The Great Railway Show: Part 1

It was a bright June day on the island of Sodor. Gordon was pulling The Sudrian to Vicarstown, but had stopped at Crovan's Gate for his connection with Peter Sam's train.
"You look awfully smug today," remarked the narrow gauge engine. "Well, more smug than usual."
"So would you if you heard what I've heard, little fellow!" Gordon replied. "I've heard rumours that there'll be a Great Railway Show on the mainland. If they turn out to be true, the Fat Controller is sure to choose me to race in it!"
"That's unless your smokebox blows up first." said Peter Sam cheekily. "With an ego the size of yours, that's a possibility!" Gordon scoffed, but as he was about to reply, James arrived to take on water.
"Good news, Gordon! There's someone special waiting for you at Vicarstown. It's someone you know all too well."
"It had better not be who I think it is..!" thought Gordon as he set off.
"Bye, Gordon! Don't push yourself too hard!" called Peter Sam.

Gordon arrived at Vicarstown station, when...
"Oh bother." He saw a large green engine with smoke deflectors stood at platform 3. There were a lot of passengers crowding around him.
"I can't believe it!" said one. "Such a famous engine! We're honoured to have you visit our island!"
"Oh, I can imagine." the engine grinned broadly. "There can't be too many famous engines on this island." He looked to his left. "Oh! Hello, Gordon! How long have you been there, brother?"
"Long enough." Gordon snorted. "What are you even doing here? I thought they were still restoring you? Or you'd at least be on a heritage line somewhere."
"My owners have made an agreement with the Great Railway Show's organisers, Sir Topham Hatt and Network Rail that I be used to head trains from here to London in order to advertise the event."
"So the rumours are true," Gordon thought. Then, out loud, he said "So you're just a steaming advertisement?"
"You underestimate me, little brother. I'm going to be racing at the event, too!" The guard blew his whistle, and the large green engine steamed out of the station.
"Wow, Gordon!" remarked one of the trainspotters. "I didn't know that the world famous Flying Scotsman is your brother!" At times like this, however, Gordon wished he wasn't.

At Tidmouth, the Fat Controller was waiting for Gordon.
"I've exciting news for you. The Great Railway Show will be taking place in two months and... Gordon?" He'd noticed the big engine looking rather glum.
"Gordon!"
"Oh. Sorry, sir. My mind is rather occupied at the moment."
"What's on your mind?"
"It's my brother. He always thinks he's better than me. Last time he came, he bragged that he had two tenders. Now, he's boasting that he's in that railway show! He'll probably be on the way to London bragging about how he's faster than anyone."
"Well at least we're sure he's your brother!" laughed Henry. Gordon said nothing; he just glared at Henry, then turned his attention back to the Fat Controller.
"As I was saying..! The Great Railway Show is two months away, and I've chosen you to represent Sodor in the sprint race!" Gordon forced a smile.
"Thank you, sir. But at my current age, speed and capability, I'll be no match for the other competitors."
"Then what do you suggest?" Gordon had no answer. There was one solution that would possibly make him faster, but he often scoffed at Spencer for such a design.
"I'll just have to use the time I have to try and go as fast as possible." he said at last. The Fat Controller nodded, and walked to his office.
"I could help you reach your potential," smiled Philip, who had just shunted some trucks for Duck to take to the Little Western. "After all, who else would know about speed than the engine who be..."
"Mention that incident again, and I'll shunt you into the sea. Besides, it wasn't even a real race!"
"That's not the point! I kept my mind on beating you, and I did it regardless of the circumstances. You can do the same at the show with a bit more belief!"
"You may be annoying, but you can give some good advice when you try." And Gordon puffed away to rest in the shed for a while.

That night, the Fat Controller had arranged for Gordon to take a dynamometer car along the main line to determine his top speed. Duck shunted it into position.
"You'd best be careful with this. It was owned by the Great Western, and..."
"I'm in no mood for one of your lectures. I have a race to prepare for, and this run will determine how I compare to my brother."
"What are you going to do if it turns out he's faster?"
"I'm just hoping it doesn't come to that." And with that, Gordon was on his way.

With clear signals and express headlamps lighting his way, the big engine gave it everything he had on the journey. He pulled smoothly to a stop at Vicarstown, and as his crew went to check the results with the inspector, he feared the worst.
"That didn't feel very fast at all," he thought sadly.
"Well, Gordon," said his driver at last, "you've managed to reach 75mph at top speed." Gordon looked devastated.
"That's it?! I thought my boiler was going to burst, and that's all my old parts could give?"
"It's not too bad."
"'Not too bad'?! My brother was the first on record to top 100! I need to beat him!"
"But why?"
"Because I'm constantly overlooked. When we stood together in the 60s, enthusiasts always went to him first. He was the one who went gallivanting off to America soon after. He was the one who had millions spent on his overhaul solely due to his fame. He's always the star of any and all steam galas he's invited to. What have I achieved? The Wild Nor Wester was the only thing I had to be proud of; the only thing that made me an attraction. And now I'm on the Vicarstown Flyer, and I quickly became an afterthought."
No one really believes that, old boy. You've..."
"I believe that! And that's why I have to beat my brother; to prove that I can beat him at something. Maybe then I can get some of the attention for once!" There was a long silence.
"Let's get you to the nearby sheds," said his fireman at last. "We'll discuss what the future holds in the morning."

Next morning, Gordon arrived at Vicarstown to take a heavy goods. As he backed down onto the train, he saw Spencer waiting with his train to Carlisle. He'd heard everything about the blue engine's run overnight.
"Just pathetic," he laughed. "You should give up and be preserved before it's too late!"
"I'm not as fast as I used to be, but I'm still strong!"
"Strength won't win you the sprint race. Face it: streamlining is the only way to go for steam engines these days."
"I'd rather trust in my own abilities and lose than cheat to win!"
"Are you sure about that, Gordon? You don't look it."
"Of course I'm sure!" And Gordon puffed away. But his driver sensed something was wrong.
"Don't let Spencer get to you," he said. "We all know that you're still as useful as you've always been."
"But... that won't mean I'll beat my brother. I need this so that I can hold something over his funnel for once!"
"You're not considering... streamlining, are you?" asked his fireman.
"I don't want to, but if it means I'll have a chance in the race, I've no other alternative."
"Well, if that's what you feel is best for you, we'll support you all the way. Just... don't push yourself too hard." Gordon didn't want to, but if it meant he had a chance, he felt he had to.

As he arrived at Tidmouth, he saw the Fat Controller talking to Henry.
"Sir!" called Gordon. "I need to be streamlined."
"Why?"
"It's my only chance of beating my brother. And winning the sprint race, of course."
"But do you realise how expensive that will be?"
"So was Henry's Welsh coal and overhaul back in 1935, yet your grandfather paid for them!"
"My remedies were necessary to keep me running. You're just jealous that your brother's better than you."
"Henry's right," agreed the Fat Controller. "I just can't justify spending that amount of money on your personal endeavours."
"Fine. If you don't want Sodor to win the sprint race..!" The Fat Controller was cross.
"I do not appreciate your tactics, Gordon. But I shall see if I can afford for you to have the work done."
"Thank you." Gordon wasn't proud of what he'd done, but he was relieved that he may be streamlined after all.

Soon, Henry was puffing along the line with The Local. Diesel watched from Knapford harbour as the big green engine crossed the bridge.
"Look at him, swanking about like that."
"Less talk," grumbled Stanley. "We have work to do!"
"You don't understand the humiliation I suffered. 20 trucks lined up and they made a fool of me! I know I could pull 20 trucks, and I'll prove it at the Great Railway Show!"
"But... you're not going."
"You underestimate me." sneered Diesel.
"You underestimate how much work we have to do!" retorted Stanley. Diesel growled loudly as he set off, determined to pay Henry out.

The next morning, Bear was preparing to take The Sudrian, the North Western Railway's second fastest train, when he saw Gordon back down and buffer up.
"Sorry, old boy," said his driver as he climbed back into the cab, "but Gordon will be double heading until we reach the Works. Apparently, he's having major work done."
"What sort of work?"
"That's my business," replied Gordon.
"Alright, I won't pry. But if it's about..." The guard's whistle cut Bear off, and the two engines pulled slowly out of the station.

At Knapford Junction, Thomas was running around Annie and Clarabel when Gordon and Bear arrived.
"Hello! Have you been on a hunt, Bear? Or have you simply conked out?"
"Nothing of the sort," replied Bear. "Gordon's going to the Works because..." Suddenly, Gordon let off steam loudly.
"He doesn't need to know. No one does!"
"Never mind, Gordon. I won't say anything about you wanting to be streamlined because you aren't as fast as you thought you were. It happens to the best of us! You just need to accept it and move on." There was an awkward silence, which was broken by the guard's whistle, and Thomas puffed away.

Annie and Clarabel were deeply shocked. Although times had changed, their respect for Gordon had remained.
"You can be a very rude engine sometimes," Annie grumbled.
"I only spoke the truth; he just needs to accept that he's past it rather than changing himself to try and compete in a stupid speed contest."
"But that didn't give you the right to say something that he wanted to keep a secret." Clarabel retorted.
"Bear and the rest were going to find out eventually, so..."
"Maybe he wanted to say something in his own time rather than having it blurted out as if it was no big deal?" said Annie.
"But being the fastest isn't a big deal."
"Have you ever considered that that's not even the real problem?" Clarabel asked. "Maybe he has deeper issues than that!" But Thomas didn't care; he was too focused on getting his work done. And he had a shunting competition to prepare for.

Meanwhile, Bear had noticed that Gordon was no longer trying. The big diesel had to push him and pull the train. It was a tough time, but they finally reached Wellsworth. The passengers were cross at being late, but Bear had other things on his mind.
"Come on, Gordon. If you're going to help me with this train, you need to start pulling your weight again."
Gordon said nothing.
"If you don't help me, I'm leaving you behind. I've got to get up the hill, and there's no way I'll be able to..."
"Just leave me then." grunted Gordon. "Nobody cares about me anyway." Bear looked concerned.
"This is about Thomas, isn't it?"
"No, but his little speech didn't help matters."
"If you want to talk about it, I'm more than happy to listen." Gordon smiled weakly.
"Thank you. But we have a job to do first."
"Right you are." And the two engines set off, knowing they had a lot of time to make up.

The two engines arrived at the Works just in time. Gordon was uncoupled, and he puffed into the shed.
"I never imagined that an engine like you would want to be streamlined." remarked Victor, who had heard everything before the big engine arrived.
"Neither did I, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to beat my brother."
"But don't you want to try and beat him with the speed you have?"
"I can't. That's the whole point of my streamlining."
"It will be a long job," said the lead workman, "but we'll do our best to ensure you're ready in time." Gordon was nervous as the workmen started. He was unsure whether the work would be enough, but he hoped that it would give him a fighting chance.