Author's notes: I added myself as the guard because, I really wanted to go to London too. Ok, let's go.

Gordon Goes Foreign

Narrator: Lots of people travel to the big station at Tidmouth the end of the line. Engines from the other railway sometimes pull their trains, these engines stay the night and go home next day. Gordon was talking one day to one of these. Duck, Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie were with them as well. The engine was a former London, Midland and Scottish railway 4-6-0 Patriot class, now under ownership of British railways.

Gordon: When I was young and green and on my trial runs for Sir Nigel Gresley, I remember going to London for the LNER.

Rainbow Dash: (Amazed) Wow! That is so awesome!

Gordon: Yes indeed Rainbow Dash. So, Patriot class, do you know the place? The station is called, "Kings Cross". Built 1851-1852 by Mr. Lewis Cubitt the grand designer of the Great Northern Railway and named in monument after King George the 4th.

Narrator: The patriot class snorted indignantly.

Foreign patriot engine: Whoa! Whoa! I'm sorry, but I'll have you know that London station is called "Euston" you brainless Gresley pacific! Built in July 20th 1837. Originally for the London and Birmingham railway by both George and Robert Stephenson, the Father of railways. Everybody knows that!

Narrator: Gordon seethed with rage and was about to protest when Duck's voice entered the argument.

Duck: Rubbish! You two are both wrong. That is not what London station is called at all. I'll have you know that London station is called Paddington!

Rainbow Dash: (Sighing heavily) Here we go! He's in Great Western rant mode… again. Brace yourself, Gordon!

Pinkie Pie: (Hands Rainbow Dash ear plugs and places some ear plugs in her own ears) Ear plugs on standby.

Narrator: Rainbow Dash quickly plugged her ears. She knew where this was going.

Duck: For your information, you midland elephant, London station is called "Paddington". Built in 1854 by the Great Western's greatest chief engineer designer, Isambard Kingdom Brune, for the great western railway which just happens to be the greatest architects railway of the Union Jack. But I know this because me and my driver Mike used to work their!

Narrator: They argued when they went to sleep, they argued when they woke up, they were still arguing when the other engine went away. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rachel, William and Mike arrived to get them ready for work. Rarity also showed up to get James ready. The red engine was still sleeping.

Gordon: Stupid thing! I've no patience!

Duck: Stupid yourself! London is Paddington! P-A-D-D-I-N-G-T-O-N! DO YOU HEAR ME!

James: (Sleepily) Stop arguing! You two make me tired. Besides, you both are agree on something anyway.

Gordon/Duck: What's that?

James: (Laughing) London's not Euston!

James/Rarity/Rainbow Dash: NOW SHUT UP!

Rachel: (Chuckles to self) Says the one who came from a pre-grouping railway which later formed the London, Midland and Scottish Railway.

Gordon: What did you say?

Rachel: Oh, nothing Gordon.

Narrator: William lit Gordon's fire, Rainbow Dash opened the regulator and Gordon puffed away still grumbling.

Gordon: I'm sure it's Kings Cross. I know. I'll go and prove it!

Narrator: But that was easier said than done. London lay beyond the eastern terminal at the other end of the line at Burrow-In-Furness in England. Sir Charles Topham Hatt's father, the original Sir Topham Hatt, had made an agreement in 1925 with the L.M.S railway, which is now owned by British Railways, for through traffic for the NWR as well as a servicing facility, sheds and turntable. Gordon had to stop there daily with the WildNorWester. Another engine would take the train onto London or else where.

Gordon: (Thinks to himself) Hmm If I didn't stop… I could go to London.

Narrator: One day, he ran right through the station.

Mr. Holden: HEY, WHOA GORDON! WHOA!

(Applies brakes)

Gordon: Bother!

Narrator: Another time, he tried to start before Rainbow Dash could uncouple the coaches!

Rainbow Dash: HEY WHOA! WAIT! GORDON!

Mike: Hey! Stop Gordon!

(Brakes on)

Gordon: Bother!

Rainbow Dash: Gordon, what's gotten into you? You nearly clipped my whole wing off.

Narrator: He tried all sorts of tricks.

(Attempt 3)

Gordon: Ah, lovely day we're having today. Nice Sudrian sunshine…

(Brakes on)

Gordon: Not again.

William: What's happening Gordon?

(Attempt 4)

Gordon: (Whistles a tune) Oh hey look! It's a canary!

(Breaks on)

Rainbow Dash: That's an American bird Gordon. What would they be doing on Sodor?

(Attempt 5)

Gordon: I can do it this time!

Rainbow Dash: (Tries to apply breaks, but it's no good.) Uh! They're stuck!

(Break coach's breaks applied, stopping the train.)

Rachel: (Walks out of the break coach.) Nice try Gordon.

Narrator: But it was no good. Rainbow Dash, William and Mike all checked him every time.

Gordon: (Sighing sadly) Oh dear… I'll never get there now.

Narrator: But Gordon's chance came sooner than he expected. One day, he pulled the express into the station as usual. Rainbow Dash uncoupled him from the coaches and he ran on to his siding till it was time to go home. The coaches waited and waited at the platform, but their engine didn't come.

Rainbow Dash: What's taking that other engine? It's been 3 hours now!

Gordon: I don't know.

William: Probably getting some last minute servicing.

Mike: Nah. British Rail is better than this. That engine should have been here hours ago.

Narrator: A porter ran up and spoke to William.

Porter: The inspector is on the platform. He wants to see you.

Narrator: So William spoke to the inspector, then he came back to Rainbow Dash, Mike and Rachel (Who was filling for the guard who was sick) looking excited.

Mike: Hullo? You look more excited than Pinkie Pie.

Rainbow Dash: Yeah, so what's up?

Rachel: What's up Will?

William: There's been a derailment. The engine for the express to London turned over on its side when it was coming out of the yards. No one was hurt, but now nothing else can come in or out.

Rainbow Dash: Oh for the love of Pete! Now what do we do?

William: I'm glad you asked. The other railway wants us to take the train onto London. I said we would do it if we got the Fat Controllers and Princess Celestia's permission. I telephoned them and they said yes! What do you know about that?

Rainbow Dash: (Excited) Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!

Mike: Alright! Now we'll show BR what the Fat controllers engines and staff and Princess Celestia's ponies can do!

Rachel: How about it Gordon?

Gordon: Yes! What are we waiting for then? I've waited a long time for this moment!

Narrator: He rolled quickly over the crossing and back onto the train. It was only a few minutes when the guard blew his whistle, but for Gordon it felt like ages. Rainbow Dash took hold of the regulator.

Rainbow Dash: Ready Gordon?!

Gordon: By Sir Nigel Gresley's good name, I am so ready.

Narrator: Rainbow Dash proudly opened the regulator, Gordon proudly started away and the coaches glided after him. Slowly at first, then gradually faster and faster!

Gordon: COME ON! COME ON! COME ON! COME ON! COME ON!

Coaches: WE'RE GOING TO TOWN! WE'RE GOING TO TOWN! WE'RE GOING TO TOWN!

Narrator: Gordon found that London was a long way away, but he didn't mind one bit.

Gordon: Never mind! I like a good long run to stretch my wheels.

Narrator: All the same, Gordon and his crew were glad when London came in sight. Meanwhile back on Sodor. The Fat controller was in his office and having a conference with Princess Celestia. They were talking about Gordon and Rainbow Dash's cross country trip to London. They looked at the letters on the desk. Four of them had a London post mark.

Fat Controller: No doubt these are from Rainbow Dash, Mike, Rachel and William, Celestia. Hmm. I wonder how Gordon's getting on?

Celestia: Same here Charles. I'm wondering the same thing about Rainbow Dash?

Narrator: The station master knocked and came in. He looked excited.

Station Master: Excuse me Sir and your highness, but have you seen the news?

Fat controller: Not yet, why?

Station Master: Well, you two better have a look at this!

Narrator: The Fat controller took the newspaper and Princess Celestia looked on over his shoulder.

Fat controller: GOOD GRACIOUS ME! THERE'S GORDON!

Celestia: Goodness! Theres Rainbow Dash with him.

Fat Controller: Headlines too! Famous engine and pegasus pony at London station! Police called to control crowds.

Narrator: The Fat Controller and Princess Celestia read on, absorbed. Gordon and Rainbow Dash returned next day. The Fat controller and Princess Celestia spoke to Mike, William and Rachel.

Fat controller: I see you all had a very good welcome in London.

Celestia: Especially you Rainbow Dash.

William: We certainly did sir.

Rachel: Had the time of our lives.

Mike: I'll say we did.

Rainbow Dash: Heck yeah Princess Celestia! We signed autographs till our arms and hoofs ached and Gordon and I had our photographs taken in so many directions that we didn't know which way to look.

Fat Controller: Good. I expect he enjoyed himself. Didn't you Gordon?

Gordon: No Sir, I didn't.

Fat controller: Really?

Princess Celestia: Why ever not?

Gordon: London's all wrong Sir and Malady. They changed it. It's not Kings Cross anymore, it's S.T Pancras.

Ok. Look out for when Toby and James have to take a train together... partially by accident. See you there.