A/N: Hey guys! I apologize for not uploading last week, but I had something else that I needed to do that weekend. But I'm back with the next chapter! This time with a story that was from season 1! So sit back, relax, and enjoy!
Disclaimer: Let's just say that if I owned Thomas and Friends, Sharon Miller would never have been hired as a writer and leave it at that.
Chapter 16: Tenders and Turntables
Both stations at both ends of the main line have turntables for the drivers to turn their engines around to head back the other way. It is too dangerous for tender engines to go backwards at high speeds. Little engines like the one Thomas drives don't need turntables, as they can go backwards or forwards at the same speed. The way Gordon talked about his engine would make one think that Sir Topham Hatt gave it a tender as a mark of distinction. This, of course, was not the case but Gordon paid no attention to this fact. One day while he was chatting with Thomas while passengers from his train transferred to Thomas's.
"You don't understand, Thomas," he told him grandly, "Tender engines like mine are engines of distinction, and as the driver of such an engine I must keep up its appearance. And for Sir Topham Hatt to make us use them for shunting, not to mention those dirty sidings, It's disgraceful!"
At that moment his guard blew his whistle and Gordon left the station with his train. Thomas only laughed and continued along his branchline.
Later that day Gordon was at the other end of the line getting his engine ready for the afternoon express. It was windy that day, making the job of balancing the engine on the turntable extremely difficult. Gordon drove his engine forwards and backwards, but its weight combined with the force of the wind made it impossible. Eventually the turntable operator gave up trying to make it turn.
"You're engines just too big," he told Gordon, "If it was a tank engine, that would be another story. I'm afraid you'll have to take the next train backwards." Gordon was not amused, but he had no choice.
Some young boys were hanging out on the platform when Gordon drove his engine and coaches into Knapford station. When they saw his predicament they couldn't help but laugh.
"Look at this," said one, "It's a new tank engine."
"Don't be silly," said another, "It's only Gordon's engine back to front."
Thomas was nearby collecting some trucks for his branchline when he saw Gordon.
"Pretending to drive a tank engine, are you?" he laughed, "Take my advice, scrap your engine's tender and give it a bunker instead."
James, who had just come in with a goods train, found Gordon's situation hilarious. As he uncoupled his engine and drove it away to the sheds, Gordon called out.
"Careful that yours doesn't stick as well," he called out.
"Don't you worry," he called back, "My engine isn't as big as yours."
James brought his engine to just the right place on the turntable. True to his word, his engine spun easily. Unfortunately, the wind was fierce, and blew the turntable around like a top. The operator could only watch as James was spun round and round.
"Somebody stop this thing!" he cried, "I'm going to be sick!"
Fortunately for James the wind soon died down and the operator managed to bring the turntable to a stop. Gordon had arrived and had seen everything.
"Well, well, well," he taunted, "Playing round abouts, are we?"
James said nothing. He just ran to the nearest trash can.
Later that night Gordon, James, and Henry met in Gordon's room.
"This is outrageous," he said indignantly, " First Henry gets sprayed by an Elepahnt, then I have to drive a train backwards, then James gets sick because of the wind, and everybody laughs at us. And to top it all off, Sir Topham Hatt makes us fetch our own coaches and go on dirty sidings."
Henry and James silently agreed that something must be done.
"Listen," said Gordon, "I have a plan." And he whispered it to the others, who snickered to themselves. "Sir Topham Hatt will look silly."
The three had decided to go on strike.
A/N: And done! Hope you guys like it! Goodbye!