I do not own Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, they are strictly the property of Britt Allcroft and the Awdry Family.
Episode 2: Edward and Gordon, Original Airdate: 9th October 1984
It was a sunny afternoon on the Island of Sodor. Thomas was preparing to lay Lucy down for her afternoon nap, it was his and his father's day off so he had spent the morning playing with Lucy in the local playground in Ffarquhar.
"Alright Lucy its nap time" said Thomas to his daughter.
"Daddy story please?" asked Lucy.
Thomas just smiled at his daughter. Last night his story of how he first came to Sodor and being pulled along with the Wild Nor' Wester by Gordon had got Lucy to go to sleep and now it appears that his stories were the key in getting Lucy to go to sleep.
"Alright how about the time Uncle Edward got his engine running again?" asked Thomas.
"Yes please" dada clapped Lucy Excitedly.
"Alright then" said Thomas as he lay Lucy down in her crib and sat down on the chair next to it. "It began at round the time I started working for the North Western Railway" Thomas began.
(Story Begins)
Edward Pettigrew was a 25 year old engine driver who had dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was a kind and wise driver whose was a blue Furness Railway K2 Tender Engine with the number 2 painted in yellow on both sides of the tenders. Edward loved his engine very much as it had been in his family for over a 100 years and was one of the oldest engines on the island of Sodor, it was built way back in 1896 and was driven by his great, great grandfather and was one of the first engines on the North Western Railway having being used to help build it. But lately it had not been out much, in fact it had not being out for at least three months. This of course made Edward feel sad. Gordon however having an ego could not help but make fun of it, although he was rather pompous, boastful and conceited Gordon did have a heart although he rarely showed it.
"Sir Topham Hatt wants bigger engines like me to run his line" Gordon told him one day "he wants bigger stronger engines like mine to run his railway".
"My engine maybe old" said Edward sternly, "but she's still really useful".
"That's quite enough of that Gordon" came a stern voice.
Gordon froze up a bit and turned to see who the owner of the voice. He saw that it was Sir Topham Hatt who had a stern look on his face, having heard everything Gordon had said to Edward.
"That is not true in the slightest Gordon and you should know it" Sir Topham spoke sternly to Gordon. He then turned to face Edward.
"Now Edward I know that your engine hasn't being out of the shed for at least a couple of months, which is why I want you to take some railway enthusiasts on a tour of the mainline, you think that you can do it for me?" Sir Topham Hatt asked.
"Oh yes please Sir" said Edward excited.
"Excellent" said Sir Topham Hatt pleased, "They are waiting at Wellsworth station, you can take the Old Coaches that are waiting in the coach shed".
Edward then left to pick up the coaches from the coach shed, leaving a shocked Gordon behind. The Old Coaches in question were some old green coaches that used to be part of the Wild Nor' Wester back when the North Western Railway first opened. However, they were eventually replaced by more modern coaches, however Sir Topham Hatt's father always believed that they would become useful again someday, so he kept them in the coach shed until the day came. Edward backed his engine onto the coaches and got out of his cab so he could couple them to his engine. Once they were coupled up, he hopped back into his cab and set off for Wellsworth station. He arrived at the station in record time as the stationmaster whose name was Charlie Sand came up to him.
"Hello there Edward fancy to see your engine running again" said the stationmaster kindly.
"That is true Charlie" replied Edward, "Sir Topham Hatt told me to pick up some Railway enthusiasts".
"And I see you've bought out the Old Coaches" Charlie asked.
"Sir Topham Hatt wants them to be really useful" said Edward.
Soon the railway enthusiasts arrived and began boarding the coaches. Soon they had all boarded the coaches, Edward waited for the guard to blow his whistle, but he didn't. He waited for 5 minutes but still nothing happened, the railway enthusiasts soon began to grow annoyed and impatient. This made Edward worried.
"Where's Sidney?" asked Edward confused as to why the guard hadn't shown up.
"I don't know Edward" replied Charlie "Sidney's usually on time but being late is not like him.
Just then both Edward and Charlie heard the screeching of a car. They both to see the car in question skidding to a stop and out popped Sidney Heever the guard, Sidney quickly ran puffing on the platform with his whistle and flags in his hands.
"Where were you Sidney?" asked Edward, "I was just about to leave without you".
"I'm so sorry Edward" apologised Sidney, "my alarm didn't go off and some traffic on the way here didn't help matters".
"Well then we better get this show on the road or rail or else the passengers will complain, and we all know how Sir Topham Hatt hates confusion and delay" informed Edward.
With that Edward got into his cab and Sidney got into the rear coach and blew his whistle and Edward's engine departed the station on its journey. He was careful with the coaches and gave a smooth ride which the railway enthusiasts enjoyed every much. Later that night he returned to the boarding house at the back of Tidmouth, the boarding house was for engine drivers who were either working late or had the night shift, it was well equipped with living quarters, showers, a living area, and a kitchen. Edward was talking to Thomas, Henry, and Gordon about his day.
"I'm going out again tomorrow" said Edward happily, "Sir Topham Hatt was so pleased with the railway enthusiasts that he wants me to do some shunting in the yard".
Thomas and Henry were happy for Edward, so was Gordon but he did not say anything. Edward so tired and happy that he went straight to bed at once. The next morning Gordon was boasting as usual, Sir Topham Hatt had told him the previous night that he would talk to him at the sheds next morning about a special train he wanted him to pull.
"You watch me later little Edward when I speed by with my special train" bragged Gordon, "I will surely be a splendid sight".
Just then a blue car pulled up to the sheds and out stepped Sir Topham Hatt.
"Ah Gordon, just the engine driver I wanted to see" remarked Sir Topham Hatt, "I trust that you're looking forward to pulling the special train today?".
"That I' am Sir" replied Gordon grandly "is it ready?".
"It sure is" said Sir Topham Hatt, "in fact its waiting for you at Knapford station".
Gordon excitedly hopped into his engines cab and drove away. Sir Topham Hatt then turned to face Edward.
"And you Edward, are you ready for a day of shunting?" Sir Topham Hatt asked his employee.
"I' am ready to start immediately" replied Edward.
Pleased Sir Topham Hatt then wished him a good day before returning to his car and driving off. Edward then left the shed to do his shunting, Edward like shunting. It was fun playing with trucks and vans, he would push them either into sidings or into trains so the other drivers could take them on their journeys all over the island. Edward did such good shunting that even the yard workmen were impressed, he played until there were no more trucks for him to shunt, by the time that happened it was lunching time. He parked his engine by the Tidmouth goods station and sat down on the stations edge to have his lunch which was Cup Noodles and some water, he was busy enjoying his lunch when he heard Gordon's engine whistle.
"Gordon's passing by" thought Edward to himself, "wonder what his special train is?"
He soon got his answer as a fuming Gordon passed by. Instead of nice shining coaches he was pulling a very goods train which consisted of two tankers, two seven plank trucks and a LNER 12 ton van. Gordon grumbled as he drove by.
"A goods train, a goods train, a goods train" he grumbled, "the shame of it, the shame of it oh the shame of it".
Edward just gave a laugh as Thomas puffed up next to him.
"Did you see Gordon pulling his special train?" asked Thomas to Edward.
"Was that what his special train was?" asked Edward.
"It sure was" smirked Thomas "it's payback for pulling me along with the Wild Nor' Wester the other day"
Edward and Thomas both laughed as Edward finished his lunch and went back to work. Later he was shunting some milk tankers into a siding when the yard manager came up to him.
"Its Gordon he stuck on the hill outside Wellsworth" explained the yard manager, "think you can help him?"
"I'll try sir" said Edward as headed off to help Gordon.
Half an hour later he came to the hill outside of Wellsworth, there was Gordon stuck on the hill and looking very cross. The guard was cross too, he argued with him, but it was no good.
"You're not trying Gordon" scolded the guard severely.
"Its not my fault if trucks hold a driver and his engine back" retorted Gordon.
The sighted before turning to see that Edward has arrived. He then walked down to the K2 tender engine and his driver.
"I'm sure glad you're here Edward" said the relieved guard "can you help push Gordon and his train up the hill please?"
"I'll try sir" said Edward before calling up to Gordon.
The guard then walked back to Gordon who was sulking.
"Edwards come to help push you up the hill" said the guard.
"No use at all" grumbled Gordon.
"You wait and see Gordon" replied the guard.
Gordon brought the train down to the bottom of the hill to where Edward was. Edward then buffered his engine up to the brake van.
"I'm ready" said Edward.
"No good" called Gordon.
The Two drivers then set off with both Edward pushing and Gordon pulling as hard as they could. It was tough work, but Edward was determined to help Gordon up the hill.
"I can't do it, I can't do, I can't do it" called Gordon.
"I will do it, I will doit, I will do it" called Edward reply.
Edward's engine pushed and puffed and puffed and pushed with all its might. Before Edward knew it, Gordon was finally at the top of the hill.
"I've done, I've done it, I've done it" he heard him call.
Before anything else could be said Gordon sped off down the other side of the hill without even saying thank you to Edward who he had left far behind. Edward came puffing into Marion station out of breath, he put his engine into the siding where a water tower stood, he then got out of his cab and went to fill up its tank before going to get a bottle of water from the station shop. He came back five minutes later to look at his engine who despite being dirty was immensely proud of.
"I'll get out my paint tomorrow and give you a beautiful new coat of blue and red stripes" he told his engine as he patted its buffer "after that you'll be the smartest engine in the shed".
(Story Ends)
"And after that Sir Topham Hatt began using Uncle Edward's engine was used more often" said Thomas as he finished his story.
He looked down to see that Lucy had fallen fast asleep. Smiling Thomas then left her room before going down to the kitchen to make himself some lunch.
Took me about a week to write, I really must try and stick my thumb and write the chapters as quickly as I can. Please be so kind and leave some previews for me so I see your options of my story.