THE GREAT RAILWAY SHOW

Based upon "The Great Race" by Andrew Brenner

Adapted by Zack Wanzer, James Riddle and Rachel Ravens

Additional material by Cameron Stevens and Matt St. Onge

Dawn was breaking across the Island of Sodor. All seemed quiet at Tidmouth sheds, until…

"GOOD MORNING, SODOR!"

The other engines groaned at being rudely awoken.

"Ohhh, Gordon! What's the big idea?!"

"Sorry, little James, but today is going to be a big one for me. I shall be setting a new record for the express from Knapford to Vicarstown!"

"And what makes you so sure you'll do it today?" asked Emily.

"Because Flying Scotsman will be coming with a railtour," Gordon explained. "I've got to make a good impression on my brother."

"Well, best of luck with that," said Percy. "Just watch out for strong winds on the viaduct."

The others all burst out laughing; Gordon just groaned as left the sheds for Knapford station.

Gordon stood at platform one, waiting for one of the shunting engines to bring his coaches.

"Where is that silly little boxcab…?" he muttered to himself. To Gordon's surprise, he heard a whistle instead of a horn. "Stanley?"

"Philip's out arranging a train for Donald and Douglas," the silver tank engine explained as he shunted the coaches behind Gordon.

"Hmph. Let's hope he can do that right," said Gordon. "Fancy 'racing me' when he was supposed to be doing work."

"Yes, he never lets us forget it…" Stanley gravely agreed. "Goodness knows if he'll ever let up."

"He makes Charlie seem tame by comparison," Stafford said, bringing in Martha, Julian and Gladys for Emily. "Still, he's young and needs a little push in the right direction."

"Indeed." Emily buffered up to her coaches, sighing. "I shouldn't have encouraged him to keep going."

"No wonder he's out of control," muttered Martha. The guard's whistle blew, and Gordon started off.

"I hope that Philip doesn't get everyone on his side for being in the wrong again," grunted the express engine.

Stations flashed by as Gordon pounded along the rails. And yet, he still gave a whistle whenever he saw his friends waiting at the stations or heading down the line.

"I hope all goes well with Flying Scotsman," said Thomas to his coaches. "Family relationships are important."

"Well, the two are really close," said Annie. "Last time Gordon and Scotsman saw each other, they cheered each other up."

"But remember," said Clarabel. "Scotsman has been to America, and he's had a lot of accomplishments in that time."

"I wouldn't worry too much, Clarabel," said Annie. "Scotsman seems a lot more humble than Gordon anyway, so things should be fine."

At last, Gordon rumbled into Vicarstown station. He saw Pip and Emma on the other platform.

"Good morning, girls," he greeted. "What's the latest on British Railways?"

"Well," said Pip, "we saw Sadie and Delilah down at Bridlington. Their driver has recently become a father."

"Well, congratulations to him," said Gordon. "Say, has Scotsman shown up yet?"

A loud whistle sounded out, answering the question. A green engine with a shape similar to Gordon's and two tenders came pulling into the station with some red and white coaches in tow.

"Scott!" cried Gordon. "Welcome back!"

"Gordon," he replied with a smile. "Why, it's been so long. And who are these two?"

"Ah, Scott; this here is Pip and Emma," Gordon introduced. "Pip, Emma, this is my brother, Flying Scotsman."

"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Scott," said Emma. "We often meet up with engines here or at Barrow to take passengers to London."

"Is that so?" chuckled Scotsman. "Why do you need one engine at each end of the train?"

"That's just how we are," said Pip. "One of us operates in one direction while the other one goes the other way. It eliminates the need for a turntable."

"Well, I wouldn't have thought of that," gasped Scotsman. "You two must be really fast to save that much time." Pip and Emma giggled. "Speaking of fast… I've been invited to take part in the Great Railway Show. I'll be racing."

Gordon gasped at what he'd just heard. "The Great Railway Show?!"

"That's correct," smiled Scotsman. "My trip around the United States brought much fame with it. I'm really excited to partake in it."

"Well, Gordon's been to London before too," Pip said. "Twice, if I recall."

"Oh, yes," said Gordon. "Once, I went with all the other Sudrians; shortly after Bear joined us. And, er… ahem… the other one…"

"Something about London being St. Pancras?" giggled Emma.

Scotsman had to laugh too. "Ha! Oh, my goodness. St. Pancras. That's a good one."

"What's so funny about that?!" Gordon exclaimed.

"Never mind," chuckled Scotsman. "I'd better get to my photo shoot. See you later, Gordon. Nice meeting you, Pip and Emma."

"Likewise, Scott," called the high speed twins. Gordon grunted in annoyance, but the idea of the Great Railway Show was flying around in his smokebox.

Meanwhile, back at Knapford station, Hugo the rail zeppelin was pulling into the station when he saw a workman setting up a poster.

"Look at zis!" he exclaimed. "Ze Great Vailway Show veally is happening!" He wasn't the only engine who was excited.

"It's going to be special, it's going to be great!" sang Daisy as she pulled up alongside Hugo.

"Off to the mainland without coaches or freight!"

"Please, sir, I beg you, I just have to know!" Rosie, Stanley and Paxton all joined in.

"Will you, won't you take me to the Railway Show?"

"Look here!" Sir Topham Hatt insisted. "I haven't decided who will be going yet! So please, if you would–"

"Take me, sir!" sang Henry as he pulled in with a long goods train. "I pull the heaviest trains!

I'm such a mighty engine, sir, it's never a strain!"

As Henry continued out of Knapford with his goods train, James came pulling in with the red coaches in tow. He too was excited about the Great Railway Show.

"It's not a tough decision, though I have to confess," he sang.

"You'll never find another engine looking his best!"

"Hmm… precisely!" agreed Sir Topham Hatt, writing something down on his clipboard.

"Er… I-I didn't mean not to take me, sir…" James stammered.

"Ha ha! I know I'm kind of small, sir, but I'm not a beginner!" sang Philip, rolling up alongside James.

"I had a race with Gordon once and I was the winner!"

"Not this boiler sludge again…" groaned James. Philip yelped as he was shunted aside by Thomas, who began to sing as well.

"You ought to take me, sir! I'm quick, agile and blue.

Your number one engine; hardworking, loyal and true!"

Sir Topham Hatt just groaned as he walked towards his office.

However, it seemed as if no matter where he went on board Winston, the engines wouldn't leave him alone!

"It's going to be special, it's going to be great!" sang Arthur, Molly and Sidney.

Off to the mainland without coaches or freight!"

"Please, sir, I beg you, you can't tell me no!" Jinty, Pug and Barry joined in…

"Will you, won't you take me to the Railway Show?" And so did Stafford, Harvey and Emily.

"Fast engines!" Then Belle and Flynn….

"Long engines!" Then Whiff and Scruff….

"Tough engines!" Then Bill, Ben, Marion and Timothy…

"Strong engines!" Then Julie, Johnson and Lauren…

"Everyone who's any engine's eager to go!" And then Salty, Edward and Porter.

"I'm not going anywhere," muttered Cranky.

"Will you, won't you take me to the Railway Show?" asked Percy, Toby and Mavis.

"It's going to be special, it's going to be great!" Now it was Duck and Ryan who joined next…

"Leavin' behind a' oor coaches 'n' freight!" …followed by Donald and Douglas, the former of whom had gotten close behind Winston and Sir Topham Hatt.

"Please, sur, we're begging, ye juist can't say na!"

By now, many of the engines had cornered both Sir Topham Hatt and Winston at Knapford yards, asking their controller that one persistent question…

"Will you, won't you take us to the Railway Show?" half the engines sang.

"Will you, won't you take us to the Railway Show?" sang the other half.

"Will you, won't you take me to the…" Diesel realized the song was just fading away. "Railway Show…?"

Most of the engines burst into laughter.

"Afraid you'll have to keep up with us next time, Diesel!" joked Thomas.

"For goodness' sake!" groaned Sir Topham Hatt, standing up in Winston. "I still haven't finalized my decision as to who will be going, and if this keeps up, then I may not consider any of you to go after all! Need I remind you that we have a railway to run?"

"Oh! Yes, sir! Sorry, sir! Right away, sir!" the engines said as they headed off back to work; they were mostly abashed. As soon as he and Winston were alone, Sir Topham Hatt sat down again, removed his top hat and mopped his brow, relieved to finally have some peace and quiet.

A short while later, Diesel was at Knapford with Bruno and some new rails for the Little Western.

"How did I manage to embarrass myself… again?!" he grunted. "Just when I thought I was finally on the right track with Thomas!"

Bruno jumped at Diesel's sharp voice. "Easy there, Diesel…" he trailed.

"Ah, sorry, Bruno," he sighed. "It's not your fault. Believe me, this is between me and–" Diesel broke off when he heard a whistle, but it wasn't Thomas. "Ah, Duck! Hello."

"Hello, Diesel, Bruno," said Duck, a little taken aback by Diesel's reaction. "I… thought you could use some little friends right now."

The "little friends" Duck was referring to were Tillie's latest ducklings, and they all hopped into Diesel's bufferbeam eagerly.

"Hello, little ones," Diesel cooed. "You're so cute and fluffy." He turned back to the pannier tank. "Thanks, Duck."

"No problem." Duck then blinked in confusion. "Diesel… you seem a bit wound up. What's going on?"

"Oh…" said Diesel. "Well… to make a long story short… you, Bruno and Oliver aren't the only ones who know about me and the, er… little friends, anymore."

Duck looked curiously at Diesel. "Well, who you tell is entirely up to you. You have my word."

"That's just it," said Bruno. "He… didn't tell this engine, but they still found out."

"Oh dear," sighed Duck. "It wasn't… Arry and Bert, was it?"

"Actually, it was Thomas," said Diesel. He then explained how Thomas had got him to behave in exchange for keeping quiet about his secret, and then eventually showing Arry and Bert when he couldn't keep up the act.

"Wait… Thomas blackmailed you," remarked Duck. "He's one of the last engines to be pulling this sort of thing!"

"B-blackmail?!" gasped Bruno. "What's that?"

"Basically," said Duck, "it's forcing someone to do something in exchange for keeping a secret quiet."

"Wha… of all the–" gasped Diesel. "Fizzling fuses! He did blackmail me! And I didn't even realize!"

"Regardless of bumping other engines, blackmailing doesn't make things right either," Duck snapped. "This is getting out of control! You and Thomas seriously need to sort this out before this escalates into–" The pannier tank bit his lip, and Diesel swallowed. He knew exactly what Duck was going to say.

The Dieselworks fire all over again… he thought. Duck's right. I can't repeat that mistake.

Oh, Diesel… thought Bruno. What did you get yourself into now?

Author's Comments

At long last, I'm proud to present to you all the first chapter of The Great Railway Show! The official special it's adapted from, The Great Race, is a frustratingly uneven mess that drops ideas as soon as they're picked up in favor of Thomas going through a character arc he didn't need to. I'm not going to delve into every problem here, but the long and short overall is that the special could've been much stronger had it focused more on Gordon. Especially given how some fans have pointed out recently that, more often than not, the Brenner era portrayed him as a pompous git and not much else beyond that (unless you're a certain David Brennan, someone who never shuts up about certain topics regarding that era, but I digress). So, not only have we decided to put more emphasis on Gordon wanting to beat Flying Scotsman in the Great Railway Show, we're making this rewrite more of an ensemble piece. And yes, we've decided to preserve the musical aspect of the original special, although not every song from it will show up; "Will You, Won't You" was a guaranteed keeper since we had to set up the engines' excitement about the show. There are times you shouldn't fix what isn't broken, and this was one of them, although there have been some lyric tweaks and character swaps, as well as the added humor with Sir Topham Hatt trying to escape his engines asking him about who will be chosen.

Next time, it's time to Choose Your Candidate!