The Secret Railway (Female Controller Reader)

Chapter 5: Shunting

Gordon stood waiting for his coaches, when (Y/N) came up and said, "Good morning Gordon, can I ask you something?" "What is it?" asked Gordon. "Henry is due for his overhaul, do you think you could take the Goods Train he was supposed to take when you reach Sir Topham Hat station?" Gordon was livid! "ME, PULL A GOODS TRAIN, WHY I....." He trailed off when he saw the stern face of (Y/N). "Y-yes ma'am." "Good," said (Y/N), "It's a bit heavy, and you're the only other engine that can rival Henry in strength." Oliver then shunted Gordon's coaches to the platform, and Gordon asked, "But, what about the return trip of the express?" "James can do it, or Donald and Douglas. Gordon then said, "Alright." 

The whole way up to the station, Gordon was cross at Henry. "Henry's just an engine who doesn't know what hard work is!!" he grumbled.

At the Junction, Gordon was dropping off Passengers, and he was complaining to Thomas. "Disgraceful!" he said, "It's just disgraceful!! I never pulled Goods Trains on the Fat Controller's Railway!!" "What about that one time you tumbled off the tracks?" asked Thomas cheekily. Gordon then said, "That was a one time thing!!! Besides, I can't even believe that I was sent down the branch line!!!" "Well, be careful Gordon, or else you might fall into a ditch on the turntable!!" said Thomas, and he left laughing. Gordon was very cross. "I'll show them!" he said, "I'll show them!"

Soon, the arrived at Sir Topham Hat Station, and he was turned around, and he saw Henry in the repair sheds. He could see that Henry looked very ill. Gordon then felt bad that he was cross at Henry. "I shouldn't have said those things about Henry," the express engine thought to himself, "I'll make it up to Henry by pulling the train without complaining. I'll be the best friend I can be to him." Gordon was turned around, and he puffed off to the station.

At the platform, the station master was waiting for him. "Duck is away with the Local Train James was pulling, you'll have to shunt your own train." "SHUNT!?!?!?" yelled Gordon, red in the face, "TENDER ENGINES DON'T SHUNT!!!!!!!" The station master then said, "You will do it, whether you like it or not!"

Gordon then went into the yard, and he got his trucks ready. He was cross, but he didn't complain about it. He had three trucks, two tankers, four flatbeds, seven vans, and finally, a brake van. Gordon coupled up to the train, but because he doesn't shunt, Gordon put the empty vans in the middle of the train, which was dangerous at high speeds. If the vans are in the middle and empty, they could derail the whole train. Gordon waited to be loaded, and he saw that the vans weren't. "What about the vans?" asked Gordon. "Those are to loaded at Jack's Station," said the yard manager. Gordon then said, "I better hurry, this train is late enough as it is." Gordon then puffed out of the station, and was racing down the mainline.

Gordon was so busy trying to get to the station, he didn't notice that the vans were very shakey. "Mustn't be more late, mustn't be more late!" said Gordon. He then went around a sharp bend, and it happened. The empty vans then derailed, and they fell off on their sides. Luckily, no one was hurt. But the train couldn't go any further. "Oh dear," said Gordon, "(Y/N) will be cross for sure!"

And she was. "Gordon," said (Y/N), "I know you're not the engine who usually shunts, but you must learn that all jobs are important to the railway, shunting included! I thought you would've learned from being shut up in the shed with Henry and James, but it seems I'm wrong. As your punishment, you'll remain on goods work, AND you'll be shunting your own trains." "Yes ma'am," said Gordon. "However," said (Y/N), "The station master said that you didn't complain about pulling the train, but you did when you had to shunt it." "I saw how ill Henry looked," said Gordon, "I wanted to be the best friend I could." (Y/N) smiled, "I was planning on making you do the goods for the time Henry was at the works, but seeing as how you wanted to help, I'll reduce it to just one week. Henry will be back after three weeks." Gordon smiled, "Thank you ma'am, I won't let you down."

Gordon pulled the goods trains smoothly. James teased him saying, "Isn't that Gordon? It can't be, Gordon doesn't pull trucks." "I'm helping a friend," said Gordon cheerfully, (start video) and he left a very confused James.