War driven by steam

by MadModellerExtraordinair

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Original Character, Mystery, Adventure
Length: 3453

Caught in a foul plot Grease cap and Anvil must work out the mystery of Trottingham before Equestria is obliterated by machines of war

Technology is advancing, a blending of magic and grand mechanical engineering opens the eyes of many ponies but motives may not always be pure and wholesome of friendship. Darkness is reaching from Trottingham and not because of smog, a grand plan is in the works and it will soon emerge from overhaul to obliterate all in its path.
Caught in a foul plot Grease cap and Anvil must work out the mystery of Trottingham before Equestria is obliterated by machines of war

Published 2016-12-18 05:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-01-19 21:16:28 UTC

A new assignment.

Trottingham, most certainly the Great Britain of Equestria, an industrial city teeming with life and very sure of itself on a global scale. Its influence spreads along the western Equestrian coast until the equally busy Manehattan. The coast is smattered with great engineering prowess like the Trott channel bridge or coastline towns either as picturesque postcard knotholes such as Seaward Shoals or a shipbuilding giant like Pommelside but despite the aesthetics they are all eager to gobble up the revenue brought to them by one of Equestria's many wonders the Trottingham & Manehattan railway. A 156 mile coastal route passing through unspoilt countryside to industrialised suburbs and the country's first mechanical horse.

The village of Fetlock was quiet, the platform was quiet, the birds were quiet, the stream babbled silently by, the station mistress was not quiet, she hastily paced her office and glanced anxiously at the clock, it read that it was 56 minutes past 12 and that meant a train was late. The Champion in fact was late, a 6 car named express that ran from Rainbow Falls to Manehattan and it was 20 minutes off schedule. Had something happened the station mistress thought and her mind quickly assembled all manner of things that could have gone wrong from poor coal and a hotbox to a hideous accident. Suddenly the scream of a whistle sounded and the pop of the safety valves, the pony bolted from the room to the platform to see The Champion thunder through the station pulled by a graceful 4-4-0,Number 10 Starswirl given that how she was panting like a Minotaur the crew were making up for lost time. But the station mistress cared not for that she was just glad that her section was now clear and Fetlock could accept trains again.

Meanwhile in the cab the driver was nursing the locomotive eager to put every ounce of steam to use, coaxing his engine to go a few more miles per hour. While this was going on the firepony was shifting shovel upon shovel into the fire box anxious for a down hill stretch. To a outsider their efforts would seem to be pointless backbreaking labour, but due to wagers from the 'high ups' the crew were racing to beat an Eastern Equestrian & Crystal Empire train to Manehattan and to them it was a win or be humiliated and being held up at 'our town' by a derailed goods train hadn't helped matters.

As the train careened on averaging 60 mph trees and fields flashed by with only occasional glimpses of the sea until they joined the costal line at Trotston junction from their the crew had made up some time and they renewed their tired efforts vigorously when their goal came into sight. But alas success was not to be. The train slowed at the station and siting on the opposite platforms of the ER&CER was a large Povatt Atlantic, the race was won and they had lost. As the passengers disembarked the train and the steam rose and was caught by the station roof the crew slumped against the tender bulk head depleted, but to their suffering was not complete. A portly unicorn smacked his cane on the cab sides the crew dared to look at the unicorn,

"CALL YOURSELVES BLOODY TOP LINK ENGINE STALLIONS! I'VE GORN AND LOST ME SELF 2000 BLINKING BITS BECAUSE OF YOUR DRIVING," it was Frederick stiffs one of the directors of the railway a retired general one who was prone to blaming ponies rather than himself and infamous for his drinking.

The driver spoke up "Mr stiffs sir we were held up by a derailed goods train, the tender of an earth pony goods engine had jumped the rails that's hardly our fault."

"THATS ENOUGH GREASE CAP AS YOUR A TOP LINK DRIVER YOU SHOULD MAKE UP TIME EASILY SO YOUR ARGUMENT IS NULL AND VOID." The voice of Mr stiffs was echoing round the station and he apparently had no concern for the public looking at him mean while the crew of the Povatt Atlantic were cringing at the chewing out.

"AND YOU, ANVIL CALL YOURSELF A FIREPONY GET OFF YOUR ARSE AND DO YOUR JOB, ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LUG COAL INTO A BLEEDIN BOX!"

Anvil the firepony gripped the shovel with his hoof, the two earthpony stallions were quickly getting annoyed but he stayed calm.

"Mr stiffs I understand that you're upset at the loss of your funds but I do believe your being unreasonable," he said with his Belsh accent "if their are going to be more" he hesitated "more events instigated by you again please consider updati..."

"THATS ENOUGH OF YOUR LIP!" Shouted stiffs as he cut off Anvil"DO I TELL YOU HOW TO DO YOUR JOB"

"Well actually sir you just did," mumbled grease cap, standing up for his crewmate

Mr Stiffs replied with mirth "THIS CONVERSATION DOES NOT CONCERN YOU GREASE CAP." He paused before speaking again in a terrifyingly calm tone "In fact I'm removing the two of you off of passenger duties, do something with that lump of steel" motioning at the train" and then report to the goods yard they'll find something for ponies of your 'skill' to do." The director swaggered away with contentment that he had settled a score.

"For the love of Celestia" swore Grease cap "who the blinkin Tartarus does he think he is?" He was about to further his questions when a reassuring hoof met his shoulder.

"Leave him he isn't worth the effort, he's set in his ways, no changing that you've just got to work around it,"

"Anvil you see the best in everypony," Greasecap replied. The Belsh firepony smiled,

"Come on let's sort this train out," and he began to put a bit more coal on the fire.
The driver agreed and reversed the engine and empty coaching stock away.

Author's Note

Bales: The country north of Trottingham and famous for its coal mines and spectacular landscapes
Hot box: A hot axle box

Goods to Trottingham

Goods to Trottingham

The two ponies finished dealing with 'Starswirl' at around 2 o'clock, and after a brief lunch of tea and hay bacon butties they meandered to the goods yard. The Manehattan goods yard was huge potentially only rivalled by triangle town which accepted goods for Canterlot and stood alongside the station and like it, it was shared by the Eastern Equestrian & Crystal Empire railway, the yard was split down the centre one side for the Trottingham & Manehattan railway and one for the Eastern Equestrian & Crystal Empire railway and were separated by three exchange sidings and a large runaround loop that could hold a 12 carriage train.

Arriving at the yard Grease cap and Anvil were greeted by a forepony who introduced himself as Screw link, "I eard what happened to you two," he said "Stiffs shouted somein ard from what a porter said,"

"Word travels fast I suppose,"was the answer Grease cap gave "anyway what you got for us"

"Some steel loaded flat wagons for Trottingham here's the paperwork" said screw link as he fished out a sheet of paper, he hoofed it to Anvil.

"The Royal guard workshops what would they want with a train of steel the stuffs in abundance in the city," he quizzical asked. "Also what am I firing?"

"Search me gov stuffs probably classified," the forepony said "on the other hoof though, you two are in charge of one of the dragon classes, 414 I think she's already in steam so I'd better take you to er" he beckoned and led the two engine stallions through the yard. In front of them was a handsome eight wheeled heavy freight locomotive simmering contentedly in the sun, "there you are gov'nor train is booked in to leave at quarter past so five minutes to go best get in and get the train to the release line I've had her checked and lubricated so no worry to do that," the engine ponies thanked the forepony and he trotted off, Anvil swung himself into the cab and Grease cap went to operate the ground frame and set the points to the release line before climbing back into the cab with anvil. He released the brakes and notched open the regulator, the train began to roll forward loose couplings clanking as the slack was pulled out. Coasting through the yard they arrived at the release line a quick toot on the whistle alerted the signal pony and she let the train from the sidings and onto the main line in five minutes they had picked up speed and were riding through a cutting in the city outskirts and were then out on to horse shoe bridge that carried the tracks over the channel.

Once from the city Grease cap opened the regulator more and Anvil threw in some coal, as the coastline sped by and the engine made its rhythmic chuff Grease cap relaxed and began to question their load.

"Anvil why do you think the guard want slabs of steel, imported into Trottingham, to me it makes no sense?"

The Belsh pony put a shovel more on the fire and mulled over the question then replied slowly "likely to make sense to them, we're seeing this from an outsiders perspective they'll have their reasons, granted I have heard various rumours varying from the absurd to the sensible,

"Fair enough," was the drivers reply," Hoofington is coming up prepare for the climb," Anvil simply nodded.

The train rattled through Hoofington and onwards to Seaward Shoals it was plain sailing and the loco tackled the grade easily as they neared Trottingham the sun was beginning to lower in the sky, making the city ever visible as light from factories and various mills spilt forth, slowing the train as it reached a red signal the click of points and the clunk of a signal arm let them on their way again but this time diverted off of the main line and on to an industrial branch leading alongside a wide canal basin. Clattering along at 10 mph on a lamplit tramway was a slow process but they soon reached an ornate gate at the edge of the Royal workshops. A guard mounted the steps.
"Name and business?" He stated imposingly.

"Grease cap and Anvil, Trottingham and Manehattan railway engine stallions, here to deliver a train of steel" said Grease cap handing the guard the paper work.

"Seems to be in order," he mused, "ok bring the train in,"the guard turned around and began to wind a crank opening the plate steel gate he then waved the train through. Despite it bearing on five O'clock the work shops were a hive of activity ponies hauling carts scurried around, guards patrolled perimeters of buildings and a pair of boxy tram locos shunted wagons of supplies to the various warehouses and shops. Grease cap and Anvil felt quite like giants in their huge engine.

Halting it on the exchange loop they were instructed by another guard to decouple the locomotive which they did and akin to a well oiled mechanism the pair of tram engines began to dissemble the train dispatching half of the wagons to the warehouses and workshops to be unloaded. It was here that a Pegasus pony raped on the cab side she had a brown coat a yellow mane tied in a bun and introduced herself as Sargent Wellington Rivet the acting commander of the workshops,"thanks for the delivery," she said "we've been waiting for this lot for a bit now," Anvil raised an eyebrow

"How so" the firepony questioned "we only picked it up from Manehattan yard about 3 hours ago,"

"Sorry I could have phrased that better," was the reply from Wellington Rivet "your not late it's just that my staff have been eager to start work,"

"Ah," said Grease cap while Anvil nodded. "If I may so ask why do you need steel imported into a city making tons of the stuff regularly,"
"No real harm I suppose we are planning to release our work to the public next month if all is successful," she paused and began excitedly "boilers is what we want it for this steel is magically reinforced, we had it enchanted at Canterlot. our idea is to use it for smaller boilers but with higher pressures, we have already used some successfully and we want to test other applications, Hopefully this tech of ours will become Equestria wide.". Anvil spoke again

"So if I understand it correctly one day we could have a tiny 0-4-0 making as much pressure as the locomotive we're standing in,"

"Exactly !" Wellington Rivet almost shouted, clearly this was her forte, "hmm" she pondered "tell you what I'll show you what we have already made,"

She jumped down from the cab and beckoned for the two to follow her, the two earth ponies looked at one another and shrugged before following the mare into the workshops.

The strange contraption

The workshops were a veritable engineers toy box, four great beam engines stood along one wall transmitting power to a plethora of tools; lathes, pillar drills, saws to many to name entirely. One of the tram engines was shunting a flat wagon of the enchanted steel under a crane to be unloaded and it was quickly transferred to a boiler press, turning around the pair saw more, against the third side of the building huge forges sat where cloaked masked ponies pulled forth billets of iron and cast components from their fiery maws. It was then that Wellington Rivet took her two guests through a large opening in the wall through to a warehouse.

The inside was dark and musty gained no doubt from the undisturbed sheets cloaking the many shadowed objects and shelves, their host trotted to a switch on the wall and flipped it, instantly the room was bathed in light and Grease cap and Anvil had to shield their eyes. Wellington was ecstatic now and hovering off the ground "This is storage!" she proclaimed grandly "where we keep our best creations, in here we have everything traction engines and farm machinery to a few prototype locomotives and much more," she then began to gesture wildly at a sheeted object in the middle of the room "And this is what we will be showcasing next month!" She literally flew to the sheet an wrenched it off, the sheet disturbed the dust of the warehouse and created a perfect curtain of suspense.

As it cleared The two engine stallions trotted up to the object and looked at it inquisitively, the object was a tracked vehicle,slab sided with a compact boiler and compound cylinder arrangement directly driving the tracks sitting snugly in the chassis, it was painted deep calneighdonian blue and had decks fore and aft but what really stood out was the gun protruding from the front deck side plating.

"Eh up, I know what this is its a steam battle wagon, I remember these from my days in national service," Anvil said while Wellington nodded enthusiastically "curios though I thought these things were underpowered," he chuckled "I remember them throwing themselves to pieces on hills,"

"Correct, but you forget the enchanted boiler," said Wellington "it's stronger allowing us to double the pressure, curing the power issue,"

Anvil though for a moment "surely that would be quite dangerous,"

"Not particularly as long as the pressure is regulated the enchanted steel can handle it, I imagine that two experienced ponies like you could know how to handle one of these," commented Wellington as she patted the plating of the forward deck.

"Really madam you need not flatter us for us to be impressed," came Anvil's response "Isn't that right Grease cap?... Mate you there ?"

Meanwhile Grease cap had paid little attention to his colleague's conversation and was scrutinising the contraption with interest, he could see some flaws with the design but one thing was causing him concern more than most.

"Why, build this Wellington,?"

Wellington looked at the Stallion and paused slightly and stuttered an answer, "I...I don't quite know me and my workforce are given 'er' designs and told to make it work Canterlot snobs who don't know..." She was cut off as the magically induced pop alerted them to a small unicorn who had teleported beside the group.

It saluted to Wellington before speaking "Sargent the delivery has been unloaded the Trottingham Manehattan locomotive and train is free to depart,"

In an instant Wellington Rivet regained her composure "At ease soldier, message understood,"

"Yes ma'am," and the small messenger teleported elsewhere.

"Sorry gentlecolts looks like times up, we need the exchange road free so I'll take you back to your engine, thank you for making your aquatints,"

The Pegasus quickly escorted the two stallions back through the workshop across the yard before leaving them at their engine and departed. By now it had gotten fully dark and the pair were quite surprised at how quickly the events turned Anvil merely shrugged it off but his companion was shook from his thoughts by the same guard who had instructed them upon their arrival half an hour earlier.

"Evenin chaps, instructions were telegraphed for you and your engine," and he hoofed over the paper slip. The two engine ponies thanked the guard and began to reverse the 414 light engine out of the exchange siding and yard before on to the tramway back to the mainline. Grease cap then spoke

"Right if I don't draw attention to it I know you won't,"

"Draw attention to what?" Was Anvil's response.

"That conversation with the Sargent didn't you find it strange?"

"No, but then again I was smitten with that machine,"was the reply.

Grease cap spoke again "thought as much," and he rolled his eyes "it's the fact that she stumbled over her words after being so enthusiastic and besides that story of knowing how to make something to the highest degree but not knowing why it was built doesn't add up,"

His calm firepony responded " your still angry from Mr Stiffs out burst any your trying to take it out on the good Sargent, remember this isn't a railway it's likely a chain of command thing not knowing why the thing was built,"

Grease cap relented at this and got back to the controls of the engine another minute passed and they reached the mainline junction a signal blocked their path and the engine crew read the instructions which told them to take the 414 to Trottingham MPD and clock off for the night, it also told them that their next shift would be at 10 the following morning. Once released onto the mainline the light engine and its crew rattled a further half mile down the mainline until the turn off for the yards, the 141 was left on a shed road to be dampened down and checked by the shed fitters. The two stallions both lived in Hoofington and thus headed for the onsite bunkhouses for staff working away from home, Anvil slept soundly while Grease cap couldn't quite rest something bothered him and he couldn't quite place a hoof on it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The room was dark the only light seeped in through the cracks in the blinds, a desk stood in the centre of the room which held an empty tumbler, quill and a sheaf of drawings scared with lines and measurements and a sabre hung from a rack nearby. A pegasus stood in front of the desk, she fidgeted with her mane and let out a small nervous whinny. A shadowy figure emerged from the corner " Stiffs has always been a good little puppet but you miss Rivet you are careless, you nearly let slip some crucial details, I advise heartily that you relearn the cover story other wise I may let you slip..." The figure rasped in a deep tone as a shadowy hoof reached for the sabre hanging on the wall. Wellington Rivet gulped and tried to talk

"I'm sorr,"

The figure spoke again "I do not wish to listen to your grovelling I and my associates need your expertise ,your lucky that message interrupted you or we could have had to silence those poor ponies, who I may say we need for the plan to work,"

"Yes sir, very good sir," was Wellingtons reply "I shall be far more careful sir,"

"You shall other wise we will have to remove you from the grand project of ours, You may leave now but take this as a final warning I don't tolerate failure..."