Me: Back again, with another chapter, This time, we'll be seeing the adaption of the Railway series book Gordon The Big Engie, in this chapter.
Fred: No way, we're adapting the book into this?
Me: Yep, Paints, Pots, And Queens wasn't adapted until Season Four, it wasn't adapted in time, and before I forget, we lost Britt Alcroft on Christmas of last year.
Vanessa: Oh my god, no...
Me: Yeah, we lost her, I didn't find out until a few weeks later. it broke my heart to hear about her passing.
Fred: We lost a legend among Thomas fans.
Me: She won't be forgotten. I forgot to mention it last chapter, so I'll make up for it with this chapter.
Dedicated to Britt Alcroft (1943 -2024)
Two weeks had passed as Fred, Vanessa and Edward were back on Sodor after the former two's honeymoon was over, Sir Topham Hatt was told about the trip to America, he was pleased that there would be American engines and people that would be willing to work on Sodor, however, he was told about Vinnie, he knew that while Vinnie was a hard working engine, the atmosphere he would bring would be toxic and harmful.
Edward soon went back to his branchline where he found two tank engine twins named Bill and Ben as they had just arrived.
It was easy for Bill and Ben to work together, but as Fred knew, Bill and Ben were troublemakers, it wasn't long as Sir Topham Hatt had bought another diesel, this one Fred knew was Boco, which was an improvement over devious Diesel.
Boco had better reception than Diesel did, even though he was the third diesel to arrive, and it was as the old saying goes, third time's the charm.
One afternoon, Fred and Vanessa were in the cafe as usual.
Fred was reading the newspaper as he ate.
"Hmm, I hear that the queen of England will be here in the coming months, and from what I remember, there's going to be trouble before she gets here."
Vanessa nodded, she knew her husband was right.
"Let's just hope things will be a lot less chaotic, the last two years have been nonstop accidents and unfortunate events. I definitely enjoyed our wedding, thanks to Lady keeping us from being ambushed."
Fred nodded, he quite enjoyed the wedding, though he had no idea that the girl he saw at the wedding was Mr. Welsh's daughter.
"And that girl at the wedding, I have a feeling she'll come after us in the future."
Vanessa nodded, she hoped that wouldn't happen, then she remembered something.
"I hear there's a visiting engine coming here on a rail tour."
Fred nodded, in his mind, City of Truro wouldn't be coming for another month, and before that were events that hadn't happened yet.
"I just know Gordon is going to hate the special he's going to pull."
Vanessa looked at Fred in confusion.
"Why? What's wrong with Gordon pulling goods trains or just freight trains in general?"
Fred knew Gordon all too well as he replied.
"Gordon hates pulling freight cars because he's a tender engine. You know what happened when he came up with that idea to go on strike."
Vanessa then remembered the strike Gordon tried to do.
"Oh."
Once the married couple finished eating, they headed over to the sheds just in time to see Edward push Gordon over to the turntable.
Fred knew what was coming next.
"Oh, this should be good."
Once the turntable started moving, Gordon rolled off once the turntable was about halfway and plunged into a ditch.
Fred sighed and facepalmed.
"That idiot, he thinks he's too good for freight cars and wants to pull passenger trains, but no, he just has to be a baby about everything to get what he wants, and here he is, stuck in a ditch until he has someone to help get him out. Maybe this time he'll learn to be more patient and not be so stubborn."
Gordon had heard that, but didn't say anything, he knew Fred was right, he had a lot to think about.
Vanessa looked at Fred as she was wondering about who would be pulling the special.
"So, who do you think will be taking the special?"
Fred already knew who would take the special.
"Edward. Since Gordron's currently stuck in the ditch, Sir Topham Hatt will have chosen him, instead."
Later that night, James and Henry were laughing once they saw Gordon.
"Oh my, have you ever seen something like this, James?"
"Nope, in fact, I think this might be unintentional payback for what he put us through, though, you have to admit, the silence is golden, Henry."
Henry laughed as he and James were able to get Gordon out of the ditch as Gordon was silent throughout the whole ordeal, a few minutes later, he was recoupled to his tender and rolled into the sheds, a sadder and wiser engine.
A few days later, Gordon had been doing goods trains as he had gotten dirty, he rolled over to see Thomas was having a washdown, the tank engine noticed Gordon, seeing how dirty the big tender engine was and looked concerned.
"Oh dear, Gordon, you look like you need a washdown."
Gordon didn't want to admit it, but he knew Thomas was right.
"Thank you, but I don't need one at the moment."
With that, Gordon left, but he soon had a bath courtesy of Sir Topham Hatt telling him to take one, he looked to the workers who was on top of him with a sponge in his hand.
"Mind my eyes."
A few minutes, Gordon looked at the clouds in the sky and he knew there was bound to be trouble.
Fred and Vanessa who were in his cab as they had been assigned to him once he started working in the yards once Gordon had been cleaned, had seen the sky as well as Fred spoke up.
"I don't like the look of those clouds."
Gordon was in agreement.
"And James is due for his passenger run, that hill is very steep, I recall strong winds blowing leaves on the tracks earlier this afternoon."
Vanessa nodded, feeling it best that they inform James of the leaves on the hill.
Needless to say, James brushed all three off and didn't listen, and it would have been better if he had.
Fred spoke up as he saw James leave with the passenger train.
"We better follow him because he'll need a banker up that hill."
Gordon agreed as he followed after James, a few minutes later, James slid slowly down the hill as Gordon chuckled, seeing James's embarrassed face.
"So...want to talk about it?"
James said nothing as he looked at his buffers in shame, Gordon understood and knew he had to help James.
"Ah well, we live and learn. I'll help you up that hill."
And so, Gordon helped James up the hill as James was at the top and whistled a thank you and a goodbye as Gordon smiled, whistling goodbye.
A few days later, Gordon arrived as he had brought in a goods train, Thomas who was on his last passenger run for the day, decided to make a joke.
"Phew, what a funny smell."
Gordon knew that jab was directed at him, Thomas then spoke to Annie.
"Can you smell a smell?"
Annie looked confused as she replied.
"I can't smell a smell."
Thomas continued.
"A funny, musty sort of smell."
Gordon finally decided to speak up.
"No one noticed it 'til you did. It must be yours."
Thomas decided to take it further as he spoke to his coaches.
"Annie, Clarabel, do you know what I think it is? It's ditch water."
Thomas left laughing as Annie and Clarabel were shocked, when Thomas was out of sight, Gordon laughed.
"Oh, that was pretty funny."
Fred had peaked out of the cab when he finally spoke up.
"While it may be funny, Thomas will land himself in trouble."
Gordon hummed in thought.
"It wouldn't surprise me. Given how cheeky he is..."
Fred nodded in agreement as he and Gordon delivered the goods train to the yard.
A few moments later, Gordon was puffing down to the mine as he laughed.
"Down a mine? That's rich!"
When Gordon arrived, Fred helped attach strong cables from the winch on Gordon's buffer to Thomas's rear buffers.
Sir Topham Hatt gave the order to pull Thomas out of the hole he made, once Thomas was out, both engines made an alliance and went home.
Later that night, Fred told Vanessa everything that happened, she was surprised how far Thomas had gone with that joke.
"He didn't."
Fred nodded as he replied.
"He did, and he paid for it by falling into the old mine. Gordon got him out, but he actually found it to be quite funny."
This surprised Vanessa even more.
"Wait, Gordon liked that joke? Wonders will never cease."
Fred chuckled, he knew that Gordon had accepted Thomas's apology by now.
"Gordon's already forgiven Thomas, so we don't need to harp on Thomas about the joke, so that's it."
Vanessa sighed.
"Alright, I'll let it go. Besides, I heard City of Truro is coming here."
Fred looked interested, knowing that City of Truro was going to be coming to Sodor on a rail tour.
A month later, City of Truro had come to Sodor on his rail tour as he was at Tidmouth sheds, Gordon who was back to his old self, noticed City of Truro, he wasn't even impressed.
"Who cares? A lot of fuss about nothing if you ask me."
He soon left, everyone who heard that looked offended, City of Truro just laughed, surprising everybody around him.
"Oh, don't mind him, I've had to deal with plenty of engines and people like him. Besides, I'm not conceited, I know that my days on the mainline are over, but I enjoy a life of retirement, besides, I like rail tours, gives me a chance to stretch my wheels."
The engines enjoyed talking with City of Truro, he left the next day as Gordon was complaining to Thomas and Duck.
"Good riddance! Chattering all night, who is he, anyway?"
Thomas smiled as he spoke up.
"Duck told you, he's City of Truro. He's famous."
Gordon scoffed.
"As famous as me? Ridiculous."
Thomas continued.
"He's famous-er than you. City of Truro went a hundred miles an hour before you were even thought of."
Vanessa, who had been in Thomas's cab, agreed.
"He's right, Gordon. City of Truro has been around longer than any of us, and that's saying something."
Duck smiled as he replied.
"Plus, he's Great Western."
Gordon was less impressed than before.
"So he says. But I didn't like his looks. He's got no dome! Never trust domeless engines, they aren't respectable. I'd never boast, but a hundred miles is easy for me."
Thomas and Duck were shocked as Gordon left, a while later, Duck arrived at Edward's station as he delivered a goods train, he stopped next to Edward as the kind old engine greeted him.
"Hello Duck. I'm afraid you missed City of Truro when he passed through here this morning, he whistled to me! Isn't he kind?"
Duck smiled.
"He's the finest engine in the world."
Then Duck told Edward about what Gordon had said, Edward looked annoyed.
"Take no notice. He's just jealous, he thinks that no engine should be more famous than him."
Fred had popped into the conversation as he walked up to the engines.
"And unfortunately, he's got a superiority complex that's as big as his ego, if I didn't know any better, I'd say he'd try and beat City of Truro's record."
All three heard Gordon's whistle in the distance.
"Speaking of which, here he comes."
Gordon came in rushing very fast, his wheels pounding the rails beneath him.
"He did it, I'll do it. He did it, I'll do it."
Gordon's train rocketed past as he was out of sight, Fred knew what was going to come next.
"He'll knock himself to bits at this rate."
Duck chuckled.
"That's exactly what I was thinking."
Edward knew something was bound to happen.
"Gordon doesn't realize this, but there are strong winds blowing about."
Fred nodded, agreeing with Edward.
"And a particular gust of wind is where Gordon is heading, right at the viaduct."
Edward and Duck were shocked, they wondered how Fred knew that.
"How did you know?"
Fred chuckled, knowing what happened.
"If I told you, it'd ruin the surprise. Besides, I think his dome might be loose by now."
Fred was right, Gordon entered the station without his dome, he lost it to the wind over the viaduct.
Gordon returned to the sheds that night, hoping it was empty, but it wasn't, the other engines were there as he got onto the turntable as a voice called out from behind Gordon as he was turning around.
"Never trust domeless engines, they aren't respectable."
Gordon thought that voice belonged to Duck.
Another month passed as Sir Topham Hatt had arrived at Tidmouth sheds, everyone was silent as he began to speak.
"I've been informed that queen of England will be coming to Sodor, and I need an engine who would be able to take the queen to Sodor."
The engines were worried, they wondered who would take the royal train, days went by as everyone was still in preparation, Henry didn't mind, he was in high spirits when he let off so much steam, the painter who was above him couldn't see and fell off the ladder onto Henry's tender, the bucket of paint fell on top of Henry's dome, making look like a vanilla frosted cake.
Sir Topham Hatt smiled and kept himself from laughing as he looked to Henry.
"You look like an iced cake, Henry, that won't do for the royal train. I must make other arrangements."
A few minutes later Fred and Vanessa were in Sir Topham Hatt's office, the three of them were having a discussion of what was to be done.
"Fred, Vanessa, I'm at a loss that we've suffered a set back. We need to make a decision on who will take the royal train, who will arrange it, and who will be the one to clear the line for the queen's arrival."
Fred had a pretty good idea on which engines to choose.
"If I may, Thomas would be the one to arrange the train, Gordon would be the one to take the queen, and Edward would the one clearing the line so that Gordon could arrive without incident."
Sir Topham Hatt thought for a moment as he looked to Vanessa.
"Do you agree with your husband?"
Vanessa nodded, she didn't have any arguments with Fred as she nodded.
"I do. Both Thomas and Gordon have behaved well these last few days, and they deserve it, I'm sure Edward would like to have a chance as well."
Sir Topham Hatt nodded, he smiled, then he had something to say.
"That's good, as I am getting old, I am looking for a successor, and while you two have served me well, I'm considering to let my son Charles continue the tradition of being the controller."
Fred nodded, he figured that this universe he was sent to was a mix of the Railway series and TV series, it made perfect sense to him, the gray vest was a clear indication that this was the first Fat Controller.
"I can see why, you think Charles is ready, and I agree, I never met him personally, but I know he will do his best."
Sir Topham Hatt nodded, he smiled, knowing his son's future will be secure until he can pass on the tradition to Stephen. That was when he sighed.
"I agree, but my life is coming to an end, I want you to hand this to him."
Sir Topham Hatt handed a piece of paper to the married couple, Fred looked confused.
"Is this...a will?"
Sir Topham Hatt nodded.
"It is, I'm retiring sometime after the queen visits the island. I just don't know when. But I gather that I will have two years before I die."
Fred nodded solemnly as he held the will in his hand.
"I'll keep this until I see your son, it's the least I could do for you, sir."
Sir Topham Hatt nodded, he knew that Fred and Vanessa were some of his best engine drivers, even if they did come from America.
"And I know you'll do me proud."
The day came when the engines were in the station aside from Gordon and Edward who were making sure the queen arrived safely.
When she arrived, Queen Elizabeth II had knighted Sir Topham Hatt as she had looked around, she looked to see Fred and Vanessa.
"So you're Fred and Vanessa. I've heard about you two, and I personally thank you for choosing the engines responsible for bringing me here."
Fred nodded, he never had the honor of being thanked by the queen of England, before.
"Well, your majesty, it was the least I could do, we're just a simple married couple."
Queen Elizabeth II chortled as she smiled.
"Not from what I heard, you've been more of loyal workers to Sir Topham Hatt, despite what many think of you back home in London. I'm sure you've also done your country proud."
Fred and Vanessa were shocked, they never had this much praise coming from the queen before. Queen Elizabeth had something for the married couple as she held what looked like a framed medal.
"This goes to you for six years of working for Sir Topham Hatt."
Fred and Vanessa accepted the framed medal.
When it was time for Queen Elizabeth II to leave, Vanessa suddenly felt ill, Fred helped her over to the bathroom, everyone looked concerned for Vanessa.
When both returned, Queen Elizabeth was the first to ask.
"Are you alright?"
Vanessa nodded, her voice was a little hoarse, but she replied.
"I will be, though, I think I'm pregnant."
This news surprised everyone, even the engines, Queen Elizabeth II Smiled.
"Well, congratulations, Mrs. Williams, I hope you and your husband will be happy once your child is born."
Vanessa nodded as she smiled.
"I hope so, your majesty, I just hope that all goes well for us."
Once the Queen boarded the royal train, everyone waved and whistled goodbye as the royal train left for London.
Vanessa: I'M PREGNANT!?
Fred: How did you even manage to put that in!?
Me: Hey! Things were getting hectic, and I felt that with all marriages, pregnancy comes after that, usually within a year or two.
Fred: Okay, fair point. But why now of all times?
Me: I just felt like I had to move the plot along, also, we're getting Charles Hatt after Sir Topham Hatt retires.
Vanessa: Wait, what?!
Fred: Oh yeah, forgot about that.
Me: Yep, Railway Series lore and all that. Anyway, we'll be back with another chapter after this, so bye for now.