Changes · 9:42pm Sep 30th, 2014
A big thanks to my prereaders, Metalluisionismagic and AShadowOfCygnus!
(who were probably wondering how long it would be before I published)
I used several pieces of railroad slang in the story: went for beans is a railroad expression for leaving to eat, and old heads are experienced railroaders. I also considered using the more familiar 'iron horse' for the locomotive, but since it replaces a team of ponies. . .
(when it works)
I am unaware of anyone using horses behind a wagon to provide extra braking, but it's done with trucks. I suspect that controlling a trailing horse might be an issue for the drover, but I think if the horses were replaced with sapient ponies, it would work.
Eveners are bars that attach to each side of the harness off each pony; they in turn attach to equalizers, which is the longer cross bar.
In the picture, they're labeled "Wheel Evener" and "Lead Evener;" that's in reference to the lead team and the wheel team. If a third team is added in the middle, they're usually called the 'swing team,' any more than that and I don't know what they're called.
IRL, the horses nearest the wagon (the wheel team) provide some of the braking effort. In America, at least, my research said that the left horse on the wheel team was the lead horse. This may be reversed in countries where the wagons travel on the opposite side of the road.
Not surprisingly, there isn't much art to be had of Promontory, or any of the wagon team. I did find this beautiful image by soul-soar, but since it was a commission piece, I didn't feel right using it as coverart.
Old head? Like this one?
img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20120122194416/mlp/images/c/c5/Pinkie_Pie_waiting_at_the_outhouse_S2E14.png
why is Derpy a top search result for 'mlp outhouse'
Heh, no; more like this:img2.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20131223124406/mlp-gameloft/images/8/89/Conductor.png
Haaa, good old Promontory. So few pictures of him. I remember that commission, though I didn't request it myself; it was made for me while roleplaying in a little town called Whinnypeg (which explains the golden snowflake on the cap, if anyone's wondering). An entertaining little avenue, that was.
I'm glad the fan-name has stuck even after Promontory got a name from the card game in some ways. True, part of me would like the name back, but at the same time I just can't get over the idea that "Full Steam" is more of a nautical term than a railroading one.
It was a joy reading this; I have a penchant for some of the more overlooked background ponies. Including the three railponies whose names I suggested long ago (Caboose was obvious, if it's still Caboose).
If you don't mind me asking, what inspired you to write this?
I honestly wasn't aware his name had been changed; most of this story was written a year ago for a collab project which never came to fruition.
Yeah, I agree. Promontory sounds so much more railroady (ironic, since in this story he's so anti-train).
Me, too. I prefer to use them instead of 'true' OCs. As far as I know, I'm the only person who's given Ambrosia or Silver Spanner any personality at all. . . .
Well, it was a year ago, so my memory's a little hazy. I think that the collab cage was planning a fall collab with the theme of 'change.' I thought of how the trains were making the pony-pulled coaches obsolete, and that was that.
2497075 lol did you see at Bronycon there was actually a guy cosplaying as the conductor? I thought that was cool as fuck.
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I missed him, unfortunately. I really would have liked to see that. I did see a girl cosplaying as Featherweight, and that was pretty awesome.
In slightly related news, the director of Dracula wants me to have muttonchops for the play.
fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/305104_10150263365057364_1460950893_n.jpg?oh=64f440e9337012729d17521ccd2d871b&oe=54BAB85B&__gda__=1421922256_11a8c6f07c55d425aca91a7fa27026eb
I look awesome in muttonchops.
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I'm not actually very familiar with Ambrosia (independently, anyway), but I know another name of Silver Spanner's is/was Quickfix, I think. I mainly remember her in conjunction with Mjolna. Now I might have to go glance back at some of my old playing for some inspiration; I know I played a mean Mjolna...
Also, Allie Way (Pinny Lane) and Silver Spanner shoutout to Onto the Pony Planet!
Ah, so that's what it was. Yea, I do miss the ponies pulling the locomotives in the newer episodes, but oh well. Alas, the price of progress and change.
Background in two episodes. Mare Do Well, and one in S4--can't remember which episode.
Yeah, I think she was tagged that on a trading card, or something. Hopefully Mjolna becomes an official name, because that'd be awesome.
I always figured that the locomotive broke down, and that's why they had to pull it--otherwise, what's the use of it at all?
2498098 Cool!
Here:
56:55
57:45 (me)