A fictional story that Gordon finds some more engines for the N.W.R.

It was summer on the Island of Sodor, and the Engines were feeling rushed off their wheels. The busy summer season was even more busier than ever. There were 4 times as many Passengers and Goods, and on top of that the Mainline was going over an extensive overhaul.

"The bad winter weather kept forcing our repair schedule back." The Fat Controller explained to all his Engines at Knapford. "So I have no choice but to carry out the repairs during the very busy summer season. But this means extra, extra, extra, work for all of you."

"This means more passengers and goods." Whispered Eagle to James.

"More and more work than ever before." James whispered back.

Indeed there was alot more work than ever before. Mavis was rushed off her wheels at Fharquar Quarry, Bill, Ben, Timothy, Derek, Marion, and Boco were rushed off their wheels at the China Clay Pits, and even Salty, and Porter, were rushed off their wheels at Brendom Docks.

So much work that the Fat Controller sent Neil, Clive, and Roger, to help Mavis at Fharquar Quarry, Alfred, and Crovan, were sent to help Salty and Porter at Brendom Docks, and Colin, Lilly, and Adem, were sent to help Bill, Ben, Timothy, Derek, Marion, and Boco at the China Clay Pits.

All the Engines were feeling hot and bothered with all the extra work, all that is except for Gordon.

That night in the sheds the Engines were settling down, over the years Tidmouth Sheds had been overhauled to have extra births in place.

"Goodness gracious me." Sighed Paxton as he backed down into the sheds next to Peter. "As soon as I arrive with one train from the Blue Mountain Quarry, I leave with another train at Brendom Docks."

"Oh so many Trucks to take." Said Murdoch. "Even though I'm built to pull long trains like these, I feel like I'm pulling double the load."

"I know what you mean Murdoch." Fergus replied. "The Sodor Cement Works is much more busy. I have to shunt three times the amount I normally do."

"This is ridiculous." Groaned Diesel. "I feel like I'm going to fall apart with all the shunting I've been doing!"

"For once I have to agree with you Diesel." Said Duck. "The Little Western is even busier than I've seen it before."

The Engines continued to talk until Richard noticed something.

"Henry, shouldn't you be going to collect the Flying Kipper?" Richard asked.

"I was supposed to but Gordon said to me earlier he'd pull it." Henry replied.

"I wonder what's going on with him?" Wondered Percy. "Gordon really hates pulling Trucks."

Soon the Engines went to sleep, all except for Edward, who was wondering what Gordon was thinking about.

The next morning Molly, Neville, and Arthur were preparing to leave Knapford with their trains. Because of all the extra, extra, work the Fat Controller had decided to put both Passenger and Goods on the same train. While it would be very confusing it was the only way to stay ahead of the time table. While the three Engines left the shunting Engines in the Yard were tired.

"Man these mixed trains of both Coaches and Trucks is very confusing." Said Nia to Billy and Charlie. "I don't know if I'm shunting Coaches and Trucks, or Trucks and Coaches."

"Tell me about it." Puffed Charlie. "I like a joke but it's very confusing knowing which Trucks to shunt behind which Coaches."

"It maybe confusing." Billy responded. "But orders are orders. We must carry on."

"That's the most sensible thing you've ever said Billy." James said as he backed down to the station with his Coaches.

But when James backed down to Platform 5 he was surprised to see Gordon not at Platform 1 yet. Instead he saw Alice getting ready to take the Express and the Goods coupled up behind the Brake Coach.

"Hey Alice, where's Gordon?" James called.

"He asked me to pull his Express today." Alice called back. "He told me he was doing something else."

Just then the guard's whistle blew and Alice had to set off.

James was confused it wasn't like Gordon to not want to pull the Express.

"Where is Gordon?" James thought. "I wonder where he's gone."

Just then James's train was cuppled up to him, he looked back to see Gordon shunting the Trucks into place. James was surprised but before he could question Gordon his guard blew his whistle and James had to leave.

At Wellsworth Station, James had to let some passengers off. Boco, Albert, Victoria, and Helen, were in the Wellsworth Yard, and he told them about Gordon shunting in the Yards at Knapford.

"That's very strange, very strange indeed." Said Boco.

"I know Gordon would never volunteer to shunt in the Yard." Said James.

"Maybe something's bothering him." Albert said.

Just then Bertha arrived ready to help push James and his train up Gordon's Hill. Since Bertha had been found and restored she had taken over banking duties on Gordon's Hill for Edward.

James was still thinking about Gordon, he kept wondering about it all day. When he got to Vicerstown he was still thinking about it. Edward who was also there noticed James's face.

"Something on your mind James?" Asked Edward kindly.

"Yeah it's Gordon." James responded. "He's not been acting like himself lately. He's pulling Goods Trains, not pulling the Express, and shunting in the Yards."

"I think it's time we get to the bottom of this." Said Edward. "We'll talk to him later tonight at the Sheds."

After the day's work was done, Gordon backed down into the sheds ready for bed. Edward and James were already there.

"Gordon we need to talk to you." James said calmly.

"I'm too tired." Gordon said quickly.

"Gordon you can't keep silent forever." Said Edward. "We want to talk to you. Why aren't you acting like yourself?"

Gordon didn't want to talk about his problems, but he knew that he couldn't stay quiet forever.

"It's just that this summer reminds me of a summer back when I was part of the L.N.E.R." Said Gordon sadly. "Back when all my Doncaster Brothers and Sisters were all still with me. We worked all throughout that summer. But when Nationalization arrived and the Diesels came they scrapped all of them except for Flying Scotsman. And well the busy summer here just reminded me of all the times I shared with them."

Edward and James were very sad to hear that indeed. They felt very sympathetic for Gordon. Being an A3 himself he was really sad for him.

"Thank you for telling us Gordon." Edward said. "At least we now know why you've been so upset lately."

"Yes indeed." Agreed James. "But even so the Fat Controller does need some more Steam Engines around here."

"Yes and quickly too." Added Gordon.

The next day Gordon and Peter were in the sheds when the Fat Controller arrived.

"A special Goods Train is due for the Barrow in Furnace Scrap Yard." He said. "I'll need an Engine to deliver it there tonight. Do I have a volunteer?"

"I'll do it sir." Huffed Gordon sadly. He was still thinking about the rest his Siblings.

"Very good Gordon." Said the Fat Controller and he walked away.

Gordon really didn't want to go to the Scrap Yard. But he knew that Really Useful Engines do as they are told.

That night Gordon steamed to the Mainland. He delivered the Special Goods Train to the Barrow in Furnace Scrap Yard all the way at the back of the Yard. Once he was uncuppled he sadly started making his return journey when...

(Wheesh, Hiss)

"That sounds like some Steam Engines." Gordon said.

The wheesh and hiss came again, Gordon decided to investigate. So he puffed down an old siding.

"Who's there?" Gordon called down the line.

A whisper came.

"Are you from the Fat Controllers Railway?"

"And very proud of it." Replied Gordon. He rounded a bend and he was so surprised at what he saw his eyes nearly popped out.

There standing on a siding were 5 L.N.E.R A3 Engines.

"Gordon is that you?" One of the A3's asked.

"It is me. I can't believe what I'm seeing." Gordon Gasped. "I thought you were all scrapped."

"Some friendly Diesels named Splatter, Dodge, and Diesel 10, came and hid us down this siding." They explained. "We've been here hoping to be found."

"But what are you guys doing?"

"We're escaping."

"From what?"

"Scrap!"

Gordon shivered, then he remembered the Sodor way, no Engines left behind, as well as Edward's story of saving Trevor, Douglas's story of saving Oliver, Isabelle, Dulice, and Toad, and Rusty's story of saving Stepney.

"I'm going to help all five of you!" Gordon declared. "But first we have to make it look like you guys are ready for scrap and I'm taking you away!"

The Drivers and Firemen all agreed to help too. Everyone worked fast.

"Good thing I'm already turned around." Said Gordon as he backed down to his Siblings. "Everyone cuppled up?"

"We're all cuppled." The 5 A3s replied.

"That's great!" Gordon called. "Now let's get out of here! Come on!"

Gordon puffed off as fast as she could.

(Guard's whistle)

But before they could clear the station they were stopped by the Scrap Yard Forman.

"Aha!" The Forman called out. "5 L.N.E.R A3 Engines which I thought were scrapped years ago! You can't take these!"

"Actually they're all for us." Said Gordon's Driver.

"See for yourself." Said Gordon's Fireman. He handed the Forman a piece of paper.

The Forman looked all over the 5 A3s, who were nervous.

"Seem in order." Said the Forman. "Looks like you're all free to go. Right away Guard."

(Guard's whistle)

Gordon quickly set off again as fast as his wheels could take him.

"What was that all about?" Asked one of the A3s.

"It was a trick my friend Douglas taught my crew and me." Explained Gordon. "He rescued an Engine from scrap too. But that didn't come from the L.N.E.R, he came from the G.W.R, his name's Oliver our number 11 Engine."

"Well I'm just glad it worked." Said the A3 at the back.

And the forged ahead, Gordon didn't stop until he and the 5 A3s were safely over the Vicerastown Bridge. It was daylight by the time they arrived at the Sodor Steamworks.

"We've made it!" Cried Gordon.

"Shh!" Said Gordon's Driver.

"There are the Steamworks we'll find a place for my Siblings." Gordon said. He pushed his 5 Siblings into the Steamworks.

"Goodbye and thank you!" They called.

And Gordon steamed back to Tidmouth Sheds.

Meanwhile the other Engines were already awake, and waiting for the fire-lighter to light there fireboxes. They noticed that Gordon hadn't returned yet.

"Where's Gordon?" Asked Thomas. "He should've been back by now."

"Do you think he got lost?" Asked Arthur.

"I doubt that." Replied Flying Scotsman. "Gordon knows his way around Barrow like the back of his Tender."

"I see him coming now." Called Diesel.

Before the Engines could ask Gordon where he had been, he told them all about the 5 A3s he'd rescued from scrap.

"The Fat Controller will have to know." Said Eagle.

"Gordon should tell him at once." Declared Spencer.

"Straight away if not sooner." Agreed Winstern.

"Well he's right here." Said a familiar voice. "Now what's all this about?"

"Beg pardon Sir but we do need more Engines." Said Oliver.

"Yes Sir." Puffed Spencer. "Steam Engines Sir."

"I'm afraid that unless any have been saved from scrap, there's very little hope." He replied.

"But Sir." Puffed Gordon. "5 have!"

"Yes indeed." Replied the Fat Controller. "And all thanks to you Gordon they're now at the Steamworks. I'm also amazed that you found them, those 5 A3s are just what we need for the Mainline!"

Everyone cheered blew their whistles and blasted their horns for Gordon.

Now the 5 A3s had been mended, and repainted in North Western Railway colours. They worked very hard, and they were soon given names.

The brown one was called Samuel, the green one was called Oaklee, the pink one was called Arianne, the orange one was called Mamo, and the violet one was called Ellina. They are very proud of their new colours, their names, and their Brother Gordon for saving them.

I don't own anything.

Thomas and Friends is owned by MattelClive, Roger, Winstern, Peter, Colin, Lilly, Adem, Alice, Alfred, and Crovan, are owned by WildNorWester.Richard is owned by carson08022000's Video Workshop.Bertha, Albert, Victoria, and Helen, are owned by JamesFan1991.