1975
One morning, Gordon came up to Vicarstown with his returning express service. He wasn't steaming well and stopped right next to the platform. He huffed, annoyed. "I feel like if I take a sprint I wouldn't be able to breathe," he said to his crew, "I might blow!"
"Hmmm, your steam pressure doesn't look too good either on the gauges," his driver added, "but we can't leave the express stranded here!"
Gordon pondered on the thought, he looked around, then back to the yards from behind the station. Suddenly, an idea struck him. "I saw Bear in the yards when stopping here," he said, "why not get him to take the express? I know he'll look after my passengers!"
The driver smiled. "He does have a slow goods so you will be fine with that," he said, approvingly, "I'll try and make the arrangements."
Soon, Bear backed down onto Gordon's express train, his engine growling as usual. "Are you sure you want me to take your express?" he asked, sounding perplexed.
Gordon smiled. "Don't worry about me," he said, "I just need to catch my breath for once, do some quiet work with slow goods. Besides, you're a good substitute."
Bear chuckled. "I don't know whether I should take that as an compliment," he said, musingly. Gordon smirked as Bear growled away with the express.
The big engine soon went to the yards in between the houses of Vicarstown and rested there for a while. He was soon ordered to take Bear's slow goods, he felt much better now and soon buffered up to the line of trucks. They were very surprised, but pleased, Gordon treated them well and had huge respect towards him.
"Come along chaps!" Gordon called as he exited the yards, "we'll make this a good run shall we?"
"Oh yes!" called back the trucks.
Picking up speed, the train set off down the line. Gordon rumbled down the line, not too slow and not too fast. He stopped at stations he needed to collect or set down trucks, workmen and engines were surprised, but talked to the friendly big engine happily as he did his work. Soon enough, Gordon was coming to Cronk station. He wasn't meant to stop there, but a distant signal told to him to proceed at caution, and sure enough, a home signal showed red at the station.
His driver was confused by this. "This is very odd," he said, scratching his head. Gordon blew his whistle, to notify the signalman, but the home signal stayed put. The stationmaster then came jogging up to the cab.
"An important train is coming through," he said, "it wasn't put on the schedule not until it arrived at Vicarstown, it's got top priority over every train."
Gordon huffed. "Let's hope it's worth the wait," he said, rather annoyed on the change of plans.
It was only a few minutes until the signalman got the call and set the up line to clear so to go around Gordon. The big engine finally heard the beating of pistons, but it was unlike any other engine who worked on this island, but it did sound familiar.
"It can't be," he murmured, "on our rails?"
His predictions were clarify as true as he heard the high, sharp pitch of a whistle and then a few seconds later, an engine thundered past Gordon. The engine was so unique in shape, it looked like a silver bullet, with white glimmering paintwork and a streamlined form. Gordon didn't have enough time to see it as it was gone just like that.
"Steaming pistons!" the big engine cried, as he watched it's brake coach disappear down the line. "Who was that?"
"A beauty from what I saw," gawked the fireman, who had run to the side of the platform to watch the train go by. "That was an A4 pacific!"
"Yes, thanks for noting out the obvious Clark," said Gordon sarcastically, his eyes then widened as he looked back to his train, "oh dear, I had to decide to pull a train like this on a day such as this!"
*
Gordon finished his run at the yards just before the harbour, and then quickly ran off to the depot in front of the sheds. When he got there, he saw the engine, standing grandly in front of the sheds, humming quietly to himself. Gordon was amazed.
"Who, are you?" he asked.
The engine didn't say anything, he just looked at Gordon and smirked. James, who was admiring the engine on other track, spoke in his place.
"This is Prince Spencer," he declared, "named after King Godred's second son!"
"Huh," said Gordon, trying to sound as uninterested as possible, "I was renamed after his first born son, King Gordon the second!"
"Really," smirked the newcomer, in such a sneering posh manner that Gordon's mind paused. "What were you originally called?"
"Well... erm... after a horse," mumbled Gordon sheepishly, "...Shooting Star."
Prince Spencer laughed, James looked at the big, blue engine in surprised. "You never told me you were called Shooting Star," he whispered to him.
"Really?" said Gordon, "I thought Alice would've told you all by now."
Their small conversation was rudely interrupted by the streamlined pacific. "Unlike you, I was always named after a grand man, certainly a true, pure man."
Gordon's eyes narrowed, he had only met two of his class. Mallard and Sir Nigel Gresley, both were humble as can be. But this, Prince Spencer, was being rude as ever to him.
"Why are you here?" asked Gordon curiously, "and how have I never seen you before?"
"My dear engine," said Prince Spencer smugly, "I was the last to be built for my class but got withdrawn in 1965, they should've kept me on until the end I dare say! But the Duke and Duchess of Norramby decided to buy me a few days after I was put out of service. I stayed in a workshop for an overhaul, it was slow-going since one of the engines the Duke use to own was found in a shed, narrow gauge being picked over me too! The indignity!"
Gordon scowled, the A4 pacific was now being disrespectful towards Duke, who was the big engine had deep respect to! Prince Spencer carried on without the faintest clue of Gordon's expression. "I was eventually completed two weeks ago and now for the celebrations of my return to steam, they're holding a special train for me here on your tiny island! A bit lousy I'll say, not being held at King's Cross but it serves I suppose."
James wheeshed steam angrily, he was now having the extremely similar views on this new guy to Gordon's. "Our island is a safe haven for any steam engine willing to work," he said defensively, "you've just arrived here and looking down on it! Don't you dare think that!"
"Huh!" scoffed Prince Spencer, "Thesang is the closest steam haven there is, and it still looks ridiculous with it's mountainous terrains."
"And you sound ridiculous with your idiotic and outlandish views," Gordon snapped, "James is quite right, don't you dare judge our island, now be off with you!"
"Where shall I go?" asked Prince Spencer, "clearly I can't go near those dirty, small sheds."
"Yes," said James, "and we don't want to go near your dirty, big mouth!"
Prince Spencer growled and puffed pompously away, grumbling to himself.
Gordon and James watched him leave. "I had such high hopes for an A4 pacific like him," the big engine sighed.
"Me too," agreed the red engine, "I swear, we'll be going for a rough one with him around."
Even though he didn't want to, Gordon felt James was right.
*
Prince Spencer was insufferable. He stayed in the yards, gloating in the sun whilst train enthusiasts crowded around him to take their pictures of the private engine. He felt very stuck-up indeed. What made it worse, was that after the Fat Controller had heard about the argument, he made sure to keep Prince Spencer in the sheds so not to get in trouble with the Duke.
No one really talked to him. Prince Spencer kept to himself for the rest of the week. But one evening, Prince Spencer puffed back to the sheds, he had been put into steam all day so to make him ready for his spectacular run tomorrow. He was very eager and very pompous too. Gordon was resting nearby, neither had spoken since the last time they met and felt rather awkward. But just then, Alice the Atlantic Engine puffed in from finishing her passenger run right after Gordon's. She came alongside the big engine, but Prince Spencer sniffed indignantly.
"What's the matter?" asked Gordon.
"I just find it funny that I'm in a shed with two old clankers that's old," said Prince Spencer sweetly, "
Gordon was very cross. "You can talk," he snapped.
"Actually, I can talk," Prince Spencer said proudly, "I'm a streamlined engine, top express engines in the world, the greatest, the grandest. Unlike you two would can be easily replaced, I did see little Gordon with a goods train whilst that diesel pulled the express."
Alice rolled her eyes and ignored him, but Gordon was furious. "You dare come to our railway and sniff your nose on it like your a spoiled prince," he exclaimed, "you're a disgrace to Sir Nigel Gresley! He would be shocked to hear you speak such vulgar!"
"Disgrace!" said Prince Spencer, offended. His boiler pressure going up.
"You heard," snorted Gordon, "now get out of my sight!"
Prince Spencer huffed crossly and entered the shed. Alice, with a raised brow, looked at Gordon. "He's going to complain about this to the Duke," she warned.
"Let him try," said Gordon, "and if I do get in trouble, I'll take with no care in the world."
Unbeknownst to the two engines, a familiar figure had listened to the entire conversation. He turned, and walked thoughtfully away.
*
Morning soon arose, and Prince Spencer was given a full-earned treatment. It was slotted in-between Bear's morning service and Gordon's Wild Nor' Wester. The big engine was left with little attention, he didn't mind, but Prince Spencer took it in stride. "I guess you aren't a marvellous sight to behold," he sneered at the big engine, "A4s are the grandest, never fail to impress after all!"
Donald was ordered to shunt Prince Spencer's coaches, he didn't like it one bit, and unsurprisingly, Prince Spencer did too. "This railway is a joke!" he exclaimed, as Donald began to head out to the coach shed, "no station-pilot and a ruddy Scot shunting my prestigious coaches!"
"Yae want to shut your gob?" asked Donald, in a threatening manner, "or dae yae want to rusty piece of scrap within' tae sea?"
Prince Spencer's boiler pressure shot up and 7was about to speak, but Gordon spoke first. "Donald, be a good chap and show the people at the station on how you shunt the coaches, you make a very good impression I'm sure."
Donald looked at Gordon with a raised eyebrow, but subsided and left to do just that. Prince Spencer sneered at Gordon once again and sizzled nicely in the morning sun. But he couldn't help but feel something lose inside his cab.
Donald shunted Prince Spencer's coaches into the first platform, they were Pullman coaches, the mark two versions with no faces and corridors attachments on each end as a replacement. All were freshly cleaned and looked glamorous. Gordon then came to shunt his express coaches. And a few minutes later, Prince Spencer came through the light engine track from behind the station trying his best to important and grand as can be. Gordon only rolled his eyes, as he shunted his coaches into the third platform. When Gordon went around his train and onto the front of it, Prince Spencer was slowly backing down to his own train, slowly and carefully, his annoying smug face plastered on him. Donald, puffed past him and into the station pilot siding right in front of the signalbox he smashed into in the late 50s. James had also came in, he was taking a goods after Prince Spencer had left but Gordon would overtake him at Knapford Junction, he stood on the goods track near the station, waiting for a green signal. Duck had also arrived with the first passenger train from the Little Western and the Wild Nor' Wester began to gain it's passengers.
The engines waited and watched as Prince Spencer beamed in the spotlight, cameras flashing and people gawking at him. Soon, it was time for Prince Spencer to leave the station. The guard blew his whistle, his shrill whistle blew and he glanced at Gordon with a triumphant smug at him. His wheels began to move and he began to chuff out of the station, pistons beating loudly. The coaches ran behind smoothly out of the station. But as he enter the junction, it happened.
A loud bang came from inside his cab and steam hissed out of it and Prince Spencer began to move slower and slower and he then came to a stop over the points just before the stretch of the mainline. "What happened?" he demanded, with red cheeks, "I don't feel good!!"
"Your safety valve has burst!" coughed his driver, "probably from your many rushes of steam pressure you keep shooting up all the time!"
Prince Spencer's red cheeks spread to all around his face, he felt very embarressed. James, Duck and Donald sniggered where they stood. Gordon couldn't help but grin too. His driver then came up to him. "There's a problem," he said, "now who'll take that train?"
"Couldn't Gordon take it?" suggested Duck innocently, "he's just as strong as those A4s and he knows the line better then that Prince Spencer!"
"Well..." said Gordon, "I could do it, but what about my express? It'll be without an engine if I don't take it. What about you Donald?"
"Och!" chuckled Donald, who was beginning to move out of the siding, "I think I'm better off with goods than express trains! What aboot Jeames? Then I could take his goods."
"I'll be happy to take the express Gordon!" said James happily.
"Right then," smiled the big engine, "that's settle then." And when he was uncoupled from the train, he puffed off to rescue Prince Spencer.
When he idled up next to the broken engine, he all but grinned as he stopped next to him. "WHAT?!?!" snapped Prince Spencer angrily.
"Is this what you meant by never fail to impress?" mocked Gordon.
"Very clever," said Prince Spencer sarcastically, "now take me off this train!"
"Can't do that," replied Gordon calmly, "that'll delay the train even more, and we don't want to burden the others with delaying their trains too."
Prince Spencer was furious. "Bu-But, you can't do that!" he stammered, "I'm an A4 pacific, I have the right to do what I want."
"You certainly did chose to break down," said Gordon wisely, "now do be quiet and keep your brakes off, you've already made yourself look silly today."
Prince Spencer said no more as Gordon was switched to the private engine's track. Then, with his own, Sudrian, loud and proud whistle, Gordon pulled away.
The big engine thundered down the line, his wheels pounding the rails. He concentrated on the track, making sure on where to put more steam in his pistons and when to calm down. His driver and fireman were very impressed and engines would cheer the big engine and laugh at the engine being towed behind who was in shock at Gordon's speed and strength. The run went splendidly and the train arrived at Crovan's Gate, even coming in a few minutes early.
"Now that," smiled Gordon proudly, "was a good run."
Prince Spencer stayed silent. The passengers on the train who thanked Gordon and his crew for a splendid and smooth run, and Gordon soon towed Prince Spencer from behind to the sidings.
A while later, when Prince Spencer was getting checked over, the Fat Controller, Stephen Hatt and the Duke and Duchess came strolling up.
Both engines were surprised. The Duke smiled broadly at Gordon, sitting beside his own private engine. "I'd like to thank you Gordon for pulling our train today. You really saved the day!" he said.
"Thank you sir," Gordon beamed, "I hope I did my best!"
"You certainly did!" grinned the Fat Controller. Then, the Duke turned to Prince Spencer.
"I have been informed," he said sternly, "you have been rude to Sir Charles' engines!"
Prince Spencer's eyes widen, the Duke continued without a second pause. "I won't tolerate engines who treat others like filth, it is disrespectful and vulgar. I chose you over others for the potential you could show to the world, but all you've done is make an embarrassment out of me towards the North Western, the public and the press!"
Prince Spencer gulped and his low lip slightly trembled. "As for this, Sir Charles Hatt and I have made arrangements for you to sleep in a small fitter's shed nearer Tidmouth Harbour so you don't be disrespectful to the other engines in the main engine shed," the Duke said, "we won't be leaving here until next month so change your attitude before it's too late! Do I make myself clear?"
"Y-Y-Yes s-sir," stuttered Prince Spencer meekly.
The Duke nodded and looked back at Gordon. "I think for your gallient rescue today earns you a reward from my wife and I," he said kindly, "how about some new nameplates? I'm sure Sir Nigel Gresley would be pleased to have you properly and officially named after King Godred's first son and next king, King Gordon. And how about you be our private engine whilst we stay here?"
Gordon's smile was so wide that it ached. "Oh, thank you sir!" he said happily, "I promise you, I'll work very hard for you!"
"I know you will!" laughed the Duke, "well.. if your controller approves of course."
"I'll be delighted for you to have one of our great engines," grinned the Fat Controller.
"I'm guessing we have Prince Spencer then?" said Stephen. The Duke nodded.
"Consider it a trade," he said. All four of them agreed to this, Gordon just beamed whilst Prince Spencer just sat sulking in disgrace.
It was soon arranged and Gordon became the Duke and Duchess' temporary private engine whilst going around the railway. Giving railtours or taking his passengers to their destinations. All the engines congratulated him. Prince Spencer on the other buffer had a different arrangement as told by the Duke. He was alligated to the fitter's sheds near the harbour which was small and dirty and he felt very lonely indeed. He was given the task of looking after the Wild Nor' Wester which wasn't that bad, but the engines would always tease him about his misfortunes. Eventually, Donald and Douglas managed to trigger him the most with calling him Spencer and the others began calling him that too and it soon stuck.
And now the A4 private engine is called Spencer now, and he hates it every time.
A/N: Yeah, Spencer exists in my stupid AU lol and I'm pleased to have him be introduced in it, I originally wanted him to be introduced later but I think it makes sense he's appearing now.
Gordon's name history was also inspired by Brighton on Twitter, where he had Gordon be called Shooting Star after a horse, which most of the A1/3 classes were named after. But in my AU, Gordon's name got changed in my AU to King Gordon by Sir Nigel Gresley who did so to give gratitude to Sir Topham Hatt for buying his engine. Gordon's new name was based after the descendant of King Godred II and became a good successor with a brother called Prince Spencer who both were recorded to have a good relationship. Ironic ain't it for the new guys not to haha. Gordon was meant to have new nameplates but he didn't in the end due to many complications.
That's basically it really! Thank you for reading this!