Sodor's Unusual Tales

Keep Quiet

Inspired by The Buried Truck's 'Duck Keeps Quiet'

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It's not every day that it happens, but Sodor has had many visitors from the Mainland.

Some visits are rather quick, as they're awfully busy with their schedules.

But there are times when a visit lasts longer than usual, whether it's for a trial to join the NWR, or just slated to be a long visit.

Regardless of the plans, the engines always enjoyed having visitors, but the feelings weren't always mutual.

In one such instance, a number of engines from British Railways' London Midland Region came to visit Sodor.

Among the visitors was Euston The Big City Engine. He was a London, Midland, & Scottish Railway "Patriot" Class 4-6-0 tender engine, painted in Deep Bronze green with orange lining.

He was a rather popular engine, but he can also be quite stuck-up, conceited, and even... biased.

Similar to Gordon during his early days on Sodor, Euston was very rude to tank engines on his railway. But unlike Gordon, Euston's rudeness was on a whole different level. A level that even Gordon would find "disgraceful".

One evening, he had a conversation with Gordon and Duck at Knapford Sheds.

"You know, I once travelled to London in my younger days," Gordon said to the visitor.

"Have you now?" Euston replied.

"Of course," said Gordon. "Do you know the place? The station over there is King's Cross."

"King's Cross?" Euston questioned. "London's Euston. Everyone knows that. I should know, because I was named after it!"

"Rubbish," said Duck. "London's Paddington. I used to work there myself."

"Well, I can assure you that it's not," insisted Euston. "You've probably forgotten considering how long you've been away."

"It hasn't been that long for me," said Duck. "It must still be Paddington."

"It might've been that long for me," said Gordon. "But I'm pretty sure it's King's Cross, Duck."

"Both of you don't know what you're talking about!" Euston snapped. "The station is clearly Euston!"

The three engines continued bickering with each other about who was right, until...

"Actually, all three of you are correct," came a new voice.

The three stopped their argument, and turned to see who spoke up.

Backing into the sheds was Xander.

"What are you talking about, Xander?" Gordon inquired.

"There are many different stations in London for varying railway companies," said Xander. "LNER's station was King's Cross, LMS had Euston, and GWR had Paddington. Therefore, all three of you are correct with the names. You just didn't realize that there's more than one station in London."

Gordon and Duck just glanced at each other with embarrassment. But Euston...

"More than one station in London?!" He bellowed. "Ridiculous! Ludicrous! Utterly preposterous! Railways have only one station per town! And the one in London is clearly called Euston Station!"

"Were you even listening?" Duck asked in annoyance. "He just said that there's more than one station in London."

"I've studied the Mainland's railways," added Xander. "London clearly has more than one-"