I've talked about this with @wrduckdog several times and I want to share this

Gordon is the protagonist of The Railway Series.

He is the only character we follow the ENTIRE journey of throughout the course of the books. In the very first book, he's brand new. He's a hotshot-

-and boastful. And in the last book, he humbly retires.

Gordon's journey is kind of amazing. He starts as a hotshot, his arrogance catches up with him in Off the Rails, and he grows up. We learn his history. We meet his family.

Gordon is also one of the few characters that shares a bond with each main character in some way. He and Thomas used to hate each other and eventually ally, he learns to respect Edward, he has his sibling rivalry with Henry, he tolerates James, he has his laughs with Percy, etc.

We see Gordon deal with so many highs and lows throughout. An entire story is focused on Gordon learning about the loss of all his brothers. We never see this with James or Thomas or Edward, who all also technically lost their siblings. No - this focus is on Gordon.

By Really Useful Engines, Gordon is middle aged. Christopher cleverly sets up that Gordon is losing his breath in his first book. This is followed up on in Gordon the High Speed Engine, where his fear of being replaced by an HST is the basis of the book.

And then this actually happens at the end of the series. But Gordon has grown up so much by this point that he actually accepts it.

And look at that - The Railway Series ends here.

Thomas was the most popular one of the books hence the TV show, but Gordon undoubtedly had the superior, more complete character arc. He actually grows up and we followed him the whole way.

While he may not be my favorite character, I do think he is the best. What a journey.