Great Sodor Engines ~ E14: Gordon Saves the Railtour (NOT MADE FOR KIDS!!!!)

DISCLAIMER: This video is not made for kids! It’s for older fans and adults only!
Plot: During the Fat Controller’s railway gala to celebrate 60 years of the Railway Series books, Gordon’s brother Flying Scotsman and another LNER engine Mayflower came to visit as special guests. However, Mayflower wouldn’t stop making rude remarks about Gordon and Flying Scotsman due to their designers’ history. But when she has an accident in the yards before she was due to pull her last railtour train, Gordon steps in to save the day!
As a railway enthusiast, I am a huge fan of the LNER (my favorite Big Four railway company) in which I have learned through many insights about every locomotive class there is, even the most famous ones. I bring this up because Gordon has a great rivalry with Spencer which predates back to their family history obviously. However, there is another potential rivalry that I don’t think anyone else has covered to contrast the big blue engine. Enter Sir Nigel Gresley and Edward Thompson. To those that don’t know, both designers were the first two CMEs for the LNER. However, they are both rivals back in the day, especially Thompson having a huge disdain for Gresley (from being chosen as the railway’s designer over Vincent Raven to the conjugated valve gear). When Gresley died and Thompson took his place, he created his standerisation scheme, and even rebuilt the first A1 Pacific ‘Great Northern’ into a mixed-traffic A10. For me, I am not a fan of Edward Thompson not just because of his dislike of Gresley (which I prefer more than him), but more of his hideous looking designs which often perform badly in performance. But his B1 class however are fire! They are probably the most coolest designs I’ve ever seen, particularly Mayflower (whom I actually rode on during a rail excursion while visiting the UK in 2019 fun fact). I had the idea in mind while I was writing my first set of stories before my own series because I wanted to reflect on that history through the characters’ perspectives. However instead of Gordon being the antagonist, Mayflower actually is, so why not?
Speaking of Gordon, I wanted to jump at the opportunity of bringing back that good-hearted and loyally side of his character as I feel and agree with most people that both the Brenner and BWBA eras never really did him justice other than portraying him as a grumpy punching gag (w/ the exceptions of Gordon Runs Dry, Confused Coaches and Gordon & Rebecca Coming Through!), but hey that’s what fan content is for and what we can do with him which leads me into his relationship with his brother Flying Scotsman. I wanted to reflect them more as an actual close family like in the RWS instead of that overrated sibling rivalry in the CGI Series (that alone is much more suited for Mallard and Spencer in my opinion). This however might be Flying Scotsman’s only ever appearance in Great Sodor Engines because since this season takes place during the year of the franchise’s 60th anniversary (not every fan series can take place during the current years so deal with it), it is also set before his 10 year overhaul the following year.
And finally, I’d like to dedicate this episode to another legendary person who we also sadly lost last year: Greg Scholl. Now to those who are deprived of not knowing who he is: Greg Scholl was the founder of Railway Productions which are best known for their home media releases about trains (mostly American trains). The only ones I associated with in childhood were The Alphabet Train, All Aboard the Potomac Eagle, Choo Choo Christmas and America by Rail. While this is unrelated to Thomas, what might be a surprise for you was that he used to be in obsession of the archival footage of Flying Scotsman being unloaded at Boston Harbor during the first leg of the 1969 USA tour. Don’t believe me, it’s been included in a recent overview about the whole tour of North America starring Richard Hinchcliffe and Bill Wagner: • Flying Scotsman in Nor...
Anyway, I hope you enjoy it!
And kudos to The Mystic Gal, TrainFanProductions, DKandRenamonfan, Shane Hayes SirHandel 16, TheRedJ50 and guest starring my Brother for their marvelous character performances!
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NOTES:
1. I own nothing!
2. No bad comments please!

[@thesudriana016]

TRIVIA: Mayflower’s accident is based on a real incident at the Strasburg Railroad. On November 2nd, 2022, Norfolk and Western No. 475 (the engine that played the Rainbow Sun in TATMR) ran smack into a trackhoe through a misaligned switch, causing damage to its smokebox and headlight. It was quickly repaired and back in service on November 7th (side-note: Mayflower’s smokebox is more actually bent in this episode, NOT being punched a hole so as to ensure that everyone is not distressed about it).

[@joeythecat7482]

The moment you mentioned Oliver helping with a siding, I saw where it was going.

[@auraknight1004]

It’s like the Gordon and Spencer episode all over again, but this time, with MayFlower. Well done and great job bring Flying Scotsman into this story.

[@benscott8782]

Now that's a pretty nice story! Set in 2005, and easily pointed out by Flying Scotsman's appearance, prior to his decade-long overhaul to how he now looks today!

[@DarthWill3]

An excellent episode! A fine way to celebrate an anniversary! With regards to Mayflower, it's like a combination of "Bowled Out", "Crossed Lines" and "Gordon Proves His Point". Also, it was nice to see Flying Scotsman call Gordon "big brother" for a change.

[@TrainFanProductions4935]

Another banger! Gotta say, it really is a compliment to Gordon’s character arc. RWS-wise, anyway. I love his maturity and sympathy here. Nice to see Scotsman and Mayflower. Also, while I can’t deny that Gordon has some good moments, he does feel more like a Squidward than a Gordon. In CGI, that is.

[@stuartbarclay7940]

What a great story!😀 I like how it takes place during the 60th Anniversary! I was quite surprised by the mention of the Engine Driver's Common Room and the useage of The Old Bean's music! Really clever!👍 Plus, I like the scene where the RWS, TVS and merchandise were brought up. Also, R.I.P. Greg Scholl...😔 Edit: Oh, and nice touch on adding the song Ode to Gordon!

[@thesudriana016]

Thanks Stuart! Aside from NWR1991's Gordon & the Bluebell, there are hardly any episodes that took place during the 60th anniversary, so I thought why not given how I wanted to bring in the subject debate of Gresley and Thompson with Mayflower. For the engine driver's common room, even though it was seen in most of the Mr. Arkwright/Mr. Perkins segments during S12-16 (and Railway Mischief), but never really brought up or seen in the main episodes. Plus, the drivers and fireman probably do need a place to sleep for the night if they ever have an early job to do (but still go home to their families). As for The Old Bean's music, from the start of the fandom (like Dalek44's series), I wasn't sure where to find his music. Thankfully I was able to find some archival pieces of his music on Soundcloud which I'm very grateful for.

[@MrTrainerProductions]

Wow! A brilliant episode you did with Gordon and the proud Flying Scotsman. And, oh my lord, Mayflower was a complete jerk to them. Glad, she learned her lesson after she hit her face on Oliver's bucket and getting a black eye. That must've hurt! Also, I wasn't expecting a Pack member, such as Oliver, appearing in this. Good job, my friend. And looking forward to episode 18 where it has me as Mike.

[@sodorrailwaystudios2006]

Very nicely done! It's not every day we see Gordon's more humble side shown, and Mayflower certainly was an interesting character. Nice to see Gordon and Scotsman's true relationship here too, since I can agree that their dynamic in the CGI series is basically just Gordon's dynamic with Spencer all over again.

[@thesudriana016]

Thanks. Though Mayflower is technically a real engine, she is a nice change of pace to work around (sorta like the other real engines seen in Thomas & the Railtours whom a few are often boastful like Pullman 1, Achilles, Dryfuss, Daylight, Duke of Gloucester, etc.).

[@therenamonstan]

Very nicely done as usual, my man! This was a grand tribute to Greg Scholl (RIP). You did a great job bringing out Gordon's more humble/kinder side (which isn't shown very often). Another thing, it seems like Mayflower's attitude got her into trouble (as I expected). And I enjoyed taking part in this as Henry. BTW, you and your brother make quite a team (as Gordon and Flying Scotsman)! Kudos to the rest of the cast as well!

[@thesudriana016]

Thanks. I did want to give Mayflower the antagonist role to match the disdain Edward Thompson had for Sir Nigel Gresley. I know it wasn't his fault given limitations of WWII during his time as CME, but I'm still not a fan of his redesigns including Great Northern (whom I wished was also preserved given how he was the first official A1 built). As for Gordon's humbler side, it still shows up in fan-content now and then (including WildNorWester and even SodorsNWRSteam's 1973 episode where he stands up to Spencer and the other static Mainland engines, showing how much he's grown as a character. Sorta like Schemer in Schemer's Special Club).

[@shanehayessirhandel169]

Great work on this story my friend I really loved the part where MayFlower crashed into Oliver The Excavator you did amazing as Oliver aswell as Omeed as Henry & Skye as Mayflower and thank you very much for having me as Ryan for this! :)

[@backstagestudios8616]

Well done man!! I liked the way you handle the brother dynamic between Gordon and Scotsman. It was much better than they’re relationship in the CGI series in my opinion.

[@thesudriana016]

Thanks. And I agree. This is why I had Spencer in Scotsman's place in Express Friends for Rebecca to roast. And since Spencer is literally in The Great Race, he has one single line and nothing. Would've liked to see him take down Scotsman and Gordon and going by real history, Scotsman's 100mph record (and Papyrus' 108mph speed) was also just a testament for Sir Nigel Gresley's newly built A4 Pacifics (hence Gordon and Spencer's rivalry). I'd like to think maybe Scotsman used to be boastful and egotistical back in his youth on the LNER until after being demoted to secondary services to later being a regular engine before being preserved and later visiting Gordon to cheer him up made him a humbler and wise engine (similar to Simon Martin's British Railway Series that he appeared in).

[@emogenliars]

Lovely story!! Was happy to play Mayflower, it definitely gave me a little bit of antagionstic touch to my VA resume, but if I'm being honest, I'd limit the amount of characters you voice, 'cause sometimes it can't confusing on who is talking & the narration.

[@thesudriana016]

Thanks. I know for actors, playing a villain was a lot of fun and even their favorites (like how Linda Ballantyne often states that Wicked from Cyberchase is her favorite role). As for the amount of characters you said, I do want to make things easier for not just myself but everyone (if they're easy to voice). I'm only doing the backup voice of Edward for this season only as James Is Here was kinda inactive from Twitter for understandable reasons (not to mention him working on other vids too) even though I originally did sent him some of his lines, but received no reply.

[@markpatton370]

Great work! Hope to see more stories like this

[@savvadance7006]

That is super splendidly awesome story do more stories

[@aikohimutji107]

Correction: Sir Edward Thompson was never a terrible designer not wanted to destroy Gresley's legacy. He's actually one of Sir Nigel Gresley's trained students before World War 2, his death was so sudden that the Board of Directors had no other choice but to nominate Sir Edward Thompson as the new Chief Mechanical Engineer after Gresley's passing. Then came World War 2 and during the early or mid 1940's. The LNER was struggling to keep up with military demands due to many of the locomotives breaking down and maintained. So Thompson began to use Great Northern as the first rebuilt A1 to be built into his design, an experimental approach you could say and it worked which expanded Great Northern's service lifespan until 1965; then the rest followed the rebuilt process for the A2/1, A2/2, A2/3's in general. During this time, the public were flabbergasted at such changes which they question Edward Thompson about his choices as to why he built them that way. The answer is simple but complicated: It was during war time and it was in heavy demands to keep up with the war effort.. yet many despised him for it, resulting many of the workers and staff thinking that he's trying to ruin Gresley's legacy when in fact "he's only doing his job and giving his all to save the LNER from certain bankruptcy or any accused allegations." Many till this day believe he's a disgrace to the LNER when in reality, he lived a struggling life during the whole thing... Lost his wife and kids after getting divorced, had to live in his office throughout his life, and many other pending factors.. Overall, he was never a villain to begin with.. he was misunderstood by the majority and many to this day spread rumors about his so called "disgraceful reputation".

[@thesudriana016]

I guess that's one way of putting it by 'disgraceful reputation'. I did watch a video by History in the Dark covering the subject of him and while I'm not the biggest Thompson fan in my opinion, again I can understand it was during wartime effort and so many things happening that he had to endue of what resources he had to put up with. But man, losing his wife and such is something I didn't even know about.

[@jeremiahsisaias8677]

Considering that Scotsman's 101st birthday is coming up along with my dad's in the next 5 days, this was a nice way to celebrate this day dispite that this could've been done last year. I wish we could've had a full image of Mayflower and the faces you made for her. In the thumbnail did you give Gordon a nameplate like Scotsman and do you prefer Flying Scotsman to have his CGI faces or Gordon's with custom eyebrows and a different nose? I'm guessing that your series takes place around my birth year since the 60th anniversary takes place around that time. I was born when "Calling all engines" came out.

[@thesudriana016]

I prefer giving Scotsman rounded eyebrows (as I think the triangular ones really suit Gordon), but still w/ the same nose size like in the CGI Series. And yes, I did give Gordon a nameplate which was inspired by TheUnluckyTug's custom RWS model of him.

[@jamesthomas5109]

Will Mayflower return in future?

[@thesudriana016]

Unlikely. This is her only appearance.

[@pandorauniverse7994]

Cool story! too bad I can't tell who's talking and the narration doesn't really help on that matter either.

[@thesudriana016]

I mostly do a majority of the characters' voices myself to make things much easier and faster w/o having to wait for a long time for anyone else to turn in their lines (I only use VAs sparingly for characters I cannot voice myself).