage" said Percy
"Two feet in the grave!" taunted James
"Imperialist pig" said Thomas, who always was something of a communist
"Filthy commie" Huffed Gordon, at Thomas
"I'm not a commie, I'm a Democratic Socialist" Thomas the Commie Engine said defensively
"Gordon's so old he thinks the Cold War is still happening" Said James
Suddenly, James felt a squirt of cold water go down his funnel
"That'll teach you a lesson about calling my man old" said Belle
She then rolled into the birth next to Gordon and started dirty-talking him
"What does kinky mean?" Asked Percy, into the air
The engines stared at him, so Percy rolled deep into his Berth.
The next day, it snowed. James was sent on the Norramby route to clean it out, since Arthur didn't have the tractive effort to clean it himself. Being the usual prideful Engine that he was, James ran into a pile of snow that was too big for him, so he got trapped. Gordon, being strong as he is, was dispatched alongside Belle to rescue him with the heavy-duty plow. When they rescued a snow-covered James, the taunting went full-swing.
"Who's old now? Huh?" Teased Gordon
James grunted
"Yeah, you're old and too big for your boiler, James"
When they got to the shed, it continued
"Useless midget" said Gordon
"Bothersome Red Sausage" chortled Thomas
"Filthy Commie" Exclaimed Percy
"No, that's Thomas" said Gordon
"Hey, I'm on your side here" whined Thomas, before rolling in Crossly
Percy rolled in too, embarrassed by his mistake
James was already hiding as far back as he could