Trottingham, most certainly the Great Britain of Equestria, an industrial city teeming with life and very sure of itself on a global scale. Its influence spreads along the western Equestrian coast until the equally busy Manehattan. The coast is smattered with great engineering prowess like the Trott channel bridge or coastline towns either as picturesque postcard knotholes such as Seaward Shoals or a shipbuilding giant like Pommelside but despite the aesthetics they are all eager to gobble up the revenue brought to them by one of Equestria's many wonders the Trottingham & Manehattan railway. A 156 mile coastal route passing through unspoilt countryside to industrialised suburbs and the country's first mechanical horse.
The village of Fetlock was quiet, the platform was quiet, the birds were quiet, the stream babbled silently by, the station mistress was not quiet, she hastily paced her office and glanced anxiously at the clock, it read that it was 56 minutes past 12 and that meant a train was late. The Champion in fact was late, a 6 car named express that ran from Rainbow Falls to Manehattan and it was 20 minutes off schedule. Had something happened the station mistress thought and her mind quickly assembled all manner of things that could have gone wrong from poor coal and a hotbox to a hideous accident. Suddenly the scream of a whistle sounded and the pop of the safety valves, the pony bolted from the room to the platform to see The Champion thunder through the station pulled by a graceful 4-4-0,Number 10 Starswirl given that how she was panting like a Minotaur the crew were making up for lost time. But the station mistress cared not for that she was just glad that her section was now clear and Fetlock could accept trains again.
Meanwhile in the cab the driver was nursing the locomotive eager to put every ounce of steam to use, coaxing his engine to go a few more miles per hour. While this was going on the firepony was shifting shovel upon shovel into the fire box anxious for a down hill stretch. To a outsider their efforts would seem to be pointless backbreaking labour, but due to wagers from the 'high ups' the crew were racing to beat an Eastern Equestrian & Crystal Empire train to Manehattan and to them it was a win or be humiliated and being held up at 'our town' by a derailed goods train hadn't helped matters.
As the train careened on averaging 60 mph trees and fields flashed by with only occasional glimpses of the sea until they joined the costal line at Trotston junction from their the crew had made up some time and they renewed their tired efforts vigorously when their goal came into sight. But alas success was not to be. The train slowed at the station and siting on the opposite platforms of the ER&CER was a large Povatt Atlantic, the race was won and they had lost. As the passengers disembarked the train and the steam rose and was caught by the station roof the crew slumped against the tender bulk head depleted, but to their suffering was not complete. A portly unicorn smacked his cane on the cab sides the crew dared to look at the unicorn,
"CALL YOURSELVES BLOODY TOP LINK ENGINE STALLIONS! I'VE GORN AND LOST ME SELF 2000 BLINKING BITS BECAUSE OF YOUR DRIVING," it was Frederick stiffs one of the directors of the railway a retired general one who was prone to blaming ponies rather than himself and infamous for his drinking.
The driver spoke up "Mr stiffs sir we were held up by a derailed goods train, the tender of an earth pony goods engine had jumped the rails that's hardly our fault."
"THATS ENOUGH GREASE CAP AS YOUR A TOP LINK DRIVER YOU SHOULD MAKE UP TIME EASILY SO YOUR ARGUMENT IS NULL AND VOID." The voice of Mr stiffs was echoing round the station and he apparently had no concern for the public looking at him mean while the crew of the Povatt Atlantic were cringing at the chewing out.
"AND YOU, ANVIL CALL YOURSELF A FIREPONY GET OFF YOUR ARSE AND DO YOUR JOB, ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LUG COAL INTO A BLEEDIN BOX!"
Anvil the firepony gripped the shovel with his hoof, the two earthpony stallions were quickly getting annoyed but he stayed calm.
"Mr stiffs I understand that you're upset at the loss of your funds but I do believe your being unreasonable," he said with his Belsh accent "if their are going to be more" he hesitated "more events instigated by you again please consider updati..."
"THATS ENOUGH OF YOUR LIP!" Shouted stiffs as he cut off Anvil"DO I TELL YOU HOW TO DO YOUR JOB"
"Well actually sir you just did," mumbled grease cap, standing up for his crewmate
Mr Stiffs replied with mirth "THIS CONVERSATION DOES NOT CONCERN YOU GREASE CAP." He paused before speaking again in a terrifyingly calm tone "In fact I'm removing the two of you off of passenger duties, do something with that lump of steel" motioning at the train" and then report to the goods yard they'll find something for ponies of your 'skill' to do." The director swaggered away with contentment that he had settled a score.
"For the love of Celestia" swore Grease cap "who the blinkin Tartarus does he think he is?" He was about to further his questions when a reassuring hoof met his shoulder.
"Leave him he isn't worth the effort, he's set in his ways, no changing that you've just got to work around it,"
"Anvil you see the best in everypony," Greasecap replied. The Belsh firepony smiled,
"Come on let's sort this train out," and he began to put a bit more coal on the fire.
The driver agreed and reversed the engine and empty coaching stock away.