Too Big for his Buffers!

“What does dingy-fied mean?"
"It means Gordon is too big for his buffers!”

― Percy and Salty

Too Big for his Buffers! is a magazine story illustrated using photographs from the television series.

Plot

Gordon likes to keep clean and tidy, so he is less than pleased when a grubby Salty pulls up alongside. Salty tells Gordon that he cannot keep clean whilst pulling trucks, to which Gordon responds that pulling trucks is not dignified for a grand engine such as himself. Salty, meanwhile, remarks that Gordon is too big for his buffers.

That night, fog covers the Island of Sodor and all of the engines have to travel slowly. Soon there is a build-up of trucks at the docks, blocking the lines. The Fat Controller instructs Henry, Thomas, and Percy to go to the docks first thing the following morning to move all of the trucks out of the way, and then tells Gordon to go with them. Gordon cannot believe that he has to pull noisy, dirty trucks and is very upset indeed. Gordon is determined that if he has to pull trucks, he will show the others how to do it properly - and quickly.

Next day, Gordon races down the track with his train as fast as he can. Gordon rattles past the junction and onto the branch line, which Express trains cannot go onto. The branch line is weak and rusty and even has a "go slow" sign to warn trains, but Gordon ignores the sign and goes even faster. The rails begin to buckle under his weight, leading to Gordon sliding off the rails and into a field. While Gordon is left feeling very undignified, the Fat Controller is very cross and Gordon apologises while letting out a sad wheesh of steam.

Gordon is soon repaired and back at the docks, feeling very disappointed in himself. Thomas kindly tells him that everyone makes mistakes and James states that Salty said sorry for teasing him. Gordon admits that he has been rather "too big for his buffers" and apologises himself. With that, the engines let out a jolly whistle and return to work.