It truly was a spectacular sight, these two locomotives blazing down the track. 844 was producing a racket, but was pulling ahead due to its superior acceleration. 611 was lagging behind, but Sweetie Belle didn’t worry one bit. That other engine may accelerate faster, but her locomotive had the superior top speed, and this was a fact she was planning on using to her advantage.
That, and there was a trick which Button didn’t know about, not at all. A trick that could tip the scales of the race, once and for all.
The locomotives clattered over a set of junctions and blazed over the point work. Whilst in real life this would be extremely dangerous, the simulator was not necessarily realistic, given that diesel rail buses could pull 500 ton trains, and A4 Pacifics could take bends that would cause derailments in excess of 100 miles an hour. So, there was nothing to be worried about taking some points at high speed with excess bouncing. Mind you, Train Simulator 2014, which Apple Bloom played-wait a second, how did she know that?-was equally unrealistic, if the lurching on one of the British routes was anything to go by. What was it again? Woodstock? Woodhouse? Something like that.
As the track began to narrow to two lines, 611 began to close in on its target. The finish line was now 20 miles away, but 844 was still maintaining a solid lead over the N&W J Class. Wheels rumbled and rails shook as these two titans of steam waged a battle for mechanical supremacy. Wheels thundered round at speeds not seen since the Golden Age of American Steam, and steam shot everywhere, from cylinders, smokestacks, and even the safety valves of the two locomotives as they were pushed to their very limits. These two powerful competitors fought onwards, neither giant willing to give way on the prize that was victory.
Sweetie Belle glanced at the boiler pressure gauge, and could see it had gone through the roof. The front coupler of 611 was now level with 844’s rear tender coupler. As the two engines ran at tremendous speed, Sweetie Belle switched control from CAB to DCC.
The results were dramatic. The speedometer shot upwards, as 611 continued to gain incredible quantities of ground. It roared past 844 and shot into the distance as it did so.
"Wait, what?” came the voice over the headset.
"You didn’t say you couldn’t use DCC!” Sweetie Belle replied.
"All right, that’s it! Two can play at that game!” 844 suddenly lurched forward as well, gaining a colossal speed boost as it did so, covering the distance between it and 611 in a few minutes.
The two engines were very close as they approached the finish line. Both engineers put every single last ounce of power and steam into attaining maximum possible line speed.
Both engines were almost neck-and-neck as they shot over the finish line.
But the replay made it clear. 611 was the winner!
"Nice job!” said Button.
"Thanks!” Sweetie Belle replied.
"Button, time for bed,” said a distant voice.
"OK Mom. See ya at school!”
"See ya Button!”
Sweetie Belle logged out of Trainz and brought up YouTube. Apart from some random cat videos, and quite a few videos of railroading, there was little that was of interest to her. Seriously, who thought videos on perfume would be at all exciting?
Suddenly, her phone rang, with a furious ring. Sweetie Belle quickly grabbed it, and answered it.
"Hi, this is Sweetie Belle!”
"Howdy, Apple Bloom here!”
"What’s going on?”
"Yer parents may have told ya, but we got a party at Sweet Apple Acres tomorrow. Would ya like ta go?”
"Oh, I’d love to!” Sweetie Belle squeaked. “Who else is going?”
"Well, Scoots will be there, as will Rumble, Button, and Pip. Then there’s mah sis, her friends, Big Mac, Sugar Belle, the Wondertones, and mah parents.”
"Sounds fun, count me in!” Sweetie Belle replied.
"Will do! See ya tomorrow!”
"I’ll see you then!” The line then hung up.
There was a knock at her door. "Sweetie Belle, time for bed!”
Sweetie Belle paused. "Got it, Mom!”
"Very good, have sweet dreams!”
Sweetie Belle got undressed, hanging her clothes up ready for tomorrow. There was no point in changing them out for something else given she’d only worn them one day. She then went and took a shower before drying herself off and checking her door was locked. She wouldn’t have anybody burst in on her now.
Dumping her towel in the storage bin, she grabbed her pajamas from her bed and pulled them on, before enabling the bedside table light. Wandering back over to the main light, which was still blazing, she threw the switch and enjoyed the smaller light bathing the room in its spectral beauty. She wandered over to the window and closed the curtains. There was no need to have the window open as the air conditioning was running full blast, which did more than an adequate job of keeping the room cool.
Sweetie Belle knew from her previous life what it was like sleeping in an un-air-conditioned rooms during spring and summer, and knew for a fact that it was not at all fun for anyone concerned.
There was another knock at the door.
"Hello?” the girl asked.
Hondo Flanks opened the door. "Hi there Sweetie,” he said. "I’ve got some fantastic news.”
"What is that?” Sweetie Belle asked, liking what she was hearing.
"I’ve been able to secure the dates for our summer holidays,” her father smiled. "I’ve got two weeks in August, so I’ve suggested a trip to the Southeast.”
Sweetie Belle was growing more and more excited. "Would that mean going via Roanoke?” she asked.
"I’m currently negotiating with your mother about that part of the trip, as she wants to see the streets of New Orleans. But I suspect that we will be able to head up and see 611, even though your mother and sister don’t really understand steam engines the way we do.”
"Are you talking about those smoky things again?” asked Cookie Crumbles.
"They are works of beauty, just as lovely as old buildings!” Hondo shot back.
"At least old buildings don’t set the countryside on fire!” Rarity added.
"They do have spark arrestors,” Sweetie Belle pointed out.
Rarity sighed. "I don’t get it,” she said, and walked into her room.
Hondo sighed. "Well, I don’t get her fashion sense. Purple socks and a burgundy top? What’s the big deal?”
Sweetie Belle laughed at that. "That’s precisely what I think!”
Hondo went to close the door. "Goodnight sweetheart,” he said.
"You too Dad,” Sweetie Belle replied.
After Hondo was gone, Sweetie Belle turned her light off, and within a few minutes was fast asleep.