• Member Since 20th Sep, 2018
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The Blue EM2


Glad to be here at last.

Sequels1

E

This story is a sequel to Thomas and Friends: Tales from the Mainland Volume 1


After a series of long adventures, Sunny and her friends figure that they've got things all under control.

All of this is challenged when a trio of precision racers and car enthusiasts arrive in Falmouth. Determined to prove their modern speed machines to be superior to anything on rails, they challenge the five to a race from Penzance to London Paddingon-an epic race of over 360 miles.

With only a few crews, one clapped out Light Pacific, and several hours of harsh conditions awaiting them, can the heroes of Falmouth defend the honour of steam against the onslaught of modern technology?

Loosely based on the Race to the North episode of Top Gear, and the first of several specials within the Mainland Timeline.

Chapters (9)
Comments ( 78 )

And then the worst possible thing happened. She started to sing.

Should someone get some ear plugs or should we just let her go at it? :applejackconfused:

She began leaping between tables with perfect precision and touching down near people, continue to hand out her cards.

continuing*

There was a monentary pause, then the sound of large numbers of people walking over to bins and dumping the cards in them.

Not surprised there. :ajbemused:

"We'll take it!" Pipp said suddenly.

Thx a lot Pipp. :twilightangry2:

"This will look great on social media!" Pipp replied. "Besides, cars racing trains is a staple of TV! There was that show where those fat blokes raced a train to Edinburgh."

Of course she was thinking that. :facehoof:

11517370
1. Indeed.

2. Whoops.

3. Well, Pony Izzy experienced the same thing.

4. Indeed.

5. I've actually removed the reference since you wrote the comment and replaced it with another. On reflection, having one of the characters reference the very episode the story is based on was a little too on-the-nose.

While I know that Valentines Day was already by, I don't see why Izzy singing is a bad thing, I like her singing. But I can understand most people being off put here and there.

"There already is a second Valentine's Day, Izzy," Zipp said. "It's on the 24th. You know, Christian Love Day?"

Izzy's jaw dropped. "YOU'RE A CHRISTORIAN?"

Had no idea those even existed.

"Yep," Zipp casually replied. "Investigating internet oddities is my specialty. Seeing his reactions to the new generation of My Little Dragon was quite entertaining."

Why am I not surprised? Of course, I can kinda relate to that with my times of researching interesting things with Star Wars.

"This will look great on social media!" Pipp replied. "Besides, cars racing trains is a staple of TV! Wasn't there a time in the 1930s when a plane raced a train from London to Crewe?"

Pipp, you're obsession with making good social media posts is gonna get you in trouble one day.
As for the example, is she referring to the race Flying Scotsman had with that plane and speedboat?

But more importantly, now I understand why this story is called: "Race to the Edge". It literally is about a race.

11517558
1. It is pretty antisocial, what she did. What if people had been eating and she'd trodden on their plates?

2. It's something of an in-joke amongst people who look at Chris Chan (the Sonichu guy) academically. Christian Love Day is the name he gives his own birthday.

3. And me as well. In fact, the early years of the Brony fandom were considered an internet oddity, given it started life on a branch of the 4chan website.

4. Actually, no, although I can see the comparison. It's actually a reference to a publicity stunt the LMS organised to promote the launch of the Coronation Scot passenger service. For this service, the LMS had built the Duchess class of steam locomotive, which at the time were amongst the most powerful steam engines in Britain. To showcase this power, 6220 Coronation raced a biplane to Crewe. The biplane lost.

This video is an LMS promotional film, and bits of the run mentioned above can be seen within it.

Indeed. And quite a race at that.

11517777
In that case, I can see why people would be bothered. But then again, Pinkie's done more crazier things.

I don't know how to comment on that.

Understandable.

Oh. I didn't even know about that one.

Aye.

But still, Pipp really needs to think before saying.

11517800
In truth, I wasn't aware of the Scotsman/speedboat race before you mentioned it.

We've already seen examples of how Pipp's desire to chase views has gotten her in trouble.

"How about we bring our coal and water with us?" Izzy repeated. "As you'll probably recall, I found an old MK1 NRA in the sidings, which had been left here a long time ago. This has a mixture of both seating and a luggage compartment which was meant to carry mail, parcels, and trolleys loaded with valuable things. What is we store our coal and water in there?"

What if we store our coal and water in there?*
That does sound like a good idea, but I already know a better one than that.

"Seeing as you got us into the mess it's only fair you muck in," Hitch replied. "If all is said and done, I suggest we get to work and cue the music."

Exactly, you deserve it Pipp. :ajsmug:

Pipp was straining with the heavy bag, dragging it along the floor. "Whoever... knew lumps of... rock... were so heavy?" she wheezed. "I... must be really... out of shape!"

Or she just isn't trying! :rainbowlaugh:

So, they essentially made a support coach, you might say?

11518312
1. Fixed. Tell me, what is that better idea?

2. Yes.

3. I hardly get the impression she works out that much, if her pony counterpart is anything to go by...

11518368
They did indeed. Don't you just love it when a build comes together?

11518627
The better idea is bring either a tanker car to use for water or an auxiliary water tender and several or one gondola loaded with coal, which is a common thing I've seen with mainline steam in North America. This video here, shows it.

11518640
The main concern in the UK is that adds quite a lot of weight and can increase formation lengths to the point trains don't fit in platforms. This can be a problem if something needs to overtake.

11518847
Well the gondolas seen in the consist are often there just for ferry moves but would be out in a siding wherever the engine is running trains out of.

11518629
Aye. I mean Wallace and Gromit building the rocket comes to mind when I think of this kind of thing.

11518879
So it's not part of the formation when running a railtour?

11518920
Well, the duo did build it in a night, achieving in a few hours what took NASA years.

11519063
Got it, sometimes I forget how different mainline steam in the U.K. is like compared to the US.

A familiar voice grumbled from the back. "This is most undignified. I should be leading from the front."

https://m.

"Those cars may be powerful," Hitch replied, "but we have a shorter distance to travel to Plymouth. And a higher speed limit to boot. Hopefully we should be able to pull this off without any difficulties."

Let's hope so. :fluttershysad:

Steam shot into the air as Rebecca began to move forward, steam also being propelled forward as the train got underway. Unfortunately, a good start was compromised was her wheels starting to slip quite badly. "Ease off a bit!" she called.

compromised as her wheels were starting to slip quite badly.*

Misty was, at the same time, shovelling coal into the firebox. "This is a larger firebox than I'm used to!" she said. "And a lot hotter too! What's our pressure reading?"

Hopefully she doesn't add to much coal, Rebecca may be a bigger than a tank engine, she still needs to be cautious in case something goes wrong. :applejackunsure:

"We're probably going to be quite tanned by the time this is over," Argyle noted. "Looks like it's us next, Goldie."

Definitely, running a steam locomotive is hard work, especially in this day and age. :ajsmug:

11519204
1. Dingifried?

2. Indeed.

3. Fixed.

4. The fireboxes are also huge and capable of burning poor quality fuel.

5. A lot of physical prowess is needed.

11519716
Quite right. But now I wanna see Izzy or someone else spinning with an electric drill now.


11519717
Thank you. It seemed like an appropriate song to use. And it would seem like a song Izzy and Pipp might sing if the occasion calls for it.

11519739
1. Well, seeing as in a recent short they wielded hairdryers as weapons of sorts, it's plausible.

2. That's certainly true.

11519884
I didn't mean using the drill as a weapon or anything. I mean end up spinning with the drill like what happened with Gromit during the rocket building sequence.

And I never knew about these facts this chapter pointed out.

Clearing out all the people who had boarded, and getting the doors shut again, proved to be a bit of a job, and by the time they were done they had wasted 10 minutes. Argyle and Goldie clambered into the cab and set Rebecca up for departure.

At least it wasn't 20 or 30 minutes behind. :fluttershysad:

...and almost immediately triggered wheelslip. "Easy on the regulator!" Rebecca called. "I should be able to get up to line speed on the downhill bit!"

:facehoof:

The final sprint to Exeter St. David's awaited, and the light pacific dug into the rails, clearly up to the challenge. She flew along the track, the coaches bouncing up and down as they roared along the Riviera.

Hopefully the ride isn't too bumpy. :applejackunsure:

11520137
I should probably have explained that more clearly. What I was trying to say was that was showcasing ingenuity, using tools for functions for which they were never designed. Same is true here.

Glad you liked them.

11520521
1. Indeed.

2. Much facepalm.

3. Soon the coach was rocking, it swayed from side to side, with the bathwater splishin' and a splashin' inside!

"There was a Class 42 idling in the siding we just passed," Lord Haven pointed out. "It's been trailing us since Plymouth. I wonder what the driver's up to."

Why is my gut telling me it's someone we know. :unsuresweetie:

The train was now halfway down the bank and doing ninety miles an hour. Just ten more to go. The bank showed no signs of letting up, and the formation flew down the hill at incredible speed. Once they were at the bottom, the needle hit the magic number.

Holy shit, they actually did it! :pinkiegasp:

Back on the railtour, people were holding onto things to avoid falling over. The train rocked and rolled about with intensity. It's a miracle nobody was sick, although Pipp appeared to have turned something of a shade of green.

Hope she gets to a bathroom in time! :twilightoops:

The door opened, and Lord Haven appeared, covered in soot and having gained a British Rail suntan in the meantime. "Pipp, Zipp, you're up," he said. "Next leg is from here to Reading, where the fast line via Westbury joins. If we're going to maintain our lead, we have to be off on the dot of our water stop ending."

British rail suntan? What makes that difference from a regular one? :applejackconfused:

11520931
1. Watch and wait.

2. Not too hard with a Spam Can.

3. Yup.

4. British Rail Suntan is a British colloquial expression for a person's appearance after several hours on the footplate. It's characterised by tanned skin often covered in soot and dust. Here's a good example:

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d3/Steam_Locomotive_Fireman.jpg

Back on the railtour, people were holding onto things to avoid falling over. The train rocked and rolled about with intensity. It's a miracle nobody was sick, although Pipp appeared to have turned something of a shade of green.

Well Pipp, looks like Karma wasn't gonna let you off the hook for sticking your nose in things you shouldn't be.

Was the incident Rebecca was referring to on a YouTube video, cause I think I might've seen it but I cannot confirm.

And I hope that Class 42 isn't who most think it is.

11521425
That it most certainly was not.

The exact incident being referenced I cannot find on YT, but here's a recording of a very similar event from 2012.

You'll have to wait and see.

cool chapter mate keep it up cant wait for the next chapter:pinkiehappy::twilightsmile:

"The yellow one that's been trailing us since Plymouth!" Lord Haven said. "Looks quite boxy, with a strange checquered pattern on the side of it."

No, it, it can't be! :twilightoops:

Meanwhile, the train finished climbing out of the tunnel and rumbled along the flat for a while. The new speed limit was coming up. "Temporary speed restriction through Bath Spa!" Zipp called. "Slow down to 25 miles per hour!"

Bath Spa eh, meh, I've heard weirder names for towns. :ajsmug:

"Probably a good thing too!" Pipp added. "There's a red signal up ahead." To accent her point, the AWS then went off for a single yellow indication.

Good to know she has that. AWS, to be exact. :twilightsmile:

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