These are the stories of the thrills and spills of the C&CT locomotives. (A Thomas & Friends Crossover)
The Canterlot And Central Territory Railway was founded in 1918 after a government-funded merger of the Appleloosa and Dodge Junction Railway, Canterlot National Railway and Ghastly Gorge Narrow Gauge Railway. The dedicated engines take their passengers and freight to their destinations, come rain or shine. It was their heyday.
But as decades roll by, as steam engines were deemed outdated, the engines find themselves spread thinly as their friends were decommissioned and scrapped. Other railways abandoned steam power in favour of modern, more powerful diesel and electric locomotives. But the engines of the Canterlot And Central Territory Railway are still as dedicated and determined to prove their worth, until the end of time.
Crossover with the Thomas & Friends television series created by Britt Allcroft and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic created by Lauren Faust, both shows belong to their respective owners.
My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic (c) Hasbro Studios Thomas & Friends (c) HIT Entertainment
Octavia the Rebuilt Royal Scot Class locomotive steamed into Canterlot Union station with The Celestial Limited, the Canterlot & Central Territory Railway iconic express train. She had to cover for Rainbow Dash after she got delayed at the goods yard. As she was uncoupled from the train, a BR Class 67 diesel locomotive hauling a passenger train rolled into the platform next to her.
"What's this 'coffee pot' doing here?" snorted the diesel, "A railway musuem, or one of those heritage railways should be a proper place for you."
Octavia didn't say a word, she was used to insults like this. She chuffed away, a composed expression on her face.
She still kept that expression as she moved onto the turntable, a few more diesels were in a nearby siding. They were close enough for Octavia to hear them. A few of their sentences drifted into her funnel.
"...should have scrapped those steamies and replaced them with..." said one.
"...won't be long now!" said another, "It's clear, it's clear what's going to happen soon, the diesels will be taking..."
"...don't believe how they managed to still operate for so long!" said the third, "They should be falling apart left, right and..."
At last, Octavia's face fell. She rolled away sadly, to collect her next passenger train.
Octavia backed down onto her train, as depressed as ever.
"Cheer up Octavia!" said a voice. Standing on the platform, was Celestia, the controller of the Canterlot & Central Territory Railway.
"I can't Celestia," Octavia replied sadly, "Is it true what the diesels said?"
"What did they say?" Celestia asked, slightly puzzled.
"The diesels would be replacing us."
Celestia smiled warmly at her, "That would never happen on my railway. Whatever happens elsewhere, steam will always be at work here."
Octavia felt better. But she still had questions she want answers to, "Celestia?"
"Yes?"
"I've heard about our coaches being fitted with special 'receivers' so that our passengers could get signals. But, we have them all along the line, so what do they mean by 'getting signals'?"
Celestia chuckled, "It's not that kind of signal, Octavia. They meant a '3G' signal," she paused, trying to figure out how to explain it to her, "It's like a sort of radio link so that the passengers could go on the Internet on their mobile phones and computers."
This just raised more questions, "Then, what's the Internet?"
Celestia thought for a moment, "Well, it's quite hard to explain it to you. To be honest, I don't quite understand it myself..."
Before Celestia could say anything else, the guard blew his whistle and waved his green flag, Octavia chuffed out of the station with her passenger train. As she went into the distance, Celestia couldn't help thinking to herself. This was not the first time another engine had to cover for another. She knew her engines were doing their best, but there was simply not enough of them to go around. She knew she had to do something about it.
She walked back to her office, she had a call to make.
Octavia backed up into the sheds. It wasn't was big as the main shed near Ponyville, but it was still as nice and cosy. She joined Vinyl, a Stanier Mogul, and Lyra, an Ivatt Class 2 tank engine. She had time to think on her passenger runs, and decided to put her question forward.
"Vinyl, Lyra?" she began.
"Yeah, Tavi?"
"What is it?"
Octavia took a deep breath, "Have you two ever thought about the future of this railway? I mean, what do you think is going to happen to us? What do you think is going to happen to this railway?"
The sheds were awfully quiet that night, not even Vinyl, who was notorious for being a loudmouth, uttered a word.
Lyra spoke up first, "I'm not sure. But whatever happens, I'm sure Celestia will find a way to keep us from being...being...scrapped..."
The three engines shuddered at the thought of being scrapped. They were the last of their classes, they have seen their brothers and sisters being sent to the scrapyard to meet the cutting torch.
"Yeah! She's the controller of the railway, she'll always find a way!" Vinyl added, still feeling a little unsettled after what Lyra had said.
"Well, I hope so..." Octavia whispered to herself, recalling the words she had heard from the diesels this morning.
Meanwhile, Rainbow Dash, a Peppercorn A2 had entered the main shed after a very busy day, the shed enclosed several berths around a turntable. She was turned around and backed up into her berth, next to Applejack, a Stanier 8F. Also in the shed was Rarity, a Class B12, Pinkie Pie, a Class J23 and Fluttershy, a Class C2 'Klondyke'.
"I'm tired!" Rainbow Dash groaned, "And I didn't even get to pull my favourite train!"
"Well, at least be grateful your wheels are still on actual rails," Applejack said.
"But still, the workload has been increasing over the years, with less engines to manage it. Personally, I'm not really surprised. I'm exhausted as well," Rarity stated.
"Me too," murmured Fluttershy.
"I guess you're right, Rarity," Applejack replied, "I'm tired too. I wish Celestia would get us another engine or something."
"Maybe we should ask her!" Pinkie exclaimed.
"Well here she is!" Celestia quipped as she strode into the shed with her sister, Luna, the deputy controller.
"Good evening, Celestia and Luna," Rarity greeted.
"Good evening, engines," Celestia returned the greeting, "Now, it has come to my attention that there has been several delays with trains leaving the goods yard."
Luna smiled, "Indeed, you all are. But you engines were used to having less jobs to do where you were able to use more time on each one. The sudden increase in workload has been hard on all of you, hasn't it?"
The answer was a resounding 'yes'.
"It's clear that we need more engines to help out. First and foremost, our goods yard needs a dedicated shunter," Celestia proclaimed.
The engines looked at one another, "Does that mean 'she' will be coming back again?" Rarity asked.
Celestia knew who she was refering to, "Well, no," she replied.
Just then, a Fowler 4F rolled into the shed. She was coloured purple with dark blue lines going around her boiler.
"Engines, this is Twilight. She'll work as a shunter and spare engine."
Everyone looked at Twilight, all their eyes fell on her unusual sloping tender.
"Twilight, you start work at the goods yard tomorrow."
"Will I be working alone?" Twilight asked.
"No, I will send two more engines to help out," With that, both controllers left. Twilight frowned slightly, she was more comfortable working on her own.
"What's with the funny looking tender?" Pinkie asked curiously, "It looks like someone cut it in half!"
Twilight wasn't really amused, "It's a Slopeback tender, it's used by locomotives with yard switching duties, because they greatly improved the driver's ability to see behind the locomotive when switching trucks or coaches."
"Ohhhhh!"
"Well, I'm going to get some sleep now," she said, as she backed into an empty berth, "Can't be tardy for my duties tomorrow."
"Come on, Twilight! There's plenty of time to get some sleep. For now maybe we can get to...know...each other..." Pinkie hesitated when she noticed that Twilight had already closed her eyes.
"Well, I guess now's a good time to sleep. I'll have more energy for tomorrow," Rainbow Dash yawned and closed her eyes as well.
One by one, the engines fell asleep. All of them mentally prepared themselves for another busy day.
Next morning, at the crack of dawn, Twilight was already up. But her firelighter hadn't arrived yet.
"Where's my firelighter? I'm going to be late!" Twilight exclaimed.
Rainbow Dash yawned loudly, "Cool your boiler, Twilight."
"But, my boiler is cool. My fire hasn't started."
"It's an expression, Twilight. It means calm down," Rainbow Dash said sleepily, "Besides, it's a little too early to start work."
"Oh, right," Twilight responded sheepishly.
A few hours later, Twilight and the other engines were wide awake, their fireboxes burned nicely.
Rarity had already left first to pick up her morning branch line passenger train. Twilight's driver and fireman arrived to take her to the goods yard.
"Come along, Twilight," said her driver, as Twilight chuffed out of the shed.
The goods yard was quite far away. Because her tender couldn't hold much water, Twilight had to stop frequently at water towers to take on more water.
Twilight was worried, "I'm going to be late! I'm going to be tardy!"
"Don't worry, we have plenty of time. I'm more concerned about your water tank, it's quite undersized," replied her driver.
Meanwhile, Bon Bon, a DRG Class 86 tank engine, was resting in a siding, when Lyra chuffed by. They were giving each other the silent treatment, after a bad fall out.
Just then, Celestia approached them, "Lyra, Bon Bon, a new engine has arrived and I need you two to help her out in the goods yard."
"Can't you send just one engine?" Bon Bon asked.
"I need two engines," replied Celestia,"not one."
"But..."
"But..." stuttered Lyra and Bon Bon who still weren't speaking to each other.
"Three engines are more suitable to handle a big goods yard than just two," Celestia said. With that, the controller left.
The two engines looked at each other and reluctantly puffed away.
Twilight was already waiting at the goods yard, when she heard two unfamiliar whistles.
Lyra and Bon Bon chuffed into the goods yard, still refusing to speak to each other.
"Finally!" exclaimed Twilight, "I was wondering when you would get here!"
Lyra perked up at the sight of Twilight, it meant having an engine, other than Bon Bon, to talk to, "Hi there! I'm Lyra! Welcome to the Canterlot & Central Territory Railway!"
"Thank you, Lyra," Twilight replied, "Now show me how you do things here, and I can help you get this yard sorted out."
Lyra and Bon Bon happily obliged, but they still didn't say a word to each other.
"Watch out for those 'troublesome trucks'!" warned Lyra, "If you're not careful, they can get up to all sorts of tricks."
"Don't worry, I'll be careful."
Soon, the three engines were soon busy shunting and arranging trains for the day.
The yard was all neat and organised in no time at all. There was a slow goods train ready, but no engine had arrived to take it.
The yard manager walked up to Twilight, "Pinkie was supposed to take the slow goods to Neighagra Falls, but she's been delayed. You're a spare engine, you could take it."
"Well, I don't know. I usually just shunt and arrange the trains, I don't know if I'm built to pull trains," replied Twilight.
"Twilight, it's not what you're built for that determines what you do," said Bon Bon, "It's what you think you can do that does."
Twilight wasn't quite sure what she had meant, "Or maybe you can just 'shunt' the whole train there!" teased Lyra.
Twilight wasn't listening, she was deep in thought. Then, she made up her mind, "I suppose I could take this train."
"Great!" replied the yard manager, "Afterwards, I expect you to come back here straightaway!"
Twilight was coupled up to the slow goods train, and slowly but surely, she pulled out of the yards on her first goods run.
Lyra and Bon Bon looked at each other once more.
Twilight puffed happily down the line, it felt great to get out of the clustered yards she was all too familiar with. But she soon ran into some problems.
"Driver, my boiler feels dry!"
Driver shook his head in dismay, "I knew this problem would come back to bite us."
Twilight stopped at the nearest water tower. As she was filling on water, Rarity puffed by. She was on her way to collect her next passenger train, she was surprised to see Twilight.
"Twilight, I thought you were supposed to be working in the yards."
"I'm taking Pinkie's slow goods train, she's been delayed."
Rarity sighed, "Not again..."
"What do you mean?" Twilight asked, slightly confused.
"With the increased workload, we've barely have any time to finish out jobs on time. So there have been a lot of delays with our trains. Celestia said that she was trying to find engines to come and help us," Rarity explained.
"I see," replied Twilight as she set off.
As she puffed along, she began to feel thirsty again.
"There's a water tower at that station ahead," said her driver.
As Twilight began filling on water, the stationmaster walked towards her. He'd never seen Twilight before, and didn't understand about her low water capacity.
"Please clear the line for Vinyl's passenger train!" he ordered. Twilight's fireman tried to explain, but the stationmaster wouldn't listen.
"You'll have to get more water from the next water tower," with that, Twilight left the station.
Soon, she came to Rainbow Hill, it got its name after Rainbow Dash stalled there while pulling the Celestial Limited.
"Bust my buffers!" exclaimed Twilight, "I wasn't expecting this hill."
"Me neither," replied her driver, "But we have to try to get these goods to Neighagra Falls on time!"
But as they were halfway up the hill, Twilight began to go slower and slower, "What's wrong, driver?"
Her driver looked from gauge to gauge, "You're boiler's almost dry, you're running out of steam!"
The troublesome trucks saw their chance, "Hold back, hold back!"
Twilight found herself going slower, and slower, and slower. Until she ground to a halt, "Vinyl will be coming through with her passenger train soon!" exclaimed the fireman.
"I'll go contact the signalman," replied the driver.
He ran to a call box near the line.
"It's too late to switch Vinyl onto another line," replied the signalman, "You'll have to flag her down."
Later, Vinyl chuffed to the foot of Rainbow Hill with her passenger train, she frowned slightly when she saw someone waving a red flag.
"What's wrong?" asked Vinyl, slightly annoyed.
"Twilight's stuck on the hill, see if you can help her!"
Vinyl puffed up the hill, "I'll see what I can do!" she exclaimed, as she buffered up to Twilight's train.
She tried to start up again, but her wheels kept slipping on the steep track and she could not move at all.
"It's no good," said her driver, "We're going to need a banker engine to help us. I'll call the controller."
"I think we'll need more than just one banker engine," remarked the fireman.
Back at the goods yard, Lyra and Bon Bon had given up on the silent treatment, but were now arguing with each other.
"You should stop being pushy!" snapped Bon Bon.
"Don't call me pushy!" retorted Lyra.
"Then you shouldn't have pushed my into that cart!" exclaimed Bon Bon.
"You..." she was interrupted by loud cough, there was Celestia herself.
"Twilight and Vinyl are stuck on Rainbow Hill. I need both of you to be their banker engines."
"Can't..."
"No, Bon Bon. They need two banker engines to help them." then, Celestia left for other matters.
"I don't need you to help, I can handle this all on my own!" Lyra boasted.
"Go on then!" snapped Bon Bon. The two engines set off for the hill.
Soon, they arrived at Rainbow Hill. Lyra buffered up behind Vinyl, "I'll show you!" she shouted to Bon Bon.
Lyra pushed as hard as she could, but no matter what she did, she could not get the trains to start.
Lyra sighed, now she knew she needed Bon Bon's help, "Bon Bon, could you help me? Please?"
Bon Bon remained silent.
"Look, I'm sorry I pushed you into the cart. It was an accident, and I made a big deal out of it. I'm sorry..."
Bon Bon grinned slightly, "I'm sorry too, I also made a big deal out of it. Now I know how silly we both were," with that, she switched onto Lyra's track and buffered up behind her.
"Ready?" she asked.
"Ready!" replied the three other engines.
Lyra, Bon Bon and Vinyl started up and the strange train rolled up the hill.
Twilight tried to help, but with little steam left, it was the other engines who did most of the work.
Soon, the four engines chuffed triumphantly into Neighagra Falls station.
"Thanks a lot, you two!" Vinyl shouted.
"Thank you too!" Twilight shouted as well.
Lyra and Bon Bon puffed away happily.
That evening, Octavia was surprised to see Bon Bon back in the sheds.
"Nice to see you back here again, Bon Bon," Octavia greeted, "So did your feud finally end?"
"Yep!" Bon Bon replied.
"If Twilight and Vinyl hadn't gotten stuck on the hill, we would have never stopped!" teased Lyra.
"Hey, I didn't get stuck!" exclaimed Vinyl, "Twilight got stuck, and I couldn't start on the hill!"
"So you did get stuck!" exclaimed Bon Bon.
"Maybe the hill should be named 'Vinyl Hill'!" chuckled Lyra.
"Looks like you all had an interesting day today, care to tell me about it?" Octavia asked.
"Sure!"
"No problem!"
"Why not?" replied the three engines.
And they chatted and laughed happily through the night.
Twilight returned to main shed, the other engines were already inside.
"Hey there, Twilight!" Rainbow Dash shouted, "I heard about your little incident with the trucks."
"Yes, Lyra told me they can be quite troublesome. And she was right," Twilight replied, as she backed up into her berth.
"Well, don't worry about it, Twilight," Applejack said, "You'll get used to them soon enough."
"I do hope so," Twilight replied, "I don't want to be sent away."
"Don't be a worrywart, Twilight. I'm sure Celestia won't send you away for something like this!" Pinkie reassured.
"And if anything happens, we'll always be behind you, Twilight," Rainbow Dash added.
"Thanks everyone," replied Twilight, she had a feeling she'll enjoy her time on the Canterlot & Central Territory Railway.
It was the end of another busy day on the Canterlot & Central Territory Railway. Bon Bon was taking her last goods run for the day.
When she arrived on time at Dodge Junction, her driver remarked, "If you keep this up, you're bound to maintain your spotless record." Bon Bon felt proud when she heard this.
Later that night at the sheds, Bon Bon told the other engines all about it.
"My driver told me I have a spotless record!"
"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Vinyl.
"A spotless record means that Bon Bon here has never made a mess or a fuss and has never caused an accident," explained Octavia.
"Exactly!" boasted Bon Bon.
"I don't really see what's all the fuss about," remarked Lyra.
"That's because an engine like you would never understand," Bon Bon replied snootily.
"What do you mean?" asked Lyra.
"Well, you always complain about having too much work to do, and there was that one time you crashed into a goods train."
"It wasn't my fault," replied Lyra, slightly annoyed, "You can't see a train in the dark without a tail-lamp."
"Pah!" snorted Bon Bon, "You're just making excuses."
Just then Celestia approached the shed, "Oh no! I hope she isn't here to give us more jobs," groaned Lyra.
"Applejack is taking a special goods train to another railway tonight. It will be very heavy, so she'll needs a banker engine to help her up Rainbow Hill."
Vinyl wanted to help Lyra pay Bon Bon back, "Excuse me, Celestia. I'm sure Bon Bon would love to help. After all, she never complains about doing work, do you Bon Bon?"
"Of course not!" exclaimed Bon Bon, "I'll do anything I am told to do even if I have a bent bufferbeam and a leaky boiler."
"Then you will wait for Applejack at Canterlot Union station to help her goods train to the top of Rainbow Hill."
"Of course, Celestia," replied Bon Bon, and she chuffed away.
On the way there, she met Rarity, "Good evening, Rarity," she whistled.
"Good evening, Bon Bon," replied Rarity, "Where are you off to?"
"I'm helping Applejack with her special goods train. Celestia picked me for the job because I have a spotless record!" Bon Bon boasted.
"Is that so?"
"Of course! Only engines that never made a mess or a fuss can have this important job."
"Hmph," snorted Rarity, "I don't see why you're so proud and boastful about it."
Bon Bon simply snorted and puffed away indignantly.
Next, she met Twilight, "Good evening, Twilight."
"Good evening to you," replied Twilight, "Where are you off to at this time of night?"
"I'm helping Applejack with a special goods train. I've been picked for the job because I have a spotless record!" Bon Bon boasted.
Twilight rolled her eyes, "It's okay to be proud of one's own accomplishments," she puffed, "But being vain or boastful about it isn't."
Bon Bon steamed off in anger, "An engine like you would never understand!" she huffed. She felt it was such an insult for other engines to not recognise an engine that took great pride in her own spotless record.
Applejack was steaming through the night-time fog, her lamp shone brightly. She wasn't really happy, the train was much heavier than what she was used to.
"No need to grumble, Applejack," said her driver, "At least there'll be another engine to help us up Rainbow Hill," this cheered Applejack up a little, but she was still a bit grumpy.
Meanwhile, Bon Bon was waiting in a siding at Canterlot Union station for Applejack to arrive. Just then, Rainbow Dash chuffed into the station with the evening express.
"Good evening, Rainbow Dash."
"Hey there, Bon Bon," replied Rainbow Dash, "What are you doing here?"
"I'm waiting for Applejack to arrive so that I can help her up Rainbow Hill. Celestia chose me to do this because I have a spotless record."
Rainbow Dash was puzzled, "A spotless what?" she asked.
"A spotless record. It means that I've never caused any trouble or an accident."
Rainbow Dash scoffed, "Well, I don't see any reason to be so proud of it." with that, she puffed away.
Bon Bon was cross, nobody was taking notice of her and her spotless record.
When Applejack did arrive, Bon Bon felt better. Applejack's driver stopped the special goods train to allow Bon Bon to buffer up to the back to help the train up Rainbow Hill. She wasn't coupled up so that she could separate from the train once it had crested the hill, without having to stop the whole train.
"I'm ready to go!" puffed Applejack.
"Me too!" whistled Bon Bon, and off they went.
It wasn't long before the train reached Rainbow Hill, "Push harder!" yelled Applejack.
"We'll make it!" exclaimed Bon Bon confidently.
But there was trouble ahead, Applejack was pulling her train harder than she had realised. Halfway up the hill, the tail-lamp on the break van fell off. Bon Bon suddenly felt the weight on her buffers disappear.
"Where's the tail-lamp?" she puffed.
"I don't know," replied her driver, "I can barely see anything through this thick fog."
Bon Bon whistled loudly, but there was no reply from Applejack.
Up ahead, Applejack began to notice something, "Bon Bon, my train's feeling heavier!" she shouted, as the heavy train began to slow down, "What's happening back there?"
She soon got her answer.
'Crash!'
Bon Bon rammed straight into the break van, bringing the whole train to a halt, the break van crumpled like an accordion and fell apart. Luckily, the guard was thrown clear when Bon Bon collided and only had minor injuries.
But Bon Bon's spotless record, like the break van, was in pieces.
The next day, Vinyl arrived with the breakdown crane and some workmen to help clear up the mess. They found a broken tail-lamp on the tracks.
Vinyl had also brought Celestia, she spoke to Bon Bon, "This accident was not your fault. The tail-lamp should have being checked that it had been fixed on properly. We'll have you fixed and back in working order, though I'm afraid I can't say the same about your spotless record," Bon Bon was upset.
"I'm sorry I got you into trouble," said Vinyl, "Now you have no spotless record to be proud of."
"Nevermind, Vinyl," replied Bon Bon, "I should be saying sorry to you, for being boastful and vain about my spotless record."
"Well, you don't have to be boastful of anything now," joked Vinyl.
"You've got that right," puffed Bon Bon.
A few days later, Bon Bon was repaired and chuffed happily into Ponyville station with a passenger train.
Lyra was there too, "You look happy for an engine that lost her own spotless record."
Bon Bon chuckled, "I don't really care about them anymore. Besides, I don't really see what's all the fuss about." repeating what Lyra had said a few nights ago.
"Is it because an engine like you would never understand?" teased Lyra.
The two engines laughed, "Probably," replied Bon Bon, as she puffed out of the station.
Bon Bon never really cared about spotless records anymore. After all, it's not like the other engines seem to care anyways.
It was a miserable, rainy day on the Canterlot & Central Territory Railway. Octavia puffed nervously along the line.
Her driving wheels were old and worn-out which made it difficult for her to grip the slippery track. Everytime she started or stopped, she would slip and slide along the rails.
Later, Octavia and Lyra were resting in the sheds, it had been raining all morning, Octavia wasn't happy about this.
"I wish this rain would go away," she said to Lyra, "I don't feel safe slipping and sliding all over the place."
"You should probably tell Celestia about getting you some new wheels," Lyra replied, "Or maybe you should go into skating championships!"
Octavia didn't think her joke was funny at all.
"Lighten up, Octavia! I was only trying to cheer you up," said Lyra.
Just then, A car pulled up next to the sheds, Celestia climbed out and approached the two engines, "Octavia, I want you to go to the repair yard to be fitted with new driving wheels, your old ones are too worn-out to be safe."
"Then what about my jobs then?" Octavia asked, concerned.
"Rarity and Fluttershy will do your work until you come back," Celestia replied.
Octavia chuffed off for the repair yard, "I hope they don't get into any sort of trouble," she muttered to herself.
Rarity and Fluttershy looked after Octavia's trains, on top of their regular ones. Octavia's repairs were taking a lot longer than expected. Fluttershy was getting worried.
One afternoon, Fluttershy was at Everfree station with a passenger train. Just then, she spotted a familiar person on the platform.
"Excuse me, Luna?"
Luna walked over to Rarity, "What is it, Fluttershy?"
"Is Octavia going to come back soon?" she asked hopefully.
Luna shook her head, "I've just spoken with the director of the repair yard, the order for her new driving wheels has been misplaced and they may not arrive until next week," Fluttershy's face fell.
She was about to ask another question when the guard blew his whistle and she had to leave.
Meanwhile, Rarity was puffing along the line with some coaches full of passengers.
As she steamed along the line, it started raining again. She entered a tunnel but didn't emerge from the other side, instead she stayed inside and wouldn't come out.
Her driver and fireman argued with her, but Rarity refused to move, "The rain might ruin my lovely white coat with indigo stripes!" she exclaimed. The guard blew his whistle several times until he ran out of breath, but all Rarity did was wheesh steam feebly.
Celestia had to send Applejack to shunt Rarity out of the tunnel, "I'm not going anywhere!" exclaimed Rarity.
"Yes, you are!" huffed Applejack as the train moved out of the tunnel.
"Look," said Rarity's driver, "It's already stopped raining!"
"Indeed, it has," puffed Rarity, "But it'll start again soon, I'm sure of it!"
At Canterlot Union station, Celestia was waiting for her. She was not happy, she was stern.
"If you cause any more trouble," she scolded, "I shall take away your white coat and have you repainted!"
Rarity wasn't worried about the rain anymore, "I'm sorry, Celestia."
Everyone had heard about Rarity's incident with the tunnel, even Lyra. She wouldn't stop teasing Rarity about it.
"Hello, Rarity!" she whistled, "I heard it's going to rain today, you better find a tunnel to hide in!" she puffed off cheekily.
Bon Bon was resting in a nearby siding, "It'll get old for her sooner or later. Just wait."
Later, Lyra was taking a fast goods train to Canterlot. It began to rain once again.
"Wow, sure is rainy these days," she said to no one in particular as she puffed into Ponyville station.
"It sure is," replied Twilight, "You better mind that tunnel near Canterlot, it..."
Lyra snorted, "Why? It's not like I'm worried about my paintwork," and she steamed away.
"I was just trying to warn her about the soil erosion on the embankment near the tunnel," puffed Twilight.
"She'll be in trouble soon," replied her driver.
Twilight was right about the soil erosion. The heavy rain over the last few days have caused the embankment near the tunnel to become waterlogged and soggy. Suddenly, it gave way and slid onto the tracks.
Lyra didn't know that there was now a large mound of mud blocking the main line. She steamed straight into the tunnel.
"Fancy some shelter from the rain?" she exclaimed cheekily.
Then there was trouble. Lyra plowed straight into the mound of mud.
"Yuck!" she coughed. Luckily, no one was hurt. But, poor Lyra had derailed, and she didn't feel cheeky anymore.
When Rarity arrived with the breakdown crane, she felt sorry for Lyra, but she still couldn't help it, and began to tease her.
"I don't really see the point of hiding in a big pile of mud to stop the rain from spoiling your paintwork, darling."
Lyra remained silent.
The next day, Twilight was shunting in the goods yard as usual. She was being extra careful, there had been a big storm last night and the rails were very slippery.
"Leave those trucks here, Twilight," said a voice, Twilight immediately recognised it as Celestia's, "There's a blockage in a tunnel near Canterlot, you must collect some workmen and equipment to investigate it."
"Yes, Celestia," replied Twilight, and she steamed away as fast as she could.
On the way, she met Fluttershy, she looked worried.
"Hello, Fluttershy!"
"Oh...hello, Twilight," she puffed sadly.
"What's the matter, Fluttershy?"
"A big tree was blown over last night, and it broke the fence surrounding the elephant enclosure at the Everfree Forest Zoo. The zookeeper says that an elephant had escaped, I do hope he's alright."
"Don't worry, Fluttershy. I'll keep an eye out for the elephant."
This cheered Fluttershy up, "You will?"
"Of course I will! I promise!" replied Twilight as she puffed away.
"Thank you, Twilight. Thank you so much!" exclaimed Fluttershy happily.
Soon, Twilight had collected the workmen in one truck, and all their equipment in another one, and approached the tunnel.
She shunted the two trucks into the tunnel and stopped just outside of it.
Everything was quiet, but not for long.
'Erowrrh!'
The workmen came running out of the tunnel.
"There's something alive in there!" exclaimed one of the workmen.
"Something alive, and big!" exclaimed another.
"Rubbish!" shouted the foreman. But before he could say anything else, there was a loud trumpeting noise.
'Erowrrh!'
Everyone jumped, including the foreman, "What was that?" he shouted.
There was indeed, something big and alive inside the tunnel, and it was also very strong. Suddenly, Twilight began to roll backwards. Her driver applied the brakes, but her wheels simply slid on the slippery rails.
Out of the tunnel came the first truck and the equipment, then the second truck, and finally a large, grey elephant.
"There's our blockage!" joked a workman.
"Well, I never!" cried the surprised foreman.
The workmen fed the elephant with their lunches and gave it buckets of water to calm it down.
"Fluttershy will be relieved," whistled Twilight.
Later, Pinkie arrived with the zookeeper and a special truck for the elephant to ride in. The zookeeper guided the elephant into the truck. Then, Pinkie puffed away to bring the elephant back to the zoo, safe and sound.
That night at the main shed, Twilight told the other engines all about the elephant.
"First, Rarity and the tunnel. Then, Lyra and the embankment. Now, Twilight and the elephant. Whatever's going to happen next?" puffed Rainbow Dash.
"One thing's for sure," added Twilight, "There's never a dull moment on this railway."
"Indeed," said Rarity.
"Pardon me, Rarity. What happened to Lyra?" Twilight asked.
"Well, I'll tell you this. She never spoke a word about tunnels and rain again."
It had been a fine day on the Canterlot & Central Territory Railway, although you wouldn't had thought it had been if you'd listened to Lyra. She had been hard at work all day, she had so much to do that she even ends up running late.
Later that evening, Lyra was complaining about her busy day to the other engines in the sheds.
"I feel like I'm being put upon!" she grumbled.
Vinyl was puzzled, "Put upon what? The rails?"
"No, put upon with too much work! That's what!"
"Put upon," replied Vinyl, " What kind of lingo is that supposed to be?"
Lyra just ignored her "And another thing!" she continued, "I had to send some workmen and supplies to those 'dead points' again!"
The 'dead points' that Lyra was referring to a set of points near Everfree station that didn't really lead anywhere except a set of large, rusty buffers. A few months ago, workmen began extending the track beyond the buffers. Lyra did not understand what all this was for.
"Pah!" she snorted, "They should've just left that set of points alone. Or better yet, just get rid of it!"
Octavia was getting fed up, "Do you do anything other than complain all the time?"
"I can, and will complain whenever and wherever I want to," Lyra replied in annoyance.
"But you're just a green tank engine with your ideas above the stations," puffed Bon Bon.
"There's no ideas above the stations, or anywhere for that matter, the sky is empty," joked Vinyl, "Just like Lyra's smokebox."
Lyra had enough, she wheeshed loudly and covered the other engines with soot.
"Goodnight!" she huffed, and backed into the sheds and promptly went to sleep.
"Rattle my rods!" exclaimed Octavia, "I do hope she gets over this soon."
"Same here," puffed Bon Bon.
The next day, Lyra was still grumpy. She had to collect steel pipes from the Foal Mountain Foundry, But when she arrived, the pipes were still being loaded into the trucks.
"Hurry up!" Lyra cried impatiently.
"We'll take as long as we need!" replied one of the workmen.
As soon as the pipes were loaded, Lyra steamed off.
"Wait! We need to tie down the pipes securely!" but Lyra didn't hear the workmen and had already took off into the distance.
When she rounded a bend, the pipes tumbled off the trucks and fell all over the tracks. But Lyra puffed on.
Lyra sped along the main line, she was going really fast.
"Steady, girl! Steady!" said her driver as he backed her off.
This was the last thing she wanted to hear, Lyra wanted to go faster, she wanted to finish her jobs quickly so that she could have a nice rest in the sheds later.
There was more to come. Up ahead, Twilight was pulling trucks loaded with supplies for a construction project. Lyra steamed right behind her.
"Hurry up, Twilight!"
"Be patient, Lyra. I'm turning off at the next junction," replied Twilight calmly.
But Lyra was too impatient to wait. So she buffered up to her train, and started to push her.
"Lyra, what are you doing?" exclaimed Twilight.
Lyra pushed Twilight faster than she had ever gone before.
"Lyra! Slow down! I'm not designed to go at this speed!" Twilight shouted, her 0-6-0 wheel arrangement meant that she was less stable at high speed.
Twilight noticed a sharp bend ahead, she braked hard but it was too late.
As the two engines rounded the bend, Twilight fell off the track and tumbled down into a ditch with her trucks. Luckily, her driver and fireman had jumped clear. Lyra also derailed, but didn't fall into the ditch. Her trucks however, did and the remaining pipes rained down on Twilight, some bashed and bounced off her boiler.
Lyra wasn't grumpy anymore, she was worried, "What is Celestia going to say about this?" she muttered to herself.
She found out soon enough, Applejack arrived with the breakdown crane. Celestia was onboard, she was very cross indeed.
"Your impatience has caused plenty of trouble today. The pipes that fell off your trucks have blocked the track leading up to the Foal Mountain Foundry, Twilight is stuck in a ditch and needs repairs, and the construction supplies are damaged and unsalvageable," Lyra looked from Celestia, to Twilight in the ditch, then to the mess of construction supplies and steel pipes.
"Lyra, what is going on?"
"I...I'm sorry, Celestia. I just feel like I have too much work to do. I thought if I finish my jobs quickly, I could be on time and get a good rest too."
Celestia stared sternly at Lyra, "Look Lyra, I know you've had a lot of work to do recently. But no matter how tired you are, you have to do your jobs properly. If you are impatient and in a hurry, you would make far more mistakes than you should. You need to change your attitude."
Lyra's face fell, "Yes, Celestia. I can fix everything. Please, just give me one more chance."
Celestia grinned, "Of course, Lyra. Everyone deserves a second chance. You can learn from your mistakes. There's is only one more surplus train at the goods yard for the construction project. If it doesn't get delivered, I'm afraid the project will be delayed."
"Don't worry, Celestia! You can count on me!" whistled Lyra, as she was lifted back onto the tracks.
She wasn't damaged in the derailment, so she immediately got to work.
She collected the supplies from the goods yard and chuffed away.
Soon, she approached the 'dead points'. She was suddenly switched off the main line and puffed down the other line, the large buffers were nowhere to be seen.
Lyra became excited, all those questions about the 'dead points', was finally going to be answered.
Soon, she approached the project site. The sight that greeted her eyes was the last thing she was expecting.
Lyra had always thought herself to be one of the railway's smaller engines. But compared to the orange one that was just leaving, she was a giant. She spotted another engine, just as small as the other one, but painted white like Rarity.
"Okay...this...is...unusual..." was all she managed to say, as she shunted the trucks into a siding. She noticed a trestle-like structure called a 'transloading hopper' nearby, on top of sat some 'tipper trucks' which unloaded their loads into normal trucks parked underneath the hopper.
"Do you like our hopper? It's great, ain't it?" Lyra blinked in astonishment. On the narrow gauge tracks next to her, was a modified 2-4-4 Forney locomotive. She was painted yellow with a lamp attached to her funnel.
"Erm...yes. Yes, it is!" replied Lyra awkwardly. Seeing these small engines was one thing, but having a conversation with one was another, "My name's Lyra."
"Howdy, Lyra! Name's Apple Bloom!" whistled the small engine, in an accent that reminded Lyra of Applejack, "Your friends told me a lot about you! They said you were kinda grumpy and impatient, but you don't sound like that at all!"
"I was. But now, I've decided to change my attitude, and be a different engine!"
"Really?"
"Yep!"
"By the way, that white saddle tank over there is Sweetie Belle," Lyra looked at the 0-4-0ST Alice class engine.
"What about that other engine that just left?" Lyra asked, refering to the orange Beyer Peacock 0-6-0T tank engine.
"That would be Scootaloo."
"Anyone else around here?"
"No, we're the only engines around these parts. But Celestia said that she will get some more engines to come and help us!"
"That's nice to hear," Lyra frowned, "How come I've never heard about any of you?"
"It's no big surprise. After all, we've been stuck in our sheds for years. But we're out again now, and ready to be really useful!"
"You all were stuck in your sheds for years?" Lyra asked, astonished once again.
"That's right. The Ghastly Gorge Narrow Gauge Railway was lost and forgotten for several years. But then Celestia discovered it and wanted to restore the railway and put us back on the rails!"
Lyra grinned when she heard this, "Well, I'm afraid I have to go now. It's been nice knowing you, Apple Bloom!"
"See you later, Lyra!" whistled Apple Bloom.
From that day onwards, Lyra never complained about her work anymore, and she also gained a new friend. She told the other engines all about it, who were so jealous that they might have popped a safety valve. But that's another story for another time.
Twilight the Fowler 4F enjoys working on the Canterlot & Central Territory Railway. She works hard and makes everything on the railway go like clockwork. But she never boasts about it despite the other engines complimenting her.
"The trucks always behave well when she's around," whistled Applejack.
"Even the passengers have stopped grumbling," puffed Rarity.
"There are two ways to do things around here, the Twilight way, or the wrong way," joked Lyra.
"And don't we know it!" they all said.
Eventually, Twilight was due at the repair yard for her monthly inspection. Celestia had to look for another engine to take over Twilight's duty until she came back, but she also needed another engine to deal with the goods trains too.
At Ponyville station, Pinkie was delivering supplies for the station cafeteria and noticed Celestia on the platform.
"Hello, Celestia!" she called. However, Celestia didn't reply, she entered her office before Pinkie could say anything else, "Oh, okay. Goodbye then!"
Celestia dialed a number on her phone and waited for an answer. "Hello? Yes. It's me, Celestia. I'm in jeopardy. No, I'm not on the game show, I need another engine," Celestia listened intently to the person on the phone, "Oh, you have one? Two? Two BR Class 14s? Sounds perfect! Thank you! I'll give them a trial." and she hung up. But, she couldn't thinking to herself. After all, she knew steam engines and diesel engines had a bit of… history.
Later, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy were resting near the main shed when they heard a strange sound.
"What was that?" asked Rainbow Dash.
"That sounded like....a horn," replied Applejack.
"Oh, oh! You mean a ship's horn?" whistled Pinkie.
"No, Pinkie. I mean a...diesel...horn," all the engines frowned, including Pinkie, when they heard those words.
It wasn't long before not one, but two Class 14 diesel-hydraulic engines glided smoothly into view. Both were painted in the sapphire blue livery used by the Crystal Empire and Frozen North Railway, the numbers 'D9556' and 'D9557' were visible on their cab sides.
"I do hope they're nice..." whispered Fluttershy, but she was only half-right.
"Hmph, their controller thinks Trixie needs to learn. She is terribly mistaken, diesels don't learn how to do things. Why should we? Trixie already knows everything. We don't just run a railway, we improve it. After all, Trixie is revolutionary," boasted the diesel numbered 'D9556'.
The other diesel shushed her, "Don't be a braggart, Trixie. We are just as outdated as they are."
"Nonsense, Trixie is not as outdated as those 'teapots'," all the engines had overheard everything.
"Why, I never!" exclaimed Rarity.
"She thinks she's so rev...rev-whatever-it-was-she-said!" huffed Rainbow.
"Yeah! Rev-o-thinga-gummy!" added Pinkie.
The commotion died down as Celestia approached the main shed, the two diesels purred towards the engines.
"Engines, meet Trixie and Sunset Shimmer. They will be here on trial until Twilight returns. If they meet my standards, they will stay here and work on my railway," the engines were flabbergasted.
"Good afternoon," greeted Trixie, "Pleased to meet such fine engines like you."
"Yeah, good afternoon," Rainbow Dash replied curtly, who obviously did not fall for her guise.
"Trixie, Sunset, I want you to shunt trucks at the goods yard, I expect everything to go smoothly," with that, Celestia left.
As the two diesels also left, the engines tried to plan a way to make Trixie see some sense, or at least send her away. But they actually had no need to do that.
As days went by, the two diesels gradually got used to working on the railway. Sunset asked questions about how the engines did things. They ignored her at first, but when they realised that she was willing to listen, they warmed up to her and happily told her all about their ways of handling their work. Trixie on the other hand was the exact opposite, she kept trying to convince Celestia that dieselisation was the key to the railway's survival by trying to be more 'efficient' that the other engines. But she ended up getting into all sorts of trouble.
One day, Rarity was sent to pick up empty trucks from the goods yard to take to the coaling depot. She didn't like pulling trucks, and she didn't want to meet Trixie again, but she knew she had to finish her jobs.
Trixie and Sunset were busy shunting in the goods yard. There was a clear difference between the two diesels, Sunset was carefully pushing and pulling the trucks into place, Trixie was biffing and bashing the trucks roughly.
"Careful, Trixie!" exclaimed Sunset, "You might cause an accident!"
"Nonsense," replied Trixie snootily, "This is my way of doing things, the more efficient way of doing things."
Rarity had overheard the conversation as she steamed in, "Well, if your method is more 'efficient', perhaps you would collect the trucks for my train."
Trixie, delighted to show off, oiled away, "Of course, Rarity."
As Trixie did her work, Rarity struck up a conversation with Sunset Shimmer.
"You're...different from the usual kind of diesel, in a good way," said Rarity.
"Well, I had some time to think about myself after I...um" Sunset paused for a moment, a sad look crossed her face.
"You what?" asked Rarity, concerned.
"It was in 1967, and I was in a scrapyard near Neighagra Falls. I was just picking up some scrap metal when I saw a sight that would be forever burned into my mind."
"What did you see?" Rarity asked, a bit unnerved when she heard the word 'scrapyard'.
Sunset remained silent for a moment, then she spoke in a somber tone, "I saw one of my sisters being...cut up...for...scrap. That's when I realised I was just as outdated as I had once considered steam engines."
Rarity gasped, "I'm so sorry you had to see that."
"No need to apologise, Rarity. Let's not talk about it, alright?"
Rarity agreed, and she changed the subject, "Trixie's a real show-off, isn't she?"
"Yes, she's always thought that steam engines were withdrawn because you all...well...weren't that good at handling goods and passengers anymore."
"What?" Rarity exclaimed, quite taken aback, "Nonsense! Diesels replace steam engines for one reason and one reason only, you all are cheaper to operate. No offense to you, Sunset."
"None taken," then she noticed something, "What's happening over there?"
"I don't know, maybe we should go see what it is."
The two engines approached a siding where Trixie was trying to move some trucks, they were very old and hadn't been moved or touched in a long time. Trixie didn't know that the brakes on the trucks were locked on.
"Come on! Come on! Trixie wants you to move!" she shouted as she surged forwards, but the trucks didn't move.
"Oh! Oh!" they groaned, "We can't and we won't!"
Rarity and Sunset chuckled as they watched.
Trixie lost patience and continued to pull, "Come on, you silly trucks!"
"Oh! Oh! You can pull all you want, but we can't go and we won't!" groaned the trucks.
This made Trixie even more cross and she gave a great heave, the trucks jerked forwards. Their brakes gave way and the gear on one truck jammed into the sleepers, and it derailed. Trixie could not move the trucks at all.
Rarity collected the other trucks and puffed alongside Trixie, a smirk on her face, "Thank you for arranging these trucks, I must go now."
"Don't you need these trucks?" Trixie asked, refering to the old trucks she had tried to move.
"Erm, no. Goodbye now!" whistled Rarity, as she pulled away.
Sunset rolled next to Trixie, "Trixie took all this trouble for nothing, why didn't you say anything?"
"You didn't ask anyone about the trucks. Besides, you looked like you were having a ball of a time being 'revolutionary'," teased Sunset, and she went back to work.
Trixie had to help the workmen clean up the mess, she grumbled as the broken trucks were lifted onto flatbeds and she took them away.
Rarity was chuffing happily along the line. She didn't mind pulling the trucks, she was still chuckling to herself.
"Silly old Trixie," she muttered.
She met Rainbow Dash at a junction, Rainbow was surprised to see Rarity in such a good mood.
"Hey there, Rarity! You not usually this happy when pulling trucks," puffed Rainbow.
"Well, no," replied Rarity, she then told Rainbow Dash what had happened to Trixie earlier.
Rainbow chortled loudly, "Serves her right! I wish I was there to see that!"
"I wonder what Celestia would say."
"Whatever it will be, it can't be good."
And she was right.
"Trixie, I thought you would be a proper shunting diesel. But I might be wrong. I want you to prove to me that I did not make the wrong call to bring you here," Celestia said sternly.
"Yes, Celestia," replied Trixie.
The next day, Trixie was shunting in the goods yards as usual. Sunset had to go collect some empty trucks to bring back.
She was boasting to the troublesome trucks as she shunted them into place, "When Celestia sees how good I am, she'll get rid of steam engines once...and for all!"
This gave the trucks an idea. As Trixie oiled pass, they started to sing. Their leader, D.I.SCORD, sang the loudest.
"If you're better than the steamies, your loads must be longer!"
"If you're better than the steamies, you must be stronger!"
Trixie was sure that she was stronger than the steam engines, "Trixie will pull all of you at once!" she proclaimed.
D.I.SCORD and the trucks laughed, "Pull us all? Then you must be the strongest!"
"Of course! Trixie is the strongest!"
Meanwhile, Sunset was on her way back to the goods yard when she saw an engine she's never met before. It was Twilight.
Sunset oiled alongside, "Hello there! Are you Twilight Sparkle?"
"That's me! How did you know?"
"You friends have told me all about you, I'm Sunset Shimmer."
"It's nice to meet you!"
"Where have you been all this time?"
"I've been at the repair yard for my monthly inspection, I heard about two Class 14 diesels coming here. So I assume that's you and who else?"
"Her name is Trixie, and she's probably up to her tricks right about now, like she always is."
"Only one way to find out."
The two engines arrived just in time to witness everything. Trixie had shunted the naughtiest trucks together into one long train, D.I.SCORD, the naughtiest of all, was directly behind her.
"Hold back, hold back," he whispered to the other trucks. The silly trucks giggled, but they encouraged Trixie to pull anyways.
"Heave ho! Heave ho! Pull us all! Pull us all!" sang the trucks.
Trixie smirked, there was plenty of sand on the rails, and her wheels gripped firmly. She surged forwards.
"Oh!" groaned D.I.SCORD, "This can't be good!"
Twilight and Sunset watched in amusement, "What is she up to?" asked Twilight.
Pinkie, who had overheard Trixie earlier, giggled, "She thinks she's the strongest engines on the railway!"
"Hmm," sighed Sunset, "this should be interesting to watch."
"Urgh! Oh!" wailed D.I.SCORD, "I don't like this at all!"
His rusty metal frame began to warp and bend, and his rotten wooden planks started to creak and groan.
"I'm going to come apart!" he exclaimed.
D.I.SCORD burst open like a pinata, the trucks stopped giggling. For the first time, the goods yard was silent, but not for long.
A familiar person approached Trixie, "Well, Trixie, so you don't know your own strength, is that it?" Luna, the deputy controller, said sternly.
Trixie knew Luna wasn't teasing her, "N-no, Luna." she replied nervously.
Luna scrutinises the remains of D.I.SCORD, she attributed the incident to his poor build. But she still wasn't happy about Trixie.
"I'm afraid this railway has no place for engines like you. You were brought here to take care of the goods yard, not show off all week! Such behavior is unacceptable. I want you...off this railway...now!"
"But...but..."
"I don't care about you excuses, Trixie! Leave!"
Poor Trixie was sent away in disgrace. As she departed, she wondered what her controller would say when she heard what had happened.
Luna then turned to Sunset, "As for you, you have done well these past few days. It would be a pity to not allow you to work on this railway."
"Do you mean I get to stay?" asked Sunset in surprise.
"I couldn't have put it better myself," replied Luna, "As a gift from my sister, you will get a fresh new coat of paint."
"Thank you!" exclaimed Sunset, and she oiled away to the repair yard to be repainted.
A couple of evenings later, the other engines were in the main shed. They were excited to be working with Sunset, but they were also a bit concerned.
"It's great to have you back, Twilight," said Applejack, "Though I'm a little worried for Sunset."
"I do hope she's alright, I heard she's been at the repair yard for a couple of days now," said Rarity.
"There's nothing to worry about, Rarity. She's only getting repainted," puffed Twilight.
"But a repaint doesn't usually take this long, Twilight," said Rainbow Dash.
"That's because Sunset Shimmer has received a new livery," said Celestia, who had just stepped into the main shed.
"A new livery?" asked Fluttershy.
Just then, a familiar horn sounded out and Sunset rolled smoothly into the main shed. The engines blinked in astonishment. Sunset was no longer in her sapphire blue livery, instead she sported a brilliant amber paintwork with crimson warning stripes along her body and yellow and black warning stripes on her bufferbeams.
"Well, that's...uh..." began Twilight.
"Rather bright..." finished Rarity.
"Well, it's much nicer than my old standardised livery. Having a personalised livery means I really belong here." said Sunset.
"True," replied Rarity, "It's Celestia's way of saying that we might have our differences, but we can still be really useful and reliable."
"Indeed, we all are. Steam engine or diesel engine, we all are very useful engines!" whistled Twilight.
Applejack is a reliable, strong, and hard-working engine. With her eight medium-sized driving wheels and two small lead ones, she had clearly been built for hauling long, heavy goods trains. She always completed her work with little complaints or delays, even Rainbow Dash was a little jealous.
"I don't get it," she would say, "AJ seems to just steam along the line with no bother at all. She makes work look so easy."
One morning, Applejack was having a rest in a siding when Bon Bon puffed by with the breakdown crane, a worried look on her face.
"Bon Bon, what's going on?" asked Applejack in concern.
"Vinyl's off the line! Can't stop to chat! I have to hurry!" Bon Bon was already gone before Applejack could say another word.
"I do hope she's alright," Applejack puffed to herself.
Just then, Celestia approached her, "Applejack, Vinyl has been in a bad accident with some trucks. I'm afraid she'll be in the repair yard for a few weeks. There isn't any other engine available, so you will have to take her next train."
Applejack grinned, "Of course, Celestia. I'm the loyalest and the most dependable of engines!"
"I'm glad to hear that," remarked Celestia.
"So, what kind of trucks will I be pulling?"
"It's not a goods train, Applejack. It's a semi-fast passenger service" replied Celestia, she pointed at three brown coaches waiting in a nearby siding.
"Passengers? But I've never pulled coaches before, I'm a goods engine," puffed Applejack.
"Applejack, it's not what you're built for that determines what you do," said Celestia, repeating what she had always told her engines, "It's what you think you can do that does."
"Besides," added her driver, "we can't leave the passengers stranded."
With that, Applejack headed off to pick up the passenger coaches. But when she backed up to be coupled up, she biffed them very hard.
"Careful!" cried the yard manager, "You can bump trucks, but you can't bump coaches!"
"Sorry about that!" exclaimed Applejack.
Soon, Applejack had brought the coaches to Ponyville station. When all of her passengers were onboard, the guard blew his whistle, waved his green flag, and Applejack pulled out of the station. But she started too quickly, and the coaches jerked and shuddered.
"We have to be a bit more gentle," called her driver, "Our passengers won't be very comfortable with a bumpy ride like that."
"I'll try my best!" replied Applejack.
Later, Applejack reached Everfree station. But she was going too fast and screeched to a stop at the platform, the coaches banged right into each other. The passengers were not very happy with their sudden stop, at all.
Rainbow Dash was at the opposite platform, she had seen everything, "Your poor passengers, Applejack! You shouldn't stop so quickly with coaches. Watch me!"
When the guard blew his whistle, Rainbow pulled smoothly out of the station, "Now that is how you pull coaches!" she boasted.
Applejack was fed up, "Show-off," she huffed, "I can be as good as Rainbow Dash when pulling passengers! I'll show her!"
Soon, it was time to leave. Applejack tried to pull away as smoothly as she could, but she was too busy thinking about what to say to Rainbow Dash when they next met.
The passengers didn't think it was a very smooth ride, at all.
Later, Applejack arrive at Dodge Junction station. She looked over as a grey tender engine pulled in next to her.
"It's Applejack, isn't it?" asked the engine in a posh accent.
"Yes, and you must be Octavia," replied Applejack.
"So, Applejack. What brings you down here?" Octavia asked pleasantly
Applejack quickly explained about Vinyl's accident, Octavia frowned slightly as she finished.
"I see," replied Octavia, "Vinyl can get herself into all sorts of trouble. To be honest, I'm not quite surprised anymore."
"So, Celestia wanted me to pull this passenger train," Applejack added.
"May I offer you some advice then?"
But Applejack wasn't listening, she was still thinking about Rainbow Dash, "No thanks. I know how to handle a passenger train just as well as everybody," and she hurried away to be turned around.
"That engine is as stubborn as a mule," remarked Octavia.
"She'll just have to learn the hard way," said her driver.
Later, Applejack was turned around and was getting ready for her return run. Out of habit, she bumped the coaches as she backed down onto them. As she steamed off, Applejack felt a strange tug on her coupling.
"That doesn't feel right," she muttered to herself. The train came along smoothly, so she didn't think anymore of it.
Meanwhile, Vinyl was at the repair yard. She wasn't very happy, she had collided with some tar tankers and was covered from smokebox to cab in sticky, black tar. Some workmen were trying to clean it off, but it was taking a very long time. Vinyl was lonely, she missed her friends, and she missed her passengers.
The passengers were missing Vinyl too. They were being bumped and bounced around inside the coaches. But Applejack didn't notice, she was still thinking about being as good as Rainbow Dash.
Soon, Applejack approached Everfree station. Applejack felt that strange tug on her coupling again. Before she could say anything, a loud 'Snap!' sounded out. Applejack felt the weight on her coupling slacken.
Her driver shut off steam, "Applejack, we've lost our train!"
Applejack quickly stopped and reversed back to retrieve her coaches. Luckily, the guard had applied the emergency brake and brought the trains to a safe stop.
Applejack's driver climbed down from her footplate and inspected the train, "We've got a problem, Applejack. The front coupling on the first coach has snapped."
"Snapped?" Applejack asked, worried.
"The screw link's completely gone," explained her driver," It must have gotten damaged when you bumped into the coaches. What are we going to do now?"
Applejack knew she had to get the passengers home, but she didn't know what to do. She thought hard.
Then, an idea flew into her funnel, "Driver, you know what autocoaches are?"
Her driver thought for a moment, "Yes, they were used on the Vanhoover & Western Pegacific Railway. They had a driving cab at one end, which allowed the driver to control the train without needing to be located in the cab of the engine."
"So, if I push the train from behind. The guard can look out of the first coach, and use his whistle to let us know when to stop. Just like them fancy schmancy auto-trains."
"Good idea!" exclaimed her driver.
Applejack ran around the train and was coupled to the last coach, the guard had released the emergency brake and climbed into the first coach. Applejack slowly brought the train to the platform.
When all of the passengers were onboard, she quickly set off, she knew she had to make up for lost time.
She managed to reach Ponyville station just in time. As Applejack brought the train to a halt, she noticed Luna, who always came to see the evening trains depart and arrive, on the platform.
Luna glanced over at Applejack and her train, "Did you break a coupling, Applejack?" she asked.
Applejack explained about the incident near Everfree station.
"Then how did you see where you were going?" Luna asked.
"I don't," replied Applejack, "I had the guard lookin' out for me at the front coach, I got the idea from the autocoaches used by the Vanhoover & Western Pegacific Railway."
"I see. That was good thinking, Applejack. Thanks to your idea, your passengers can go home on time tonight," she frowned slightly as she noticed some of Applejack's passengers feeling a bit queasy, "Though, I think you still have a lot to learn about pulling passengers."
"Yes, but maybe I should've listened to Octavia when she offered some advice. Then maybe all this would have never happened!"
"Applejack, you have to learn to look past your pride and accept help from others. There is nothing to be ashamed about accepting help," said Luna.
"Yes, Luna. Now I know," replied Applejack.
Luna smiled, "I'm glad to hear that."
The next day, Applejack was coupled to a long line of heavy trucks. She was about to leave when Rainbow Dash chuffed alongside.
"Hey Applejack!" Rainbow Dash greeted.
"Howdy there, Rainbow. What are you doing here? Have you come to pull trucks?"
"Well, no. Actually, I'm here to apologise to you," Applejack couldn't believe what she'd just heard.
"Apologise?" she asked, wondering if she had simply misheard.
"Yeah, I'm sorry about showing off yesterday. That idea of yours was great! Even I couldn't have think of that!"
"Really?" Applejack asked in surprise.
"Really," replied Rainbow, then a smug grin crossed her face, "But you're still not as good as me when it comes to pulling passengers, later!" with that, Rainbow Dash steamed away.
Applejack smiled, "Of course, Rainbow. You're better than me with passenger trains, but I'm fine with that."
As she pulled away, she couldn't help feeling a bit relieved. She had enjoyed the change of scene, but it was much better doing the jobs that she was good at.
Early one morning, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo were waiting in their sheds when Celestia came to see them.
"Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo," she began, "With your help, the restoration of this railway is nearly complete."
"Does this mean we would be in...in...full...avenue service?" Scootaloo asked.
"It's full revenue service, Scootaloo," Sweetie Belle corrected.
"Why, yes Scootaloo. Before, we've been importing slate from other railways. Now, when this railway is completely restored and opened. It will be the Canterlot & Central Territory Railway's main provider of slate."
"Slate?" asked Apple Bloom, puzzled.
"Yes. During the construction project, the workmen have discovered various disused slate mines in Ghastly Gorge. They literally dug another five feet and discovered large amounts of slate deposits still inside the mines. The E.N. Slate Company has decided to start mining there as soon as the railway opens," Celestia explained.
"So, we're going to handle slate trucks, along with passenger trains?" Sweetie Belle asked.
"You're right, Sweetie Belle," Celestia replied, "The grand opening will be in a week's time, the remaining restoration work should be finished in short order. Sweetie Belle, I want you take some new steel supports for the mine tunnels. Apple Bloom, I want you to take some construction supplies down to the tracks near the viaduct."
"And what will I do?" asked Scootaloo eagerly.
Celestia turned to Scootaloo, "You'll be on yard duties, arranging empties and helping the workmen conduct tests on the track and equipment." with that, Celestia left.
Scootaloo pouted, "Empties? And tests?" those were the two things that she didn't really like.
"Don't worry, Scootaloo. At least the trucks and the workmen will keep you company!" teased Apple Bloom, and she puffed cheekily away.
Later, Scootaloo was still unhappy as she shunted some trucks loaded with dummy weights to test the hopper's maximum load limit. She wasn't paying attention and forgot to watch where she was going as she shunted the trucks onto the transloading hopper.
"Slow down, Scootaloo!" cried her driver, but it was too late.
The buffers on the end of the hopper wasn't secured properly and it simply bounced out of the way as Scootaloo's trucks biffed into it. Scootaloo tried to stop, but the first truck ran off the end of the track and toppled onto Twilight's tender, who was parked underneath.
"Ouch!" exclaimed Twilight, "That hurt!"
It took the workmen a few hours to clean up the mess and rerail the truck that had come off the end of the hopper, Twilight shot Scootaloo an angry look as she steamed pass.
"In case you didn't know, you're supposed to dump the load inside the trucks and not the trucks themselves," before Scootaloo could reply, Twilight had already gone into the distance.
A few moments later, Apple Bloom puffed alongside Scootaloo to collect her train. She glanced over at the battered trucks and the workmen still trying to clean up the mess. It was easy enough for her to put two and two together.
"Had an accident, Scootaloo?"
"Well...I sort of wasn't paying attention..."
"I wonder what Celestia's going to say," Apple Bloom puffed as she steamed away.
Scootaloo found out soon enough.
"I am quite disappointed with you, Scootaloo. This railway cannot afford to have careless behavior like that," Celestia said sternly, "I will give you some time to think, in your shed, until you are needed."
"Yes, Celestia," replied Scootaloo.
Meanwhile, Sweetie Belle was returning from her first job and was heading back to the yard when she heard an engine whistling in distress.
"Help!" cried a voice, Apple Bloom came rushing through much too fast. She was panicking. Her wooden brake blocks were on fire, and she couldn't slow down.
"Somebody help me!" Poor Apple Bloom disappeared into the distance.
"We have to go help her!" exclaimed Sweetie Belle.
Her driver shook his head, "We'll never catch her in time. We have to go to the main yard to get help," and Sweetie Belle agreed, and she steamed away as fast as she could.
Back at the yard, Scootaloo was feeling very sorry for herself. She didn't like sitting alone in the sheds and was beginning to feel a little left out.
Just then, Sweetie Belle chuffed alongside, panting, "Uh-hu, uh-hu. Scoo-Scootaloo, uh-hu, Apple Bloom...trouble...fire...uh-hu..."
"Woah, woah, woah. Slow down, Sweetie Belle!"
Sweetie Belle paused for a moment to catch her breath, "Apple Bloom's in trouble! Her brakes on on fire, and she's out of control!"
"Then, what do you want me to do? Celestia told me to stay in my shed until I'm needed."
"But you're needed now! It's an emergency!"
Scootaloo knew she had to help her friend, "Well if it put it that way, I'm not going to leave Apple Bloom hanging!" and she steamed off as fast as she could.
She soon found Apple Bloom, derailed at a section of unballasted track. Luckily, she had stopped just inches from the edge of the gorge. Scootaloo brought some workmen and they tethered Apple Bloom to the ground.
Scootaloo immediately set to work, pulling the rerailed trucks away. She was hard at work all afternoon.
Soon, all the trucks were cleared and with sturdy chains, Scootaloo pulled Apple Bloom back onto the tracks.
She was glad to be on the rails again, "Thank you, Scootaloo!"
Scootaloo was coupled up to help her back to the yard, "No problem, Apple Bloom! That's what friends are for!" and together, the two engines chuffed away.
Back at the yard, waiting for them was Celestia herself, "Well, Scootaloo, I've heard all about it and I'm very pleased with you. You're a Really Useful Engine. Apple Bloom, you shall have some proper brakes and a new undercarriage. As for you Scootaloo, I don't see why you can't be at the grand opening next week."
The restoration took a slightly longer than expected, since Apple Bloom was at the repair yard. Nevertheless, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle worked hard and managed the complete the remaining restoration work in the nick of time.
It was beautiful weather on the day of the grand opening, the engines from the Canterlot & Central Territory Railway brought special trains filled with passengers and tourists, eager to see the reopening of the railway.
Fluttershy could her the music of a brass band playing as she approached the 'transfer station', where passengers disembark from standard gauge trains and board narrow gauge trains, and vice versa. She looked around, taking in the sights before her and stopped next to a small white saddle tank engine, whose nameplate read 'Sweetie Belle'
"Hello there!" greeted the small engine.
"Oh! Hello!" replied Fluttershy.
"I'm Sweetie Belle! And you must be Fluttershy!"
"How did you know?" asked Fluttershy, surprised.
"You're friends told me about you, they said you like being with nature and the animals that live there."
"Yes, that's right," Fluttershy frowned slightly, "Weren't there...um...three of you?"
"Well, there is. Scootaloo's taking some more passengers down the line, and Apple Bloom..." a loud whistle interrupted her.
A familiar yellow engine came into view, Sweetie Belle smiled as the engine pulled in next to her.
"Good to have you back, Apple Bloom! We were worried you might miss the grand reopening!"
"Me too! I told the workmen to hurry up, but they said that replacement work took time! Can you believe that?"
"Er, I guess so," replied Sweetie Belle, a little unsure of what to say.
"Oh well, it's great to be on real tracks again!" whistled Apple Bloom.
Sweetie Belle grinned "Yes," she replied, "It is great to be on real tracks again."
