The Fastest Engine

The Fastest Engine is a magazine story.

Plot
Thomas is tired of hearing Gordon boast about how fast he is. One day, he overhears the Fat Controller telling a workman that they are having trouble with the turntable at the other end of the line, which gives Thomas an idea to play a trick on Gordon.

As the two engines are made ready for the day's work, Thomas challenges Gordon to a race. Both engines will take passengers to the big station at the end of the line, with Gordon taking the Main Line while Thomas goes via his branch line. Thomas bets that he will return the quickest. Gordon thinks Thomas is being silly, however agrees to the race to teach Thomas a lesson.

Gordon easily reaches the big station at the other end of the line first and moves onto the turntable. However his driver finds that it is unable to turn. A workman explains that the turntable is not working, leaving Gordon unable to make the return journey as it is dangerous for tender engines to go backwards. When Thomas arrives, he shouts to Gordon that if he stays on the turntable too long, he will beat him in the race.

Eventually, Gordon returns late at night. In the sheds, Thomas laughs about his victory and states that he must be faster than Gordon. For once, Gordon is left with nothing to say.

Characters

 * Gordon
 * Thomas
 * Sir Topham Hatt

Trivia

 * The illustrations are reused from Tenders and Turntables.

Goofs

 * Thomas states that he will get to the big station at the end of the line using his branch line, but Thomas' branch line does not run that far.
 * A speech mark is missing at the end of Thomas' line, "so, I'm sure I'll be back here first."