Chapter 25
The little Bat Pony Alicorn filly was settling in well with his siblings and cousins. They took a real shine to the little guy and did everything to make sure he was happy. At the age of ten, he got his cutie mark, a chalk white outline of an LMS Black 5. He would respond to the Stanier and he had a liking for any engine Power Class 5.
“Well, I take it you’d like your name to be Stanier Five?” Dangersignal asked.
He nodded. It was finalized and everyone called him “Stanier” for short. He also seemed to be buried in his father’s books-mostly books on railways, histories, magic, anatomy books (mainly to gain a better understanding of pony bodies and how things work), philosophy and even law (mainly civil cases, with several books on criminal knowledge).
He was proving to be more of a book worm than Twilight and even retained his information and was able to provide the evidence to prove his point. At school, he paid attention to every single lecture and took notes. He even managed to put the school bullies in their place.
He even made friends with Fluttershy and the other ponies. The one he bonded to the most was Applejack, because of her easy going nature and the love she showed. During his time growing, Equestria grew in terms of towns, jobs, productivity, railway lines (including different gauged trains).
Ponaidh, a town to the north of the Crystal Empire, was recently connected by the railway network and had a large smelter’s and scrap/repair yard. “Dead” engines were taken there to be reborn with new parts and new paints. Junked engines were used for spare parts.
Aberhoofi was another town, this time located in the MacIntosh Hills, which were rich in coal and slate. The town also had a 2ft 3in narrow gauge railway to handle the slate traffic as well as tourist traffic up into the well hidden springs. Being a Pegasus or an Alicorn had it’s drawbacks as they couldn’t see these hidden gems of tranquility.
Capall, was the last town, to the southeast or Equestria and served a vital harbor that brought in goods when the other harbors were booked. The line was steep, curved and had more tunnels than Swiss Cheese has holes. The line also served a sand quarry, paper mill and steel mill.
With all three towns coming to the forefront and proving that Equestria was bigger than was to be first expected, Stanier Five constantly found himself either train spotting or letting his mind wander when he was in the natural hot springs on the Aberhoofyn Narrow Gauge Line. His father was always there for him, but at times he felt left out. During those times, he’d sketch up ideas and then just play around to see if any of them would work.
The art took his mind off of being left out, but little did he know that his sketches of a steam locomotive would be turned into a real engine and he’d get the job of naming it. The engine was called the “Marine” Class; it had the 4-6-4 wheel arrangement and had the boiler and body build of a Manor class.
He performed calculations and figured out the engine had a tractive effort of 35,540 lbs and a boiler pressure of 230 PSI. The engine’s draughting and forward superheating was upgraded by the use of a bypass vacuum pipe. This special pipe allowed raw and cooled fire to draw oxygen through the vacuum created by the steam being forced through the funnel.
This in turn allowed the fire to burn at a hotter degree, thus allowed it to access more of the raw energy in the coal and water. This simple modification allowed the driver to have more power at his fingertips or hooves.
Stanier Five also gave the engine steam and vacuum brakes as well as vacuum brakes for the train it pulled. The reason was simple, more braking power meant the engine had a greater chance of stopping. He wanted to experiment with that, seeing as the engines in Equestria only had steam or air brakes for them to use, while they had vacuum brakes for the trains they pulled.
Dangersignal looked at the sketches and asked if he could borrow them. Stanier Five was curious, but his father explained that they were in need of another engine to handle the heavy trains over the mountainous routes between Ponyville and Aberhoofi.
“You like this?” he asked.
“Yes indeed, and I need you to think of a name for this engine, as it is your design and the creator often times names the premiere engine of the class,” Dangersignal explained.
Stanier Five agreed to that and his father collected the drawings and placed them inside a waterproof bag. The larger Alicorn hopped a light engine to the works at the Crystal Empire. Stanier Five set to work naming the engine as well as doing his homework, which was mainly math and writing.
One day, some time after school had been let out for the day, Dangersignal collected Stanier Five and they hopped a light engine at Ponyville and headed off to the works at the Crystal Empire. The young foal had come up with a name for the first engine-”Canterlot Corps”.
When they arrived, Stanier submitted the name to the machinists, who crafted the engine’s name plate. Once all was done and the engine had been painted in a brilliant Midnight Blue with white lining livery. The name plates were bolted onto the engine’s middle driving wheel splashers. Dangersignal stoked up the fire for the first run, with Stanier Five being the special guest for the journey.
Keyth, the human, was driving and found the engine rather responsive, while Dangersignal found the engine fully capable of raising steam with no issue, as well as having tons of steam on tap.
The engine was coupled up to a 7,000 ton goods train, consisting of 350 20T wagons. The train was due to Aberhoofi with supplies and no other engines were available to handle the heavy loads, so this would be a rather interesting trial.
“So, pops, think we’ll make it?” Stanier asked. “I know that Alicorns have powerful magic, but I think this engine may need assistance.”
“That, my dear son, is why Banking engines exist,” Dangersignal said. “Let’s get to the MacIntosh Mountains first, before we panic.”
Stanier agreed and watched the line, the signals were green and the rails hummed under the wheels of the train. The signals raised “clear” and the points clicked over, allowing the train to run onwards. Not having to slow down made things easier on the crew.
However, there was a problem. A signal that allowed the train to run onto the junction where trains could go to either Appleloosa or Dodge City was showing “Danger”. Keyth set the brakes hard and the train slid to the signal.
“Sorry mate,” Jaisson called up. “There’s been an accident. The royal carriage broke a wheel on the level crossing that allows ponies to cross to get to the other parts of Ponyville and a passenger train smashed into it. Princess Celestia was on the carriage and whisked to hospital. She some how managed to get out with only several cuts and a broken leg.”
“How’d this happen?!” Dangersignal asked.
“The royal guards evidentially didn’t get the memo that trains have right of way at level crossings and they thought they’d beat the train to the crossing,” came the reply. “Blasted fools. They’re lucky that Celestia wasn’t severely injured or worse.”
The only sounds were the hissings and clankings of the locomotive. When six hours had elapsed, the signal finally raised to “Clear” and the train proceeded with caution. The accident site had yellow flags posted and the wrecked remains of the carriage lay beside the line.
Once clear of the accident site, Keyth advanced the regulator and the engine responded with a will and charged forward and once it reached the grades, it started snorting clouds of smoke and steam. The weight of the wagons started to take their toll on the locomotive, but with some skillful steam management, the train rolled up the grades and then coasted down and into Aberhoofi, where a train of seventeen wagons of slate waited to head back to Ponyville.
“Well, that was a success, but now we have to run tender first, so we’re going to have to take it slow,” Dangersignal said. “Stanier, can you watch the road and tell us whether signals are clear or set against us?”
“Certainly father,” he said and took his position on the tender, with the aide of his wings and anchored himself down with the aide of some minor anchor spells he learned. After several line change maneuvers, the engine was moved onto the wagons and coupled up.
CLUNK!
TWEEEEEET!
“Right Away!”
PHEEEEEEEEP!
WHEEEEEEEEEEESH!
The train started away smoothly and slowly picked up speed so as to climb the grades out of Aberhoofi. Stanier Five was enjoying himself, keeping a close eye on the signals and the surrounding areas. Glancing ahead, once the train was on the descent, he saw something that alarmed him.
“STOP THE TRAIN! LUNA’S CHARIOT IS STUCK ON THE CROSSING!” he cried.
Keyth slammed the brakes hard on and the guard pinned the van’s brakes. The train went into a tenderlong agonized screaming slide. Dangersignal tightened the tender’s brakes and Keyth threw the engine forward, hoping the that the directional shift would put enough weight against the wagons.
Sparks and smoke filled the air, the metallic screaming being drowned out by the fighting crew. Dangersignal piled coal on, hoping that the engine could access all the power it needed. However, unbraked, loaded wagons are a real force to be reckoned with. A weight shift of any more than five on a twenty wagon train means that the crew is basically helpless.
While Alicorns are considered the most powerful type of pony, when pitted against something like that, they are just as helpless as any human. It doesn’t matter to a loaded train that there are ponies that have powerful magic, the wagons can quickly overpower them.
That’s why any type of pony, from Earth to Alicorn was trained in the art of speed braking. Teleporting was too dangerous as it meant that with quick moving trains, the teleporting pony would miss the wagon(s) and end up either at the brake-van or on the ground. Dangersignal had trained himself to do this, even though it was dangerous, but he knew that he had one chance and one chance only. Celestia got lucky, but Luna was on a one way ticket to see Starswirl the Beareded permanently.
“I’m going to try and pin the brakes!” Dangersignal shouted. “Try to keep this train under control!”
Keyth nodded and grimly turned to his greatest weapon-the locomotive itself. He glanced around the cab while the Alicorn scrambled over the even numbered wagons and pinned the brakes on the odd numbered wagons. The human’s eyes landed on the engine’s very own vacuum brake and grabbed the screw handle.
“ALL IN OR NOTHING!” he mentally screamed as he tightened the handle.
A hissing noise sounded out as the engine’s titanium vacuum brake blocks locked hard. The train started to slow down quicker, but the wagons were being squeezed. Then it happened, and all at once.
The engine came to a violent stop, the wagons trying to continue on, only smashing into each other and destroying themselves. Dangersignal was flung backwards and landed hard on the cab roof, denting it. Stanier Five was launched into the air and smashed into the gates. Keyth helped get Dangersignal into the cab then ran to pull Stanier Five into the cab.
Both had managed to injure themselves, but what was worse was that the engine’s brakes had jammed hard on. He was upset that he damaged the engine, but was more concerned for the two Alicorns.
Another engine was sent to take the two Alicorns to hospital, where they were tended to. Workmen and work ponies were sent to try and release the engine’s brakes, so it could be moved, but they found another problem, the engine’s ejector, which keeps all air brakes off had failed, so another engine would have to be coupled to it to pull it clear.
Rainbow Dash was at the hospital, looking over her son, and being there for him while he lay healing and sobbing. He had said that he was no good as an Alicorn, because his magic failed to secure him to the tender and how could he face Twilight or any of the princesses, who were much more skilled Alicorns. Dangersignal felt awful, as he couldn’t be supportive, due to him having to worry about his own healing and it really tore him up not being there for his kid.
Rainbow Dash soothed him and said that she was proud of him for helping prevent a very serious accident. That seemed to cheer him up and some time later, Princess Luna appeared and thanked the two Alicorns. She then turned to Stanier Five.
“Prince to be Stanier Five, your act of bravery has attracted my sister’s attention. Princess Celestia wants to know if you would like to learn magic from her?” Princess Luna asked.
“I’d like to take my lessons from Twilight, but maybe when I move on to more powerful magic, then I’d like to learn from Celestia, if that is okay with my parents,” he said. “You can ask my mother, as my father is busily healing from his impromptu braking.”
Luna nodded and looked over at Dangersignal, who lay silent and breathing. He had a rather large bruise on his torso, under his wing. She shook her head and gave a soft chuckle.
“I need to see him without a bruise,” the Night Princess said. “That sight’s just too familiar.”
Stanier Five laid his head down and slept, letting the medicine take over and wash the pain away. It felt like a hot spring had formed inside his veins and was there to help him out, but it also felt like something very familiar-his mother’s embrace. He couldn’t deny that Rainbow Dash’s nurturing and motherly nature made him feel safe.
Some time later, Stanier Five was released from hospital and left in the charge of Fluttershy. Dangersignal stayed for a while longer, as he was a lot bigger than Stanier Five and had managed to break a couple of ribs. He was pleased that his son was out and in the charge of a pony who he could trust.
Stanier Five helped Fluttershy with her light chores and even made Angel Bunny behave, with his vampiric fangs. He was constantly resting and taking medicine in accordance with the doctor’s orders. Twilight came by to check on her pupil to be and was pleased he was making a fast recovery.
Once he had fully recovered, he was taken to Twilight’s castle and placed in a mock up of a classroom from the Canterlot School for Gifted Unicorns. The one thing missing was a desk, but he didn’t need one if he was going to learn spells. After all, he was great with his hooves and his earth pony portion, but he need improvement with the use of his wings and his magic.
As he and Twilight got situated, he looked at his new teacher.
“I thought I was going to learn this stuff at fifteen?” he asked.
“Well, your father and mother changed their plans, because they wanted you to have a head start on your magic,” Twilight said. “I agree with them and also think you’d benefit from more spells, so your not just stuck with three or four spells. Alicorns usually have an arsenal of spells ranging from the most basic to the most complicated.”
Stanier Five nodded and Twilight began teaching him how to teleport from one location to another. He found it rather hard at first, but after several weeks of practice, he finally got it perfected. From there, he learned: Illumination, levitation, identity changing, shield, stun, counter, memory, healing, invisibility, time stop, summoning, and many other spells.
While he learned what he could from her, Dangersignal was out of hospital and working his tail off. Goods trains and passenger trains were running on time, and there had been several minor incidents with trains, one of which involved a set of buffers and a load of cheese (but that’s another story entirely).
Dragonstorm was on fast express passenger trains, seeing as he had experience with that and found it enjoyable. Dangersignal preferred wagons and slower trains, because he wanted to collect his mind. One day though, things took a change for the hilarity.
He was assigned to collect Princess Celestia from Canterlot while her sister used the newly repaired chariot to deal with some delegates in Saddle Arabia. Dragonstorm saw that the railway’s Pullman coaches were a fitting substitute. The train was arranged and waiting for Dangersignal to collect them.
The older Alicorn was oiling rounds on an LNER A5 4-6-2T. His nerves wanted to go back on him, which would leave him high and dry. He never transported royals at all, or he was riding alongside the royal to act as a personal bodyguard.
He gripped the oil can too tightly with his magic, which ended up giving him a massive headache. Coupling Rod noticed he was nervous and said that there was a first time for everything, so being nervous was natural.
“Yeah, but this is something I haven’t done in a long time and royal trains are beyond my purview of knowledge,” he said. “I maybe an Alicorn, but there are things I don’t even know.”
“Take it easy and things will work out,” came the reply.
The two hopped into the cab and Dangersignal advanced the regulator. The tank engine hissed into action and clanked away to collect the train. The run through the countryside calmed the Alicorn’s nerves, but he was still slightly nervous. At Canterlot Station, the coaches stood, with the engine’s smoke box facing the coaches, meaning the tank engine would be running backwards. Celestia was sitting comfortably and snacking on a jam tart.
Dangersignal moved the engine close to the coaches and the shunter was in the act of coupling the coaches when his attention was diverted to a train that had just embedded itself a few inches into the bay platform. Everyone thought the coaches and engine were coupled together, but they weren’t.
The guard’s whistle blew and Dangersignal opened the regulator and the engine slipped out of the station. However, Coupling Rod had noticed something odd.
“Erm, Dangersignal? Are the coaches meant to be sliding away from us?” he asked.
“No, but they’re…not coupled to the engine,” came the Alicorn’s answers.
Dangersignal set the brakes hard and the tank engine slid backwards for a few yards, then stopped. Embarrassment washed over the pair of ponies as they realized that they hadn’t been coupled. Moving back to the train, Coupling Rod ran along the platform and made sure the coaches were coupled to the engine and once the brake tests were carried out, the two ponies took the train to Ponyville, where Celestia was to meet Stanier Five.
Celestia found the who incident rather funny and she was able to laugh it off, as was Dangersignal and Coupling Rod, but the other ponies and humans would be sure to not let them forget this in a hurry.