The Long Trains Roll

I will be switching POV for this chapter. please don't yell at me.

The Ponyville Express was running late. Again. The engineer, a pony by the name of Casey Trotterson Regulator, or Reggie for short, was pissed. He couldn't believe that they gave him an engine that he knew needed major repairs, and he knew that he was going to be late for a seventh day in a row. About the only things that worked properly were the whistle and the Westinghorse air brakes.

He glanced over to the firepony's side, where Coal Dust was working. He was new to the high iron, having been the firepony of a switch engine until five hours ago. Reggie's previous firepony had nearly collapsed when the train had pulled into Manehattan on the first leg of the trip. Dusty, as everyone called him, had been bucking the extra board for the past few months, working with his father as a firepony for a local freight. When the call came in, his was the first name to come up. For the past few months, he had been firing under his father

Pulling into Trottington, Reggie turned to Dusty, who was taking the opportunity to sit and rest.

"Son," He said, "I know that I have a reputation for running my fireponies into the ground when I am late." Dusty looked at him quickly. He continued, "I want you to know that you have done fine for your first trip. I have reported this engine six times, and nothing has been done. After this trip, I am going to fill out a service report telling the road forepony of engines that I am going to refuse to take this engine out again."

"I don't understand," Dusty said.

"Son," Reggie replied, "The flues leak badly, the boiler is full of scale and the valve gear is out of adjustment. Even Celestia couldn't keep this leaky tea kettle hot."

Dusty felt relieved that he was not as inept as he thought.

"So, I'm ready for the main?" He asked?

"Son, you're as ready as anypony can be."

"However," Reggie continued, "I intend to be as close to on time as I can be today."

Dusty groaned. He was not looking forward to the remainder of the trip, especially the hard, steep climb to Canterlot.

Reggie looked back, saw the conductor waving his flag, and gave the double ahead signal. He wrapped his hoof around the johnson bar, advanced it a few notches, and then grabbed the throttle. The four wheels spun, and he quickly applied sand to the rails.

Reggie glanced at his watch. He was still behind schedule, and with fifty miles to go, and the last ten miles up hill on a 2% grade, it was looking like he would be over an hour late again. Dusty was doing his best to keep the boiler hot, but the pressure would not stay at 180 PSI for long. He was concerned for Dusty's well being, but he knew that the young stallion had it in him. Reggie himself had fired for Dusty's father, Coal Smoke, when he hired on. After talking with Smoke, he knew that Dusty would do just fine.

Something caught his eye ahead. It looked like a rock slide had fallen onto the track, blocking it.

"Wait a minute," He thought to himself, "Rock slides don't smoke."

As he got closer, he saw that it was an enormous machine. Quickly closing the throttle, he applied the brakes. The train slowed, but not enough. Throwing the johnson bar into the near corner, he opened the throttle as far as it would go. Four ponderous drive wheels began to spin backwards, slowing the train's forward momentum.

"Well," He thought, "There goes my schedule."