//------------------------------// // Scootaloo Remembers // Story: Narrow Gauge Engines // by The Blue EM2 //------------------------------// This series is dedicated in memory of David Mitton, 1936-2018. A long time ago, there was a land called Equestria. It was a huge country, and spanned from the Crystal Empire in the north, to Appaloosa in the south. Like any self-respecting country, it had miles upon miles of railway lines, snaking their way across the country to towns across the country. It also had spectacular viaducts, soaring bridges and tunnels carved through solid rock. However, we are not concerned about the main line. Our story focuses on a line in the south, in a small town called Ponyville. It was not the largest of places, boasting homes, a few businesses and a small railway station. However, during the summer, the town was popular as a resort for those seeking to get out of Canterlot. And it is with one such train that our adventure begins. A B1 4-6-0 snorted down the track toward Ponyville, with a 10-coach train in tow. The engine was painted pink, with pink lining, and had blue eyes set into her grey face. Her name was Pinkie Pie, and had a reputation of being somewhat wild. This was certainly true of today, as she and her train were rocking and rolling all over the place! At long last, the train rolled to a stop in the platform. Another train was waiting in the passing loop. This was being pulled by Gilda, a BR Class 55 painted brown and yellow with white lining. “Took you long enough,” the diesel growled. “Enjoy the scenic route!” Pinkie told her. “Life-” “Is a party, I know,” Gilda interrupted. “But that’s not helpful when it causes us to run late. It makes the passengers complain.” “Oh well,” Pinkie laughed. “All in the fun, you know!” The diesel pulled away rolling her eyes. “You’re unbelievable,” she groaned. A passenger got off from the train and hopped onto the platform. She had blue skin and pink hair, but she also had glassed-over eyes. She headed into town and passed by several buildings, such as the library, the post office, and the local café, Sugarcube Corner. She arrived at her destination presently. It was an old shed, with two roads and a lean-to on the side. It was connected to a series of narrow-gauge rails, which headed off in the distance and ran to a wharf behind the shed, as well as into the forest. She wandered toward the shed and stepped inside. “Is somebody there?” asked a voice. A female, raspy voice. The girl looked around in a panic. Was there somebody in the shed? She exited and started heading back toward the town. “Sorry, did you want to look around?” There it was again. The girl turned around and saw an old engine sat underneath the lean-to. It was short and stumpy, with a running board encompassing the entire frame. Its smokebox protruded out from the front of the saddle tank, which curved elegantly around the boiler. The engine had no cab, which left the cab controls exposed to the weather, and the water tank had a small brass dome mounted roughly halfway along it. There was a scattering of other devices on its frame, but it wasn’t clear what they did. The engine was painted orange, with purple lining, and had a pair of deep violet eyes. “Are you going to answer, or are you just going to stand there and stare?” The girl jumped. “Sorry! I had no idea that there was an engine in here, that’s all. I thought they’d all be out at work.” “The others are. They’re newer and more powerful than I am, so I get to sit here whilst they raise the money to mend me.” The engine paused. “My name’s Scootaloo, by the way.” The girl smiled. “I’m Ocellus,” she said. “Are you from the Changeling Kingdoms?” “Yeah, why?” “I noticed your eyes. Not that I’m at all concerned by them, that’s all.” The engine smiled. “Would you like to hear a story?” Ocellus walked over, and sat down on a wall next to Scootaloo. “Please tell,” she asked. Scootaloo smiled as she led the memories flood in. “I was built in 1885, and arrived here in 1886. It wasn’t easy at first, with only one engine to run the railway, but I soon found my uses on passenger and goods work. We got a new engine in 1902, and another in 1922. With 3 engines life became so much easier.” “Back in the good old days,” she continued, “all 3 of us were working together on our line. I often took the market train in the morning, with 8 coaches rattling behind me. The others would either pull goods trains or local services. Slate, you see, was the primary reason the railway was here. Without that big old quarry up on Thunder Mountain, I wouldn’t be having the conversation with you now.” Scootaloo paused. “Some of those coaches were really fussy. There was one who had plush red seats, and was marked First Class, as she frequently reminded us. If the guard permitted anyone who wasn’t a 1st Class ticket holder to sit in her, as was sometimes required on busy days, she would moan about it all the way up the line.” “So, what did you do?” Ocellus asked. “I told her to stop being a fusspot. That did the trick!” The two of them were so busy laughing they didn’t notice an engine enter the yard. It looked very similar to Scootaloo, but was painted white, with light pink lining, lacked a dome, and had a cab. It whistled, and called in a cheerful voice, “Hello Scootaloo! Found a new friend?” “Nice to see you Sweetie Belle!” Scootaloo replied. “She’s the one who arrived after me.” Sweetie Belle backed into the shed. “Who’s the new girl?” “My name is Ocellus. Nice to meet you.” “You already know my name thanks to Scootaloo.” Another whistle echoed through the valley, and hence appeared another engine. Again, it had the same basic shape as the others, but was a little larger, and had a large protruding dome on the saddle tank. She was painted yellow, with red lining, and had orange eyes. She reversed rapidly into the shed, and stopped in the berth so as to talk to her friends. “Phewee!” she exclaimed. “Now that was a busy day!” “Glad you enjoyed it Apple Bloom!” Sweetie Belle replied. Ocellus looked at the three of them. “There’s something I don’t understand,” she said. “You 3 don’t have nameplates, so how did you get your names?” “That’s the funny thing,” Scootaloo said. “When a steam engine wakes for the first time, they awaken knowing how to speak, read, and what their name is. So yeah, we just knew. It’s actually against the law to give an engine a name against their will!” “And ta take it away!” Apple Bloom added. “So, Ah’ll be Apple Bloom forever!” A whistle blast echoed over the wharfs as a Robinson 04 with orange livery and cream lining puffed past on a goods train. “Howdy y’all!” she called. “Hi Applejack!” the three little engines called. “Good evening you three!” called a voice. A woman with light pink skin and purple hair stepped forward, dressed in workers overalls. “Hi Miss Cheerilee!” they chorused. Miss Cheerilee was the manager of the narrow-gauge line, as well as its chief mechanic. “Who’s the newcomer?” the manager asked. “Her name’s Ocellus,” explained Sweetie Belle. Cheerilee walked over to her. “Would you like to help us Ocellus?” she asked. Ocellus stood up. “I would love to help out, if that’s OK.” She stopped. “You don’t have issues with me being a Changeling?” “Not at all!” Cheerilee said. “I appreciate any help I can get. It’s incredibly tough keeping these engines going with only one person, especially given Apple Bloom’s coal consumption.” “HEY!” shouted a voice. “And remember!” Cheerilee finished. “We have 2 new engines arriving tomorrow. Please make sure to be welcoming to them, and show them our ways.”