The Long Trains Roll

Through the plains and valleys

Across the great divide

Man brought his thunder

From the other side

Burning smoke and wing of steel

Breathing fire from flaming wheels

Reaching out for a new frontier

Making sure the way was clear

Iron horse, iron horse

Keep on burning on its course

Iron horse, iron horse

Burning on and on

Keep on burning on

Over sand and water

Across the canyon too

Through the crimson sunset

Its mighty whistle blew

Burning smoke and wing of steel

Breathing fire from flaming wheels

Reaching out for a new frontier

Making sure the way was clear

Iron horse, iron horse

Keep on burning on its course

Iron horse, iron horse

Burning on and on

Keep on burning on

Iron horse, iron horse

Keep on burning on its course

Iron horse, iron horse

Keep on burning on

Keep on burning on

Keep on burning on

Keep on burning on.

The song I had written as a teen was prominent in my mind as I stood in front of my K4. The air pumps were beating out their rhythm, charging up the brakes. Steam was wisping out of the cylinder cocks, curling around the boiler. Smoke lightly trailed out of the smokestack, and the headlight was turned on. I could have been back on earth if it wasn't for the multitude of brightly colored ponies scrambling all around. It appeared she was being readied for a run. I looked down the engineer's side looking for the space where the main driver was supposed to be. Unsure, I rubbed my eyes and looked again. One, two, three. THREE DRIVERS!? I heard my name called and looked around. Reggie appeared through the cloud of steam. He was grinning from ear to ear.

"Well, what do you think?" He asked me.

"What do I think?! I thought that she was scrap! You said that it was impossible to repair her!" I turned on Celestia. A smile was on her face.

"I decided that you should be told that because you would be impatient to get here, and would not take the time to heal properly."

"Well, what are you standing there for? Go check the repair," Reggie said.

"Yes, do go. I must speak with the head mechanic. I will be along shortly." With that, she went over to where another pony was waiting for her.

"You did as good a job as the Juniata shops would back home," I said as I walked around, checking that everything was repaired.

"We repacked the cylinders, adjusted the valve settings because they were a little off, and filled the journal boxes. We have Dusty and another firepony up in the cab, keeping the pressure up. You should be ready to go in about thirty minutes."

I couldn't say anything. I was overwhelmed with the thought that I would be behind the throttle of my engine once again. I climbed into the cab. There was Dusty with a coal scoop in hoof, and another pony.

"Hey Randy," Dusty said. "I'd like you to meet my father, Coal Smoke."

"Call me Smokey," He said, holding out his hoof, which I shook. Unlike Dusty, Smokey was pure black. His mane was a dark grey, but I could tell that it was naturally that color, not the result of coal dust. His cutie mark was a piece of coal, surrounded by flames, which contrasted nicely with his coat. "I hear that you can keep this teakettle hot without shoveling."

"That is true," I said, walking over to the backhead. Looking at the gauges, I saw that the pressure was rising nicely. Bending down, I anchored the firebox open and peered inside. The fire was burning brightly at the front, with no holes or clinkers that I could see. Near the back of the firebox, there was less coal. I could understand that, since this locomotive was larger than anything these two ponies had fired before. Satisfied, I walked over to the fireman's side and opened the valve that would let steam into the small motor that began to turn an auger at the bottom of the tender. This carried coal to the firebox, spreading it evenly over the grates. I turned to Dusty and Smokey. "There you go, guys! Now you won't have to work as hard!"

"Praise Celestia for that!" They chorused.

"Why, thank you." They both jumped. Unknown to us, the princess had ascended into the cab, with Reggie behind her. Father and son bowed to the princess.. "Please, you don't need to do that." Turning to me, she said "Randy, the chief mechanic says that the repairs are complete, and you can depart whenever you are ready."

"What do you mean by that?" I asked.

"Well, by now, most of the city has heard about you and this engine, and they are curious. We have been lucky that nopony has found this location yet, but I think it is time to officially make this public knowledge. The track is clear, and you are to take this engine to the yard of the Canterlot & Northwestern Railway. There, a group of passenger cars has been converted to use the couplers on your engine. After you have connected, you will pull the train to Canterlot's Grand Central Station. There, a group of dignitaries and citizens will board. You will be traveling to Ponyville, a small crew change point, and back. The railroad has agreed to give this train superiority over all other traffic, so you do not need to worry about other trains," Celestia explained

"Good," I said. "But what about coal and water? Plus, I don't know the track profile, so I could take a curve too fast."

"Not to worry. Reggie, Dusty, and Smokey will be accompanying you in the cab. They will be with you every step of the way," She said.

Right then, the safety valves lifted, releasing a cloud of steam. "Well, I guess it's time to go," I said. The doors slowly opened, letting light in. I stopped the stoker, and turned off my injector. Looking out the engineer's window, I looked around, confirming that everyone was clear of the locomotive. "Dusty, is everyone clear on your side?" When he gave me the affirmative, I gave a tug on the bell cord.  I gave two toots on the whistle, the deep bass sound making me smile. I reached out and put the Johnson bar in the first notch. Gently, I opened the throttle a little bit.

The front of the locomotive emerged from the building, the black paint gleaming in the sun, the bell polished until it shone. Every time the light hit it, it was reflected into a million points of light. Once the entire locomotive was out of the building, I closed the throttle and applied the brakes. Once the engine had come to a complete stop, I opened the cylinder cocks. This let any water that had built up inside the cylinders to escape. Once the water level was at the bottom of the sight glass, I closed the cocks. Turning on the engineer's injector, I motioned for Reggie, who took the fireman's seat, to turn on the fireman's injector. After the sight glass was half full, I turned my injector off.

Turning, I noticed that the princess had stayed in the cab. "Princess," I asked, "Aren't you going to get off?"

"I thought that I would ride with you to the station, if I'm not in the way."

"Not at all!" I said. "Although, you will have to sit on the seat behind Reggie, where the brakeman would sit. I must warn you, it can get kind of dirty in here."

"I can always clean myself off with a spell," she said.

"Well, then I guess that settles that!" I said. The safety valves lifted again, and I released the brake. Giving the whistle a couple of toots, I opened the throttle, and we set out along the tracks, headed towards the station.