In the few weeks that have passed since we last visited the narrow-gauge engines, things have changed dramatically. The Equestrian government has announced a modernisation programme, which will accelerate the introduction of diesel and electric trains. This had led to fears that the steam engines are to be withdrawn completely.
The news, thankfully, does not affect the narrow-gauge railway, which is not part of the nationalised network. Even so, it cannot be denied that the world is changing.
One morning, Cheerilee was in her office, discussing the situation with Elaina.
“I’m worried that our competitors may gain an advantage over us,” Cheerilee said.
“I wouldn’t worry,” Elaina told her. “As a matter of fact, we have appeal in running heritage locomotives.”
“Even so,” Cheerilee reasoned, “maybe we should trial modern narrow-gauge traction.”
Elaina stepped out of the office-to see the three logging engines sitting outside. “Were you waiting for me?” she asked.
There was no denying that Elaina had had a dramatic effect on the engines, who were seemingly keen to see her as often as possible.
“What was that about modern engines?” asked Featherweight.
“Don’t worry about that,” Elaina smiled. “Now don’t you have logs to haul?”
“Yes ma’am!” they chorused, and sped away into the distance.
Elaina walked over to the depot to see the other engines waiting, fully steamed. Ocellus straightened up and spoke up. “All engines ready for inspection, ma’am!”
“Very good.”
Button Mash spoke up. “Mom,” he said.
“Mom?” Scootaloo snorted. “You were built in a factory!”
“She’s looked after him for so long, she’s a mother figure to him,” Sweetie Belle explained.
“Anyway,” Button interrupted. “We’ve been hearing stories about other railways scrapping their engines. Will that happen here?”
“Of course not!” Elaina said. “Wherever do you get these silly ideas from?”
“What do you want us to do today?” asked Apple Bloom.
Cheerilee had appeared by this time. “You are all to go about your usual jobs,” she said. “Scootaloo, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle, you are to work in the quarry today. Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara, you are on passenger duty. Snips and Snails, you are to stay on standby until you are needed. Button Mash, I want you to work on the wharf.”
“What? Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?” Button whined.
“Because it needs doing!” Cheerilee told him.
“It’s really boring!” the shunter exclaimed.
Elaina rolled her eyes. It was worrying how immature he could be at times. “Button,” she snapped. “Go to work, NOW.”
“I’m going, I’m going,” the tank engine fussed, as he rolled past her.
Button hated working on the Wharf. It meant only doing something once every few hours. Every day was the same. Push some trucks over to the main line, wait for them to be loaded, move them to a siding, get some other trucks, move them to the same siding, wait for them to be unloaded, move them to another siding, take the same trucks from earlier to the main line again, get them unloaded, move some more trucks to a siding, repeat.
“Why don’t I get to do anything exciting?” he complained, as he moved some trucks for the umpteenth time.
“Cheer up, Button!” Ocellus said to him. “At least you can run here!”
“True,” Button sighed. “But the work is boring.”
Behind him, he could hear other engines working in the hills. How he wanted to be there, rather than on a stupid wharf with nothing but trucks for company.
A few weeks later, 2 diesels rolled into the shed and surveyed them. The first had a rear mounted cab, with a long engine cover and radiator grills. It was painted blue, with white and orange lining. The other was the same shape, but smaller. It was painted an extremely pale green, with two-tone turquoise lining.
“Look at them!” said the first. “They’re all old Equestrian locomotive designs!”
“Don’t be rude!” said the second. “They work here!”
Cheerilee introduced them. “Engines, these two locos are new to us, straight off the production line. The blue engine is called Gallus, the other is Sandbar. Please be nice to them.” She walked away, with a confident smile on her face.
Gallus grinned. “Don’t think they can outperform us,” he laughed.
“We work harder than you!” Babs exclaimed. “We’d bring a train in on a broken cylinder if need be, whereas all you diesels do is moan for a fitter!”
“I can pull way more than all of you put together!” Gallus laughed. He realised Sandbar was staring at him. “What?”
“Shut up!”
One day, Button was working, yet again, in the wharfs. Just then, Ocellus ran over to him.
“You’re wanted at the first station! Something urgent!”
Button set off as fast as he could toward the station. There he saw Gallus, revving his engine angrily.
The Station Master came over to them. “For Celestia’s sake, somebody take this diesel away,” he said. “He’s broken down and all he does is complain.”
“That’s not true!” snapped Gallus.
“Quiet you!” snapped the Station Master. “Else I’ll take my can-opener to you.”
Gallus just seethed with anger as Sandbar rolled past on a passenger train.
“What was all that about reliability?” Button laughed.
Gallus hoped Sandbar hadn’t noticed.
Sandbar hadn't noticed. He was having problems of his own. His coaches seemed to be getting heavier. His engine roared even louder, which did absolutely no good.
All locomotives have a special pump called an ejector, which draws air out of the braking system. If it leaks, air is let into the system, causing the brakes to come on. Sandbar’s ejector had malfunctioned, causing his brakes to come on. He ground to a halt a quarter mile down the line, being able to do nothing but growl in frustration.
“Brilliant!” said the station master. “Now I have two failed diesels on my hands.”
An idea suddenly flew into Button’s funnel. “How about I move both of them back down the line?”
“Are you sure you can do it?”
“I’ll most certainly try!”
Button was coupled to Gallus, who did not help at all. The tank engine pulled him backward as best he could, and coupled up to the coaches attached to Sandbar.
The Guard of the passenger train disconnected the hoses, and linked the braking system through Button. “All clear!” he called.
With an audible grunt, and Sandbar’s engine revving loudly, Button got the train moving. It gained traction, slowly at first, but gained momentum and was soon moving along at a smooth rate.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash was waiting in the platform with the express. It was getting late, and she was worried.
Just then, the strangest train she had ever seen rolled into view. Sandbar out front, pulling as hard as he could, Button sandwiched in the middle, and then a goods train at the back. But the passengers were happy to have made it home.
Cheerilee was present to see thius, and was not pleased. “Keep Sandbar,” she said. “Send Gallus back to Griffonstone works for modifications.”
That evening, Button was very much the hero of the rails. “Hey Sandbar,” he said. “You did a pretty good job out there.”
“Thanks man,” Sandbar replied. “It’s always nice to know you have friends."