Gordon the Big Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic tender locomotive in The Railway Series books by Rev. W. Awdry. Gordon is painted blue and carries the number 4. Gordon views himself as the most important engine because he is the biggest (not including Murdoch from Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends) and he pulls the Express. Gordon is one of the central characters in the TV series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends, which is based on the books. Gordon the Big Engine. ... FicTioNaL is a Gaming Legend. ... Anthropomorphism, also referred to as personification or prosopopeia, is the attribution of human characteristics to inanimate objects, animals, forces of nature, and others. ... A British tender locomotive Fuel tender from one of Union Pacifics turbines. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: The Railway Series The Railway Series is a set of story books about a fictional railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor and the engines that lived on it. ... Wilbert Vere Awdry, OBE, (June 15, 1911 – March 21, 1997), better known as the Reverend W. Awdry, was a clergyman, railway enthusiast and childrens author. ... Thomas & Friends (formerly Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends) is a British childrens television series, first broadcast on Anglia Television in 1984. ... A television program (US), television programme (UK) or simply television show is a segment of programming in television broadcasting. ... Thomas & Friends (formerly Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends) is a British childrens television series, first broadcast on Anglia Television in 1984. ...

Although he can be boastful, he is hard working and strong, and performs his express duties to the absolute best of his ability. He is also the fastest engine in the Island of Sodor. He is sometimes teased by other engines, particularly the smaller ones, and has been known to have a good-natured rivalry with fellow main line engines Henry the Green Engine and James the Red Engine. Nevertheless, he is also quick to forgive and sometimes gives advice and assistance to other engines. He also has a ready wit. Sodor and Man is a diocese of the Church of England. ... Henry the Green Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic 4-6-0 steam locomotive from The Railway Series books written by the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry, and the spin-off childrens television series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. ... James the Red Engine in Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. ...

He is usually the first choice for special trains, and was honoured to pull the Royal Train when Queen Elizabeth II visited Sodor. His great strength means that he is also sometimes called upon for heavy goods trains and rescue operations, but he by far prefers passenger trains. Class 67 67005 Queens Messenger brings up the rear of the Royal Train as it heads along the Dawlish sea front on 15 September 2004. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ...

In the Railway Series book The Eight Famous Engines, Gordon made headlines when he visited London. He has also been to Carlisle when an enthusiasts' special train broke down. Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: The Railway Series The Railway Series is a set of story books about a fictional railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor and the engines that lived on it. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see Carlisle (disambiguation). ...

Despite his fame and importance, he can be very competitive. He particularly dislikes being told about engines who are faster than him, and once lost his dome through trying to compete with City of Truro. For other uses, see Dome (disambiguation). ... This article lists and profiles the minor characters appearing in the childrens television program Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. ...

He is proud of having been built at Doncaster and his work on the East Coast Main Line in his youth. Therefore, he never misses an opportunity to talk about his Doncaster brothers and cousins from the London and North Eastern Railway. He arrived on Sodor in 1922. For other places with the same name, see Doncaster (disambiguation). ... The East Coast Main Line viaduct at Durham. ... For other places with the same name, see Doncaster (disambiguation). ... LNER timetable for Autumn 1926 detailing the resumption of services after the General Strike. ... A map of the Island of Sodor showing the Railway system (click to enlarge). ... Year 1922 (MCMXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ...

His first appearance in the Railway Series was in Book 1, The Three Railway Engines. The eighth book in the series was dedicated to him, as was the thirty-first. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Gordon's Origins

Gordon was one of the first characters created in The Railway Series, initially to provide a foil for Edward. Inspiration came from watching locomotives at work on the Great Western Railway near the Rev. W. Awdry's childhood home, in particular from the large locomotives that would have to be assisted up the hill. When a story inspired by this was devised for the young Christopher Awdry, the big engine was named Gordon after a bossy child who lived on the same road. Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: The Railway Series The Railway Series is a set of story books about a fictional railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor and the engines that lived on it. ... Edward the Blue Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic steam locomotive from The Railway Series by Rev W. Awdry, and the TV Series Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. ... The original Bristol Temple Meads station, first terminus of the GWR, is the building to the left of this picture The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company, linking South West England, the West Country and South Wales with London. ... Wilbert Vere Awdry, OBE, (June 15, 1911 – March 21, 1997), better known as the Reverend W. Awdry, was a clergyman, railway enthusiast and childrens author. ... Great Western Railway No. ... Christopher Awdry (born 1940) is a British author best known for his contributions to The Railway Series of books featuring Thomas the Tank Engine, which was started by his father Rev. ...

Gordon is a 4-6-2 similar to the Flying Scotsman, a LNER A3 class locomotive. In the book Enterprising Engines, it is stated that the two engines are in fact brothers. The Rev. Awdry elaborates upon this in The Island of Sodor: Its People, History and Railways . This companion volume to The Railway Series states that Gordon was built as a test locomotive for the Great Northern Railway. When the Great Northern Railway had finished with him, they sold him to the Fat Controller for a knockdown price. Gordon was rebuilt by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway at Crewe Works with a new chassis designed by William Stanier, the Fat Controller's mentor, who was also responsible for Henry's rebuild. The Pennsylvania Railroads class K4s, a well known 4-6-2 type. ... This article is about the locomotive the Flying Scotsman. For the passenger service, see Flying Scotsman (train). ... LNER timetable for Autumn 1926 detailing the resumption of services after the General Strike. ... The London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) Class A1/A3 is a class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives, designed by Nigel Gresley. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Wilbert Vere Awdry, OBE, (June 15, 1911 – March 21, 1997), better known as the Reverend W. Awdry, was a clergyman, railway enthusiast and childrens author. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Wikiquote has a collection of quotations related to: The Railway Series The Railway Series is a set of story books about a fictional railway system located on the fictional Island of Sodor and the engines that lived on it. ... The Great Northern Railway (GNR) was a British railway company, founded by the London & York Railway Act of 1846. ... Sir Topham Hatt, the Fat Controller is the head of the railway in The Railway Series of books written by Rev. ... The London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS1) was a British railway company. ... Map sources for Crewe at grid reference SJ705557 Crewe is a town in south Cheshire, in the north west of England. ... Sir William Arthur Stanier F.R.S. (27 May 1876 - 27 September 1965) was Chief Mechanical Engineer of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. ... Henry the Green Engine is a fictional anthropomorphic 4-6-0 steam locomotive from The Railway Series books written by the Reverend Wilbert Vere Awdry and his son, Christopher Awdry, and the spin-off childrens television series, Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends. ...

In actual fact, the reason for this somewhat complicated explanation lies with the early illustrations of the character. The Rev. Awdry constantly sought railway realism in his books, and often argued over the illustrations provided by C. Reginald Dalby, which tended to be inconsistent in terms of scale and accuracy. In an effort to combat this problem, he sent the illustrator a number of photographs of the characters as portrayed on his own model railway. The model of Gordon was converted into an A3 from a Tri-ang model of a Princess Royal class locomotive. The conversion was not perfect and still retained many of the Princess Royal's features, including the chassis, and so these errors were carried over into subsequent illustrations. Clarence Reginald Dalby (born in 1904 in Leicester) was the first illustrator of the Railway Series by W.V. Awdry. ... Triang Railways was an English manufacturer of toy trains. ... The Princess Royal Class was a class of a express passenger steam locomotive built by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS) and designed by William Stanier. ...

Gordon (1984-)

 His character was very much as it appears in the television series and early Railway Series books. 

Real Life Gordon

In the late 1980s, a full-size replica of Gordon could be seen on the Mid Hants Railway. This replica was far from precise, as it was not an A3. In fact, it was an Austerity 2-10-0 class designed for heavy freight work. However, it was suitable as a replica for three reasons. Firstly, it was a very large engine. Secondly, it was preserved in the rich blue livery of the Longmoor Military Railway, similar to Gordon's own colour scheme. And thirdly, it was actually called Gordon. All that was needed for the conversion was the addition of a face on the smokebox door and the replacement of the letters "LMR" on the tender with a large number 4. The Mid-Hants railway also known as the watercress line is based in Hampshire. ... The War Department (WD) Austerity 2-10-0 is a class of heavy freight steam locomotive that was introduced in 1943. ... The Longmoor Military Railway (LMR) was a British railway in Hampshire built by the Royal Engineers in order to train on railway operations on it. ... Gordon at Longmoor 1949. ...

The engine usually resides on the Severn Valley Railway. LMS Ivatt Class 2MT 2-6-0 no. ...

Gordon as a model

Gordon is supposed to be an experimental precursor of Sir Nigel Gresley's A1 Pacific design for the GNR in 1922, and conceived at the famous Doncaster Works in Yorkshire, affectionately known to locals as "The Plant". Apparently, owing to various problems, Gordon was rebuilt at Crewe with new curving footplate, unique square buffers, Stanier two-cylinder motion and Walschaerts valve gear (check the crosshead in two slide bars), and then supplied with a six-wheel LMS-style tender to replace his eight-wheel GNR tender.The A1 boiler is easily distinguished by the rear curve of the footplate, with the firebox sides extended below the driving wheels in a smooth, angled line.

At the outset of the LNER's history in 1923, the new GNR engine beat Raven's rather similar NER Pacific in trials. It thus became the LNER's top-link passenger locomotive for the next decade, until Gresley went in the wind-tunnel and produced the graceful streamlined A4, still the fastest steam engine on rails. Of the production build, No. 4472, then 103, and hence on BR No. 60103, "Flying Scotsman" is arguably the most famous steam engine in England. It was the first authenticated loco to travel over 100mph and hauled the crack express of the same name from London King’s Cross to Edinburgh Waverley, in 1928 the longest regular non-stop run in the world.

After an exhaustive million-pound overhaul following his purchase by Dr. Tony Marchington in 1996, a triumphant run from King’s Cross to Doncaster in 1999 witnessed the track lined with spectators and his new owner giving lumps of coal from the tender to an adoring crowd in the manner of a rock star. However, as of April 5, 2004, No. 4472 has been acquired by the National Railway Museum in York after a successful public appeal.

Sadly, "Flying Scotsman" is the only example of the A3 remaining in existence. Later LNER rebuilds, starting in 1927, gave him a higher pressure boiler and the "banjo" dome. He was officially converted from A1 to A3 in 1947. Flying Scotsman says, "I had a 'rebuild' too, and looked hideous". This presumably refers to BR fitters giving him smoke deflectors and a double chimney. His trip to Sodor occurred during his ownership by Alan Pegler, when he carried two tenders. For an exhaustive technical history of the A1/A3 you can do no better than visit Richard Marsden's excellent page, part of his LNER Encyclopedia.

Gordon was an experimental engine, built by the Great Northern Railway (before the LNER was formed in 1923) in 1922 of which later became the class A3 Pacific's (4-6-2), of which the Flying Scotsman is the only other survivor. Having only been an experimental locomotive Gordon never received a number but was later rebuilt at Crewe and now has LMS under-parts. Shortly after arrival on Sodor, Gordon stalled on the large hill in the middle of the line, and hence its name.

Gordon has always been based at Tidmouth for working the Main Line, which he works with Henry, James, Bear, Donald and Douglas. Tom Wright adds: -Gordon is said to have been rebuilt below the footplate to Stanier designs, his running plate being Sir Topham Hatt's own design.

The original Gordon on the Rev Awdry's model layout was in fact bashed from a Triang LMS 7P "Princess" Pacific loco, a moulding which launched the Rovex, later Triang range in 1950 and the basis for Testbedford Jct's Turbomotive. This model was in fact well short of true scale length.

GORDON: Built 1956 from "butchered Triang "Princess. Tender Triang 3F type. Chassis standard Triang except trailing truck bought from W&H Ltd.

"Flying Scotsman", on the other hand, has been one of the most popular locomotives in the Triang-Hornby/Hornby range continuously since 1968. The famous extra tender was eventually modelled in 1993. One of these mouldings, possibly the early A1 tool with round dome, was eventually co-opted to produce Gordon:

Trivia

• Throughout the run of the television show, Gordon is one of the few characters who has maintained the same "angry face" design for all of the seasons.

• In the Railway Series, Gordon's buffers were square and pointy. In the TV show, they were rounded at the corners. The Rev. W. Awdry said in a letter to a young fan that the reason for Gordon's unusual buffer shape was simply that he had broken his round buffers and square ones were all that was available at the Works.

• In the TV Series, Gordon has had two accidents which have probably been the most serious and graphic in the show's run. When he crashed through a terminal station (in Season Five's A Better View for Gordon), his front wheels were torn down from his front. In Gordon Takes a Tumble (Season Six), Gordon had a rollover (the camera showed him tipping to the side for a quick second).

• In the Japanese version of the movie and show Gordon was voiced by Kenji Utsumi.

• In the Railway Series story "Gordon Goes Foreign" from The Eight Famous Engines, we find out that Gordon used to work from Kings Cross in London. In the book James and the Diesel Engines it is revealed that he used to be "green" when he was young.

• Two of Gordon's relatives have appeared in the Railway Series. His brother Flying Scotsman was a major character in the book Enterprising Engines, and his cousin Mallard in Thomas and the Great Railway Show. Although Mallard was indirectly described as Gordon's cousin in Gordon the High Speed Engine, the link was not made when he actually appeared.

• In Great Little Engines in the picture where Gordon is seen with Sir Handel he has a banjo dome like other A3s.

There are many fictional locations in The Railway Series of books by Rev. ... Kenji Utsumi (内海賢二 Utsumi Kenji, born August 26, 1937) is a veteran seiyū who was born in Fukuoka. ... Kings Cross station (often spelt Kings Cross on platform signs) is a railway station in the district of the same name in northeast central London. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the locomotive the Flying Scotsman. For the passenger service, see Flying Scotsman (train). ... Number 4468 Mallard is a London and North Eastern Railway Class A4 4-6-2 Pacific steam locomotive built at Doncaster, England in 1938. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

External links

• Information on Gordon and Flying Scotsman