Big Branchline
Gordon was grumbling as he rolled down the line. The mere thought of him running on a Branchline, let alone Thomas', made his boiler grumble.
"Disgraceful!" He grumbled. "The thought of me running on a vulgar Branchline is not the proper thing!"
He was soon switched onto the Branchline where he entered a curving bend. Gordon looked on and saw the little shed where Thomas' coaches Annie and Clarabel were waiting on the siding. They too heard of the mix-up, but greeted Gordon with courtesy.
"Hello, Gordon!" They both greeted in chorus.
Gordon just grumbled.
"Why can't Percy do it? Or Toby? Or Daisy?" Gordon hissed.
"Percy is helping Toby at the quarry." His driver explained. "And Daisy is at the Works getting a much needed overhaul."
This made Gordon cross. He slowly backed down onto the small coaches, tender first. And even though he was cross, he remembered to be careful. He buffered up to them nice and easy and the shunter facened the coupling. Annie and Clarabel were pleased.
"Such nice manners." Said Annie.
"He knows how to handle coaches very well." Said Clarabel.
This made Gordon smile a bit. But it wasn't for long as he pulled the two coaches and rolled onto the line towards the first station.
At the first station the passengers were waiting as they saw Gordon roll in slowly. They knew of the mix up as the news itself was announced to all. This made Gordon very embarrassed. But passengers didn't seem to mind as they boarded Annie and Clarabel. The conductor blew his whistle and waved his green flag as he entered into the back of Clarabel. Gordon blew his whistle and started off.
Along the journey, Gordon was still grumbling. He was an Express engine after all, so he was used to going fast on the mainline. But since he was on the Branchline he had to obey certain speed limits. He didn't like this one bit.
"Come on, Driver!" Gordon huffed. "I can go faster than this!"
"We can't, Gordon." His driver said. "The rails aren't stable for a big engine like you if you go fast."
This made Gordon very cross.
"Pah!" He fumed. "I'm an Express engine!"
"Why not try and distract yourself?" Suggested the driver.
Gordon was reluctant to do so. But eventually he gave in and decided to look around at his surroundings. At first Gordon scoffed at the small size the Branchline offered. He was about to complain about it until further up the line he saw some wide open grassy fields and some lakes. He saw small farms with crops, livestock, and some windmills. He saw small forests where animals roamed and little critters climbed up the trunks and branches. He saw little hills and small revenes. This little distraction seemed to have calmed Gordon down long enough before he realized he was no longer cross.
But there was one other thing Gordon noticed. It was quiet for the most part. There was no mussel and bustle. No high speeding trains. No loud noises of any kind. It was very peaceful.
"This is actually quite nice." Gordon said to himself.
They stopped at each station letting passengers off and new ones on. Through each station Gordon arrived and passed by, he always spotted something that he would admire. The countryside was nice and Gordon was starting to enjoy it enormously. At the next station, Gordon saw a nice little village. He and his driver and fireman joked that it was small enough to be a model set. Then Gordon noticed some workmen at a shop loading some crates and boxes onto a lorry. Gordon was curious.
"Driver?" Gordon said. "Where is that lorry taking those crates to?"
"They're taking those crates to the harbor, the mainline, and other places." Said his driver. "Trains also take goods to and from branchlines to towns and cities who need food, clothing, and books. These Branchlines are essential to making this possible."
Gordon was amazed.
"Thank goodness Dr. Beeching didn't come here." Continued his driver. "He would have axed this branchline and deprived the villages of it's essential means of receiving goods."
Gordon shuddered at that name. Doctor Richard Beeching was the head of the railway board and had gained a reputation of closing Branchlines and laying off workers as he considered both unnecessary. He introduced plans to modernize and nationalize the many railways of Britain. On paper his plans were brilliant, but in practice it was the complete opposite. The many Branchlines he closed affected many businesses both big and small that relied on them. Because of this many businesses closed down. This earned him the title of the Axe Man. The plans Beeching introduced into effect had failed and reputation was falling like stones. To try and salvage it, he tried to come to Sodor to improve the island's railways in his image. But the Fat Controller and Thin Controller soon put a stop to that and they sent the disgruntled Doctor packing. But that's another story.
Gordon began to ponder about Branchlines and their significance on the railway. He soon realized that he was wrong about Branchlines. They were a vital part in keeping the railways alive. Gordon shuttered at the thought if Dr. Beeching would have come to Sodor, the results would be disastrous.
They continued on their journey as they were nearing the last station. However, Gordon's driver looked out of the cab and gawked in realization. He gently pulled the breaks and Gordon slowed down.
"What's the matter, driver?" Gordon asked.
"The bridge that runs over the river." His driver said, pointing. "It's not strong enough to support your weight."
Gordon looked to where his driver was pointing and saw the bridge. He could tell just by looking at it that it looked thin and paper. But Gordon knew they had to get to the last station.
"We must get the passengers across." Said Gordon with determination.
"But if we go on that bridge it might collapse." Said his driver.
"We must try." Persisted Gordon.
His driver and fireman were reluctant at first, but they knew Gordon was right. They had to get the passengers to the station. His driver gently undid the breaks and allowed Gordon to slowly drift across the bridge. The two men and the engine gulped as they went along the small piece of track. At first, the first half of the trek was fine and there were no problems. But on the last half of the stretch, there were rumbling, cricking, and cracking sounds from beneath. Gordon, his driver and fireman, and the two coaches all gawked, gasped, and gaped in horror.
"That doesn't sound good." Said his fireman.
"We better stop." Said his driver.
"No!" Persisted Gordon. "We must keep going!"
"You can do it, Gordon!" Cheered Annie and Clarabel.
It was a traumatizing experience, but with careful and gentle movement and a determined perseverance, Gordon made it safely over the bridge.
"Phew!" Sighed his driver and fireman. "We made it!"
"I've done it! I've done it!" Cheered Gordon.
Everyone cheered inside Annie and Clarabel as they made their way to the last station.
After the day was over, Gordon placed Annie and Clarabel on a siding for one of the engines to bring back to the top station of the Branchline. Gordon said goodbye to the two coaches and they both thanked Gordon for a splendid run.
Gordon returned to the mainline shed where Thomas was there, waiting. He saw the proud smile on his face and smiled in admiration.
"Well, Gordon." Said Thomas. "I hear from Annie and Clarabel that you were marvelous."
"Indeed I was, little Thomas." Gordon said, proudly. "And I heard from the coaches how hard you worked. I am very thankful and proud of you."
"Thank you, Gordon."
Gordon then changed tones.
"You're Branchline is wonderful. I never gave much thought to it's significance on the railway. It is indeed very usual." Gordon said.
"Not so vulgar is it?" Teased Thomas.
And both engines laughed.
"All the same, thank you Gordon."
"Of course." Gordon said.
Just then they saw a blue car driving up towards the shed. Both engines then shuddered in horror. They knew who that car belonged to. It was the Fat Controller.
"Oh dear." Said Gordon.
"What will he say?" Thomas added.
But to their surprise, the Fat Controller was smiling.
"I heard all about the mix up and heard you two did a splendid job." He said proudly. "The station master is very sorry for the mix up and promises to make sure that will never happen again."
He then turned to Gordon.
"I heard from your drivers that you learned an important lesson about Branchlines and why they are essential to railways everywhere. I am proud of you."
"Thank you, sir." Gordon said.
"Sir?" Thomas spoke up.
"Yes, Thomas?"
"Is it true that you sent Beeching packing?"
The Fat Controller laughed.
"Indeed I did, Thomas. Though it wasn't easy."
Gordon and Thomas smiled in admiration.
"How did you do it, sir?" Gordon asked.
"That's a story for another day." He said.
He walked back to his car and drove off leaving the two blue engines with proud smiles on their faces.
Nowadays Gordon doesn't talk badly about Branchlines anymore and doesn't think of them as vulgar. He now sees them as essential but also very peaceful as well. Should any engine mock Thomas' Branchline or any other branchline, Gordon is always there to defend it and berate anyone who does. Thomas is always grateful for Gordon's support. And the two have truly become a Grand Alliance.
