Gordon

"Out of the way! Express coming through!"

- Gordon, Thomas' Tall Friend, fourteenth season

   Gordon   Gordon is a bright blue pompous express engine. He is Flying Scotsman's only remaining brother and Mallard, Green Arrow, and Spencer's cousin.
 * Number: 4
 * Class: "A0" Pacific
 * Designer: Sir Nigel Gresley
 * Builder: Doncaster Works, rebuilt Crewe Works
 * Configuration: 4-6-2
 * Built: 1922, rebuilt 1939
 * Arrived on Sodor: 1923
 * Top Speed: 108 mph

Bio in Railway Series
Gordon was built experimentally by Sir Nigel Gresley at Doncaster Works between 1920 and 1922 as an "A0" Pacific. When Gresley was finished using Gordon for designing his A1 Pacifics, he sold Gordon, along with a spare boiler and firebox, to the North Western Railway.

Gordon is mainly used for passenger duties, pulling the North Western Railway 's express, the Wild Nor' Wester, but has occasionally pulled goods trains. He has been known to run into ditches and stop on hills to get out of doing these jobs, as he believes that these are below him.

In 1939, Gordon went to Crewe for a rebuild. His conjugated valve gear was replaced by a two-cylinder chassis (designed by the Fat Controller), he received a smoother running plate, Stanier underframes wheels, cylinders, squared-off side windows, rectangular buffers, and a Fowler tender.

Gordon has become famous after his adventures: In 1953 he pulled Queen Elizabeth II's royal train and in 1956 he traveled to London, where he was lauded by a large crowd. Gordon did not like the visit, however, as he discovered that London's big station was St. Pancras. Then, in 1986, Gordon got to visit Carlisle when a Diesel taking a Railtour failed.

In 2011, he was dismissed from pulling the express regularly to Barrow due to the purchase of Pip and Emma. He likes this, because he can do two trips a day instead of one and he does not have to hurry.

Bio in Television Series
Gordon has to date been the fastest engine on Sodor, but has sometimes had accidents, due to him trying to show off. In the fifth season, his brakes were not working, and could not stop, in result of him crashing through the Kirk Ronan Station wall. Also, in the sixth season, he ignored Salty's advice about going slow while pulling trucks, in result of him speeding down a rickety old branch line, and tumbling into a field. Though he has proven to not be too big for his wheels, and be useful instead, like when Spencer first arrived on Sodor, he gave him advice about taking on water before going to Maron Station, in result, he ran out of water on Gordon's Hill, and Gordon had to pull him there. In the tenth season, he, along with Edward, criticized Rocky when he first arrived on Sodor, and called him "new-fangled nonsense." Afterward, when he crashed into Edward's pipes, which had fallen off his flatbeds, he derailed. In result, Rocky came, and lifted him, and the pipes back onto the rails, proving how useful he is.

In the twelfth season, he tried taking a shortcut in order to beat Stanley to Great Waterton, but accidentally crashed into Ben's logs, but luckily, saved Stanley from crashing into them, on the track below. In the fifteenth season, he was given the task of taking The Lion of Sodor to the Duke and Duchess of Boxford's summer house with Ferdinand, but ignored his advice about going slowly over the Fenland, in result of the statue falling into the muddy marsh. After the statue was cleaned, Gordon let Ferdinand be his front engine, and they delivered the statue safely to the summer house. They have since then been good friends. In the special, King of the Railway, he and Spencer had multiple races to prove which engine was fastest, but then ran into Connor and Caitlin, and decided to just focus on beating them. In the seventeenth season, he, along with the rest of the steam team, had to find places to sleep, when the turntable at Tidmouth Sheds was frozen, so he decided to sleep there, in the one accessible berth, in result of him getting stuck in there the next morning, and remaining there for the rest of the day. He has since become a more sensible engine.

Persona
Gordon's important position as the engine who usually pulls the Express has made him proud, pompous and arrogant, with good reason too; he is the strongest engine on Sodor. Gordon's philosophy "tender engines don't shunt" meant that he looked down on tank engines and tender engines who do shunt, but after being locked in the shed with Henry and James after going on strike, he seems to have abandoned this philosophy.

Because of his rank in the social order of the North Western Railway, Gordon expects to get the important jobs and either sulks when he does not, or gets jealous of those who do. Sometimes, Gordon acts as a bully, particularly towards Edward, but following misadventures where Edward had to help him, Gordon had to acknowledge that despite being old, Edward is still a very useful engine.

Sometimes Gordon shows a kinder side and gives the younger engines advice, usually after he has had some mishap as a result of his foolhardiness. Some of his advice is not exactly honest, though, as James and Sir Handel have discovered.

Basis
According to Sudrian "historian" Martin Clutterbuck, Gordon is supposed to be an experimental prototype for Sir Nigel Gresley's A1 Pacific design for the Great Northern Railway - the so-called "A0". Gordon was then built at Doncaster Works, Yorkshire, and tested against a similar NER Pacific in 1923. Gordon, being an experimental engine, never received a number, and was later rebuilt at Crewe with LMS underparts and a six-wheel tender, owing to various problems. Gordon has since been rebuilt below the footplate according to Stanier designs, his running plate being Sir Topham Hatt's own design.

Livery
Gordon is painted NWR blue with NWR red-and-yellow lining and the number "4" painted on his tender sides in yellow. Before arriving on Sodor, he was painted Doncaster green with white and black lining.

In the Railway Series, he carries two builder's plates on the sides of his cab.

Appearances
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Railway Series

 * The Three Railway Engines
 * Thomas the Tank Engine
 * James the Red Engine
 * Troublesome Engines
 * Henry the Green Engine
 * Gordon the Big Engine
 * Edward the Blue Engine
 * Four Little Engines
 * Percy the Small Engine
 * The Eight Famous Engines
 * Duck and the Diesel Engine
 * The Little Old Engine
 * The Twin Engines
 * Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine
 * Main Line Engines
 * Small Railway Engines (not seen)
 * Enterprising Engines
 * Oliver the Western Engine
 * Really Useful Engines
 * James and the Diesel Engines
 * Great Little Engines
 * More About Thomas the Tank Engine (cameo)
 * Gordon the High-Speed Engine
 * Thomas and the Twins (mentioned)
 * Thomas and the Great Railway Show
 * Thomas Comes Home
 * Henry and the Express (non-speaking role)
 * Thomas and the Fat Controller's Engines
 * Thomas and his Friends

Television series

 * Season 1 - Thomas and Gordon, Edward and Gordon, The Sad Story of Henry, Edward, Gordon and Henry, Thomas' Train (does not speak), Thomas and the Trucks (cameo), Thomas and the Breakdown Train, James and the Coaches (mentioned), James and the Express, Tenders and Turntables, Trouble in the Shed, Percy Runs Away, The Flying Kipper (does not speak), Whistles and Sneezes, Off the Rails, Down the Mine, and Thomas' Christmas Party
 * Season 2 - Cows, Saved from Scrap (cameo), Old Iron (cameo), Percy and the Signal, Duck Takes Charge, Pop Goes the Diesel, Dirty Work, A Close Shave (cameo), Break Van (cameo), The Deputation, Wrong Road, Edward's Exploit, and Thomas and the Missing Christmas Tree (cameo)
 * Season 3 - Time for Trouble, Gordon and the Famous Visitor, Thomas, Percy and the Dragon, Henry's Forest (does not speak), The Trouble with Mud, No Joke for James, Trust Thomas, Tender Engines, Escape, Oliver Owns Up, Heroes, Percy, James and the Fruitful Day (cameo), and Thomas and Percy's Christmas Adventure (cameo)
 * Season 4 - Granpuff (cameo), Sleeping Beauty (cameo), Bulldog, A Bad Day for Sir Handel, Trucks!, Rock 'n' Roll (cameo), Gallant Old Engine (cameo), Rusty to the Rescue (cameo), Thomas and Stepney (cameo), Bowled Out, Henry and the Elephant, Thomas and the Special Letter (does not speak), and Paint Pots and Queens
 * Season 5 - Cranky Bugs, Horrid Lorry (cameo), A Better View for Gordon, James and the Trouble with Trees (cameo), Gordon and the Gremlin, Bye George!, Baa! (cameo), Put Upon Percy (cameo), Haunted Henry (does not speak), Thomas and the Rumours, Make Someone Happy (cameo), Busy Going Backwards, and Snow
 * Season 6 - Salty's Secret (cameo), Harvey to the Rescue, No Sleep for Cranky (cameo), A Bad Day for Harold the Helicopter (cameo), The Fogman, It's Only Snow (cameo), Twin Trouble (cameo), The World's Strongest Engine, Scaredy Engines (cameo), Percy and the Haunted Mine (cameo), Middle Engine (does not speak), Jack Frost (cameo), Gordon Takes a Tumble, Percy's Chocolate Crunch, Thomas, Percy and the Squeak, Thomas the Jet Engine, and Edward the Very Useful Engine
 * Season 7 - Percy Gets it Right, Edward's Brass Band (cameo), What's the Matter with Henry? (cameo), James and the Queen of Sodor, The Spotless Record (cameo), Something Fishy (cameo), Bulgy Rides Again (cameo), Harold and the Flying Horse (cameo), Best Dressed Engine, and Gordon and Spencer
 * Season 8 - Thomas and the Tuba (does not speak), Thomas to the Rescue (cameo), Henry and the Wishing Tree, James Gets a New Coat (does not speak), Percy's Big Mistake, Thomas, Emily and the Snowplough (cameo), Don't Tell Thomas (cameo), Thomas and the Firework Display (does not speak), Gordon Takes Charge, Spic and Span, Edward the Great, Squeak, Rattle and Roll, Thomas and the Circus (cameo), Thomas Gets It Right, As Good as Gordon, Fish (cameo), Halloween (cameo), You Can Do it, Toby!, Chickens to School, James Goes Too Far, and Percy and the Magic Carpet
 * Season 9 - Percy and the Oil Painting (does not speak), Thomas and the Rainbow (cameo), Molly's Special Special, Thomas and the Toy Shop (cameo), Respect for Gordon, Thomas and the Birthday Picnic, Thomas and the New Engine (cameo), Toby Feels Left Out, Thomas Tries His Best, Thomas and the Statue, Emily Knows Best (cameo), Thomas' Day Off (cameo), Thomas' New Trucks (cameo), Bold and Brave (cameo), Saving Edward, and Keeping up with James (does not speak)
 * Season 10 - Percy and the Funfair (does not speak), The Green Controller, It's Good to be Gordon, Seeing the Sights, Toby's New Shed (does not speak), Edward Strikes Out, Topped Off Thomas (does not speak), Thomas and the Shooting Star, Big Strong Henry, Thomas' Frosty Friend (does not speak), Emily and the Special Coaches, Thomas and the Colours (cameo), and Thomas and the Treasure (cameo)
 * Season 11 - Thomas and the Storyteller (cameo), Emily's Rubbish, Dream On (cameo), Gordon and the Engineer, Thomas and the Spaceship, Henry's Lucky Day (cameo), Thomas and the Lighthouse (cameo), Thomas and the Big Bang (cameo), Thomas Sets Sail, Don't be Silly, Billy (does not speak), Hide and Peep (cameo), Toby's Triumph (cameo), Thomas and the Runaway Car, Thomas in Trouble, and Percy and the Left Luggage (cameo)
 * Season 12 - Thomas and the Billboard, Steady Eddie (does not speak), Henry Gets It Wrong (cameo), Heave Ho Thomas! (cameo), Toby's Special Surprise, Excellent Emily (cameo), Saved You! (does not speak), Tram Trouble (cameo), Gordon Takes a Shortcut, and Thomas Puts the Brakes On
 * Season 13 - Creaky Cranky (cameo), The Lion of Sodor, Tickled Pink, Double Trouble, Slippy Sodor, The Early Bird, Play Time, Time For a Story (cameo), Toby's New Whistle, A Blooming Mess (cameo), Steamy Sodor (cameo), Splish, Splash, Splosh! (cameo), The Biggest Present of All (cameo), Snow Tracks, and Buzzy Bees (cameo)
 * Season 14 - Thomas' Tall Friend, Pingy Pongy Pick Up (cameo), Charlie and Eddie (cameo), Henry's Health and Safety (cameo), Pop Goes Thomas (cameo), Victor Says Yes, Thomas in Charge, Being Percy, Merry Winter Wish (cameo), Thomas and Scruff, O the Indignity, Jitters and Japes (cameo), Merry Misty Island (does not speak), and Henry's Magic Box (does not speak)
 * Season 15 - Gordon and Ferdinand, Percy's New Friends, James to the Rescue, Happy Hiro (cameo), Up, Up and Away!, Henry's Happy Coal (cameo), Let it Snow, Surprise, Surprise (cameo), Spencer the Grand, Stuck on You, Big Belle (mentioned), Percy the Snowman (does not speak), Tree Trouble, and Fiery Flynn
 * Season 16 - Race to the Rescue (cameo), Ol' Wheezy Wobbles (cameo), Express Coming Through, Percy and the Monster of Brendam (cameo), Ho Ho Snowman (cameo), Flash Bang Wallop!, Thomas and the Rubbish Train, Thomas Toots the Crows, Bust My Buffers!, Thomas and the Sounds of Sodor, Salty's Surprise (cameo), Muddy Matters (cameo), Whiff's Wish (does not speak), and Happy Birthday Sir! (cameo)
 * Season 17 - Scruff's Makeover, Wayward Winston, Gordon Runs Dry, Calm Down Caitlin, Steamie Stafford (does not speak), Henry's Hero, Not Now, Charlie!, The Lost Puff (does not speak), The Thomas Way, The Phantom Express (cameo), The Missing Christmas Decorations, The Frozen Turntable, Thomas' Shortcut (cameo), The Smelly Kipper, Gone Fishing, and The Afternoon Tea Express
 * Season 18 - Toad's Adventure (mentioned) and Flatbeds of Fear (cameo)
 * Jack and the Sodor Construction Company - Mud, Glorious Mud (cameo)

Specials:
 * Thomas and the U.K. Trip
 * Thomas and the Magic Railroad
 * Calling All Engines!
 * The Great Discovery
 * Hero of the Rails
 * Misty Island Rescue
 * Day of the Diesels
 * Blue Mountain Mystery (cameo)
 * King of the Railway
 * Tale of the Brave

Magazine stories

 * 1987 - Thomas and Gordon, Edward and Gordon, Thomas' Train, Thomas and the Trucks (mentioned), Thomas and the Breakdown Train, James and the Coaches (mentioned), and Thomas' Christmas Party (cameo)
 * 1988 - James and the Troublesome Trucks (mentioned), James and the Express, The Golfers (does not speak), Tenders and Turntables, Trouble in the Shed, Percy Runs Away, Percy and the Signal, Wrong Road, Edward's Exploits, Thomas' Present, The Train Spotters, Duck Takes Charge, Cows, and The New Coaches (cameo)
 * 1989 - Gordon's Express, In a Sulk, Thomas and the Whistle, In a Muddle, An Important Visitor, Hurricane!, A Second Chance, and The Party (cameo)
 * 1990 - Thomas For Sale, Rumours and Speculation, Edward and the Express, Timetable Trouble, The Backlog (does not speak), Percy and the Dragon, Henry's Forest (mentioned), and Go Easy
 * 1991 - Duck's Service, Thomas and the Blue Wheel (does not speak), and Gordon Forgets
 * 1993 - The Special Stationmaster!, Percy and the Parrot!, and First with the Food! (mentioned)
 * 1994 - Thomas and Trevor (not seen) and The Nature Bus! (mentioned)
 * 1995 - Keeping Clean!, Gordon gets Going!, Watch Out, Gordon!, The Engine Parade!, and The New Guard (mentioned)
 * 1996 - Percy's Squeak!, Gordon's Spots!, Important Passengers!, Timetable Trouble, Thomas Takes a Ride!, The Little Line, Too Tired!, Sunday Schedule!, and The Trouble With Mud!
 * 1997 - Henry's Busy Day, Henry's Hills, Henry, and Gordon
 * 1998 - The Red Squirrel!, Fancy Dress!, Runaway Percy! (mentioned), The Big Speech! (does not speak), The Greenhouse Bus! (does not speak), and James' Hotel!
 * 2000 - Henry, and The End of the Rainbow! (mentioned)
 * 2001 - A Special Story About Harold, Harold Goes Quiet, and Thomas Chimes In (does not speak)
 * 2002 - Henry Helps
 * 2003 - The Boatshow (cameo), Harold's Bad Day (cameo), A Foggy Friend (cameo), and The Most Beautiful Station (cameo)
 * 2004 - Rocket Power, Scrapes and Spills, The Train Trolley (does not speak), Thank You, Thomas!, Percy to the Rescue, Dockers' Dinner, Dirty Percy! (cameo), Harold's Bad Day (cameo), Edward to the Rescue!, Thomas Gets It Right, Scary Jack Frost (cameo), and James' New Coat (cameo)
 * 2005 - Gordon's Snow Show, Slide and Ride (mentioned), Magic Mischief, Percy and the Magic Carpet (cameo), Eerie Engine, and Spick and Span (does not speak)
 * 2006 - No Trouble for Toby, First-class Carriage, Heavy Load, Splendid Sight (cameo), Saving Edward (cameo), and Thomas, Emily, and the Snowplow (cameo)
 * 2007 - Airship, Everyone's Friend, The Santa Engine, Blown About! (does not speak), Seeing the Sights, Edward Strikes Out, and Emily's Present (does not speak)
 * 2008 - Fast and First!, and Funny Faces! (does not speak)
 * 2009 - Night Light Train (cameo)
 * 2010 - The Best Present of All (does not speak), Henry Gets It Wrong! (cameo), Misty Island Rescue (cameo), The Water Wheel, Ready, Jet Set, Go! (cameo), Seeing Sheep! (does not speak), Percy Ploughs In!, Halloween Hats (mentioned; seen in toy form), Snow Tracks,  Creepy Causeway, Bubble Trouble, and Silly Billy (cameo)
 * 2011 - Being Percy, Slowcoach Diesel, Smiles All Round, O, the Indignity!, Rosie's Really Useful Scrap!, Steam on Stamps (mentioned), Victor Says Yes (does not speak), Thomas and Scruff (does not speak), Making Annie Smile, Tickled Pink, Speedy Spencer (mentioned), Snow Tracks, Bird Talk, Show Time (does not speak), Heave Ho Thomas! (cameo), Perfect Plough (cameo), Ready, Jet Set, Go! (cameo), Rope Rescue (cameo), and Fuss and Fumes (mentioned)
 * 2012 - Rescue Team, Percy's New Friends, Flaming Flynn (does not speak), Express Delivery!, Fiery Flynn!, Express Coming Through!, Edward the Hero (does not speak), Clever James (cameo), Paint for Percy (cameo), Hooray for Henry (does not speak), Sound Around, Paint for Percy (cameo), The Railway Show (mentioned), Sand Express, Up, Up and Away! (mentioned), Thomas and the Rubbish Train, Thomas and the Sound of Sodor (does not speak), Clock Countdown, Express Delivery!, Percy the Snowman (does not speak), and Thomas Toots the Crows (does not speak)
 * 2013 - Gordon's Shortcut, Gordon and Ferdinand, The Fat Controller's Bedtime Story (Issue 657) (cameo), Flash! Crash! Wallop!, Whiff's Wish (mentioned), Sodor Surprise Day (speaks in speech bubble only), Early Bird!, Being Percy (does not speak), James and the Giant Animals, Henrietta's Holiday, The Lost Puff (mentioned), Thomas the Spotter (mentioned), Platform Number 1!, Gordon Runs Dry, and The Railway Rink (cameo)
 * 2014 - Engine Trouble, Valentine's Surprise, The Royal Carriage, Confusion and Delay, and The Afternoon Tea Express

Gordon also appears in the magazine stories, 'Smile, Please!', A Long Way Up!, A Nice Quiet Day, A Puzzle for Percy, A Special Story about Steam, April Fools, Arthur and Emily, Back-to-Front, Behind Schedule, Bill and Ben's Trick, Bricks and Tunnels, Clean Getaway!, Colour Quarrel!, Diesel's Nasty Turn, Fast Food!, Fish and Fog!, Fishy Business, Flying James, Gordon's Surprise, Gordon and Edward, and Gordon the Town Engine, Harvey to the Rescue!, Henry's Forest, Henry's Secret, High Speed Henry, High-Speed Henry, How Does Percy Work?, Lazy Wheels, Leaves on the Line, Letting off Steam!, Looking Splendid, Lots of Luggage, Mighty Magnet!, Night Work, On the Fast Track!, Percy's Plight, Percy and Terence, Picture Posters, Problem Passenger, Proud Percy!, Railway Open Day, Really Useful Edward, Rhyming Engines, Rude James, Rushing Around, Rusty and the Cheeky Boys, Silly Skarloey, Sir Handel, Sodor Goes Pop, Sodor Rock, Squeaky Wheels, Steaming!, Steaming Along!, Stick with Steam, Stolen Apples, Super Stunt, That Caps it All, The Best Engine, The Big Ship, The Blue Engine Club, The Cat Controller!, The Cloud Factory!, The Exhibition!, The Haunted Mine, The Lighthouse Light, The Posh Coaches, The Runaway Percy, and The Strongest. }}

Voice Actors

 * Neil Crone (Thomas and the Magic Railroad)
 * Keith Wickham (UK; Hero of the Rails onwards)
 * Kerry Shale (US; Hero of the Rails onwards)
 * Kenji Utsumi (Japan; first - eighth seasons)
 * Kenta Miyake (Japan; Calling All Engines! onwards)
 * Thierry Kazazian (France and French speaking Canada)
 * Øyvind Borgemoen Lyse (Norway; Hero of the Rails onwards)
 * Norbert Gescher (Germany; Thomas and the Magic Railroad)
 * Tetje Mierendorf (Germany; twelfth season onwards)
 * Sławomir Pacek (Poland; Hero of the Rails onwards)
 * Nir Ron (Israel)

Theme Instrumental
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Trivia

 * One of Gordon's models is currently on display in Canada at Nitrogen Studios.
 * As of the CGI television series, Gordon's catchphrase is "Oh, the indignity!"
 * Gordon is named after a rude boy that lived on the Awdrys' street when Christopher was a child.
 * The official website inaccurately states that Gordon is a "Liner" (LNER) A3 Pacific.
 * Since Thomas and the Magic Railroad, Gordon's rear bogie has been joined to his driving wheel chassis and extra red lining was added to the cab side of his tender.
 * In the 4th and 5th seasons, Gordon's brake pipe had been facing downwards. In Thomas and the Magic Railroad onwards, his brake pipe has been facing upwards again.

Quotes

 * "If you were a nice tank engine, you'd be alright!"

- Gordon's driver and fireman, Tender and Turntables, Troublesome Engines.

Merchandise

 * ERTL (normal and Gold Rail; both discontinued)
 * Wooden Railway (normal and limited edition A Better View for Gordon)
 * Take-Along (normal, metallic, and lights and sounds; discontinued)
 * My First Thomas
 * Motor Road and Rail (normal and talking; discontinued ouside Asia)
 * TrackMaster (normal, talking, RC, and greatest moments)
 * Hornby
 * Bachmann
 * My Thomas Story Library (discontinued)
 * Bandai (several versions; discontinued)
 * Take-n-Play (normal, talking, and pull back)
 * De Agostini
 * Trading Cards
 * Tomica
 * Brio (discontinued)
 * Wind-up (normal,several different expressions and metallic)
 * Pez
 * Nakayoshi
 * Mega Bloks
 * Diablock
 * Collectible Railway
 * Motorized Railway
 * Push Along
 * Departing Now
 * Padlock and Key
 * Switch-On Keychains
 * Micro Rubber Engines