THE INTERNATIONAL RAILWAY SERIES No. 3

GORDON AND THE NEW ENGINES

Based upon the original episodes by Andrew Brenner, Davey Moore and Lee Pressman


Foreword

Habari, marafiki wangu! (That's Swahili for "hello, my friends.")

Having to leave my old railway behind in Africa was both a relief but a shame as well; relieved at never having to deal with my old abusive controller again, but disappointed that I'd be leaving my old friends behind and never seeing things get better with his arrest. Happily though, some of them stayed on my old railway and those who got sold on went to other railways around the world, like Kwaku to the United States of America and myself to the Island of Sodor.

Most of the engines of the North Western Railway accepted me, especially after learning about my troubled past, but one of them, Gordon, was a lot harder to become friends with. His attitude did change for the better when the railway's other newest arrival, Rebecca, joined the ranks. I like Rebecca, and I hope that you will as well.

Wako mwaminifu,
Nia


FOREVER AND EVER

Based upon the episode by Andrew Brenner

A couple of weeks had gone by since Thomas' return and Nia's arrival to Sodor. Being in a new environment meant that the Kenyan engine had a lot to learn. The rest of the engines were willing to help Nia learn the ways of Sodor, but there was one engine who didn't even want to know about her...


"Disgraceful! Absolutely disgraceful!"

Gordon the big engine was in a bad mood as he pulled into Wellsworth station to wait for Edward to bank his train. The express had been getting heavier lately, and today was of no exception.

"It's just not right!" complained Gordon as Edward backed up alongside him.

"What isn't right, Gordon?" asked Edward.

"Oh, it's not like you don't know, Edward," said Gordon. "That new engine Nia has taken over your berth at Tidmouth, and she hasn't even been on the railway for a whole year!"

"Is there a problem with that?" asked Edward, not understanding why Gordon was making a huge fuss about it.

"Tidmouth's been your home for many years!" snapped Gordon. "And it was just last year that you abandoned that place just to mentor Philip! Surely you'd be upset by that new engine taking over your berth!"

"Gordon, you know the sheds at Wellsworth are closer to my branch line," said Edward. "Philip needs someone to mentor him, and besides, BoCo's also back and the shed has three berths now. Also, I'm not that bothered about Nia living at Tidmouth. Besides, all engines need a roof over their cabs to protect them from weather damage."

"A fair point about us engines needing a roof to sleep under and that BoCo's finally come home, but when you mentored Thomas when he first came to Sodor, it was only a few weeks at most before he got his own branch line," Gordon countered. "Philip's only been here a few years and yet it was only last year that you decided to take him under his wing!"

Edward decided that this argument wasn't worth continuing, and so he said nothing as he reversed further in order to buffer up to the rear express coach.

"Hmph!" Gordon grunted. "Doesn't care much for my feelings, much like that Henry who's lately been taking recent absences from Tidmouth..."

Edward had overheard the last part of Gordon's complaining and raised an eyebrow at that remark.

"I should have to ask Henry about that the next time he comes by," Edward said to himself.


Later that day, Edward got his chance when he pulled into Wellsworth station; Henry was there, dropping off some passengers.

"Hello, Edward," Henry greeted. "How has life at Wellsworth been treating you?"

"It's been rather well," said Edward. "Philip's taking well to my teachings, and it's been wonderful having BoCo home again. I swear, between Bill, Ben and Philip, it's like we've adopted three children." Edward and Henry couldn't help but chuckle. "How are things back at Tidmouth sheds?"

"Nothing too eventful," said Henry. "Though Gordon's been complaining much more lately since Nia took your berth at the sheds."

"He also mentioned something about you spending less time there too," Edward added.

"Oh, yes," said Henry. "About that. I've been staying at Vicarstown sheds lately with Rosie, Dennis, Murdoch and Bear."

"And it's been working out well?"

"Oh yes," Henry smiled. "I get more time to rest after I finish delivering the Flying Kipper, and it's much more peaceful not to hear James spend about an hour boasting about his appearance after getting a repaint. I swear, Rosie, Bear and I could chat for hours. Murdoch doesn't speak too much, but he's a good listener, and Dennis... well, he's out like a light most of the time." Henry and Edward chuckled again at that last comment. "I was even thinking about asking Sir Topham Hatt if I could move there permanently."

"A change can be as good as a rest," Edward smiled. "I wish you luck."


Meanwhile, Gordon was taking on coal for his express train. But he was still grumbling.

"It's just not fair," he complained. "First Edward leaves Tidmouth Sheds, and now this new engine just comes along and takes his berth. Whatever next; using white rails and rainbow-colored sleepers for our tracks to build a roller coaster for us to work on?!"

The big blue engine looked over and noticed Nia arranging his coaches at the platform.

"And just what are you doing?" asked Gordon suspiciously.

"Arranging your coaches," Nia insisted. "Aren't they supposed to go to the platform?"

"They are supposed to go to platform one," Gordon insisted. "You're taking them to platform four." Nia blushed with embarrassment.

"Sorry," she peeped, bringing the coaches to the proper platform.

Gordon was just backing down onto his train when Henry arrived. The express engine hardly noticed as Sir Topham Hatt came up to the big green engine.

"Could I perhaps talk to you, sir?" Henry asked.

"About what, Henry?" asked Sir Topham Hatt.

"Could I perhaps be transferred to Vicarstown sheds from now on?"

"WHAAAAAT?!" Gordon gasped in shock. "Transfer to Vicarstown?! B-b-but Tidmouth sheds are your home! Why would you want to leave?"

"I felt like I needed a change of pace," explained Henry. "Living at Vicarstown makes it easier for me to rest after delivering the Flying Kipper."

"Well, Henry," said Sir Topham Hatt, "if you feel like you would enjoy the change, then yes. You may relocate to Vicarstown."

Gordon was absolutely furious! First Edward left, and now Henry too? Before he could voice his opinion, the guard blew his whistle.

"Oh, the indignity..." he groaned as he pulled away. Gordon remained in a foul mood for the rest of the day, refusing to speak to anyone. All that was on his mind was the fact that Henry was leaving Tidmouth in favor of Vicarstown.


That evening, Gordon crawled home to his shed. He could see Henry talking to the other engines.

"Do you think you'll be alright there, Henry?" asked Percy.

"I'll be fine," Henry promised. "Rosie, Dennis, Bear and Murdoch will keep me company. And there are extra berths for other engines who stop by to rest as well. So I won't be lonely."

"Well, that's good to hear," said James. "Just so long as a crazy diesel doesn't come from the mainland and try to snatch you up."

"Well, at least I have less of a chance at mistaking another engine for a monster and running into a pond," Henry teased.

Thomas, Percy, Nia and Emily had a laugh while James just scowled. The laughter had died down as soon as Gordon backed into his berth. The engines were now silent, wondering what would happen next. Tidmouth sheds had become so quiet, you could hear a pin land.

"I don't see a reason Henry should leave," snorted Gordon. "Tidmouth sheds is the best place to rest on the North Western Railway." He then glared at Nia. "At least until she arrived."

Nia felt hurt at this comment. It was as though Gordon was blaming her for Henry's decision to leave Tidmouth.

"But Gordon," she insisted, "I had nothing to do with Henry wanting to move to another shed..."

"Liar!" Gordon roared. "Everything was fine before you came along. When Edward left for Wellsworth, I thought he would eventually come back when he had regained his senses. But then you came along and stole his berth! And now you've driven Henry away as well! Is this your grand master plan; to split us all up? Well, I won't let you do this, you hear?! I! WON'T! LET YOU!"

As Gordon's words echoed throughout the yard, the engines just stared at the big blue engine in shock; they couldn't believe he would make such an accusation against someone like Nia without evidence to back it up. The Kenyan tank engine was hyperventilating with fear and sadness at what Gordon had just said, and before anyone could speak up, she had ran out of the sheds in tears.

"How could you have said such a thing, Gordon?!"

Gordon looked over in surprise to see that it was Percy who had angrily called him out for his accusation.

"Nia had done nothing to deserve that treatment!" continued Percy.

"But she-" Gordon tried to speak.

"She was living a terrible life with a cruel manager!" Percy cut in. "Had Thomas not wound up in Africa and brought her home to Sodor, Nia would be spending the rest of her life living in fear without a proper roof over her head. Would you really want for her to continue living that way, Gordon? Just because you can't accept change? You just proved yourself tonight to be a big fat, stubborn, arrogant, narrow-minded bully!"

The other engines were taken aback by Percy's angry rant; they were all equally disgusted by Gordon's actions, but Percy was the only one who dared to speak up on their behalf regarding what they all thought. Before Gordon could respond, Henry was next to speak up.

"Gordon," he seethed calmly, yet furiously, "perhaps it would be better if you left the sheds before someone else loses their temper."

Reluctantly, and still in a bit of shock himself, Gordon left the sheds, feeling the other engines glaring angrily at him.

"I'll go check on Nia," offered Emily.


She found the poor engine in a goods shed near Elsbridge station with only the trucks for company.

"Nia?" Emily whispered. The Kenyan engine looked up.

"Who's there?" she asked, fearing it to be Gordon.

"It's just me, Emily," the Stirling engine replied. Nia sighed with relief. "I'm sorry about Gordon's behavior, Nia. I speak on behalf of the rest of us that he's not a bad engine, but what he said was inexcusable."

Nia felt a bit better.

"Come on back to the sheds," Emily insisted. "You shouldn't have to be out here on your own."

"Alright." With that, Emily and Nia returned to Tidmouth sheds.


Gordon, meanwhile, had tucked into a goods shed near Knapford.

"The nerve of them," he grumbled. "Banishing me from my rightful home all because I was voicing an honest opinion." Before long, the stubborn engine fell asleep.


The next morning, however...

"Gordon!"

"Aah!" Gordon jumped to find Sir Topham Hatt looking right at him, very angry indeed.

"What do you think you're playing at?!" Sir Topham Hatt scolded. "I heard from the other engines what you said to Nia, and I am absolutely ashamed of you!"

"It's not my fault, sir!" Gordon protested. "It's that Nia! She drove Henry into leaving Tidmouth sheds!"

"Henry was thinking about transferring to Vicarstown long before Nia arrived!" snapped Sir Topham Hatt. "She had nothing to do with it! Henry asked to transfer for the same reason Edward transferred to Wellsworth - by choice! You're usually one of my more sensible engines, Gordon. But lately, you've been acting like a spoiled child who didn't get the toy he wanted. I think it's high time you learned to accept change and realize that you can't always have everything be your way. And until you do... I'm taking your express away!"

Gordon was horrified! "Oh, the indignity!" he cried.

"Don't be such a drama queen," scolded his driver. "You knew what you did was wrong, but you chose to do it anyway."

"Actions have consequences," the fireman added. "And you need to accept your punishment."


While Gordon was being punished, Henry was put on the express duties. He didn't mind this change. It felt good to be given a promotion to go with his transfer. However, whenever he crossed paths with Gordon, Henry would refuse to speak to him, and nor did the rest of the engines at Tidmouth.

Gordon felt miserable. Not only had his stubborn attitude cost him his favorite job, but now he had lost the respect of his friends. He began to worry that he would be hated for the rest of his life, all because he couldn't accept changes. But I hope that he will redeem himself for the better. Don't you?


Author's Comments

Well, here we go, kicking off the third book of this ongoing saga with a rewrite of one of the more controversial episodes of season 22! Love it, hate it, or somewhere in the middle, if there was a criticism that I think many fans can agree upon, Henry just moving to Vicarstown like that felt like an afterthought - at least Edward had a reason in A Shed for Edward. For The International Railway Series, we've already established Henry wanting a change, as well as seeing his reactions to Gordon's response, which is a very notable departure from the original. That wasn't in the original plan, but as the story arc evolved, I felt it would work for Gordon's arc about accepting change. He's taken his anger out on Nia, and now his friends are disgusted by his behavior.

Next time, we meet this universe's take on Rebecca in Confusion Without Delay!