(Crovan's Gate. Scene zooms in as Gordon and James arrive at the platform, letting off steam)

At the "Works Station", the two friends made up their quarrel.

James: (sighs, ashamed) Forgive me, Gordon. I should've listened to you about that hill. And I'm sorry I was unkind to you about your accident. These things DO happen after all.

Gordon: (chuckles) That's alright, James. I'm past my incident on the turntable, and I guess that constant teasing does happen in circumstances. (sighs) But it looks like neither of us going to be pulling the Royal train now. What do you reckon?

James: It's hopeless. Unless we all do our bests to make up for our flaws, it looks like no one's going to be pulling the Royal Train.

Gordon: Perhaps Henry might.

James: (remembering) Oh, yes. Henry. (sighs) Yes, Gordon. I believe I've lost the bet. Henry is sure to tease me now.

Gordon: (sighs) Don't worry about it, James. No matter what happens concerning the events of Her Majesty's visit, you'll probably still have a larger possibility of pulling coaches, or even the express, than I will for quite a while.

James knew that Gordon was right, and side-by-side, the two engines returned to the yard, Henry was soon ready to take the next express.

(Scene shifts and zooms in on James across from Thomas and Gordon at Knapford yard, while Henry leaves the platform after the guard's whistle blows)

Henry: (whistling, as he passes James) Better luck next time, James. It looks like I've won the bet after all.

James ignored Henry, and he spoke kindly to both Thomas and Gordon.

James: I do believe I owe both an apology. Your situations are not a laughing matter as I now realize, especially since you both lost what was really important to you. If I'd had paid any closer attention to the rain or leaves on the tracks, I would've been more cautious and showed Sir Topham Hatt that I really was capable of pulling the Royal Train. (sighs) I guess neither of us will be doing that job now.

Thomas: Don't worry about it, James.

Gordon: Say, how would you like to join our alliance?

James: (confused) Alliance?

Gordon: Why, yes.

Thomas

And United We Stand, Together We Fall!

Gordon:

(A reprise to We Can Only Be We starts as James replies)

James: Thank you, Thomas and Gordon. I'd like that very much.

(Scene shifts as all three engines shunt about the yard)

Thomas, Why shan't we have to be we?

Gordon As friends, this is what we're meant to be

And James: With plenty more trucks to shunt for our own

We still have our friends to lead us home

Gordon: We don't need to be faster, bigger, stronger

Thomas: We don't need more than six small wheels

James: We don't need to be taller or be longer

Thomas,

Gordon Being allies has it's own appeal

And James:

Thomas: We can only be we

James: It gets even bigger when you work in threes

Gordon: Work hard

No job is ever too small

Thomas,

Gordon United We Stand…Together We Fall (holds out)

And James:

By the time, Henry returned to the station, it was pouring rain. Toby had just arrived with the painter aboard Henrietta.

Henry: You're on time, Toby. Is the painter here safe and sound?

Toby: I guess you can say that, Henry. But I'd be careful, though. Having your paintjob done in this weather may cause a slip-up if you're not too careful.

Henry: (sighs) I'll be fine, Toby. And even if anything did happen, it's not like Sir Topham Hatt would choose Gordon or James to pull the Royal Train instead of me. I'm Her Majesty's last hope.

Toby: (sighs) If you say so. But don't say I didn't warn you otherwise. (rings his bells and trundles away)

In no time at all, the rain had gone, and Henry was parked in a siding. The painter climbed a ladder to see what he could do for Henry's new coat. His driver and fireman were safe and dry inside his cab under a large tarpaulin. But the job was taking a very long time...longer than Henry had expected. It wasn't long before he impatiently let off steam. Black smoke billowed from his funnel…and into the painter's direction.

Painter: (coughing) I can't see a thing, Henry. Please, stop wheeshing steam.

But his warning was too late.

(The painter, standing on the ladder, misses a step and trips, falling down as the bucket of white paint spills all over and trickles down both Henry's sides)

The painter got up, and he was very cross.

Painter: Ah, look what you did, you silly engine! You spoilt my paint, and now I will have to fetch some more. (sighs and nods) Oh, dear. (looks over as Sir Topham Hatt walks up) Well, looks like you won't be such a pretty picture after all.

Topham: (sighs) Oh, dear, Henry. (chuckles slightly) You look like an iced cake. I'm sorry but that won't do for the Royal Train; the painter here has other places to be and we haven't the time to clean you up. I'm afraid I must make other arrangements. (sighs and walks away)

Henry felt rather ashamed, and he felt no better when James returned.

James: (whistles) Well, well, well, looks like you're not pulling the Royal Train either, Henry. (cheekily) I do like your new paint job, though. (chuckles)

(The painter boards Henrietta and the guard's whistle blows. Toby chuckles too as he pulls Henrietta out of the station)

Henry: (sighs) Well, maybe you're right. I'd say we both behaved rather silly lately. But who will pull the Royal Train now?

(James and Henry expresses looks of curiosity as the scene fades out, before shifting and zooming in to Thomas and Gordon parked buffer to buffer in the yard)

Sir Topham Hatt came to see Thomas and Gordon in the yard. The two engines still felt very sorry for themselves, and were ready to express full apologies to Sir Topham Hatt.

Thomas

And (stuttering) Uh, uh, please, sir. We-we…

Gordon:

Topham: (signals up his hand) Now, now, now, I'm trying to think. One at a time, please. (sighs after a moment passes) Now, Gordon?

Gordon: Um, well, sir, Thomas and I were thinking, and I just wanted to ask, may he have his branch line back again? Perhaps I could help him handle the trucks there, sir. At least until I'm really useful again.

Topham: (surprised) Ah, I see. Well, that's a very kind offer of you, Gordon. Now, what about you, Thomas?

Thomas: Um, well, sir, you see, if Gordon and I took in turns to handle the trucks, he could pull Annie and Clarabel. That would sure help recognize the experience again, sir…of pulling coaches, sir. (chuckles nervously)

Topham: Mmm, so that's it, now, is it? Well, I think you've both worked over the past couple of days and the yard manager has sent me a glowing report in regards to both of you. Though I'm not just ready yet to give you back the privileges you've lost, I thought you both deserve a special treat. (Thomas and Gordon exchange excited expressions back and forth) When Her Majesty arrives, Edward will go around in front to clear the train. Thomas, you will look after the coaches, and Gordon, you will pull the train.

Thomas

And Hooray!

Gordon:

And the two allies let out a delightful chorus of cheers and whistles. They felt very happy indeed.

(A reprise of Express Coming Through starts, titled Royal Train Coming Through)

What's a better time to get the job done than work as a team?

Thomas, Gordon and their friends work together

All Hail The Queen!

Henry, Percy, James and Toby pick up the townsfolk

Once the big day arrives

Thomas is shunting coaches into their places

Gordon heads off with pride (holds on into the chorus)

All aboard the main line now with Gordon…and the Royal Train

Running his journey on time

He's Gordon…with the Royal Train

(Song continues as a mainland train drops the Queen off at Crovan's Gate. Gordon approaches and whistles as he pulls in)

Crovan's Gate is up ahead

Waiting at the platform is Her Majesty, the Queen…

She looks at the train, all big and blue…

The guard's whistle blows and off they go!

Make way for Gordon...

Royal Train Coming Through!

(Song is put on instrumental chorus as Gordon leaves the station and heads along through the countryside on his way back to Knapford. Key shifts from Bb major to B major as the lyrics continue through a chorus reprise)

All aboard the main line now with Gordon…and the Royal Train

Running his journey on time

He's Gordon…with the Royal Train

Signal's getting clearer

Knapford's getting nearer

The engines know what to do

Make way for Gordon...

As Edward clears the line for Gordon…

Royal Train Coming Through! (holds out to the end)

(Gordon lets out a loud whistle to signal everyone in the station)

Thomas: (whistles) Here they come!

(A rendition of Pomp And Circumstance starts up in G major)

Edward came through the station, looking splendid with large flags decorated over his sides. The Royal Train came through and Gordon stopped and let off steam at the platform. He was spotless and his brass shone like gold. He had large flags decorated, like all the other engines, but specially decorated on his front were the Royal Arms. Everyone watched in amazement as the coach door opened, and the Queen stepped out, looking across to the cheering crowd.

Queen: Thank you all for your kind gestures of welcome. (looking at Sir Topham Hatt bowing before her) Especially you, Sir Topham, sir.

Topham: (raises up in curiosity) Hmm? Oh…, (chuckles)…well, not at all, Your Majesty. Thank you…, (lending out his hand)…and congratulations to you for your honorary coronation.

Queen: (shakes his hand as she steps out) The honor's all mine. Now, Sir Topham, I've heard a great deal about your railway and that all your engines are really useful. Please, may I meet them?

Sir Topham Hatt led the way to where all the engines were lined up with flags on their sides in honor of the Queen.

Percy

And (whistling loudly) They're coming. Oh, here they come.

Toby:

Henry

And (hissing) Shh! (quietly) Shush, you two.

James:

But Toby and Percy seemed too care excited to care about the big engines.

Percy

And Three cheers for the Queen! Hip, hip…!

Toby:

Thomas

Edward, …hooray!

And Gordon

Thomas

Edward,

Gordon,Hip, hip…! (with Henry and James joining in)

Percy …hooray! Hip, hip…! (all seven cheer and whistle)

And

Toby:

Crowd: …hooray!

Before the Queen left the celebration, she would think overnight of something special to say to all the engines before she left back for home the next day. But for now…her most special thanks went Thomas The Tank Engine, Edward and of course…Gordon The Big Engine.

(Scene zooms out on Knapford and fades before shifting to next day, beginning the final chapter)