//------------------------------// // A Great Party // Story: Adventurous Engines // by The Blue EM2 //------------------------------// Groups of visitors came, with cameras and easels. They took pictures of practically everything, the engines, the stations, even the rails. This confused Apple Bloom to no end. “Why are they photographing the rails?” she asked. “They’re lines of metal!” “Maybe it’s for a book,” Scootaloo suggested. Snips and Snails rolled past with a train loaded with scrap parts. Just up ahead, they saw Sweetie Belle looking glum. “What’s wrong?” Scootaloo asked. “It’s happening again,” Sweetie Belle whispered.” “What’s happenin’?” Apple Bloom asked. “We haven’t photographed this one yet,” said one of the men, lining up his camera. Sweetie Belle just blew steam in his face. “You ruined my picture!” he said. “Now I’ll have to-” “No!” Sweetie Belle shouted. “I don’t want my picture taken, just LEAVE ME ALONE!” Tears running from her eyes, she charged into the distance. Babs pulled up. “What was that all about?” she asked. Sweetie Belle ran along the line until she came to a siding. She backed into it and sobbed for several minutes. Presently, Scootaloo came by. “Hey, Sweetie-” “What do you want?” Scootaloo said nothing more, but let Cheerilee get off. “Sweetie Belle, can you explain what’s going on?” the manager asked. “You seem to be really upset.” “You’re selling us, aren’t you?” the white tank engine asked, tears still leaking from her eyes. “That’s what happened on my railway. Men came with cameras, photographed everything, and then they sold us off. They sold him off.” “Who?” asked Scootaloo. “No engine is being sold,” Cheerilee explained. “They are here to help commemorate this railway’s 100th anniversary.” Sweetie Belle sighed. “If that’s the case,” she said. “But I am NOT going back to the scrapyard, understand?” “I would never sell an engine for scrap,” Cheerilee reassured her. “Now, to the shed, we have planning to do!” The engines gathered at the shed, when Cheerilee began issuing them instructions. “Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, I want you to pull the camera train. They will be broadcasting this on the EBC as part of a special program on us.” The two tank engines smiled. “Silver Spoon, I want you to pull a demonstration goods train.” “I won’t let you down, Miss Cheerilee.” “Snips and Snails, you will be demonstrating recovery of a derailed locomotive.” “Yes ma’am!” the two diesels chorused. “Babs Seed, you will be pulling the train with the dignitaries on board. They are to be interviewed, so give them a smooth ride.” “Shouldn’t that honour go to Scootaloo, ma’am?” “I have a special plan for Scootaloo. That leaves you, Diamond Tiara.” “What do you want me to do, Miss Cheerilee?” “I want you to be the engine they recover on film.” We shall leave Diamond Tiara’s reaction to charity. The great day arrived at last. The passengers all dressed in the clothing of the 1880s, and the guests sat down to a grand breakfast, prepared by the catering team of the railway. When breakfast was concluded, the passengers boarded Babs’ train. She whistled, and pulled away, much more gently this time than previously. Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom pulled away a moment later, the camera crew filming everything. First, they came to the first passing loop, where Silver roared by with a goods train, making a good deal of noise and whistling profusely so as to make a good picture. Next, the camera train pulled up at the ‘derailment site’, where Snips and Snails were powering the twin cranes used for recovery. Diamond Tiara did not enjoy their visit! After a brief pause at the lakeside station to watch the logging engines out, the train proceeded to the top station. Babs had already offloaded the passengers, and moved into the siding to clear the route for the other engines. The filming train steamed in triumphant, stopping in the platform. The dignitaries all gathered on the other platform, when a loud whistle was heard. In steamed Scootaloo, with a happy smile on her face. Behind her were the vintage coaches assembled for the day specifically. “Hello Scootaloo,” said the first interviewer. “I am Chancellor Neighsay, of the Equestrian Education Authority. We thought it fitting for the sake of educating our youth to make a film about this railway. Now, how does it feel to be 100?” “It’s odd really,” the engine replied. “I sometimes feel I should be doing this with my brother.” “You mean to say there are more engines like you?” “Yes!” Scootaloo said. “I have a brother. His name is Winifred, and was built at the same time as me. He lives a long way away now, but he would appreciate a visit if you could do so.” “We shall make sure to do so!” said the Chancellor. “I have to say; you and your friends make this line a national treasure. There will never be anything quite like it anywhere in Equestria. Long live the Equestria Narrow Gauge!” His words were drowned out by a chorus of whistles and great cheers from all concerned. If you enjoyed these stories, you may want to consider a visit to the Llanberis Lake Railway in Wales.