A Sky Full of Stars-a FalmouthVerse Side Story

by The Blue EM2

For some Reason I can't Explain

Unfortunately, sometimes getting people organised is like herding cats. This was no exception, as there was usually at least one straggler with no sense of timekeeping.

As the last of the management arrived, they could finally set off. As far as the cloakroom, at least. Dresden was pretty cold at that time of year. Goldie was used to the cold and the snow, having grown up in a part of the world that got two feet of snow on average each year, but she still valued her winter coat. It had been given to her as a present by her father before she left to begin her new life in Europe, and as such it meant more to her than a means of keeping warm.

It was a tangible link to her homeland.

But finally everybody was ready, and they set off. The building in which the meeting was happening was just across the railway tracks, and as a result they didn't need a bus or anything like that. That was another thing Goldie had taken some time getting used to- there were considerably more busses and trains than back in Rhode Island in this neck of the woods.

As the group headed on their way towards the crossing, the lights on the crossing started to beep, and the barriers started to drop, indicating a train was waiting. At least one blessing of living here in Europe was that trains were a lot shorter. Some days back in the United States she would have to wait ages for a train to pass through a crossing.

"Ready yourself!" shouted a voice. "The Kriegslok's coming!"

"Got it!" shouted another.

Goldie looked in the direction of the voices, and saw one man holding a big, bulky camera which was mounted to his shoulder. The other man, whom she recognised as the man she'd walked into by mistake, was holding something much smaller, almost like an early portable camera. Though given this group she would hardly have been surprised if one of them had one of the old boxes on a tripod that had a cloth you had to stand under.

A voice then shouted in another language. It was too indistinct for Goldie to make out, though.

Seconds later, a loud puffing sound started up, and seemed to be getting louder. Maybe this was the Kriegslok thing they were talking about?

A whistle echoed through the street, and in that moment a large steam engine roared past, steam belching from its chimney and producing an incredible racket. It roared by, and a long set of coaches followed behind it as it flew through. Eventually, it vanished into the distance, and the noise from the barriers stopped.

Much to the relief of motorists, the barriers started to lift, meaning they could start driving again. The bus drivers were also happy too, and Goldie overheard some grumbling from a nearby pedestrian. Something about sad men disrupting our daily lives- she didn't catch all of it.

As she was walking forward, she overheard the conversation between the two men. "Did you get that?"

"Sure did! That was quite something. I wonder if Eric Treacy felt that when he snapped something big going through."

"I'll need to edit out the noise of the crossing barriers, mind." Both men turned to leave.

Goldie was about to leave them to it, when suddenly she overheard a voice speaking. "Halt! Ich muss mit euch beiden sprechen." (Halt! I need to speak to both of you.)

Both men turned and looked in confusion at what appeared to be a member of Deutsche Bahn staff. "Err, which one of us speaks German?" the man with the glasses asked, looking somewhat nervous. "Excuse me, could we have this conversation in English?"

"Was hast du gemacht, als du die Züge fotografiert hast?" (What were you doing photographing the trains?)

It was obvious the man with the glasses couldn't understand what was being asked, but luckily there was somebody who did. Goldie walked over and spoke up. "I'll translate." She turned to the official. "Diese beiden Herren sprechen kein Deutsch, deshalb übersetze ich in ihrem Namen. Was war Ihre Frage an sie?" (These two gentlemen do not speak German, so I'll translate on their behalf. What was your question for them?)

The official nodded. "Was hast du gemacht, als du die Züge fotografiert hast?" (What were you doing photographing the trains?)

Goldie turned to the men. "What were you doing photographing the trains?"

The man with the glasses nodded. "We're railway enthusiasts, here for the Plandampf. We were taking pictures of the train that just passed for the railway club we're part of."

Goldie nodded, and turned back. "Sie sind Eisenbahnbegeisterte und wegen des Plandampfs hier. Sie machten Fotos von dem Zug, der gerade als der Eisenbahnclub galt, dem sie angehören." (They're railway enthusiasts, here for the Plandampf. They were taking pictures of the train that just passed for the railway club they're part of.)

The official nodded, his face now much more understanding. "Ich verstehe. Zu dieser Jahreszeit sind bei uns oft Eisenbahnbegeisterte anzutreffen, also bitte ich um Entschuldigung, meine Herren. Ich bitte Sie nur, in Zukunft etwas weiter von der Absperrung entfernt zu stehen, um das Verletzungsrisiko zu verringern." (I understand. We often get railway enthusiasts around this time of year, so my apologies, gentlemen. I just ask that in future you stand a little further back from the barrier to reduce the risk of injury.)

Goldie then turned back again. "He understands and apologises for being abrupt with you. He just asks that in future you stand a little further back from the barrier to reduce the risk of injury."

The man with the glasses nodded. "We can do that. Apology accepted."

Goldie turned to the official. "Das können sie. Ihre Entschuldigung wird angenommen." (They can do that. Your apology is accepted.)

The situation resolved, Goldie headed off with the group once again.

---

The meeting went surprisingly well, and sure enough Goldie had her first succesful business trip in her pocket. That meant she could take the evening a little easier, though as she didn't know Dresden all too well she decided to stay at the hotel. She was walking to the dining room when she spotted the man with the glasses from earlier. He was looking through some photographs from earlier.

Goldie sighed. "Excuse me, may we talk?"

The man looked up. "Hello. What about?"

"Sorry for walking into you earlier. Oh, and you left this behind." She passed him a small pouch.

The man smiled. "My spare battery! Thank you. And it's alright. I've had a few knocks in my time. Thanks for getting me out of that scrape at the level crossing."

Goldie nodded. "No problem. Are you going for dinner?"

"Probably should do. Why?"

"I'll pay for your meal."

"You don't have to." Goldie had noticed something odd; the man hadn't made eye contact throughout the entire conversation. Then again, he was checking his photos.

"I insist. It'll make up for knocking you over earlier."

The man put the images away. "I must say that's very generous of you. Thanks."

Sure enough, they did, and as they ate the conversation continued. "What's your name?" Goldie asked.

"Albert," the man replied. "Most people call me Argyle, though. My dad was fascinated with old Scottish kingdoms, even if the surname is an old English one."

"I'm Gloria," Goldie replied. "I usually go by Goldie or Goldenella though. I'm fine with you using either."

"That's a lovely name," Argyle said. "So, what brings an American to Dresden? Military family?"

"No, actually," Goldie answered. "Business. My company had a deal here; I'm usually in the UK. What about you?"

Argyle smiled. "Well, my dad was in the air force and was stationed in the UK when I was born, as well as my brother and sister. When he was discharged he chose to stay, and so did I. Not to mention I get plenty of chances to chase trains."

"You did seem quite excited at what passed through."

"Tell me about it." Argyle's eyes suddenly seemed to light up. "There was that one time I was following a Black 5, I think it was 44767? The one with Stephenson Link Motion, if I recall correctly. I was waiting on the moor and just then it appeared, looming out of the fog and the driver was really giving the steam chest a workout."

Goldie blinked. "I don't mean to be rude, but I didn't follow all of that. I understand the basics (as selling railroad equipment is part of my job), but the more technical aspects of steam engines are somewhat a mystery to me."

"Sorry," Argyle replied. "I spend most of my time interacting with other enthusiasts, so it's easy to forget."

Goldie also noticed something about Argyle. He hadn't commented on her appearance once. Normally at this point somebody would have done so, which she found annoying.

Still, he seemed nice enough, if a tad awkward, and there was something about his childlike enthusiasm that was oddly endearing to her.

Maybe they could try keeping in touch.

Author's Note:

This next chapter, again told from Goldie's perspective, is something of an experiment on my part. I am very much aware that my primary market in writing in railway enthusiasts, so I set myself the challenge of trying to write from the perspective of somebody who has a passing interest rather than being a die-hard gricer.

Eric Treacy was a legendary railway photographer, best known for atmospheric photographs like this:

(York North Shed, 1954.)

His images, in many ways, came to capture the spirit of the steam age, and are often referenced in official media.

The word Kriegslok (short for Kriegslokomotive) refers to steam locomotives built in Germany between 1939 and 1945. In many ways the German version of the USATC S160 or WD 2-8-0, the engines have something of a negative reputation in Germany. This is because many were built using forced labour from concentration camps. The bulk of the class ended up in the former East Germany, which ceased using steam locomotives in daily service in 1988. As a result, many have survived into preservation, with a handful still in revenue earning service in Bosnia.

Plandampf (German for timetabled steam) is a rail program popular in Germany and Eastern Europe, where regular passenger trains are worked using steam locomotives and vintage coaches. This is partly made possible by the fact most of the steam era infrastructure is still in place in those countries, compared to the UK where the coaling towers and water pipes were removed soon after steam ended. Not surprisingly, they are popular with tourists and locals. My parents travelled on one such service about two weeks before I was born; my father jokes that's the reason I followed him into the hobby.

Comments

[shining paladin]

awesome chapter mate keep it up cant wait for the next chapter

[shining paladin]

we went to the moon at the cost of jewish and forced laborers and nobody don't talk about it

[The Blue EM2]

11961927
Glad you enjoyed.

[The Blue EM2]

11961947
In the United States, at least. It's discussed plenty in the UK.

[ScisetShimmerEvan]

As the group headed on their way towards the crossing, the lights on the crossing started to beep, and the barriers started to drop, indicating a train was waiting. At least one blessing of living here in Europe was that trains were a lot shorter. Some days back in the United States she would have to wait ages for a train to pass through a crossing.

Shouldn't it say train was coming, not waiting?

"Sure did! That was quite something. I wonder if Eric Treacy felt when he snapped something big going through."

Treacy felt that when*

Goldie also noticed something about Argyle. He hadn't commented on her appearance once. Normally at this point somebody would have done so, which she found annoying.

Not all guys do, I myself will only do it on occasion.

[The Blue EM2]

11962000
1. Waiting to cross. Vernacular usage in British English.

2. Fixed.

3. That's always a sensible policy.

[Thomlight Sparkle 1]

11961828
You learn something new everyday.

Comments on the chapter:

I really liked this one. I even like how you utilized my method of characters speaking another language. And I think having Goldie being able to speak other languages is indeed a good idea.

[The Blue EM2]

11962056
We sure do.

I also saw the same technique being used in a WW2 story on here about the Afrikacorps being teleported to Equestria. Whenever Afrikacorps personnel are talking to one another at first their dialogue is rendered in English (on the pretence they are really speaking German and we are reading a translation of what they are saying). When Equestrians overhear them at first, the dialogue is rendered in German without translation. Once Twilight has cast a translation spell, German is complemented with translated text in boxes (as the words are arriving in German, being translated by the spell, then arriving in Twilight's ear in Ponish).

Not only that, speaking a foreign language is a valuable skill in business. This is presumably why Goldie was hired for the job in the first place.