James Gets Tricked

Gordon and Henry are Thomas’s big engine friends. Gordon pulls the express while Henry pulls the local. They are usually good friends and don‘t fight, but they sometimes are in cahoots with one another. One morning, Gordon was waiting at Knapford Station with the express when Henry came in with the local.

GORDON: Hello, Henry!

HENRY: Hello Gordon! I heard what happened to you last time. I came to help you with your passengers today.

GORDON: Help me! I can go faster than an engine who runs on special coal.

HENRY: No you can’t!

GORDON: Yes I can!

HENRY: I challenge you!

GORDON: Fair enough.

Their engineers both agreed to the race going ahead. The stationmaster shouted.

STATIONMASTER: Are you ready? Go!

Gordon and Henry busted out of the station. The stationmaster’s hat flew off in the process.

EXPRESS COACHES: Why don’t you go fast? Why Don’t you go fast?

GORDON: Wait and see! Wait and see!

EXPRESS COACHES: He’s a long way ahead!

But Gordon didn’t mind. He had remembered to next signal. At this signal, the express could go through, while the local had to stop. Henry was pulling the local so he had to stop, while Gordon sailed gaily through.

GORDON: Goodbye, Henry!

<p style="text-align: justify;">HENRY: Hubbawha!!!!

<p style="text-align: justify;">Soon, the express line left the local line so Gordon couldn’t see Henry. Then Gordon had to stop at Maron Station to let off passengers.

<p style="text-align: justify;">GORDON: Board and alight quickly please! You don’t know how Sir Topham Hatt relies on me.

<p style="text-align: justify;">And off he went again.

<p style="text-align: justify;">GORDON: Out of my way! Express coming through! Come On!

<p style="text-align: justify;">EXPRESS COACHES: Don’t make such a fuss! Don’t make such a fuss!

<p style="text-align: justify;">GORDON: Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!

<p style="text-align: justify;">Then he looked ahead. There was Henry puffing over the bridge.

<p style="text-align: justify;">HENRY: Hello, Gordon!

<p style="text-align: justify;">GORDON: O’ The Indignity!

<p style="text-align: justify;">ENGINEER: Steady Gordon! We’ll beat Henry yet!

<p style="text-align: justify;">GORDON: O’ The Indignity! There’s Great Waterton and people are at the station too!

<p style="text-align: justify;">Then he saw Henry.

<p style="text-align: justify;">HENRY: Goodbye, Gordon! You must be tired. Sorry I can’t stop, we green engines have to work too, you know! Goodbye!

<p style="text-align: justify;">GORDON: O’ The Indignity! We’ve lost!

<p style="text-align: justify;">But he felt better after a drink. The signal dropped after Edward sped by with a goods train. Gordon sped out of the station.

<p style="text-align: justify;">GORDON: Out of my way! Express coming through!

<p style="text-align: justify;">After crossing over the Fenland Track, Gordon heard an impatient whistle. There was Henry fuming at the signal. It was another one of those that I told you about earlier. Gordon once again sped through. The signal then dropped. Henry started with a huff and chased after Gordon. Now Gordon reached his full speed. Henry tried hard, but Gordon was too fast. He whooshed around a bend leaving Henry panting far behind.

<p style="text-align: justify;">GORDON: We’ve done it! We’ve done it!

<p style="text-align: justify;">ENGINEER AND FIREMAN: Hurray!

<p style="text-align: justify;">Gordon whooshed into the Kirk Royan station. Everyone was there to celebrate Gordon’s victory. But they gave Henry a big welcome too!

<p style="text-align: justify;">HENRY: Well done, Gordon! But to beat you around that bend, I should have to get a portal and transmit myself.

<p style="text-align: justify;">The two allies now keep each other busy. They often talk about their race, but Henry’s passengers don’t like being bounced like flapjacks in a pan. Sir Topham Hatt has also warned Gordon not to race at dangerous speeds. So although between you and me, they’d like to have another race. I don’t think they ever will. Do you?

Trivia

 * This story was a spoof of the railway series story, Thomas and Bertie. 

Goofs

 * Gordon would have derailed on the turn at the speed he was going.
 * Henry was behind Gordon when he left the station, so how is Henry all of a sudden in front of Gordon?