Gordon the Big Engine
It was late one day after Gordon returned to the station, he yawned and said "Sometimes, it's so hard to be such a splendid engine."
His crew left after dousing the fire to get a drink and rest when Henry passed, "Hullo Fatface!" He cheekily said and passed.
"The cheek! How dare he speak to me like that. I who never derailed or had a major incident?" Gordon spluttered, he had love of the theater and opera and occasionally spoke melodramatically. During these times it was unwise to anger him or talk to him in general.
Percy, shunting in the yard came up, "Aren't burst safety valves and jammed whistles incidents?" He inquired without a hint of malice.
"Not at all little Percy. They're high spirits. Can happen to any engine. Volare's gone through a few let me tell you." Gordon said hoping to impress the engine, "But coming off the rails like those two. It's not proper." He added for effect.
Percy raised an eyebrow and said "Very well. See you." taking workmen and sleeper trucks to do maintenance. Gordon was unaware he hadn't bought it and mentally congratulated himself on a job well done. Then he returned to the land of dreams once more where by the looks on his face it was a pleasant visit.
Sometime later his crew returned and started the fire up, Gordon was tickled and slowly but cheerfully awoke. His fire was still sulky and was made worse as Henry passed with the new BR Mk1s.
"Have a fine trip, remember to stay on the rails Henry." Gordon announced and Henry just laughed as he passed.
His driver came up as Gordon said "Why does he get to pull the Express?"
"Orders, a special express needs to be hauled." His driver said, his face betraying no emotion. Gordon knew better and said, already knowing the answer, "Trucks or coaches?"
"Trucks, a shipyards being built in Barrow to build larger ships for the navy and commercial vessels. Stone needs to be brought there." His driver said hoping Gordon would see sense.
Gordon was still cross at his rival and this news just served to further angered him. "Trucks! I won't!" The driver mentally cursed himself and went to the cab where the fireman, a new man, tried without success to build up steam.
"Gordon won't build up steam. I think it's my fault though." The younger man said.
"No problem, once he gets moving you'll have a lesson to deal with an engine who doesn't want to move. He's not in a good mood and once he learned what the train was it made him angrier." The driver said angrily. Then Edward came up having come in from his branch after delivering trucks with James who went to the sheds for a rest.
"What happened with Gordon?" Charlie Sand, Edward's driver called.
"He learned he's taking a express freight. Can you give us a pull to the turntable?" Gordons Driver called.
"I'd be happy to." Edward said, "Seems all I do is pull him and push him." Gordon didn't rise to the challenge and attempted to lock his brakes on. His crew was prepared for this and grabbed the lever. After a brief battle Gordon lost as Edward bumped him and the crew locked the lever into place.
"Don't be silly Gordon. James did his jobs well, even the freight train." Edward soothed.
"That little engine? He hardly counts as a big engine." Gordon sniffed.
James glared at him and said "I'd rather deal with Thomas after being late then hear this."
"Cheer up James. Everyone admires you, Gordon is just cross." Edward replied with a smile.
"I can't believe, fast goods to Barrow. I should be hauling coaches." Gordon mumbled as his crew got out to turn him.
Then it happened, Gordons crew had not reapplied the brakes to make their jobs easier once they turned him. The inspector from BR concluded that they were correct but should have shut off steam. However she herself (For she was BRs first female investigator) concluded that no engine would've pulled the stunt Gordon did without knowing if his brakes were on or not.
As can be guessed Gordon applied his reverser moving him forward as the turntable was halfway through. However his brake lever was still locked by the crew preventing him from stopping after a few feet. Thus Gordon rolled off the table and into a ditch created by an explosion around 80 years before. His crew rushed to the cab and applied the brakes halting him from going deeper in the mud.
Gordon moaned "Get me out!"
"Not a chance you silly great engine!" His driver said.
Then worse followed, a small tank engine came into the yard pulling a coach. Then it whistled three times and stopped. The front door of the saloon coach opened and out stepped a portly figure, although resembling the Fat Director he was his son. Sir Emelyn Hatt, new Controller of the North Western Region after 30 years of services to the crown in transport regiments.
"A fine stop Whiff." He said and the tank engine said "Your welcome sir."
"Hullo! What's this mess?" He asked.
"Gordon didn't want to take the train, we locked his brakes off and Edward pushed him to the table, then he tried to jam it and you can guess." His driver admitted.
The Fat Controller nodded and said "First week directing this region and something goes wrong. Well Gordon, I heard so much about you from my father and the crews. This behavior is unacceptable. James and Edward will have to pull your train. Now, what to do?" He said as James said "Light me up fireman." and his crew rushed over while the Controller went into his coach and made arrangements for the schedule while the two were unavailable.
Gordon felt his position deeply as a family of toads came onto his buffer beam. Lacking steam he could only watch the animals.
That afternoon some boys came along and sang rude songs at Gordon making him feel his position even more and reflect on his silly behavior.
That night Henry and James came to the shed where the Fat Controller watched as workmen laid rails and sleepers under Gordon.
"Excellent, you two are early. You will pull him onto the turntable." The engines sighed and the Fat Controller winked to their drivers who shrugged unaware of the schedule changes he had just done.
As the engines waited they saw the new tank engine and Henry asked "What are you? I've not seen a single wheeler apart from Volare and Emily before. Also are your eyes okay?"
"My name is Whiff, I was built to haul directors trains and light shunting." He replied with a smile, "I like the glasses, they fit me. But I do need them. I can't explain it." He admitted.
"How did you come here?" James asked and the engine said "I became surplus. He was, don't tell anyone." He said very quietly so the Fat Controller wouldn't hear "He was such an awful driver that he crashed into my shed and was banned from driving. So he bought me when he was put as head of this region."
"He still can't drive?" Henry said in surprise "I knew him as a young man and he was terrible. Drove his lorry insane."
Whiffs face dropped and he said "In all my 80 something years of life I never heard of anyone that bad at driving."
"Welcome to Sodor." Henry said with a smile as the foreman said "All clear." and the two engines went to recover Gordon.
First they recovered his tender and then pulled Gordon out. It was difficult work and sometimes it seemed the big engine would slip back into the ditch and take the other two. However they finally pulled Gordon onto the turntable and exhausted but victorious they were uncoupled. The Fat Controller sternly talked to Gordon, "You have caused a lot of trouble for your shed mates. To be honest, I should've left you in there for longer. However we have need of an engine to assist Duck in the yard and haul freight trains."
Gordon said nothing but "I understand."
"Good Gordon. Do your work well and I will put you back on coaches." Henry and James perked up and Henry said "Does this mean we're?"
"Correct. You two will share Express duties until further notice. Henry, you are the primary hauler. When he is unavailable James will do it." Both engines smiled and despite their exhaustion said "Yes sir!"
"Good, now you crew get Gordon's tender reattached. Whiff will be available to take you to your station. I have papers to do. Whiff, collect the tender and then push Gordon into the shed. Then take them home." The Fat Controller ordered. Whiff left to collect the tender and the other two big engines were glad for the rest.
Soon Gordon was put into the shed, a much wiser and solemn engine.