1. GORDON WAS FEELING GRUMPY.
Copy !req
2. THIS WAS MAKING JAMES CROSS.
Copy !req
3. "WHY ARE YOU
COMPLAINING ALL THE TIME?"
Copy !req
4. "BECAUSE
I'M A BIG, BLUE ENGINE
Copy !req
5. "AND I KNOW EVERYTHING.
Copy !req
6. "I SHALL COMPLAIN
WHENEVER I WANT.
Copy !req
7. "YOU'RE JUST
A SMALL, RED ENGINE
Copy !req
8. WITH IDEAS
ABOVE YOUR STATION."
Copy !req
9. "I CAN'T SEE ANY,"
Copy !req
10. SAID PERCY.
Copy !req
11. "WHERE ARE THEY?"
Copy !req
12. "ANY WHAT?"
Copy !req
13. "IDEAS ABOVE THE STATION.
Copy !req
14. THE SKY'S EMPTY."
Copy !req
15. "LIKE YOUR SMOKEBOX,
PERCY!"
Copy !req
16. LAUGHED JAMES.
Copy !req
17. BUT GORDON
WAS STILL GRUMPY.
Copy !req
18. "ONE DAY
I'LL SHOW YOU
Copy !req
19. JUST WHAT A BIG ENGINE
CAN REALLY DO."
Copy !req
20. "SO WHAT CAN
A BIG ENGINE REALLY DO?"
Copy !req
21. "NOT SPEAK TO SILLY LITTLE
GREEN ENGINES FOR A START,"
Copy !req
22. REPLIED GORDON.
Copy !req
23. THEN, HE PUFFED AWAY.
Copy !req
24. LATER THAT DAY,
Copy !req
25. SIR TOPHAM HATT
CAME TO SEE HIM.
Copy !req
26. "GORDON, YOU'LL BE MAKING
ONE STOP TODAY
Copy !req
27. "WITH AN EMPTY EXPRESS
TO TEST OUR NEW STATION.
Copy !req
28. YOU CAN MAKE UP TIME
AFTERWARDS."
Copy !req
29. "WHY CAN'T HENRY DO IT?"
Copy !req
30. "HE LIKES
IDLING IN STATIONS."
Copy !req
31. "YOU WILL DO
AS YOU ARE TOLD."
Copy !req
32. SO GORDON DID.
Copy !req
33. BUT HE WAS STILL UNHAPPY
AND HE GREW SICK TOO.
Copy !req
34. "I JUST CAN'T
GET UP TO SPEED!"
Copy !req
35. HE MOANED.
Copy !req
36. "IT'S TIME FOR
YOUR VISIT TO THE WORKS.
Copy !req
37. YOUR PIPES ARE CLOGGED,"
Copy !req
38. SAID THE FIREMAN.
Copy !req
39. AT LAST THEY APPROACHED
THE NEW STATION.
Copy !req
40. GORDON WAS IMPRESSED
BUT HIS MOOD SOON CHANGED.
Copy !req
41. IN FRONT OF HIM
WAS A BLANK WALL
Copy !req
42. AND HUGE BUFFERS.
Copy !req
43. "WHAT A BORING VIEW."
Copy !req
44. "IMPORTANT ENGINES LIKE ME
SHOULD HAVE A PANORAMIC VIEW,
Copy !req
45. WHERE I CAN SEE PEOPLE
AND PEOPLE CAN SEE ME."
Copy !req
46. AND HE WHEESHED ANGRILY.
Copy !req
47. GORDON WAS HAPPY
WHEN IT WAS TIME TO LEAVE.
Copy !req
48. "NOW YOU CAN REALLY ENJOY
YOUR RUN,
Copy !req
49. AS LONG AS
YOUR PIPES WILL LET YOU!"
Copy !req
50. SAID HIS DRIVER.
Copy !req
51. "COME ON!
COME ON!
Copy !req
52. I CAN GO FASTER THAN THIS!"
Copy !req
53. HUFFED GORDON.
Copy !req
54. "SICK? ME?
Copy !req
55. NEVER!"
Copy !req
56. BUT GORDON BEGAN TO FEEL
MORE AND MORE FEEBLE,
Copy !req
57. AND SOON HE CAME
TO A COMPLETE STOP.
Copy !req
58. "WHAT HAPPENED?"
Copy !req
59. HIS DRIVER AND FIREMAN
INSPECTED HIM.
Copy !req
60. "SOMETHING'S BROKEN
INSIDE YOU, GORDON,"
Copy !req
61. SAID HIS FIREMAN.
Copy !req
62. "NOW YOU REALLY WILL
HAVE TO GO TO THE WORKS."
Copy !req
63. GORDON WAS STILL FUMING
Copy !req
64. WHEN JAMES ARRIVED
TO COLLECT HIS COACHES.
Copy !req
65. "WELL, WELL, WELL!"
Copy !req
66. "SO MUCH FOR
KNOWING ABOUT EVERYTHING.
Copy !req
67. "YOU GOT TOO PUFFED UP
IN YOUR BOILER,
Copy !req
68. SO IT SERVES YOU RIGHT!"
Copy !req
69. WHEN GORDON RETURNED FROM
THE WORKS A FEW DAYS LATER,
Copy !req
70. HE WAS STILL BOASTING.
Copy !req
71. "I AM THE FINEST ENGINE
ON THE ISLAND OF SODOR."
Copy !req
72. "PROBABLY
THE FINEST IN THE WORLD."
Copy !req
73. "COME ON, GORDON,
Copy !req
74. "WE'RE GOING TO
THE OFFICIAL OPENING
Copy !req
75. OF THE NEW STATION."
Copy !req
76. THEN, THERE WAS TROUBLE.
Copy !req
77. AS GORDON APPROACHED
THE NEW STATION,
Copy !req
78. NEITHER THE DRIVER NOR FIREMAN
COULD APPLY HIS BRAKES.
Copy !req
79. SOMETHING HAD JAMMED.
Copy !req
80. THE DRIVER REDUCED STEAM,
Copy !req
81. BUT GORDON WAS
STILL GOING TOO FAST.
Copy !req
82. "HELP ME, PLEASE!"
Copy !req
83. "WELL, GORDON,"
Copy !req
84. SAID SIR TOPHAM HATT,
Copy !req
85. "I KNEW YOU WANTED
A PANORAMIC VIEW,
Copy !req
86. BUT THIS IS NOT
THE WAY TO ACHIEVE IT!"
Copy !req
87. "YES, SIR;
SORRY SIR."
Copy !req
88. WHEN GORDON WAS
REPAIRED AGAIN
Copy !req
89. HE TOOK SIR TOPHAM HATT
TO THE NEW STATION,
Copy !req
90. FOR ITS SECOND
OFFICIAL OPENING.
Copy !req
91. THIS TIME,
HE ARRIVED SAFELY,
Copy !req
92. AND EVERYONE CLAPPED
AND CHEERED AS HE PULLED IN.
Copy !req
93. SIR TOPHAM HATT
SPOKE TO HIM,
Copy !req
94. "YOUR PANORAMIC VIEW
IS HERE TO STAY."
Copy !req
95. "I TRUST YOU WILL ALWAYS
SEE THROUGH IT
Copy !req
96. FROM THE SAFETY
OF YOUR OWN RAILS!"
Copy !req
97. GORDON HEARTILY AGREED.
Copy !req
98. ONE SUMMER'S DAY,
Copy !req
99. THOMAS AND PERCY WERE IDLING
IN THE STATION,
Copy !req
100. WHEN BERTIE THE BUS ARRIVED.
Copy !req
101. "HAVE YOU
NOTICED SOMETHING?"
Copy !req
102. SAID BERTIE.
Copy !req
103. "WHAT SORT OF SOMETHING?"
Copy !req
104. "SIR TOPHAM HATT,
Copy !req
105. HE, WELL...
SEEMS DIFFERENT,"
Copy !req
106. REPLIED BERTIE.
Copy !req
107. "I DID SEE HIM STARING
AT THE CLOUDS THIS MORNING,"
Copy !req
108. SAID PERCY.
Copy !req
109. "I WONDER WHY?"
Copy !req
110. THE REASON WAS SIMPLE.
Copy !req
111. IT WAS
LADY HATT'S BIRTHDAY
Copy !req
112. AND SIR TOPHAM
HAD A NEW OUTFIT.
Copy !req
113. "IT'S PERFECT
FOR MY BIRTHDAY PARTY,"
Copy !req
114. SAID HIS WIFE.
Copy !req
115. "YOU'LL LOOK SPLENDID,
TOPHAM DEAR."
Copy !req
116. "AND I'LL WEAR
MY FINEST HAT JUST FOR YOU,"
Copy !req
117. HE REPLIED.
Copy !req
118. "YOUR BIRTHDAY
IS A GREAT OCCASION."
Copy !req
119. "IT IS,
SO DON'T BE LATE."
Copy !req
120. "DON'T WORRY, MY DEAR,
Copy !req
121. I SHALL BE SPICK-AND-SPAN
AND RIGHT ON TIME!"
Copy !req
122. LATER THAT DAY,
Copy !req
123. SIR TOPHAM HATT HAD
CHANGED INTO HIS NEW SUIT.
Copy !req
124. "YOU LOOK FINE, SIR,"
Copy !req
125. SAID THE STATIONMASTER.
Copy !req
126. "YOU'D BEST BE GOING."
Copy !req
127. "INDEED,"
Copy !req
128. AGREED SIR TOPHAM HATT.
Copy !req
129. "THE ENGINES ARE BUSY.
Copy !req
130. I'LL TAKE THE CAR."
Copy !req
131. "IS IT RELIABLE?"
Copy !req
132. ASKED THE STATIONMASTER.
Copy !req
133. "CERTAINLY,"
Copy !req
134. SAID SIR TOPHAM MATT.
Copy !req
135. BUT IT WASN'T...
Copy !req
136. AS HE SPED ALONG,
Copy !req
137. HE SUDDENLY SAW
A LARGE HOLE IN THE ROAD.
Copy !req
138. HE BRAKED HARD,
BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.
Copy !req
139. "BOTHER!
Copy !req
140. "NOW I'VE GOT A PUNCTURE.
Copy !req
141. "IF I CHANGE MY WHEEL,
Copy !req
142. I AM SURE TO DIRTY MY SUIT
AND THAT WOULD NEVER DO."
Copy !req
143. JUST THEN
HE HEARD CAROLINE.
Copy !req
144. "I HAVE TO ATTEND
MY WIFE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY
Copy !req
145. "AND I CANNOT BE LATE.
Copy !req
146. PLEASE GIVE ME A LIFT."
Copy !req
147. "I'LL TRY, SIR."
Copy !req
148. BUT CAROLINE DIDN'T LIKE
GOING FAST.
Copy !req
149. "I'M HOT!
Copy !req
150. MY ENGINE
WILL OVERHEAT!"
Copy !req
151. AND IT DID.
Copy !req
152. "TOLD YOU SO,"
Copy !req
153. SAID CAROLINE SADLY.
Copy !req
154. "BOTHER! BOTHER!"
Copy !req
155. THEN HE HEARD
A LOUD WHISTLE.
Copy !req
156. IT WAS GEORGE
THE STEAMROLLER.
Copy !req
157. GEORGE WAS CROSS
WHEN HE SAW CAROLINE.
Copy !req
158. "CALL YOURSELF A CAR!
Copy !req
159. "YOU'RE A DISGRACE
TO THE ROAD!
Copy !req
160. FIND YOURSELF
A SCRAPYARD!"
Copy !req
161. CAROLINE SPLUTTERED IN FURY.
Copy !req
162. GEORGE'S DRIVER
WAS MORE POLITE.
Copy !req
163. "CAN I BE
OF ASSISTANCE, SIR?"
Copy !req
164. "ONLY IF YOU CAN GET ME
TO MY WIFE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY,"
Copy !req
165. SIGHED SIR TOPHAM HATT.
Copy !req
166. "WE CAN TAKE YOU
TO THOMAS,"
Copy !req
167. REPLIED THE DRIVER.
Copy !req
168. "HE'S JUST DOWN THE LINE."
Copy !req
169. "MUCH OBLIGED."
Copy !req
170. AND THEY RUMBLED AWAY.
Copy !req
171. "WHAT ABOUT ME?"
Copy !req
172. WAILED CAROLINE.
Copy !req
173. "I'LL SEND FOR HELP,"
Copy !req
174. CALLED SIR TOPHAM HATT.
Copy !req
175. "STAY THERE."
Copy !req
176. "THAT'S ALL I CAN DO."
Copy !req
177. GEORGE WAS ENJOYING
ROLLING ALONG THE LANE,
Copy !req
178. BUT NOT SIR TOPHAM HATT.
Copy !req
179. OIL SPLASHED EVERYWHERE.
Copy !req
180. WORSE WAS TO FOLLOW.
Copy !req
181. "HELP!"
Copy !req
182. CRIED GEORGE.
Copy !req
183. "SOMETHING'S SNAPPED!"
Copy !req
184. HE VEERED
OUT OF CONTROL
Copy !req
185. AND SIR TOPHAM HATT
LANDED IN A MUDDY DITCH
Copy !req
186. CLOSE TO WHERE THOMAS
WAS TAKING ON WATER.
Copy !req
187. "BOTHER!
Copy !req
188. BOTHER!"
Copy !req
189. THOMAS HAD NEVER SEEN
SIR TOPHAM HATT IN SUCH A MESS.
Copy !req
190. "CAN I HELP YOU, SIR?"
Copy !req
191. ASKED THOMAS' DRIVER.
Copy !req
192. "YES, PLEASE.
Copy !req
193. GET ME TO THE STATION
AS FAST AS YOU CAN."
Copy !req
194. "I'M AFRAID
OUR FIREMAN'S BEEN TAKEN ILL,"
Copy !req
195. "THEN I'LL BE
YOUR FIREMAN,"
Copy !req
196. SIGHED SIR TOPHAM HATT.
Copy !req
197. THOMAS WAS EXCITED.
Copy !req
198. SIR TOPHAM HATT
HAD TO WORK HARD.
Copy !req
199. COAL DUST AND SMUT
FLEW EVERYWHERE.
Copy !req
200. AT LAST,
THEY REACHED THE STATION.
Copy !req
201. SIR TOPHAM HATT
LOOKED AT THE CLOCK.
Copy !req
202. "JUST IN TIME,"
Copy !req
203. HE GASPED.
Copy !req
204. HE HURRIEDLY PICKED UP
A HUGE BUNCH OF FLOWERS.
Copy !req
205. "GOOD LUCK!"
Copy !req
206. CALLED THOMAS.
Copy !req
207. SIR TOPHAM HATT'S WIFE
WAS WAITING FOR HIM.
Copy !req
208. AS THE CLOCK STRUCK THREE,
Copy !req
209. THERE STOOD
SIR TOPHAM HATT,
Copy !req
210. TIRED BUT TRIUMPHANT.
Copy !req
211. HE GAVE HIS WIFE
THE FLOWERS.
Copy !req
212. "WELL, THANK YOU,
MY DEAR.
Copy !req
213. "I KNEW THIS WAS
MY SPECIAL BIRTHDAY PARTY,
Copy !req
214. BUT I DIDN'T KNOW
IT WAS FANCY DRESS."
Copy !req
215. EVERYONE LAUGHED...
Copy !req
216. AND THEN,
THE PARTY BEGAN.
Copy !req