Canterlot & Everfree: The Early Years

by Smokey_Cinders

Rating: teen
Tags: Main 6, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Drama, Original Character, Mystery
Length: 28171

Two colts, a long forgotten steam locomotive and an Equestria with an “out with the old, in with the new” mentality, what could possibly go wrong?.. a lot actually

When Princess Twilight Sparkle seeks to modernize Equestria, one of her first targets was the Equestrian rail network. Seemingly overnight, most lines were nationalized, the out of date steam locomotives were abolished and replaced by diesels and electrics, and unwanted lines were being ripped up left and right.

In a time where sentimentality could not stand in the way of progress, two colts will take it into their hooves to save an old line and keep its hundred ton secret safe from the scrappers torch. But they will soon learn that running a preserved railway is much more difficult than simply clearing the weeds and running trains.

With time of the essence and the scrappers torch an ever looming threat, hop aboard for an express run to adventure!

This story has received a complete overhaul, promising better storytelling, better character arcs, and more accurate railway practices!

Published 2021-09-23 02:10:00 UTC
Last updated 2024-04-08 04:28:08 UTC

A brief history for the Canterlot & Everfree Railway

The Beginning

From the high hills of Canterlot to the dark forests of the Everfree, one can find the ghosts of what once was. Holdovers from a long gone era, old rails, ties, rolling stock and infrastructure. These are the remnants of the Canterlot & Everfree Railway. Being planned to be the first railway to link Ponyville with the capital city, the line faced many trials and tribulations.

The line was first chartered on June 14th, 876 CE by the Canterlot Council. It was funded in part by the Rich family, the Apple family, the Hoofield Logging Co. and the Alicorn Ridge Mine, Mineral & Excavation Co. construction began from both north and south, with the two crews working towards each other to hasten the building.

Building the line was a long and difficult task for the Canterlot crew, having to build along the tall mountains which the city was perched on. It was dangerous work too, with rumors stating that five out of ten ponies perished a week while building the line. A death toll which was cut down to three after the switch from Nitroglycerin to dynamite for blasting the rock. The first mile took three months to construct, needing approximately 300 tons of TNT and five bridges to span gaps and cliffs.

The Ponyville crew however seemed to have some manner of ease when building, managing a mile a week through the relatively level farmlands. The worst that needed to be worried about was the summer heat and storms turning the dirt grading into a muddy swamp.

While the two crews worked, a third started out of Ponyville and into Everfree, getting the logging line set up in a month… at the expense of having shoddy and rickety track work. It was said that derailments were common due to the bumpy and poorly laid rails.

The line's first engine arrived in March 877 CE when it was clear the Pony-Drawn wagon trains were getting too heavy and long for ponies alone. The engine in question was purchased new, a 2-4-0 steam engine with the name “Golden Sparrow”. The engine was joined by several leased engines, such as Baltimare & Ohayo’s 34, 39, 40 and 52, and Dodge City & Appaloosa’s 4, 6 and 10. Leased as it was seen as a cost cutting measure until the line was fully profitable.

In October of that year, the first major accident struck the C&E. While moving supplies down to the last line of trackage which would join the two halves to the railway, the engine (Baltimare & Ohayo 4-4-0 No.40) hit a patch of icy track which had been frozen during a cold snap and quickly lost traction and braking force, flying down the line, pushed on and on by the icy rails and heavy cars. The train thundered down the hair-raising 4.5% grade (four and a half feet climbed per hundred feet). The brakeponies applied the brakes as best they could before attempting to bail off.

The supply train jumped the track at a hairpin turn, it was estimated to have been traveling upwards of sixty miles per hour upon derailment. The engine, five flatbeds, a boxcar, a passenger car and the caboose rolled down the mountainside, taking twelve members of the train crew and thirty five track layers with it. By the time a rescue crew could get down the mountain, it was far too late.

This accident cast a dark shadow over the Canterlot & Everfree railway. While construction resumed a week later, it called the railway into question, specifically if the mountain route was safe. Luckily runaways like the 877 crash were very rare, though it still caused many ponies to reconsider traveling on and shipping with the railway.

It was considered a day of Jubilation when the line was made whole, being planned (and rushed) to be complete during the Summer Sun Celebration. There was a parade of the railway’s finest locomotives… all three of them. Due to the budget constraints of building the line, it was more economical to lease locomotives from other railways, especially for the mountainous sections of line where many engines were needed.

The Celebration went off astoundingly well, ending with a race between the C&E’s No.1 and the B&O’s No.62 “Storm Breaker”. The 62 was a 4-4-0, riding on 60” drivers like the No.1 and was essentially an elongated version. However the engine had a higher center of gravity when compared to the No.1, and with the larger boiler, it would need more fuel and water.

No.1 and No.62 raced down Canterlot Mountain with two sets of five coaches, carrying those brave enough to attend the race, several C&E employees accompanying the B&O train.

On the curvy mountainous section of the line, No.1 gained a quick lead on the No.62, partially due to its lower center of gravity meaning it could take curves far faster than the B&O’s 62. However in the flatlands, 62 proved its worth, some claiming the engine topping Seventy Miles Per Hour at one point, overtaking the No.1.

The C&E employees who’d sneakily boarded the train began screwing down the hoofbrakes on the cars when the crew wasn’t looking, locking the wheels solid. The resistance made the 62 slow down tremendously right outside Ponyville. The No.1 overtook and charged through the station at tremendous speeds, a young Maria Ann Smith recounted having her bonnet ripped from her head by the locomotive's tailwind as it charged through the station platform.

This race sparked the longstanding feud between the Canterlot & Everfree and the Baltimare & Ohayo, a feud that wouldn’t officially end until the C&E went bankrupt, and the B&O was merged with the Equestrian United Railway network.

The Gilded Age

The Canterlot & Everfree Railway quickly became rather popular with ponies, both customer and employed. The C&E gained the nickname The Railway With A Heart due to the ticket punchers having a heart impression, and the employees doing small errands for those who lived trackside.

The line to Everfree was seeing much more traffic, as a bridge line had been built by the Los Pegasus & Vanhoover Railroad (Later Western Equestria Lines) to Alicorn Ridge, a large mountain range within the Everfree forest. Through-trains from Ponyville to Los Pegasus were a regular occurrence and brought much revenue to the line.

It was around this time that our most famous locomotive was acquired. In response to the A5 “Toy Class” 4-4-0’s being built, the Canterlot & Everfree commissioned two nearly identical locomotives, the T-1a and T-1b 4-6-0’s. The two T-1’s were pinned head to head with the Toy Class, the two engines, while somewhat slower, were much more powerful and could haul more tonnage at high speeds, some rumors stating that No.13 reached 115 Miles Per Hour while coming down the Canterlot incline.

However, as useful and popular the two were, they were riddled with faults and defects which would plague the two locomotives for the first few years of service. The 13 became the target of lots of scrutiny, more superstitious railroaders referring to the engine as “HooDoo”, a slang term for a jinxed or cursed locomotive.

This all came to a head in the winter of 904, when No.13 suffered a brake failure while running up grade to Canterlot, slamming into the rear of another passenger train which had stalled on the grade and was backing down. This would be the second most deadly wreck in C&E history.

This accident caused No.14 to also be put out of service as well, due to an inspection showing the brake linkage had been in the early stages of failure. These incidents and breakdowns had all been well covered by C&E’s management, who proceeded to file a lawsuit against the Baldwhinny Locomotive Company, which was found in their favor. Baldwhinny was ordered to rebuild the two locomotives, but however due to the troubles with the design, the plans for a fleet of T-1’s were scrapped.

From here on, the line’s fleet of mostly second-hand locomotives continued to grow, and ridership continued to climb. The railway even had the honor of transporting Princess Celestia in her private coach from Canterlot to Ponyville for an address. It seemed like the railway would continue to grow, it seemed like the railway’s hardships were behind them. However regretfully I must inform you that it wasn’t to be.

Tragedy Strikes

Alicorn Ridge Tunnel was considered the least loved part of the C&E’s trackage, it was over a mile long and curved in a slight S-shape, meaning crews couldn’t see end-to-end at any given time. And in 957, the tunnel would prove its reason for being unloved.

Cave-in’s were no uncommon sight, it wasn’t uncommon for a few bricks and soil to fall from the roof due to the mountain being somewhat unstable, but it was never any major issue… however during a late night express run from Los Pegasus to Ponyville, the roof gave way. The fireman, an earth pony named Stoker Cinders gave his account of the wreck.

We had just entered the tunnel, Doc made a comment about the water dripping from the roof. I didn’t pay much attention. We were half way through when I heard a thump on the roof of the locomotive, then another, then a stone from the roof landed on the tender and bounced into the cab. “Oh Celestia! The Tunnels Caving In!” Doc yelled as he pulled the throttle wide open. At almost three quarters through, a bracing on the roof collapsed in front of Number Ten, we hit it and derailed, the locomotive hit the side of the tunnel and came to a stop, soil pouring from the gash in the wall. I jumped out of the cab and ran as the cab filled up and the locomotive was buried. I didn’t look back, my only thought was to get out of that tunnel or die trying, and by the mercy of Celestia I made it. And good thing I did, for when I made it out, Number Ten’s boiler gave out and exploded, bringing the whole tunnel down. A copy of the original testimony given by Stoker Cinders, the only survivor of the incident.

This accident forever changed the Canterlot & Everfree, lawsuits came in full swing from the families of the nearly two hundred killed, and the line to Los Pegasus was forever closed.

Steady Decline

The C&E, desperate for financial relief from going under, made many appeals to the Equestrian government, however no aid would be provided, aside from the Royal Guard offering to help lessen the burden by taking 51% of stock. This granted them a controlling stock margin of the C&E, meaning they now had full say in the line's usage.

One of the first acts under new management was to order the replacement and scrapping of the “antiquated” steam locomotives that the C&E still had in service. Dieselization was a slow process however, with insufficient funds to purchase new locomotives. However in 961, the first order of Equestrian Locomotive Company (Elco) RS-1 diesels arrived, five in the C&E’s black and green livery, and the other five in the Equestrian Royal Guard’s pink “Flag Of Patrot” livery.

A large portion of the original steam fleet ended up scrapped at this time, others being sold on, such as No.12 and No.20 being sold to the Hooffield Lumber Company.

The Everfree Locomotive Facility shop superintendent, Walschaerts Baker, had always taken a shine to the No.13, back when he was a cleaner, and later an engineer, he always had a preference for the Ten Wheeler, always keeping it clean and polished as best he could, even though maintenance was waning and parts were getting hard to find. Finally one day, his worst fear came. No.13 was scheduled to be scrapped.

Walschaerts wouldn’t stand for this, having 13 stashed away in the back of the repair shop, having it cleaned and sheeted until he could talk the Royal Guard into selling it to him. This worked for several months until they wanted to inspect the line, which was a quarterly occurrence. Walschaerts, in a panic, had 13 coupled behind a freight train headed to Ponyville and had it towed up, missing the board of directors by minutes.

The engine stayed in Ponyville for just over a day before being towed back, some locals reported seeing the engine in the yard and disappearing overnight. Sometimes 13 would be fired up and run light-engine to Ponyville or otherwise up a spur to hide from the board. This cat-and-mouse game gained 13 the reputation of being a ghost, appearing once moment and gone the next.

Closure

967 was a year that lived in infamy with historians who study the C&E, for in this year, the Royal Guard outpost was destroyed by a Hydra, the Rich & Rich Mineral Company’s mines played out, and passenger ridership drastically fell due to the town of Everfree quickly dying.

Ultimately it was decided to close the line to passengers and normal freight operations, the line being “Rail Banked” aside from the occasional log train from Hooffield Lumber, or a Royal Guard training mission for operating a railway in hostile conditions. The final ever train ran in 985, the line falling silent, and 13 being tucked away by an elderly Walschaerts, being oiled one last time before he locked the shed, passing away not long after.

Plans exist to rip the line up for a new nature trail, though plans for this have yet to begin, as for now, the Canterlot & Everfree lays silent, like 13, quietly rusting away, waiting for revitalization… or the scrappers torch.

Author's Note

After a hiatus to work on ideas, I am proud to return with my overhaul to my passion project, Canterlot & Everfree: The Early Years!

With many new twists and turns to navigate, grab on, hold on tight, and have your tickets ready!

Chapter 1: The Discovery

Equestria had been on a rapid modernization kick for the last couple decades. Inspired by her trips to the Human world, the recently declared Princess of Equestria, Twilight Sparkle, had been pushing Equestria to be a pinnacle of modernity and tradition.

One place where the sense of modernity hits harder than the rest, was the railways. Gone was the age of bright pink “Toy Class” 4-4-0 Equus Types pulling The Friendship Express. Now sleek streamlined “Crystal Liners” pulled the trains, having been given the nickname due to them being designed in the Crystal Empire.

Truth be told, Twilight had never cared for the dirty and smoky steam engines due to a frightful experience she had as a filly when she witnessed a Baltimare & Ohayo “Big Six” class 2-6-6-6 explode, killing many ponies. So when the chance came, she abolished steam traction on the national network with two exceptions. Equestrian Central Railways “Toy Class'' No.1 “Princess'', and Manehatten and Baltimare No.999 “Celestia”, a 4-6-2 “Mustang” class, which holds the record for being the first engine to officially exceed 100 MPH.

Along with losing steam, the railroads of Equestria began to abandon unneeded lines as they were no longer viable. And in the Everfree Forest, one of these abandoned rail lines lay dormant. Once herald as the first railroad to officially go from Ponyville to Canterlot, the Canterlot & Everfree Railway worked for decades hauling timber, ore, perishables and anything else that needed hauling… However due to the economy and the Everfree Branchline being made redundant, it had closed decades ago, with the Canterlot & Everfree soon following the branch after it was acquired by the Equestrian Royal Guard, and later portions sold to Equestrian United Railways.

Two young ponies made their way through the Everfree Forest, having decided to take a hike one Saturday, hoping to find the Castle Of The Two Sisters.

The first colt was a somewhat short and portly Earth Pony with an ash coat with a charcoal mane and tail, he wore a deep blue bandana and an old engineer's cap. His name was Smokey Cinders, his cutiemark was of a locomotive's driving wheel.

His companion was a tall and somewhat buff Pegasus, he had a deep brass coat with a golden blonde mane and tail, his name was Crosby Chime, he wore what appeared to be an attempt at fashionable overalls and a gray Newspaper Boys Cap, and his cutiemark was of a steam whistle. He usually kept his wings covered by the overalls due to an injury he had years ago that left one of his wings unusable.

“Smokey, we’ve been following that map for hours, can we go home? I wanna go get a drink from Sugarcube Corner” Crosby asked as he looked down to the crudely drawn map they had been following, Smokey had traced it off a map he’d seen Twilight had, though poorly.

“Just a little farther, CC!” Smokey said as he looked into the dark woods. “At least let’s see what’s behind that brush- WOAH!!” Smokey exclaimed as his hoof hit something in the tall grass that made a dull metallic clang, the gray colt falling into the brush. “Ooooh…”

“Smokey!” Crosby shouted as he bolted to his friend and leaned down. “You ok?” He asked as he helped his friend up.

“I’m fine!” Smokey said as he staggeredly stood up. “What’d I trip over? Didn’t sound like a tree root” he said as he bent down and his brunette eyes widened. “Train tracks?”

Crosby stepped back and looked around, noticing the dull rusty rails and rotten crossties. “I didn’t even know there was a railroad through the Everfree Forest”

“Must be a spur off some old railroad…” Smokey said as he looked back towards Ponyville and then deeper into the Everfree. “But why?…”

“Probably a logging line? Lots of good timber out here” Crosby said as he watched Smokey begin to walk into the brush, following the track deeper and deeper into the dark woods. “Smokey, wait up!” He called as he followed.

The two friends made the long trek along the old tracks in decent time, finding several short spurs and sidings, and one to a rather… eerie looking mine with a few old rusty coal cars laying in disrepair, and soon coming to a long spindly wooden trestle which spanned the Everclear River and the hundred foot drop made by it.

“Smokey… I don’t wanna cross it” Crosby shivered as he looked down, he’d been afraid of heights since his injury, where he’d miscalculated while showing off and clipped a roof, falling to the ground and crashing through a stand in the market, costing him the use of his wing.

“Oh C’mon! This bridge is as structurally sound as ever!” Smokey said as he stomped a hoof down onto the bridge deck, feeling the old wood jar under his hoof, a few birds flying from under the bridge… but it didn’t crack. “I’ll be here with you!” Crosby whimpered before he sighed and slowly walked onto the old bridge. “Just focus on the other side, and don’t look down,” Smokey said as he guided his friend across.

Crosby slowly walked across the bridge, the wood under him gently groaning under his weight as he made his way across the aged wooden structure, hoofstep by hoofstep. And after a few short minutes that felt like hours to the brass Pegasus, his hooves hit firm ground again as they walked across the abutment that secured the bridge to the edge of the cliff.

“See! I told ya you’d be fine!” Smokey said with a smile as he patted his friend in the shoulder.

Crosby rolled his eyes. “The stuff you make me do” he said with a chuckle as the two started walking, continuing through hock-high brush to follow the forgotten railway line.

Smokey held his head high as the sun shone down, this area was much less wooded and much more peaceful. He was about to comment when he spied a rotten wood sign with a large W on it… a whistle board… he looked up and gasped. “Crosby...look!” said Smokey, as he pointed in shock. Crosby did so, looking to see… an abandoned train yard and town… in said yard was the remains of several old freight cars, a station that was close to collapsing, and on the far right, was a large brick engine shed with eight stalls and a turntable in front of it. The turntable’s pit was flooded and looked more like a swimming pool.

“Look at this place…” Smokey said as he began to walk around the yard towards the station.

The two colts began to explore, they had to admit the ghost town was eerie in a way... it was like the Ponies there left in quite a hurry. On the station platform, there was luggage, freight, and all manner of other items. In the station, there was a decent amount of Bits in the register and a roll of train tickets, along with the usual things found in a station... well, usual aside from a hornet's nest the size of a buckball.

The two hastily exited the station to not face the stinging wrath of the hornets and soon headed for the engine shed, the tall brick roundhouse had stood the test of time rather well. The doors were locked with a complicated looking magic padlock. Smokey found this strange. “everything else was open… Why would this place be locked?” He asked as he looked at Crosby, who shrugged.

“Don’t know, maybe we should-“ before Crosby could finish, Smokey picked up a large wrench and began to bash the ancient lock, it gave way on the third swing and the door creaked open. “SMOKEY! We can’t just break in!”

“Who’s gonna know?” Smokey said smugly before entering first, coughing as decades of dust and stagnant air hit him. He pulled up his bandana over his muzzle and looked around the old shed, it was as if the Ponies that worked here just walked away and never returned. There were tools, machinery, papers... and in the middle stall... a large steam locomotive. It had four leading wheels and six large driving wheels. It was rusty and like everything else, covered in an inch of dust. “Crosby! You have to see this!” Excitedly shouted Smokey. Crosby then rushed forward to get a better look. “It must have been here for decades” Smokey said as he walked up to the front to see its number plate... 13.

Crosby went to a bench next to the engine and looked it over, finding an old cap, on the front was a small metal tag which stated it was worn by a conductor. “Why’d they leave all this here?” Crosby asked as he looked to Smokey as he came around.

“I guess when they closed the line, they never bothered to scrap it...” he said as he walked around to the tender to see the engine's railroad. “Canterlot and Everfree, ” he said as he thought aloud. “that railway closed down about thirty ago, that means no pony owns the engine or the yard!”.

Crosby looked to Smokey. "Uhh..don’t get any ideas, how would we get this thing running? Heck, how would we get a permit to run it?.. Smokey?... You're not listening to me are you?...” Asked Crosby with annoyance as his friend climbed into the cab and sat in the engineer's seat, putting his hoof on the throttle.

“I think we could do it!” Smokey grinned widely, his eyes twinkling as he turned and looked at the cracked lenses of the gauges and the rusty piping. Little did the colts know what they were getting themselves into…

Chapter 3: The Arrival of 109

A week after 13’s first overview, Smokey and Crosby were at the yard early in the morning, eagerly awaiting their new equipment to use. They had been speaking to several other Ponies, albeit leaving out 13 of course, and they seemed interested in helping with the lines reopening; the two also registered themselves as the first ever members, and chairponies, of the “Canterlot & Everfree Railway Historical Society”. They had mentioned that their plan was to run occasional passenger and freight trains, and had planned to run the first revenue train sometime within the next month.

Smokey looked up, listening to a radio scanner for the EUR’s dispatch, registering a train coming. “Train 5127D Track 3, Mile Post 577, Approaching Ponyville switch yard, Over”. Smokey looked to Crosby excitedly as he held up the manifest and other paperwork he had for the incoming train. “That’s our train! She’ll be here in two minutes” Smokey said as a horn rang out over the Misty Equestrian sunrise.

The two watched eagerly from the C&E’s interchange track as a throuple of massive AC6000’s snaked into the Ponyville yard with a long freight. The two colts’ eyes glimmered excitedly as they saw what trailed the train. A shabby Equestrian Locomotive Company RS-1 diesel with the number 109, two pullmare coaches and a small rickety caboose, all of which were painted in the colors of the equestrian flag, “EQUESTRIAN ROYAL GUARD'' painted boldly in gold along the sides.

“You from the Historical Society?” The conductor of the freight train said as he trotted back, a clipboard and file in his magical aura.

“Eeyup! I expect these are for us?” Smokey asked as he and Crosby approached the conductor.

“That’s correct, please sign here and we can get this uncoupled for you, the royal guard wanted me to inform you that they did give the engine an inspection and topped off its tanks for you to use” the conductor said as Smokey signed for the delivery, the conductor going back to the rear of the train to disconnect the End Of Train Device, a small apparatus which was used in lieu of a Caboose on a modern freight train.

While the rear of the train was being prepared, the engineer walked back to the RS-1 and started the 539T engine. The engine coughed and chugged as thick clouds of exhaust shot from the exhaust pipe. “Sheesh, she’s running a little rough” the engineer said as the conductor gave a signal to move back. Smokey rode in the cab with the engineer while Crosby and the Conductor rode on the deck of the caboose so they could watch the shove maneuver, as the train would need to reverse over to the C&E’s trackage.

Once the engine was off the mainline, the engineer moved to let Smokey take over and head back to his own train, shaking his hoof. “Good luck, kid, just don’t push it into the red, and get it inspected when you can, the turbocharger sounded a bit off” he said as he turned and walked out of the cab, heading out with the conductor.

“Well, looks like we’re in business!” Smokey called through the radio to Crosby, looking back with a smile.

“Sure does! Let me align the switch through town and let’s get to the station, I don’t wanna go through when traffic comes” Crosby said as he walked to the switch to set it for the C&E.

Ponyville had grown up around the Canterlot & Everfree, and instead of having multiple railroad crossings guarded with gates, the council had opted to integrate the railroad with the Main Street, it was quite safe for the most part when trains once ran, as folks knew to watch out for the trains that passed through town, however as there hasn’t been a train in the last ten years, it would certainly become quite the shock.

Crosby had lit the lanterns on the rear of the caboose, and was guiding Smokey back, as the engine was coupled to the rear-facing end of the train, he was unable to properly watch the front-facing end. “Gently now, we’re doing good, another twenty car lengths” Crosby said as the train slowly crept through Ponyville, a few bystanders walking out of homes and shops to watch the odd spectacle.

Crosby gave a smile and a wave as they moved the train, his eyes catching movement in his peripheral vision. He turned his head to see in his horror, Derpy trotting her way towards the track, eyes closed and humming a tune, heading to Sugarcube Corner for her morning muffins. “Derpy!” Crosby shouted before he grabbed the radio and blasted the caboose’s small air whistle. “STOP STOP STOP!”

Smokey reacted with lightning reflexes, throwing the diesel’s air brakes into Emergency Stop, being thrown back against the seat as the brake shoes slammed against the wheels with a vice-like grip. The coaches and caboose bucked and jolted loudly as the jarring caused the air hoses to separate with a loud pop due to the slack action.

Derpy turned her head to see the caboose and screamed in terror as she covered her eyes, feeling the coupler gently press into her snout. Crosby jumped down from the caboose and around to Derpy. “Are you ok!?” He asked as he saw the quivering Pegasus, relieved that she seemed physically sound.

Smokey nearly tore the door off 109’s cab as he galloped along the engines catwalk, leapt to the ground and ran as fast as he could to the rear, horrified at the thought that they had hit somepony, let alone on their first attempt to move a train. “What happened!?” He asked as Crosby was consoling the shaken Pegasus.

“She accidentally walked out onto the tracks, she’s ok, just scared” he said as he held her. “Shhh it’s ok, Derpy, you're ok” Crosby said as she shivered.

“I-I’m sorry, I didn’t see the train” she said as she whimpered, still shaken a bit.

“It’s fine,” Smokey said as he knelt down. “It’s been a while since a train ran through here, just be careful around tracks, ok?” The charcoal stallion said with a smile as he dried her tears with his bandana.

“O-otay, Smokey” Derpy said with a smile as she stood.

“Tell ya what, Derpy, here” Smokey said as he pulled out a few bits. “Breakfasts on us, as an apology for that” he said with a smile.

“Oh Smokey, breakfast is on a plate, not on you” Derpy giggled as she took the bits and trotted happily on her way.

Crosby sighed as he looked at Smokey. “Maybe we should call for a couple ponies to stand by the track when we come through here”.

“Indeed… but we shouldn’t have to do this often, we’ll only being as far as the depot beyond Main Street” Smokey said as he patted Crosby on the back. “Let’s check the train and get it out of the way so we can see what we’re gonna do next”

Since the Everfree yard and 13 were still Smokey’s and Crosby’s secret, they’d decided to store the consist at the Ponyville yard. Smokey moved the coaches and caboose over to the track which held the station platform, they would need painted and some repairs to the interior before being used for passengers.

After one last inspection of 109, the two boarded and set off down the track...the line was in less than great condition, the aging engine bouncing and swaying side to side with every bump in the rails. Soon they came up to the Trestle; it was tall and foreboding, it groaned as the wind blew through the old logs and poles that were used to hold up the rails.

“You think you can watch for me? If anything cracks, I’ll need to know to reverse off” Smokey said as he gave Crosby a worried glance, knowing his fear of heights.

“I’ll watch for ya, just don't highball” Crosby said hesitantly as he climbed down and began to use the walkway on the side of the bridge to walk alongside the locomotive to make sure the rails weren’t about to give out. “Ok, Smokey, let’s do this, take her as slow as you can,” Chime said. With two honks of the Nathan P3, Smokey let off the brakes, said a quick prayer and set the throttle to notch one. 109 crept forward and began to cross the bridge at a crawl. Both Smokey and Crosby were more than anxious as the trestle groaned loudly in protest of the switcher's weight. The Everclear river below looked more like rushing rapids to the colts.

After six agonizing minutes, they made it across, much to the relief of Smokey and Crosby. Crosby climbed onto the engine and high-hoofed Smokey before they set off for the yard.

"Well it wasn’t so bad!” Crosby said with a smile. “It’s not as bad as we thought!… I don’t like the height, but it seemed to hold us well!” He said as he sat across from Smokey.

“I don’t like it...” Smokey spoke as he glanced back , "I don’t really want to use the trestle too much. We need to be careful when we’re going across it, at least until we can get it inspected." Smokey finished as he moved the throttle and drove the train steadily onwards.

Once they made it to the yard, they decided to see if they could move one of the freight cars, hoping to use it to haul supplies up. Crosby held up a radio as Smokey inched forward for the boxcar. "Bring it on. Three hoofs, two hoofs, one hoof, aaand there," he said, a quiet bump was heard as 109 coupled to the boxcar.

"Alright, Smokey, see if she’ll move," Crosby directed as he fastened the air hoses.

Smokey put the engine in reverse and began to throttle up, the old car groaned as its wheels tried to move...they began to slide. “Crosby, I don’t think it’s gonna work," Smokey said with worry, as he leaned out of the cab.

“Keep moving, it’ll break loose!” Crosby shouted as the boxcar continued to slide… before the rusted bearings broke loose and Smokey shot back, flying over a switch and nearly derailing.

“WOAH WOAH WOAH!!!” Smokey shouted as he slammed on the brakes, the boxcar was jolted so hard, the body separated from the deck and collapsed to one side.

“Told ya it would break loose!” Crosby laughed as he ran up to the engine. "You ok?”

Smokey nodded, shaking a bit. "Yeah...well…we have a new flatbed!” Smokey exclaimed in a joking tone before continuing, “Let’s grab a couple more boxcars and head back to Ponyville and see about getting this thing repainted, and remind me to call that boiler inspector." He said before he grabbed a toolbox. “But this time, let’s oil the bearings”.

“Sounds like a plan!” Crosby said as the two set off to prepare the old cars to be moved.

Chapter 4: Trespassed Inspections

“And… that’s the deal… you're our best bet for this” Smokey concluded as he sat in the office of a small business in Ponyville which specialized in maintaining boilers and other pressure systems. A tall ghost white unicorn with a pressure gauge cutiemark sat behind the desk, the name Steam Cylinder engraved on the plaque.

Steam nodded as he looked to the papers, documents, and photographs of 13, letting him examine them. Steam’s careful eyes gazed and gazed, checking his notes before he smiled to the two colts. “Well, I do think the engine could be serviceable, but I do understand why you're hesitant to come forward, the requirements are stringent, and I doubt that the both of you being young, and the railroad's current condition will help” Steam said as he stood. “But I will help you to the best of my abilities as a boilersmith!”

Smokey smiled. “Wonderful!” He said with a nod. “So… what’s the plan here? How do we go about this?”

“Well, let’s get the water and a proper pump, and if the boiler seems sound enough, we’ll do a hydro test and make sure it’s suitable for pressure” Steam explained as he picked up his clipboard and grabbed a file of papers and a list of other things he’d need.

A half hour before sunrise, 109 slunk like a large rusty rat through Ponyville’s Main Street, heading once again out into the exchange yard, coming up to a tank car of water for 13 and a boxcar which had items such as the pumps and other tools for the boiler test. Steam rode aboard the diesel with the two colts, the three eager to begin the day, it was very likely one of the most important days for the old steam locomotive.

The trio made they’re way to Everfree with no incident, though due to the fog around the Everclear Trestle, Steam had thought they were about to ride clear off a cliff side, giving him a fright. However, everypony had a laugh afterwards.

The light of dawn was just beginning to brush the tops of the trees as 109 slowly dragged 13 out of the roundhouse, moving it just beyond the turntable, being close enough to the tank car for water. Hoses were connected to the water pumps, and the pumps were plumbed to 13’s injectors.

Steam waved at Smokey and nodded. “Fire it up, let’s get started” he said, Smokey turning on the pumps, water entering the boiler for the first time in over six decades. 13 groaned and moaned as the boiler began to slowly pressurize, Steam looked to the gauges in the cab as he levitated a clipboard.

Smokey and Crosby kept a close eye on 13, calling out every leak as they came. Luckily they were few and far between. While a couple leaks would need attention before firing the boiler, most leaks were superficial at best. As the hours went by, the pressure gauge moved well into the red, having pushed the pressure 25% over the maximum pressure, bringing it to a staggering 250 PSI, where the max pressure was at 200.

After a good while, Steam climbed down and proceeded to do several more tests and checks before nodding. “Smokey, Crosby, while I have found several leaks, I think the boiler should be safe for service. But I am ordering that you keep the pressure below 175 PSI until you can get the flues replaced. While they seem to have been new when installed, I would see about replacing them once you get the line properly open and in service,” Steam said before he looked at the engine. “You know... the reason I became a boiler inspector was to work around these things… If you need anything else, I’m your guy!.. And let me know when you fire it up sometime, I would love to see a working steam locomotive again”

Smokey smiled. “Thank you so much, Steam!” He said as he disconnected the pump and began to slowly drain the boiler, as letting all the water out quickly would warp and distort it. “We’ll do a test fire soon, once we have a couple tankers of water for 13, and a hopper of coal”

“It’s no trouble! And when you go to get a permit, myself and my department will gladly testify that 13 is sound and safe,” he said with a smile.

The sun was beginning to hang low as the boiler was drained and 13 was put back into the roundhouse. Smokey, Crosby and Steam climbed aboard 109 and set off for Ponyville with the boxcar and tank car.

Once they returned, they found Cheerilee waiting for them at the station. Smokey brought the RS-1 to a stop and climbed down. “Hello, Mrs Cheerilee, to what do we owe the pleasure? Came to give me one last report card?” Smokey laughed as he trotted over.

“Hello Smokey! I was wondering if you would like some help. Scootaloo was just talking about this line reopening and mentioned about the...state of the trains,” Cheerilee said as she looked to 109 and the coaches, the paint was fading and rust was poking through. “We were wondering if you would like some help with sprucing them up a bit, I think it would be a great project for my class.”

Smokey looked at the engine and coaches, they desperately needed a repaint. “Hmm, well, I wouldn’t say no! Let me get some paint ordered and...maybe you could come next week?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Oh that would be great!” Cheerilee said with a smile “It’s nice to see this old line coming back! I personally can’t wait to ride! My grandmother worked as a car attendant for this railway, I’m sure she’d love to see it too!”

“Thank ya, Mrs cheerilee,” Smokey said as Crosby helped Steam down. The white unicorn tipped his hat and trotted off to his office to fill out forms in preparation for 13. “When the paint dries on the cars, we’ll be happy to take you and your class up the line to the old trestle and back!”

“My class would love that! Thank you!” Cheerilee said as she turned away. “I best get back to the schoolhouse, papers to grade and all!”

“Oh I remember, y’all take care! And don’t go too hard on them!” Smokey laughed as he went to shut down 109’s engine and looked at Crosby. “How about we celebrate with milkshakes at Sugarcube Corner!”

Crosby grinned, “You're on!” He said as he locked the caboose.

The two made their way to Sugarcube Corner, both discussing plans for the line as they went. Smokey proposed painting 109 black like 13, and the coaches pullmare green, and the caboose red.

Crosby liked the colors for the coaches and caboose, but suggested painting the RS-1 up in the same shade of green, with gold stripes, lettering and numbering.

The two continued to bicker over liveries all the way to Sugarcube Corner. Entering and heading for the counter, plopping down on stools. “Heya, Pinks!” Smokey called with a smile.

“Hiya, Smokey! Hiya, Crosby!” The pink mare exclaimed as she hopped over. “What’ll it be?” She asked in her ever-cheery way.

“I’ll have a chocolate milkshake,” Smokey said with a smile as he glanced at the menu.

“A slice of your best pie!” Crosby said, his eyes drawn to a dish with a freshly baked pie perched upon it.

“Coming up!” She said as she turned to prepare Smokey’s milkshake. “When’s the train opening?” She asked as she glanced back.

Smokey laughed. “First Cheerilee, now you, word travels fast!” He said before continuing. “We’re thinking about the first Saturday of next month.”

Pinkie turned around. “I never miss a chance for a party! Especially one on a train! I’ll have to make a train shaped cake and decorations! Ooo! Maybe a train piñata! And see if pound cake will let me borrow his train set” the party pony rambled as she handed a bewildered Smokey the shake before getting the pie. “And I can’t forget music! And my party cannon!”

The two colts chuckled, amused by Pinkie's eccentric enthusiasm. “Sheesh, Pinkie really goes all in for parties eh?” Crosby asked Smokey before taking a bite of his pie.

“I’ve lived here all my life, this is nothin,’' Smokey laughed.

Soon after enjoying their treats, Smokey and Crosby started for home. As fate would have it, the walk took them back by the station. As they walked by, Smokey noticed a pony standing on 109! He seemed to be inspecting the engine, a second pony standing by him. “Hey cros!” He said in a hushed whisper.

“I see them… what do you think? Vandals?” Crosby asked as the two watched the two stallions, one opening a door to the engine bay of the diesel with his magic.

“Well they ain’t supposed to be there. Go around the engine in case they run” Smokey said as he started for the station, the colt grabbing a wrench he’d left on the platform as he approached. “Can I help you?” He called up in a firm tone.

The two stallions turned, both dressed in suits, one with a clipboard. “Ah, hello, and who might you be?”

“Smokey. Smokey Cinders.” Smokey said darkly as he glared at the two. “Care to explain why y’all are clamberin’ all over my engine?”

The two stallions glanced to each other before looking back to Smokey. “I’m Iron Smelter, and this is Steel Cutter, we own the Iron and Steel recycling facility, it just so happens that when you purchased the line, we were formulating a contract with the Royal Guard to dismantle the line. Myself and Mister Cutter are reasonable business ponies, and we’d be happy to offer you what you paid for this decrepit line plus ten percent for your trouble”

Smokey stared at the two scrappers gobsmacked. “… so… you just offered to buy the railroad that myself and my friend bought and have been working our flanks off… so you can scrap it?”

“Of course,” Cutter spoke up. “It’s a bunch of rust, not fit for trains, it would be best to allow us to do our jobs, and maybe the line can become a hiking trail or-“ the shorter stallion was cut off as Smokey Banged the wrench against the side of the RS-1, making the two jump slightly as the metallic thunk resonated through the whole locomotive.

“Listen to me and listen well, the Canterlot and Everfree Railway is NOT for sale, not one rail, not one spike! You are trespassing! Gentlecolts, I think it’s time you leave MY railway. If not, I will be contacting the authorities.” Smokey said as he controlled his anger.

“Listen here, kid, we’re not about to be pushed around by some kid who wants this junk to play toy trains.” Smelter said as he stepped forward, lighting his horn… Crosby stepping around the locomotive on his hind hooves, holding a shovel in his forehooves.

“I think you should do what my friend asks.” Crosby said venomously.

Smelter and Cutter backed down, stepping back slowly as they climbed down off the locomotive, Smokey watching them go. “If I find one single flaw with any of my equipment or track, expect the guards to come knocking! Because I’ll know who did it!”

Chapter 5: Fire Up

After procuring a car of coal and another tanker of water, Smokey and Crosby headed back to Everfree under the cover of darkness, always taking great care to be quiet as they passed the Apple farm, the last thing they needed was being questioned why coal and water was being transported.

The Moon was still high as Smokey and Crosby pulled 13 out of the shed, over the turntable and to the yard. Filling the boiler and the tender tank with water before using the wood from the broken boxcar to fill the firebox, filling the tender with coal just before they started.

“Right...let's do this,” Smokey said as he struck a match and lit an oil soaked rag on the shovel Crosby held. Once it was burning well, he reached it into the firebox and placed it onto the wood before throwing more in.

As time passed, they began to slowly build the fire, slowly weaning it to coal and building pressure slowly, being extra careful as Steam couldn’t join them, having been called on another job at the last moment. By eight that morning, they had reached 175 PSI and the safety valves, readjusted for 175 PSI by Steam Cylinder, popped with a loud hissing of steam.

Smokey grinned, and when the valve closed, he reached up and grabbed the whistle cord, slowly pulling it… The whistle hissed and gurgled through the pipes which made up the whistle. It was far from an average steam whistle, a custom built wonder with five long tubes. Once the whistle was warmed up and ready, Smokey tugged the cord and came to a long low note that was pure music to Smokey’s ears. He continued to test the whistle, grinning widely as he blasted the Boiler Tube 5 chime long and loud, Crosby having to cover his ears due to the roar, which seemed to shake the forest around them.

Applejack, inside her home, looked over to the Everfree Forest as she heard the distant echoing whistle. “That’s strange... never heard that before...” she said as she walked to the window.

“I ain’t heard that since I was a little filly,” Granny Smith said as she stood up from her rocking chair and walked to the window, listening to the baritone note. “Sounds like Walschaerts’ old engine...but that thang went missin’ years ago,” 'the old mare explained as she glanced at her granddaughter.

“Missin’?” Applejack asked as she cocked her head to the side.

Granny Smith nodded. “Back when I was around Apple Bloom’s age, the line that cuts through the west field was the mainline to the town of Everfree. At the time, there was a loggin’ camp in them woods, a mine, a royal guard outpost along the small town. And the line was run by a few steam trains. The one I remember having a deep whistle was the Jinx, locomotive 13,” she explained.

“Oh?” Applejack asked as Granny Smith sorted her thoughts.

“The only engineer who wasn’t scared of running 13 was Walschaerts, he loved that engine and practically pampered it. No engine was cleaner and no engine was as well kept. At least until the railroad decided to switch to all diesel and scrap 13 and the other steam engines… well 13 never made it to the scrappers, and every now and then ponies would claim to see it coupled behind trains heading in and out of the forest… the bosses never figured it out since they could never find a steam engine… it went on like that during every inspection until they abandoned the Everfree section, and well... Walschaerts always denied hidin’ it, but I knew otherwise, he loved it too much to let them tear it down. Sounds like someponies found it,” Granny Smith finished as she glanced to Applejack, who had been listening intently.

Applejack thought… It was quite the coincidence that Smokey and Crosby bought the old railway through the forest, and now there were the sounds of a long unaccounted for steam engine deep in the woods. “I wonder…” she thought to herself.

Smokey laughed as he looked at Crosby, who had been shoveling coal into the firebox. “I’ve always wanted to do that!” He said before giving two more sharp blasts.

“Alright, Smokey! Let’s not wake up Equestria!” Crosby exclaimed with a chuckle.

Smokey thought for a moment and grinned. “Imma do it, let’s run’er up and down the sidings,'' he said as he opened the cylinder cocks and opened the throttle, rust tinted steam blasted from the pipes under the cylinders as they were cleaned out and warmed up.

“Let’s roll!” Crosby said as Smokey closed the throttle, pushed the Johnson Bar forward and cracked the throttle back open. 13 shuttered and began to inch forward, a hissing cough was accompanied by a jet of oxide dust and steam from the stack, blowing the smoke further up.

13 swayed gently as it began to slowly chuff forward, rocking and jolting with every rail joint it crossed over. Once they got near the end of the siding, Smokey brought the ancient engine to a gentle stop and Crosby hopped down to realign the switch to take them on the loop which went over to the yard. Smokey pulled the Johnson bar to full reverse before taking it back up the track in reverse.

“She’s runnin’ better than I thought! This is grea-“ Smokey started, being cut off by a frightened Crosby.

“SMOKEY! THE SWITCH!” Crosby shouted, seeing that the switch to the out of use track was damaged and stuck halfway between either direction.

Smokey bucked the Johnson bar to the forward position and 13 groaned before its wheels spun forward. Crosby was jolted off his hooves and hit his head on the coal boards of the tender as 13 ground to a halt, the rear bogey on the tender leaving the track and bouncing along the wooden ties.

The safety valves popped as Smokey set the brakes and closed the throttle. “Crosby! You ok?!” He said as he rushed to his friend, who sat up.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Crosby said as he stood up, dusting coal dust off his coat. The two climbed down to inspect the damage, both relieved when they saw the tender and wheels weren’t damaged. “So now what?” Crosby asked as Smokey thought.

“I’ll go see if there’s anything we can use in the shop, surely they had something for derailments,” Smokey hoped as he trotted his way across the ballast covered ground and into the repair shop. Crosby stayed behind to keep 13’s boiler in check.

Smokey returned around ten minutes later with two large and heavy steel ramps. “I found some rerailers!” He said as he walked back, Crosby hopped down.

“We should keep these things on the engine in case we pull a featherbrained move like that again,” Crosby said as he took a rerailer and placed it beside the rail, with the ramp aimed to bring the wheels upward.

Once they were set, Smokey climbed into the cab and Crosby went around to watch the ramps. “Right Smokey! Inch it forward,” he instructed as Smokey tugged the throttle open slightly.

“13’s a she,” Smokey replied as 13 chuffed forward. The first set of wheels on the bogey began to ride up the ramps.

“What?” Crosby asked as he looked to Smokey, not seeing the outside wheel beginning to move towards the edge.

“Steam engines are shes,” Smokey replied as he looked back.

“Oh come on, Smokey, don’t be such a silly fil-“ Crosby was cut off as the bogey slipped off the ramp and hit the ground with a bang. “STOP STOP STOP!” Crosby cried out.

“HORSEFEATHERS!” Smokey shouted in frustration as he stopped 13 and climbed down. “Just perfect!”.

After another hour of failed attempts, foul language and begging to Celestia, they managed to get tender back onto the rails. Once they made it to the switch into the shed, Smokey realigned it before locking it, not wanting to go back down into that set of sidings until the track was prepared for use.

By then, Celestia’s sun was high in the sky and the two colts were getting hungry. The two had an idea to cook in 13’s firebox. They poured apple pancake mix onto a clean shovel and stuck it into the roaring fire, occasionally pulling it out to stoke the fire and flip the pancakes.

Smokey looked at them “Huh, I think they came out pretty good!” The ash gray pony said as he put two pancakes onto his plate, topping it with some syrup.

“They’re burnt,” Crosby bluntly stated as he picked one of the stiff pancakes and tapped it against his plate.

“Crosby, I’ve seen you eat a hoof-full of chili peppers on a three bit bet, I think you’ll be ok.” Smokey laughed before taking a bite, it was crunchy and had a smoky taste.

“So Smokey, when ya wanna try to run a train with 13 at the head?” Crosby asked after eating a pancake.

“That..that’s a good question... I don’t know about that old trestle...but...ah Tartarus with it, maybe next week,” Smokey concluded with a shrug. “We’ll take her up to outside Ponyville and back around midnight, of course we’ll have to invite Steam!” He said as he took his place at the engineers seat and continued running his locomotive back and forth, filling the sky with smoke and steam.

Chapter 6: The First Ride and The Legend Unravels

The sounds of hammers hitting nails filled the railyard in Ponyville as Smokey and Crosby were patching up the old station, hoping to return the station to its former glory. Not very far away, the newer station on the Equestrian United stood proudly, some of the employees turned their muzzles up at Smokey and Crosby. He had heard two of the station attendants making comments about the line.

“Rusty rails and ramshackle carriages! The whole railway’s a decaying zombie! It wouldn’t surprise me if they had Ponies pull the trains like back in the old days!” That conversation played over and over in Smokey’s head, he wanted to prove him wrong, he wanted to prove to all of them that he-

“BUCKIN’ TARTARUS!” Smokey cried out as a nail slipped and the hammer hit his hoof. It didn’t break it, but sweet Celestia it really hurt all the same.

“You ok!?” Crosby asked, frightened for his best friend.

“Yeah CC, I’m aight, just hit m’hoof is all,” Smokey groaned as he limped over to a cooler and stuck his hoof into the ice, wincing.

“Better not bang yourself up too bad, Smokey, can’t have a train without an engineer ” Crosby replied as Smokey nodded. “Plus, don’t forget we’re putting a fire in the You Know What tomorrow night”

“I know, I know… But we may need to find more Ponies to help out," Smokey assessed as he glanced out to Mrs Cheerilee and her class, who had been painting the caboose. “I know we’ll need a conductor and a couple car attendants”

As Smokey mused on the issue, Apple Bloom was telling the others about something odd that had happened a few days before. “It was the strangest thang, I was out playin’ in the fields, when all at once I heard an old train in the woods, I heard it’s whistle and I could just about hear it chugging,” she said as she ran a brush over the old paint.

Diamond Tiara grinned as she looked over “You did?” She asked before gaining a worried tone, “You know what you heard don’t you?”

Apple Bloom raised an eyebrow, confused “A train?”

“Not just any train… The train to Tartarus! My daddy told me about it! He said that back when his granddad owned the railways, a passenger train fell off a bridge in the woods and disappeared! And ever since, it’s haunted the old line, it’s whistle crying into the night! They say if you get on...you never get off!” Diamond Tiara exclaimed as Silver Spoon snuck up behind Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo, blowing a wooden train whistle as loud as she could, causing the three to jump.

“Hey! That wasn’t funny!” Scootaloo retorted as she looked at the two bullies.

“Yeah! There ain’t no such thang as a ghost train!” Apple Bloom declared as she furrowed her brow.

“Oh yeah? Meet us tomorrow night out by the old bridge down the tracks!... That is if you're not...scared," Silver Spoon challenged, as she went to walk away with a grin, Diamond looked to her friend with alarm.

“Silver, what are you doing, I’m not going out to some dumb old bridge with the blank flanks… what if it really does come?” Diamond said as she looked to her friend.

Silver Spoon laughed, "Diamond! I’m surprised at you! Believing all that ghost train nonsense."

“I don’t know girls, trespassing, breaking curfew….it doesn’t seem safe...and Rarity would be upset if I got all dirty!” Sweetie Bell said as she looked to her two friends.

“Aw come on, Sweetie Bell, there’s no train to Tartarus! Those two are just trying to scare us!” Scootaloo retaliated with a confident grin.

The three agreed to head out to meet Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. As time went on, they had managed to paint 109, one of the coaches and the caboose up. Smokey has relented and agreed to 109 being painted passenger green. However due to some precariously stacked paint cans and a slight bump, they ended up having to substitute black for the intended green and gold. It was getting late now and all were growing tired.

Smokey looked up from one of the leftover apple fritters that Applejack had sent during lunch, thinking as he chewed and then smiled. “Well…a promise is a promise,” he said as he stood up. “Hey y’all! I know we ain’t got the other coach done, but come on up to the station and I’ll wrangle a train up!” He offered with a grin.

Cheerilee’s class cheered as they all ran up the station platform while Smokey started up 109 and coupled to the painted coach and caboose. Crosby was just about to put on a conductor's uniform when someone called out.

“Hey! Y’all ain’t wantin’ to run a train without a conductor are ye?” An elderly unicorn called out as he walked to the platform, he had a faded and graying royal blue coat with a mane and tail so silvery gray, it was almost chrome. An old, worn out conductor's hat adorned his head. He had a golden pocket watch for a cutiemark.

“We were thinking about it, old timer, come to ride?” Smokey asked as the old unicorn walked up.

“Sorta... I also wondered if ye needed a conductor," he said before looking to 109. “I spent fifty years on the rails, forty five as a conductor! I’d love to do it again... Name's Buttons, Brass Buttons," he explained with a grin.

Smokey smiled. "Smokey Cinders! And my friend there’s Crosby Chime!” Smokey said as he thought and then nodded. “I don’t see why not! The caboose ain’t too pretty inside, but you wanna help out, you're welcome to be our first conductor!”

“Nice to meet ya both! And thanks a bunch!” He said as he picked up a radio with his magic and went back to the caboose, watching for Smokey as they backed into the platform. Cheerilee and her class boarded the coach. While the pinnacle of luxury at once time, it had slowly faded away, the interior would need work next. The seats were somewhat uncomfortable and some windows wouldn’t open.

Brass held up his radio and called Smokey. “Rear end to 109, what time are we planning on departing? Over."

Smokey chuckled and held up his radio. “109 responding, we don’t have a schedule drawn up yet, so we’ll depart at any time, ready for the signal."

Brass smiled as he walked to the back of the caboose and leaned out. "All aboard!” He bellowed before going back in, climbing onto the cupola. “Clear to depart 109, let’s roll."

“Copy that rear end, 109 clear for departure on track one for MilePost 7, over." Smokey acknowledged, giving two blasts of the horn before gently setting off up the line, being careful not to jar the coaches or his first official passengers.

Twilight watched the train leaving the station from her castle. “A preserved historical railway... I never thought I’d hear of one of those in Equestria, though Sunset did tell me about those railways, they’re supposedly popular." She said as she watched the little diesel and its two-car train heading into the woods.

“Well they are workin’ hard on it, it looks like, I see them movin’ equipment back and forth a lot, must have a lot of track repair from where that old line goes, apparently to a whole town” Applejack said as she sat at her chair in the Cutie Map Room.

“Indeed… Everfree was once a thriving boom town in its day, however once the railway was closed, there really wasn’t a reason for any ponies to stay, it’s honestly kind of sad” Twilight recounted, once the little town was abandoned, the residents scattered to the wind to the surrounding towns, Ponyville in particular.

“Eeyup… but there’s something strange, Twi, somethin’s up, a few days ago I heard what sounded like a steam whistle, it echoed out every so often and at one point I thought I saw smoke above the forest, I ain’t never heard any animals holler like that”

“It appears that Smokey and Crosby might be withholding some details about the trains on the line” Twilight replied as she pulled a book. Echo’s In The Everfree: An Autobiography of an Engineer and Master Mechanic. by Walschaerts Baker.

It was a pleasant ride, it really was, though some of the students did make a comment about the bumpy track. The scenery was second to none! Soon they reached the trestle.

Crosby walked back to the coach and entered it, picking up the intercom microphone. “Sorry folks, this is as far as we’re going today, the tracks beyond the bridge are out, so for the time being, this is where we go back,” he explained before walking back to the caboose to watch the tracks with Brass Buttons. Lying about the tracks being out as an excuse, since the Everfree yard was just a mile ahead.

Apple Bloom leaned out a window and looked down into the water, whispering to her friends “This is where we gotta come girls, we’ll prove to them bullies that there ain’t no train to Tartarus," she said as Smokey gave three blasts of the horn before reversing back to Ponyville.

Meanwhile, Silver Spoon walked over and sat with the three, grinning “Enjoying the train ride, blank flanks? I hope you get used to it, because the train to Tartarus has old coaches just like these,” she said with mischief, as she stood up and went to walk back to Diamond Tiara. The car jolted as it went over a rough section and caused her to fall, landing on Diamond Tiara and knocking the wind out of both of them. The Cutie Mark Crusaders laughed when they saw this.

“Stupid old track and stupid old train!” Diamond Tiara said in frustration as she sat back, crossing her arms.

Soon they arrived back at the station and disembarked, heading off for home as Smokey, Crosby and Brass stayed behind.

“So, Buttons...tell me," Smokey began as he looked at the old conductor, “do ya like steam locomotives?”

Chapter 7: It’s Just A Ghost Story… Right?

Celestia’s sun was beginning to set over Equestria as Smokey, Crosby, Steam and Brass fired up 13 and got it ready. Smokey had used 109 to arrange a short freight made up of two boxcars, a flatcar, and the caboose, which sat on track two. 109 was coupled behind the caboose to act as a backup incase 13 broke down.

Smokey smiled as he polished the number plate until it gleamed like gold. 13, while still rusty, was looking much better after being cleaned and polished, with some touch ups to its black paintwork. He stepped off the pilot and looked up to the engine. “She’s lookin’ purdy good!” He said as he went to the cab.

Steam and Crosby were in the cab, building pressure for the run. The two were having a very technical discussion over firing techniques. “No no no! You have to keep the fire thin and keep down the smoke!” Steam said as he looked into the fire.

“Well, I’ve only fired a couple times, but all the books say keep the fire level, even and feed it as much as it needs!” Crosby countered and tossed another shovel's worth into the fire.

“Hey y’all! How’s she doin’?” Smokey called up as he grabbed an oil can to lubricate the rods and bars.

“Ready and raring to leave!” Crosby replied as he adjusted the water injector. 13 hissed and gurgled as the injectors activated.

“Terrific! Once it gets dark enough, we’ll head out and see how far we can get!” Smokey said as he began oiling the various connections and cranks, his sharp eyes looking for any defects, to which none were apparent.

Brass held a broom in his magic, sweeping the caboose out and cleaning the inside. “How could any self respecting conductor let his quarters get this filthy?” He said to himself as he cleaned the inside of the caboose so well, one could have almost eaten off the floors. He then reached into a box they brought along and began taking out a few things he kept over the years. A pair of red warning lanterns to hang on the rear of the caboose, a white lantern for directing the train without radio, a bundle of various flags, his old conductor's whistle, and a few pictures to hang inside.

As time went on, the four inspected every wheel, every bolt and every coupler on the train before moving 13 off the turntable track and down the ladder track, backing down onto track two. Smokey inched 13 back onto the freight cars, coupling up with a dull clank before connecting the air brakes and charging them, they were set.

The four walked to the front of the train to make the final arrangements for the run. “Alright, we’re going starting at channel six on the radio, and about every fifteen minutes we’re going to change channels, we’ll say we’re going to five, but we go to four, three is two, and one is nine, can’t afford anyone eavesdropping on this,” Smokey instructed as he looked to the three. “Now, who’s riding where?”

“I’ll be riding in the caboose, but I can teleport to the cab if you need me,” Brass said as he pulled out a solid gold pocket watch and glanced at it.

“I’m hoping to ride in the cab with you two,” Steam eagerly asked. “Last time I got to ride in the cab was when I was a young colt at the Manehattan Museum of Equestrian History”

“You're welcome to it!” Smokey chuckled as he went to climb into the cab.

“Thank you!” Steam said as he and Crosby boarded the cab as well, Brass heading back to the caboose.

After a few minutes, Smokey radioed back to brass for clearance. “This is C&E 13 calling conductor, are we clear for departure? Over.”

“Copy that C&E 13, clear for departure, over.” Brass replied as he mounted the cupola and opened the window to lean out.

Crosby began to ring the bell as Smokey gave two blasts of the boiler tube Five Chime whistle before tugging the throttle open. With a hiss of steam and a groan, 13 began to forge ahead, its deep staccato exhaust echoing around the yard as black smoke accompanied by fiery sparks and Cinders leaped from the stack with every chuff.

Apple Bloom looked up as she and her two friends picked their way across the old ballast and rotting ties. “Did you hear that?” She asked as she looked at the two.

“Hear what? Scootaloo asked as she looked at her friend.

“I thought I heard that train whistle again,” Apple Bloom said as she looked ahead.

“I really don’t think we should be doing this guys, I don’t think Smokey would like us on the tracks, what if a train comes?” Sweetie Belle spoke worriedly, using her horn to light their way.

“We’ll be able to see and hear a train coming! Especially with the moonlight!” Apple Bloom reassured sweetie belle confidently as they trekked down the line.

After almost half an hour walk from Sweet Apple Acres, they came to the old trestle. While there were several trestles on the C&E, the old trestle was the oldest and the only completely wooden one, and stood tall and foreboding over the river below.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were waiting nearby, the two grinned when they saw the Crusaders approaching. “Well well well, looks like you blank flanks decided to actually show up!” The former laughed.

“Aren’t you scared about the Train to Tartarus?” Silver Spoon said as she looked at them, smirking.

“We told ya, thar ain’t no such thang,” Apple Bloom retorted confidently.

“Yeah! It’s just a ghost story!” Scootaloo supported.

“Oh yeah?... THEN WHAT'S THAT!?” Diamond Tiara said before a bright light appeared behind them and a train whistle blasted, making the Crusaders jump back in fear, screaming in fright until they saw a large speaker and a spotlight had been hidden in the bushes. The two bullies howled in laughter.

“You should see your faces!” Silver Spoon shouted as she pointed.

“That wasn’t funny you two! Besides, that ain’t the whistle I heard!” Apple Bloom, irritated by the two.

“Oh it’s hilarious!” Diamond Tiara cackled before catching her breath. “You blank flanks are so gullible! A ghost train in the Everfree? I’ll believe it when I see it!” She said...just before hearing a distant train whistle. “Silver, turn off that train recording,” she said as the whistle sounded again.

Silver spoon looked like a Diamond Tiara, wide-eyed. “I already did,” she said as she turned to look across the bridge, freezing.

The others looked to see...an old steam engine chuffing and clanking it’s way out of the tree line, black smoke and fire coming from its stack as it whistled again.

Crosby glanced out of the cab and gasped. “Smokey!” He shouted, “Some fillies from the school are by the track!”

Smokey ran to Crosby’s side and swore “what are we gonna do!?” He said in a panic. “They’ll blow the lid off this whole thing!” He said as he tried to think of an explanation, visions of 13 being cut up for scrap or being confiscated for a museum display flashing in his mind.

“I got an idea! Get Brass up here,” Steam shouted as he lit his horn.

Smokey shut the throttle and began to slow down as brass teleported into the cab. “What’s wrong?” He asked, concerned.

“We’ve been spotted, you know an illusion spell?” Steam said as he looked at Smokey. “When I say now, stop and take us back”

“Yeah, I know one,” Brass said as he ignited his horn, charging his magic.

“Right!” Smokey said as he put a hoof on the brake handle, reaching his other hoof for the whistle cord.

Steam’s and brass’ horns glowed brightly as they began across the trestle. “Now!” Steam commanded.

The five fillies watched in utter shock and terror as the ghostly steam engine and its train disappeared as it rolled halfway across the trestle. The five stared for a moment before screaming and bolting back through the trees towards Sweet Apple Acres.

Applejack was sitting on the porch, enjoying the peace and quiet with a bottle of cider. She heard the whistling again, and this time saw a wisp of smoke. She was about to get up to make sure the Forest wasn’t on fire...when she heard five voices screaming and saw Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon vaulting over the fence, making a beeline for the house.

“What the hay’s goin’ on!?” Applejack asked as she followed the panicking fillies inside, the only thing she could make out from their terrified rant was...“GHOST TRAIN!”

Meanwhile, Smokey, Crosby, Steam and Brass had made it to the yard, dropped 13’s fire and shut down the boiler before putting the 13 back in the shed to let it finish cooling off.

“Quick thinking with an invisibility spell!...but we have a problem, now that they think they might have seen a ghost train, they may come back...or tell others...” Smokey assessed as he checked 13 over.

“Think we should take up the rails?” Crosby asked as he looked to 13, its future was now in question...

“I don’t know...think we should file a permit now and hope?” Steam asked as Smokey shook his head.

“That would mean Twilight would know...” Smokey replied as he looked at his pride and joy. “I just want to protect this thing and keep it safe...” he confessed with a sigh as he tried to think of what to do now. “We’ll have to lock down the shed tight… if anyone asks about any trains running tonight, we were doing some late night track work” Smokey said, crafting a cover story.

“Once 13’s cooled off, let’s lock the shed and head back, make it obvious we’re going by the farm, it’ll be less suspicious to see us go by with the diesel” Crosby remarked as he looked to Smokey, who was closing the shed door, using a rusty chain to lock it and make it appear to have not been opened.

What they didn’t notice, was a quartet of ponies watching them in the distance from the windows of a bus.

Chapter 8: The Thread Begins To Unravel

Over the next couple days, the line to the yard was left dormant. Smokey had said it was due to the old trestle being unsafe, Applebloom and her friends were insisting it was because of the ghost train. 13 had been locked up in the shed for its own safety, staying hidden for the immediate time until attention went away from the line.

Smokey was in the station at Ponyville, signing some papers for grants and possible revenue opportunities for the line…and sending letters out to a few scrap yards, railroads and museums for equipment and spare parts for 13. Applejack trotted up to the old station, knocking on the open door. “Smokey? Mind if I come in?”.

Smokey looked up from his paperwork and sat down his pen. “Sure! What can I do for ya?” He asked as the orange earth Pony walked in.

“I had meant to come here sooner, but I’ve been busy. Anyways, mah sistah and her friends came bustin home the other night, sayin’ they saw a ghost train runnin’ in the Everfree,” Applejack explained as she sat at the desk.

“A ghost train?” Smokey asked as he leaned in. “They might have seen us, we had the 109 out with a repair train and testing the rails.”

“That’s the thang...she said it was a steam train...and it disappeared halfway across a bridge,” Applejack continued, looking Smokey in the eyes.

“Really? Huh...we ain’t seen or heard nuthin’ like that out here,” Smokey replied as he looked to the map. “We heard the line was haunted by a ghost train, but we didn’t think it would have appeared behind us.”

“That is strange...since y’all started workin on this line, every so often I can hear a train whistle in the Everfree as well, and that night, I saw smoke,” Applejack went on as she looked to the map. “What’s at the other end of the line?”

“An old loggin’ camp and a few buildings, the place is like a ghost town,” Smokey said as he held up an old photograph of the Everfree yard when it was still populated.

Applejack nodded slowly “Huh...Granny Smith said that back in the day, when they abandoned the line out that way, one of the old steam engines disappeared.”

“Really...” Smokey responded, before grinning. “Maybe I should start calling the passenger train The Ghost Train Of The Everfree.’” Smokey chuckled.

Applejack laughed as well. “Best let you get back to work, let me know when yer next train is, me and my friends would love to ride.”

“Will do” Smokey said as Applejack left the station, immediately letting out the breath he had been holding the whole time. “This is just..” He sighed as he looked to an old photograph of 13 pulling a passenger train. “I need to do something before this whole thing comes crashing down”.

Applejack trotted her way to a field overlooking Ponyville to where her friends were having a picnic.

“Applejack! There you are, we were getting worried, darling, what took you so long?” Rarity asked as she looked at the orange Earth Pony.

“Sorry y’all, I needed to stop in at the old station and talk with Smokey about somethin,” Applejack explained as she sat nearby.

“Oh? What about?” Twilight asked curiously.

“Somethin’ happened to Applebloom and her friends the other night and I wanted to see if Smokey could help explain it,” Applejack elaborated as she picked up an apple and bit into it.

“What happened? Is she ok?” Fluttershy asked worriedly.

“She and her friends are ok, just scared out of their wits, they all came running from the forest screaming they saw a ghost steam train on one of the bridges,” Applejack responded. “Smokey said he and a few others were doing some late night repairs to the rails, but somethin’s up,” she continued.

“What are you thinking? That Smokey somehow has a steam engine?” Rainbow dash laughed “Of course! He just pulled a whole locomotive out of his pocket!”

“They also said the train disappeared halfway across the bridge, and now Smokey’s canceled runs, It’s just strange,” Applejack observed, puzzled.

“That is scary,” Fluttershy added. “I sometimes hear what sounds like a train from my cottage, I have for years… I always assumed it was some animal howling in the forest.”

“There must be a logical explanation,” Twilight said as she levitated a tea cup. “I’ve never heard of a proven ghost train, they are just legends”.

“Then what could it be?” Rainbow dash asked curiously.

“I think Smokey May know more than he’s letting on,'' Twilight concluded as she looked down to the station to see Smokey, Crosby, Brass and Steam talking.

“Maybe we should come clean and go ahead with the permits,” Steam suggested as the four conversed.

“I don’t know…maybe…but if we go askin’ for permits, we need to hide 13, because they will want to see it, and they might come with torches,” Smokey said worried. “Applejack’s onto us, we need to get on the ball before things go sour”.

“Well…maybe not to that extreme, but 13 would definitely be in danger… If anything, it would be taken to be put on display,” Crosby said, wanting to bring Smokey down to earth.

“Exactly, we can’t keep 13 a secret much longer, it’s not easy to hide an entire locomotive,” Brass said as he looked around.

“There’s my warehouse,” Steam Cylinder suggested as he looked to Smokey. “As you know, my company also builds boilers, we have a warehouse with rail access, and it’s just big enough for 13.”

“Really? And no one would be snooping?” Smokey asked, hopeful.

“I’d have to tell the others at the business to keep a lid on it, but I think it should work,” Steam replied with a smile.

“I can’t thank ya enough, Steam! When can we bring her in?” Smokey inquired, elated.

“Gimme a couple days to clear out the building, I’ll tell ya when to bring 109 to move the cars inside,” Steam explained as he turned to leave “Anyways, I gotta get, my lunch break ends in ten minutes, take care,” the white unicorn stated before heading back into Ponyville.

“See ya!” Smokey called before looking at the others. “So, besides the pressing matter…Applejack also mentioned that she wanted us to run a train for her and her friends, once we get 13 hidden, I’m thinking we can use this ride to help convince Twilight to allow us to operate 13”.

“That doesn’t sound like a bad plan, think it will work?” Crosby asked curiously.

“It may if you had a private car, something upscale, make a good impression…” Brass said, grinning a bit. “And I know where one is”.

“Where?” Smokey asked as Brass turned to the train station.

“Follow me, it’s about time I visit my old stomping grounds” Brass said as he continued onward.

Baltimare was a couple hours train ride from Ponyville, and still held to its heritage as the second most prominent railroad hub, second only to Canterlot’s massive shop complex. The Cathedral was the B&O’s massive fully enclosed roundhouse which for a time was the crown jewel in the Mount Clydesdale Maintenance Facility.

Closed for the last fifty-odd years, the shop complex has become a well-known railroad museum, housing the most comprehensive collection of locomotives and rollingstock in Equestria. And within what once was the Erecting Hall for assembling rebuilt locomotives, a prestigious looking passenger car sat.

“Behold, boys, the Empress!” Brass said as he presented the passenger car to the two.

Smokey whistled as he walked up to a somewhat faded dark blue observation car, ‘Empress’ painted on the side in gold, Baltimare & Ohayo painted on the top strip. “Well, Brass, how’d you get this beauty?”

“when they decommissioned the Starlight Special, they gave it to me as a retirement gift, I ain’t had nowhere for it, so I had it put in the museum here in Baltimare,” Brass explained as he climbed aboard, his eyes twinkling. “I remember blazing down the rails at a hundred miles an hour, ticket puncher in hoof…the most respected pony on the train,” he recollected with a chuckle.

“They sure kept it in good condition, the wheels and bearings look better than the ones under our coaches,” Crosby said as he wiggled his way out from under the coach.

It was then that the curator walked over, an older Pegasus mare with a yellow mane and tail with a sandy yellow coat walked over, smiling. “Hello, Mr Buttons! To what do we owe the pleasure?” she asked with a smile.

“Hello, Historica, I hope you got my message about taking the Empress off display,” Brass spoke as he climbed off the coach.

“Yes I did… Are you sure you want to pull it out of preservation? It’s historically significant,” she warned as she looked at the coach before looking back at the retired conductor.

“I know, and I am sure,” Brass replied before continuing, “you and your staff have taken care of the Empress well, but she deserves to ride the rails again,” he said as he looked at the small in comparison 2-6-2 Prairie Tank it was coupled to. “Besides, Hooffield Lumber 190 is dwarfed by it,” Brass chuckled.

Historica sighed. “I guess so… We will have to move the collection around and pull it out for you to take away,” the mare replied as she pulled out a notebook to notify the other volunteers about the collection change.

“Thanks, Historica!” Brass spoke before trotting to her. “Just imagine, Empress moving again, the country flying passed in a blur, classical music playing over the record player, the romance of the rails” the conductor described.

“It will be a nice sight I suppose,” the curator agreed as she started off to make the arrangements.

“Me and Brass will hang back and make sure the coach gets to Ponyville, you head back and get 13’s spot cleared out.” Crosby said with a smile as he continued to check the observation car.

“Sounds like a plan” Smokey said as he nodded, turning to head to the train station.

While waiting for his train to head back to Ponyville, Smokey walked over to a rack of brochures and picked up one which had a picture of a sleek bus, the title confusing him. Explore The Everfree with Equus Motorcoach Excursions!

“I didn’t think there was a road… what the Tartarus…” he said as he continued to read, the brochure wrinkling in his grasp. Equus Motorcoach Excursions is proud to announce our intentions to build a Rail Trail along the long-disused Canterlot & Everfree Railway!
Soon enough ponies will be able to travel through the Everfree in the finest up-to-date motorcoaches or hike at their leisure!

“I’m excited for this, aren’t you?” A mare said with a smile as she too had a brochure.

“Actually there’s a railway there that’s still going quite strong, we’re doing a grand opening soon” Smokey said as he turned to get on the train, growing more frustrated by the brochure and what it said.

Chapter 9: Turbocharged Burnout

The Brochure had been playing on Smokey’s mind the whole ride home, he was quite angry that someone dared to announce they would be building a road over His railway.

“Alright, Smokey, take them back” Steam called over the cacophony that was 109’s spluttering and coughing as they moved out flatcars and boxcars of boilers and parts.

Smokey had grown progressively worried as he had to set the throttle to notch 8 to move the cars, the 539T Diesel engine coughing and choking as it moved the cars, it began to produce more and more smoke.

“Well then, we got the spot cleared, we just need to move the empty cars,” Steam radioed as he climbed down from the crane he had been using to unload the cars.

“Let’s do it,” Smokey replied. I hope the old gal can pull 13, that spluttering doesn't sound good, Smokey thought worriedly.

“Clear out,” Steam said as he climbed onto the last car to watch for Smokey during the Shove.

Smokey nodded as he picked up the radio. “Come in, dispatcher, this is C&E 109 requesting clearance across the main and to the C&E yard."

“Copy that, 109, you're clear across. The Rainbow Flyer’s due in ten minutes, so please have the main cleared. Over," the dispatcher replied as the switches aligned.

“Copy that, dispatcher, clear across the main. Over and out,” Smokey responded as he opened the throttle and 109 began to inch ahead, billowing out smoke and…steam?

“Come on,” Smokey encouraged quietly to both himself and the engine.

“Sheesh, think there’s something wrong?” Steam radioed as he looked back.

“Definitely, I just hope the engine keeps ticking at long enough to clear the main,” Smokey answered as they rumbled over the switch onto the Equestrian United mainline and began to reverse to cross the second line. It was then that 109 gave a loud cough and a pillar of black smoke shot from the exhaust stack.

“Buck me, 109 aint gonna make it in the hole," Smokey groaned in frustration as he picked up the radio. “Dispatcher, this is 109, we’re having engine trouble, send us into the EU yard and get us off the main!”

“Copy that, 109, directing you into the yard, a switcher will take you to the interchange track once the Flyer clears. Over," the dispatcher replied as the switches aligned.

109 coughed and sputtered again, the engine began to lose cylinders and flickers of flames came from the exhaust stack as they entered the yard, Smokey watching anxiously as the cars entered, the lights of the Rainbow Flyer could be seen.

“I'm gonna hate myself for this,” Smokey thought aloud as he roughly pulled the throttle to notch 8 again, fire shot from the stack as 109 jolted back, forcibly shoving the last two cars and itself off the mainline.

The switches aligned and the flyer shot past, horn blaring and the engineer shouting several choice words to Smokey for the near miss.

Smokey stopped 109 and shut down the engine before grabbing a fire extinguisher and running around to put the fire out, several EUR employees running over with hoses to quell the flames. “Buck Buck Buck!” Smokey shouted as he worked to put out the fire, Steam galloping back to 109 and using a fire fighting spell to help.

“Sweet Celestia! Janney! Go grab water buckets!” The dispatcher shouted from his office. “Wait!” He shouted as he turned again. “Sand pails! Sand pails!” He said as the unicorn turned to run. “WAIT! FIRE EXTINGUISHERS!”

Two quick thinking pegasi came to assist, bringing a rain cloud and compressing the water down onto the engine, managing to extinguish the

After another half hour, a shiny Genset switcher came to collect the 109 and its train, moving the consist across to the C&E yard. The engineer, a red mane and silver coated Pegasus named Turbo Charger, seemed sympathetic to the C&E’s sudden motive power problem.

“Hey, Smokey, right?” Turbo asked as she shut down the Genset and flew over.

“Yeah, Smokey Cinders,” Smokey said as he began opening attachments to drain the engine of water and find out what happened.

“Name's Turbo Charger, saw what happened back there, looks like your turbocharger blew out, ironically" she assessed as he landed next to Smokey and looked at the engine. “Seems a few head gaskets popped and caused you to have to push the engine to the red for normal performance,” she theorized as the Pegasus glanced in the engine compartment.

“Really? You seem to know a lot about engines,” Smokey said as he looked at the rather foreign looking Diesel engine.

“Yup! I learned from an old timer, he used to keep his old DD51 825 in immaculate condition, and taught me how to keep these older diesels running in top condition,” Turbo explained as she glanced at Smokey.

“825? Wasn’t that the locomotive that saved The Pegasus from an avalanche a few years ago?” Smokey asked, remembering hearing about when a vintage freight diesel pulled a stranded express train from the path of a massive avalanche.

“The one and the same! They put it on display in Canterlot after the old mule kicked off, sure miss him…” Turbo trailed off as she thought before smiling. “Say, I can fix this thing in a couple days! Lemme tell the forepony and I’ll haul it over! It will be ready in a couple days!”

“I’d appreciate that! To be honest, I don't know much about diesels, I mostly know steam engines and stuff like that,” Smokey said as he closed the engine compartment and climbed down as Turbo hopped down.

“Steam engines eh? Never really had much thought to them, but they are nice." Turbo shrugged as she looked at Smokey. "But personally, I like my Genset," she said proudly as she looked at the spotless diesel switcher.

After a couple hours, Turbo towed 109 to the Ponyville repair shop to begin repairs while Smokey and Steam made an uncomfortable call to explain what happened to Crosby and Brass. They were understandably annoyed but had no choice but to relent. Though they were happy to say that the Empress was ready to be transported to Ponyville. Later that evening, Smokey and Steam began to walk back to the station to discuss possibly doing boiler work on 13 while it’s being stored at his company, gasping when they saw none other than the Mane Six waiting for them.

“Hello Smokey,” Twilight greeted with a smile. “How’s the line coming along?” The princess asked as she raised an eyebrow.

“It was good for a bit princess, but unfortunately we hit a spot of trouble, our only locomotive had a small fire and is now in the EUR shop over yonder," Smokey explained with a sigh.

“Oh no! Are you ok? How bad was it?” Fluttershy asked, worried.

“Yeah I’m fine, it seems the turbocharger gave out and caught fire, 109 should be back in service in a day or two,” Smokey replied as he looked at the six friends. “So, what can we do for ya?”

“Well, we were hoping to enquire about a ride, but seeing your engine is out of commission, could we walk your line?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Up to Sweet Apple Acres? Of course! Just be careful," Smokey said with a smile.

“No, further into the Everfree Forest, I heard it’s beautiful from the rails" Twilight responded calmly.

Smokey’s face fell a bit, “Erm…I’m sorry princess, with all do respect, I would prefer not, the bridge over the river out there is very unsafe,” the ash gray pony said, trying to dissuade the six from going out and possibly finding 13.

“We can teleport across!” Twilight retorted with the same smile, raising an eyebrow.

“Then how about we come with you? We have a couple things to do today, but come here tomorrow and we’ll take you up to the trestle on a hoofcar and walk the rest of the way,” Smokey bargained.

“That does sound like fun, maybe I’ll bring some apple pie and we can have a picnic,” Applejack agreed, not realizing Smokey was trying to keep them away from Everfree yard.

Twilight nodded, slightly irritated with Smokey’s deflections. “Sounds like a plan, see you tomorrow then Smokey!” Twilight said as she turned to leave, the other five followed.

Once they were out of earshot, Smokey turned to Steam. “We need to do it tonight." The gray earth pony said as he went to call Crosby and Brass, telling them to be on the next train to Ponyville.

“Agreed, I’ll go get ready and tell the dispatcher to align the switches for a delivery” Steam spoke with a nod as he began heading over to the warehouse.

Twilight glanced to her friends as she walked. “So… I suppose we’ll be going there tomorrow then?”

“I’d rather wait for the train to be fixed, that way we wouldn’t have to spend all day walking on some overgrown train track” Rarity replied.

“It would be best, yes… but I still can’t shake the feeling that Smokey’s up to something, he was very adamant about keeping us away from the other side of that bridge” Twilight said as she looked to the others. “Applebloom said that was where the ghost train came from?”

“Yes… Twilight, are ya insinuatin’ Smokey has a steam engine?” Applejack asked with a raised eyebrow.

“I’m not sure… but I think so” Twilight said as they started passed a hobby shop, a model catching her eye… it was a model of a Baltimare & Ohayo J-8 “Big Six” 2-6-6-6 with the number 5847, her eyes fixated on it.

“I mean, even if he does, what’s so bad about it?” Applejack asked as Twilight stared at the model, an uncomfortable memory she’d never been able to forget came to the forefront of her mind.

“Mommy! Mommy! Our train’s coming!” Twilight shouted giddily to her mother as her father picked up their luggage as a deep low hooter echoed from the massive lumbering J-8 2-6-6-6 as it approached the station up a grade, the number 5847 on its cab. The engine hissing steam as it approached the station, the filly’s ears picking up an odd sound… it was a groan as if something was in pain, it was metallic and alien to her ears… and it was coming from the engine… “mommy, I think something’s wrong with-“

Twilights ears rang as she managed to regain consciousness, she struggled to lift her head from the debris littered platform, the station had all its windows blown out, the water tower was collapsed… and a railway pony lay lifeless on the platform, scorched and scalded by the superheated steam. Twilight lifted her eyes to see a monster, a demon… the steam locomotive sat in a mangled pile, its boiler lay a hundred yards ahead of the frame, the boiler tubes sticking out of the front and through the sides, the boiler tubes almost looked like they were the tentacles of some type of hellish monster reaching to eat her.

Twilight’s hearing didn’t return for nearly two weeks after the accident, every night she had nightmares of seeing that… that twisted visage of 5847’s boiler tubes sticking out, plucking up innocent ponies and dragging them within its mass. She’d learned that what happened was called a Crownsheet Failure, where the boiler was allowed to run dry causing the metal to weaken and the boiler to come apart in an explosive release of steam. Ten ponies were killed, the engineer, firepony, a brakepony, some passengers and an employee from the station… the employee she’d seen laying dead in front of her…according to the ticket agent, he heard the engine and realized it was going to explode, throwing himself in front of the young unicorn and taking the force of 300 PSI of superheated steam.

“Twilight?” Fluttershy asked as Twilight jumped slightly.

“Hm?! O-oh sorry, I… zoned out… l-listen… s-steam locomotives aren’t in my image for Equestria, they are in the past, where they should stay… I… I don’t think I could bear to… have one in Ponyville…” she said as she started to walk, not wanting to speak on the matter anymore.

Chapter 10: Night Run

Luna’s moon had begun to rise as the trio made their way up the line, Smokey and Crosby pumping the hoofcar up the track and towards the Everfree yard, it took nearly an hour and a half to get there, mostly due to having to stop to catch their breath every mile or so. Nevertheless, they made it and headed for the shed to fire up 13, Steam had stayed behind to be ready to receive 13 into his warehouse.

As minutes turned to hours, they slowly built pressure in the boiler, bringing it to operating pressure. Smokey was up on the Pilot, polishing the number plate, climbing into the walkways to do the same to the builders plates.

“I really hope this works y’all… I don’t think I could forgive myself if somethin’ happened to this old thang," Smokey said as he applied more polish to the rag.

“Don’t worry Smokey, I’m sure this will go just fine!” Brass said as he held a hose into the tender tank, filling it to the brim with water.

“How are we gonna sneak it through town anyway?” Crosby asked as he looked to Smokey.

“Simple, when we get outside town, dampen down the fire to decrease smoke and just coast through on what pressure we have at that time, if we do it right, we shouldn’t be seen,” Smokey said as he climbed off the locomotive.

“Sounds like it a plan,” Crosby agreed as he shut off the pump filling the tank.

Once the engine was ready, Crosby and Brass swung the shed doors open and Smokey tugged the throttle, inching 13 out under its own power, saying a prayer with every chuff from the smokestack. It was striking midnight when they started off for Ponyville, a set of eyes watching them from the darkness as they departed.

Smokey kept a hoof on the throttle and a hoof on the brake, in case he saw something or somepony. Crosby was firing as sparingly as he could as to keep down smoke, and to keep from the light of the fire being seen. Brass was riding on the tender, the old conductor's sharp eyes searching around for anything that could compromise the trip.

Crosby threw a shovel's worth of coal into the firebox and sat across from Smokey, leaning out to look around. “So far so good, we’re through the horseshoe curve and just passed the old mine, once we get across the old trestle, we’ll be able to put this ordeal to bed,” he said with a yawn.

“I hope so, I really do,” Smokey said as he took a sip of coffee from his thermos, offering it to Crosby.

“Thanks.” Crosby yawned as he took a long sip of the hot caffeinated beverage.

Smokey slowed 13 to a crawl as they approached the trestle, taking great care as 13 weighed much more than 109. The bridge creaked and groaned unhealthily as they made their way, the three could have sworn they even heard splashing from rotten supports falling. Nevertheless, they reached the other side, Smokey pulling the throttle open again and proceeding at a brisk pace, rocking side to side as 13 traversed its rickety tracks.

Up ahead, at the farm, Applebloom was still wide awake, the filly still having trouble sleeping after her encounter with the Ghost Train. She’d been counting sheep until she picked up the labored chugging of an engine fast approaching. She sat up and glanced out of her window, sure enough… a headlight was fast approaching.

“Applejack!” The filly shouted as she sprang from her bed, bolting down stairs.

Applejack had fallen asleep outside the farmhouse, it had been a beautiful evening and the orange earth pony had fallen asleep on the porch. Her eyes cracked open as Applebloom flew outside. “The ghost trains a’comin!” She shouted.

“Applebloom there ain’t no ghost train” Applejack said, annoyed as she tried to shake off sleep.

“There is! Look!” Applebloom said, pointing Applejack to the train… Applejack’s eyes widened as she saw the rusty steam engine hurtling along the rails, passing by the farm belching smoke, the cab illuminated by fire.

“What in tarnation is that!?” Applejack yelped as she grabbed Applebloom and ran inside, watching the train heading towards town.

Another fifteen minutes had passed and they rumbled over the old trestle and through the Alicorn Ridge tunnel, they could almost see Ponyville coming up.

“Finally, just a little farther” Smokey sighed in relief as he adjusted the throttle.

“Yup!” Crosby said as he started banking the fire as to reduce as much smoke and heat as he could.

Steam had been waiting at the beginning of the portion of track which ran through main street to watch for the engine, the white unicorn smiling when he saw the engine approaching, waving at them with a flashlight to proceed.

At a steady five miles per hour, Smokey guided 13 through town, keeping a keen eye into the darkness, having turned the headlight to its dimmest setting.

A tired Mayor Mare walked out of the town hall, gasping as she saw 13, the four on the engine staring back in panic. The mayor chuckled to herself as she turned. “My my… I need to stop having tea before bed, this is a weird dream” she said sleepily as she headed back into town hall.

The four breathed a collective sigh of relief before continuing on, cautiously crossing the mainline, by some miracle going undetected by the dispatchers. With its lack of radio equipment, 13 was almost invisible to anyone working in the switch tower that night, aside from seeing that a rather heavy car was being moved.

“Almost there” Steam said as he rode on the back of the tender, guiding them to the warehouse. “I guess we should start shutting down now”

“I agree” Smokey said as he opened the blowdown valves as Crosby rocked the grates into the ashpan, they would have to figure out a way to clean the ashpan of ashes and cinders later. “Let’s do what we have to outside as fast as possible and get it put away”

“Two of us need to stay and watch the boiler while it cools down to make sure it stays stable,” Crosby said as he checked several valves and gauges, watching 13’s pressure fall as the boiler began to cool.

“I agree” Smokey said as looked to Brass, who was waving them back. “Ready for a long night?” He asked with a chuckle as he released the brakes and let 13 coast into the warehouse to finish cooling down and losing pressure.

“I guess! But please… let me have at least a couple hour nap” Crosby said with a small laugh.

Smokey and Crosby took shifts to watch 13 while the other slept, the boiler cooling off slowly. Steam and Brass had gone home for the night, having fancied their beds over sleeping on the engine. Little did the four know that they had been noticed much more than they realized.

Smokey awoke, icy cold air blowing into the cab, rain drizzling as Smokey stood, he was alone in 13’s. He looked out to see they weren’t in the warehouse anymore…. Rusting locomotives sat lined up on sidings as far as the eye could see. “W-what?… how did we get here?…”

“Smokey?” A voice spoke… Smokey jumped and turned, started, seeing Twilight. “Why are you here?” She asked with a disapproving expression.

“I-I… where am I?” Smokey asked before he heard the sound of a torch igniting.

“You know where we are, now come on” Twilight said as she lifted Smokey with her magic. “We need to leave so they can start”

“No! No, let me go!” Smokey sounded as the sound of the flames cutting through 13’s metal body rang out deafeningly. “13!!!” Smokey screamed as he was ripped from the cab and pulled out of the yard with incredible speed, the last glimpse of 13 being it’s boiler being cut open as the scrapyards large iron gates slammed shut.

Smokey gasped, awaking with a start from his nightmare, checking the time to see morning had came sooner than he cared for, climbing off the now-cold 13, Smokey grabbed an oil can, being careful to lubricate the engine, his mind reeling from the nightmare.

Once he was satisfied, he climbed back into the cab and snuck up on Crosby, smirking deviously. “… CROSBY! THERE'S A TRAIN AHEAD! BAIL OUT!” He screamed, causing Crosby to awake in panic, jumping out of the cab through the window and landing with a yelp onto a stack of boxes.

“Smokey… if you do that again… I’ll throw you in the firebox next!” Crosby yelled as he caught his breath, shaking a hoof at Smokey as he climbed down, howling with laughter as he joined his friend.

“You do that” Smokey said with a smirk as he put a foreleg around his hand. “While you're tryna figure out how to make Smokey Sausages, I’m gonna go get some breakfast, wanna join me?”

Crosby rolled his eyes. “Sure…” he said as the two walked out of the warehouse, locking the door behind them, 13 letting out a small, soft murmur as the metal finished cooling down.

With 13 hidden away, Smokey’s mind was at ease, and he was far less anxious about giving her a tour of the track to the Everfree yard. Though while going to pull out a spare handcar, they had two very pleasant surprises at the station.

109 sat in the station, The Empress coupled behind, Turbo smirking when she saw Smokey. “Heya! I managed to get your engine fixed this morning! This came in for you, so I figured I’d move it over for you!”

Smokey smiled widely as he walked up. “Thank you so much! This is terrific!” Smokey said as he looked to Turbo. “You helped us big time! What do I owe you?”

“It was no trouble, Smokey! And you don’t owe me anything! The parts we used were going to be thrown out anyway, so you helped us get rid of them and put them to good use!…” Turbo trailed off as she gained a concerned expression. “But I found something while digging in your engine… the Turbo was old and on the way out… but…” she paused before she pulled out a bag and showed Smokey where somepony had dropped stones and sand down the stack and into the turbocharger, and also stuck a wrench into the mechanism of the turbo. “I think somepony tampered with your engine”

Smokey’s eyes widened. “I’ll be… that explains what they did when they were here…” he said as he sighed. “Thank you, Turbo, I’ll forever be in debt to you for this, if you ever need anything, let me know” he said with a smile.

“It was no trouble at all, Smokey! I have to get back to work now, take it easy!… and be careful with who’s poking around the railway” Turbo said as she took off, flying back to the Equestrian United’s yard, and her Genset.

Smokey and Crosby smiled as they quickly set to work, polishing the floors and brass of The Empress, cleaning the floors, making sure the furniture was ready, they had a few hours before Twilight arrived, and they intended to seize every second.

“I’m tellin ya, Twilight! A ghost train tore through the farm last night! It was big, blowing out smoke, and the cab was filled with a fiery glow! It rushed by like a twister makin’ an awful racket!” Applejack said, recounting the night’s fright.

“Surely there has to be some explanation, Applejack” Twilight said calmly as Spike struggled to drag her saddlebags over.

“H-here… Twilight…” he panted before sitting on the floor.

“Shoot, Twi, Whatcha got in there? The whole royal guard?” Applejack asked, amused.

“Just a few things for the trip, some provisions and other supplies, you can’t be too careful when in the Everfree Forest” Twilight said with a smile as she glanced out of the window, her eyes immediately catching the repaired 109 at the station, Smokey running a soapy mop over the filthy diesel to try and make it presentable. “I thought Smokey said the engine caught fire yesterday”

“Musta got it fixed?” Applejack asked as she looked down to see the engine.

“Hmm… I’m going down to see what’s going on, want to come with me and see about that ghost engine?” Twilight asked as she started outside, applejack following close behind.

Chapter 11: The Royal Tour

Smokey smiled as he admired his work, the somewhat ramshackle train was far from in good shape, but it would do for the time being. He turned to Crosby as he wiped the sweat from his brow. “Well, I got 109 ready! How's The Empress?”

“She’s dressed to impress!” Crosby said with a grin as he finished polishing the safety railing. “When they see this, they can’t say no!” The brass colored Pegasus said as he started to head back inside. “Let’s get the interior ready!”

“Right!” Smokey said as he boarded the other end of the car, first walking by the kitchen area. In its prime, The Empress was the Crown Jewel of the Baltimare & Ohayo. A being a presidential business car, hosted the top officials, important VIP’s, and even carried Princess Celestia on occasion. It was truly a palace on rails, with every furnishing and need met.

Smokey walked over the imported carpet and gazed at the fine wood moldings and gold leaf which adorned the walls and the ceiling. Antique light fixtures lined the walls along with a chandelier which hung over the solid mahogany dining table. China cabinets surrounded the table, fine China proudly displayed inside, not a speck to ruin the look.

Opening a door, Smokey found the first drawing room, a decent sized bed sat on one side, plush satin sheets sat atop it. Across from the bed sat a massive dresser and mirror. Next was the washroom, which while small, had all the necessities, including a shower. Next came two more drawing rooms. Finally Smokey walked out to the Lounge at the rear of the car, fine chairs lining the wall, accompanied by stools and tables. A shiny coffee and tea set perched in a corner.

Crosby smiled as he looked over to Smokey, as he sat up a record player, humming to himself as a jazzy tune began to crackle. “Like it?” He asked with a smirk. “Figured some period music would help really set the mood!” He said as he looked to Smokey. “A beauty, ain’t she?” He asked as he looked around.

“Yep! We’re bound to impress Twilight and her friends now!” The ashy gray earth pony said as he looked out of a window, seeing Twilight and Applejack approaching. “We ain’t got much time, go get brass” he said as he and Crosby exited the car, smiling as he walked to greet Twilight. “Ah! Hello Princess! You're early!”

“Hello, Smokey!… and please, it’s just Twilight” Twilight said with a smile before she looked up. “What’s this? I thought you said your engine broke down”

“It did, but my friend Turbo came through and got it running! And not just that, but we have a private car to take you on your tour!” Smokey said with a calm smile, trying to hide his nerves.

“Oh? I thought we’d be walking” Twilight said, a bit perplexed.

“Well, once we knew that 109 would be working, me and Crosby went and inspected the bridge early this morning! And it’s safer than we thought!” Smokey said with a shrug.

“Uhh… Smokey… there’s something I need to talk to ya about…” Applejack said, shuffling uncomfortably. “Last night… I uh…” she sighed. “I think I saw a ghost train”

Smokey’s face fell, his brow furrowing as he swore in his mind as he raised an eyebrow. “Really? What’d it look like?”

“It was a steam engine! It was big and rusty, and it’s cab was lit with so much fire! It rocketed by the farm heading towards town like a bat outta Tartarus!” Applejack said, shivering as she recounted her experience with the Ghost Train.

“A steam train?… huh… well when we went to the bridge this morning, we saw no such thing” Smokey said casually.

“That’s odd… but I know what I saw!” Applejack said sternly. “Somethin screwy is goin on!”

“Well…” Smokey started before Crosby called out, Smokey mentally sighing in relief.

“Ah! Princess! Applejack! You're early!” Crosby said as he and Brass approached, Crosby now wearing a car attendant uniform.

“Your back quick!” Smokey said with a smile. “Well, Twilight, once the rest of your friends get here, we’ll depart!”

“That sounds like a plan” Twilight said with a smile.

It didn’t take long for the remaining four to arrive at the station, brass giving the six a tour of The Empress, the six were impressed, Rarity surprisingly was the most impressed by the President Car, even jotting down notes.

Brass smirked as they finished the tour. “Oh! And ladies, it may be interesting to you to know that Princess Celestia herself rode in this car several times!” He said as he reached into a closet, pulling out a framed photo of Celestia delivering a speech from the rear platform.

“109 to conductor, do you copy?” Smokey’s voice crackled over the radio on Brass’ jacket.

“I copy 109, ready to depart?” Brass asked as he looked to see Crosby climb aboard the car again, carrying a cooler and stashing it in the fridge of the car’s kitchen.

“Correct, awaiting signal” Smokey replied as he checked the gauges in the cab of the Rs-1.

“Copy, 109, drop the Three Step, departure granted” Brass said with a smile as he took a seat in the crew compartment.

“Roger, engine 109, dropping ramp flag and Three Step, departing now, over” Smokey said as he gave two blasts of the horn, released the brakes, set the engine into forward, and opened the throttle.

109’s engine slowly revved up, taking up the slack from the coupler between it and The Empress, carefully departing into the woods.

“Hey y’all, you can tell the gals if they want, one of them can ride up here, they just have to be careful crossing between the cars” Smokey said as 109 slowly accelerated.

“Are you sure about this?” An employee said as he looked to a shipment form, stating 13 was to be transported elsewhere for restoration.

“Hey man, I don’t make the waybills, I just pull the loads” a husky unicorn said as he took the clipboard.

“Ah… well… if Smokey signed for it…” the employee said as he watched a flatcar slowly enter the warehouse, coupling to 13.

“Yeah… he did” the unicorn said as he looked to the slick cursive signature that only magic could make.

“So… where you from again? This engines a bit… rugged for the EUR” the employee asked as the unicorn got down and coupled to 13.

“…uh… I’m from a shortline down south” he said as he climbed aboard the ragged looking SD40-2, the company name on the side having been sprayed over in temporary paint.

“Ah… alright…” the employee said as he watched 13 slowly be pulled out of the warehouse.

“So, how fast will this puppy go?” Rainbow Dash asked as Smokey watched the track ahead, glancing to the rainbow Pegasus.

“109 here’s a road switcher, it was built to be more for freight hauling and yard work, the speedometer says 65, but I’d say she’d do a little better, I wouldn’t knock 80 if she was running light and in good condition” Smokey explained before he smirked, tapping the rope which dangled from the ceiling. “Wanna make’er sing?”

Rainbow dash smirked as she zipped over, grabbing the cord with her hoof and pulling it, 109’s air horn calling out as they went through a valley, the sound echoing around. “That’s definitely twenty percent cooler!”

Fluttershy winced a bit at the sound of the horn, looking back to Brass, who was recounting his experience of overseeing Celestia’s ride on The Empress.

“Her personal chef even came along, he nearly wore the oven out making pastries for her! It was something to see!” He said as he sighed. “A baking a cake while going ninety miles per hour, that’s something” he said with a smile.

“It’s so incredible to think that I’m riding in a carriage that Celestia herself once graced!” Rarity said with a squee. “Oh to have been there for the glory days of rail travel” she said before the radio crackled.

“HANG ON!” Smokey screamed as the car jolted roughly, a loud hiss sounding out as the brakes were thrown into emergency, the short train coming to a grinding halt, startling all aboard.

“Goodness!” Twilight yelped as she steadied herself. “Is this a normal hazard of rail travel?” She asked as Brass quickly went to the engine.

“Smokey! What in the blazes are you doing braking like that!?” Brass called as he entered the engine, Smokey grimacing.

“That.” Smokey said as he pointed to a massive bear asleep on the tracks. “I didn’t wanna hit it, but it’s gonna have to move its big fuzzy butt!” He said as he grabbed the horn cord and began sounding a flurry of short blasts. “Get a move on!” The bear raised its head, looking to the train before it laid its head back down, Smokey snarling. “Big Stubborn…” he grumbled as Brass went back to the car to explain why they’d stopped so roughly.

“Oh?” Fluttershy asked after Brass explained, leaning out to look at the bear before she smiled. “He’s probably just taking a nap, I’ll go talk to him” she said with a smile, wincing again as she heard another flurry of angry horn blasts from Smokey, followed by several choice shouts. “B-but can you tell Smokey to calm down?”

“Of course!” Crosby said with a smile as he quickly went to the cab to politely tell Smokey to calm down. “Hey, we’re a few minutes late, stop having a tantrum” he said as he peaked his head in the door.

Smokey looked back with an embarrassed expression. “I ain’t havin a tantrum! I’m just tryna get this big stankin’ animal off the tracks so we can keep-“

“And tell the other creatures to be safe around the tracks, it’s not always safe to cross” Fluttershy said calmly as she flew to the cab and poked her head in, the bear having lumbered off into the woods. “We can go now, he just needed asked politely” the yellow Pegasus said sternly, Smokey looking down to the cab floor like a foal being scolded.

“Yes, Fluttershy” he said nervously as he began to charge the air lines, waiting till Fluttershy boarded again before departing.

The trip went very smoothly, surprising the three-pony crew, even when crossing the Everclear trestle. They soon entered the town of Everfree, the six gawking as the abandoned town came into view. Once the train was stopped, Brass and Crosby helped the six off while Smokey shut down 109, to keep from idling and using up fuel.

“Wow…” Twilight said as she took in the abandoned and overgrown town. “It’s been dormant for so long…” she said as she walked off the station platform. “It’s like everyone just left one day…”

“Apparently that’s exactly what happened, after the mining company, outpost and lumber mill closed, the town didn’t have a purpose” Smokey said as he looked around. “It’s a bit sad… and eerie too” he said as he turned and smiled. “So! You wanted a tour?”

“Of course! Ooo it’s so spooky, it would be perfect for a Nightmare Night party!” Pinkie began to ramble off party ideas as they began towards the engine shed and backshop.

“Well, here’s the engine house! Once we get opened and have more locomotives, we’ll make this our main base for operations” Smokey explained as he unlocked a door and opened it. “Mares first!” He said with a polite smile.

“Thank you, Smokey,” Twilight said with a soft smile as she entered. She was sure that the steam engine was here, and she was determined to find it, why else would they want to keep this a secret?

Rarity scrunched her nose up at the scent of oil, soot and general filth which had accumulated inside the engine shed. “Well, I do hope you give this place a good cleaning, it’s dreadfully smelly” she said with a slight cringe.

“Of course!” Smokey said as he led them around the shed, explaining the function of everything from the inspection pits to the tools.

After a while, they exited the empty engine shed, Twilight eyeing the large brick engine shop. “What’s that?” She asked as she pointed with a hoof.

“Ah! That’s the backshop, it’s where an engine or car would go if it needs heavy repairs like overhauls” Smokey said with a smile.

“Can I see it?” Twilight asked eagerly.

“Of course!” Smokey said with a smirk as he walked to the backshop and entered.

A large crane sat dormant from the ceiling, around the two tracks were dozens of huge machines, all instrumental in repairing and machining new parts for locomotives, Steam locomotives. Twilight's eyes lit up a bit as she saw a tender, quickly being disappointed to see it lacked a locomotive. According to the faded number on the back, it once belonged to the railway’s No.26.

After this, and walking around a little more, the nine ponies headed back to 109, Smokey firing up the engine and turning around on the Wye track which led into the engine shed. Once turned around, they set off again for Ponyville.

“Thank you, Smokey! That was a wonderful ride! I can see that you and your friends are putting a lot of effort into this… you certainly seem passionate!” Twilight said with a soft smile as Smokey blushed, rubbing the back of his head, facing Smokey as she stood on the Ponyville station platform.

“Well it ain’t nothin! Hehe… so… Twilight… I need to speak with ya later today about somethin… ya see…” Smokey began, only to be cut off by Steam galloping into the yard and up the ramp to the platform.

“SMOKEY! SMOKEY! IT'S GONE! SOMEPONY HAS STOLEN IT!” He shrieked as he reached Smokey.

13 sat on a cold, somewhat overgrown siding. Nearby, an older-model Diesel rocked violently as a large crane with a grabber claw slammed down onto it, tearing through its metal shell with ease and exposing its engine. Nearby, two scrappers worked with acetylene torches, cutting a boxcar apart.

A bit of condensation had formed on 13’s headlight lens, running down slowly and dripping to the ground like a tear as the flames of the blast furnace glinted off it.

Chapter 12: Scrapyard Scrape

“Woah woah woah! Steam! What’s stolen?” Smokey yelped as Steam caught his breath.

“13… she’s gone” Steam said worriedly as Smokey’s face paled.

“Wait, what’s 13?” Twikight asked as Smokey began to hyperventilate.

“W-who!? Do you know!?” Smokey asked, completely ignoring Twilight completely.

“I got this from the security camera!” Steam said as he showed Smokey the printed photo. Smokey saw the photo, his hooves trembling before he slammed the paper down.

“THAT… THAT!!!” Smokey shouted as he went into a tirade. “THAT'S STEEL CUTTER! HE AND HIS SLEAZY PARTNER WANTED TO BUY THE LINE FOR SCRAP!” He shouted as he turned and jumped on 109. “I need to stop them!”

“Wait wait wait! Smokey!” Steam, Crosby and Brass all shouted as they tried to stop him, Twilight picking up the photo and seeing the steam engine, connecting the dots.

“Lemme go! I can’t let them do this to my engine!” He shouted as he turned to see Twilight staring to the photo.

“This is your engine?…” Twilight asked as she handed the photo to Applejack. “Your ghost train I presume?”

“Well I’ll be… it sure is” Applejack said as Smokey turned.

“Listen, Twilight, you can lecture me all you want, but I can’t let them cut it up!” Smokey said through tears. “I did all I could to keep from that engine gettin’ scrapped or taken away!”

“B-but Smokey, listen, it’s-“ Twilight started, only for Smokey to cut her off.

“It’s not just an old train! And it is safe! We even had it inspected and everything!” Smokey snapped. “We didn’t file officially before it was hidden because of what happened to that 4-4-0 in Appleloosa! When ya caught wind, ya took it from’em!”

“Smokey!” Twilight snapped in her Royal Canterlot voice. “What do you take me for!? Why would I scrap it?” She asked as she looked to Smokey, seeing just how much he cared about that old train. “As for the 4-4-0, they weren’t taking care in the restoration, when I had it examined, it’s boiler was barely holding together!… and I’ll help you get it back… but… I’ll need to think… if you can operate it.. I’m very disappointed that you even operated it without the proper permits.” She said sternly.

Smokey calmed down a bit, quickly going to the dispatcher and asking for clearance to the scrapyard. Unfortunately there was a rush happening and they couldn’t spare a single path, not even when Twilight tried to order it.

“Don’t worry, Smokey! I’ll take care of this! I’ll impound the engine! I’ll send the guards as soon as traffic clears up!” Twilight said with a smile.

“But they’ll have it in pieces by then!…” Smokey said before he saw a taxi. “Come on, CC! I have a plan!” Smokey said as he grabbed Crosby and yanked him to the taxi, shouting to the puller. “Iron and Steel recycling facility! And step on it!”

“Right!” The puller said as he reared up on his hind legs, taking off in a bolt, Twilight ran out of the office.

“Smokey! What are you doing!?” She called as the taxi rounded a corner out of town.

“That colt sure does care about that old train…” Fluttershy said softly.

It was a long and agonizing journey, the sun was dipping behind the horizon as they reached the scrapyard, Smokey growing a worried expression as he watched the Taxi leaving, walking towards the scrapyard. “Hmm… now to get in..”

“Wait! I thought we were going to go and talk to the owners!” Crosby said with a worried expression.

“Like they’ll let us!” Smokey said as he walked to the chain link fence, pulling out a pair of pliers and started to take it apart, just enough to fit a pony through. “We’ll just have to be sneaky,” he said as he worked.

Crosby looked at Smokey and sighed. “The things you get me into…” he said leaned down to help, the two squeezing through.

The two snuck through rows and rows of scrapped locomotives and cars, lined up on sidings. Mountains of rusted metal lay chaotically around. The two felt like they were going in circles.

“Hey! Someone’s cut the fence!” An employee shouted. Suddenly large spotlights came on and shone down into the yard, employees looking for the trespassers. Smokey and Crosby crawled under an old bus as several employees walked by.

The two had to be more cautious, sneaking through the yard and dodging employees. Smokey was getting more and more worried that they were too late, when he saw a glimmer of brass behind a scrap pile, sneaking around and seeing 13. His relief was short lived as he saw a scrapper light his torch to begin dismantling the steam engine.

“Crosby!” Smokey said in a hushed tone. “We gotta stop him!”

Crosby looked to an old rusty hopper and smirked. “I got an idea, grab that pole, and when I say so, leaver the car forward!” He said as she climbed up and turned a rusty brake wheel, the hoppers hoofbrake slowly releasing.

Smokey grabbed the pole and wedged it under the car, pushing forward and sending the hopper into motion.

The scrapper looked up and gasped as he saw the hopper rolling away and dropped his torch. “Hey! Stop that car!” He shouted as he ran away and around a curve, he was too slow to catch up.

Smokey and Crosby ran for 13, grabbing the scrappers torch and hauling it into the cab, using it to ignite a shovel of coal. The two worked like mad to build the fire, Smokey wincing as he heard the boiler groan and moan as the metal expanded far too fast to be safe. “I’m sorry old girl…” Smokey said as he shoveled another load of coal into the roaring firebox.

The boiler pressure began to rise, they were at 60 PSI now and building. Smokey sighed as he took his place in the engineers seat… “hey! What are you doing in that scrap engine?” An employee yelled… the same employee…

“We ain’t got enough pressure!” Smokey yelped as he released the brakes and put 13 into full forward gear, opening the throttle. 13 hissed as it began to slowly creep forward, without enough steam to move properly, this was the best it could do. The scrapper galloped and jumped onto the ladder to the cab. Smokey running around to the top of the ladder and snarling. “Sorry! But ya ain’t got a ticket!” He said as he went to kick the scrapper off, being grabbed and yanked off instead.

“Smokey!” Crosby shouted as he leaned out.

“Keep going!” Smokey shouted before the larger stallion slugged him across the face with a forehoof.

“Darn scrap thieves!” He shouted before Smokey grabbed him, the two rolling on the ground.

“That’s my engine you were about to cut up, ya barbarian!” Smokey shouted as he threw the scrapper off and turned to run, 13 picking up speed.

“Come on!” Crosby shouted as he leaned out, reaching for Smokey, who was galloping as fast as he could, 13 was beginning to match his speed. “Give me your hoof!”

Smokey leaped forward and managed to grab Crosby’s hoof, being pulled aboard. “Thanks! What’s the pressure now?”

“95!” Crosby replied as he went back to shoveling.

“Good! Let’s find the-“ Smokey started, being cut off as 13 was rammed from the front by one of the scrapyard’s diesel switchers, being shoved back, a second joining the first to force 13 in reverse towards the Smelting shed. Smokey looked back in horror before he saw a switch at the end of the sidings. “Get ready!” He said as he closed the throttle, yanked the Johnson Bar to reverse, and yanked the throttle open, racing in reverse into the fiery hellish glow of the smelting shed. Blast furnaces roared around them as Smokey slammed on the brakes, Crosby jumping out and throwing the switch.

“Go!” Crosby shouted as he climbed aboard, the two switchers charging for them, a large grabber crane moving over them too. Smokey yanked the throttle open again and racing over the switch, missing the Switchers by inches.

“BAIL OUT!” The first engineer said as the two jumped off, the diesels hitting the end of the track, flying off the rails and landing into a pit of molten metal with a tremendous crash as they started to melt down.

An alarm began to buzz as the two heavy steel doors of the shed began to close, Smokey leaping up and joining Crosby in shoveling again. 13 charged forward, black smoke and sparks shooting from its stack as it came closer and closer, the heavy steel doors closing in more and more.

Sparks shot from the doors as 13 was grazed going through, some grab-irons and the walkways being damaged and nearly ripped off the engine.

Spotlights hit 13 as more alarms and sirens went off, 13 swerving from left to right on different tracks, finally heading for the gates, Steel Cutter and Iron Smelter standing at the gate, Smokey grabbing the whistle cord and began blasting it.

“He’ll stop! Don’t worry!” Steel Cutter said confidently as 13 approached rapidly.

“You do realize that we stole his engine and were in the process of breaking it down for scrap iron…” Iron Smelter said as he glanced at his companion, 13’s headlight growing more intense.

“… on second thought, we should move!” The shorter stallion said as he turned and jumped off the track, Iron Smelter doing the same, 13 passing by with such speed and gusto, the tailwinds ripped the hats off the two ponies heads.

13 crashed through the iron gates, forcing them open with minimal effort and storming onto the mainline, blowing the switch open and racing away.

“Don’t just stand there you idiots!” Iron Smelter said as he ran to the scrapyards SD40-2, Steel Cutter close behind, “get them!” He shouted as the diesel charged off after the two.

The dark Equestrian countryside shot by in a blur, the serenity of Luna’s moon was uncaringly disturbed as No.13 thundered through the night, setting off hotbox detectors and frightening all who saw it. The cab was illuminated by the fire, massive sparks and cinders shooting from 13’s tall rusty smokestack.

Smokey leaned out and looked back, the headlight of the SD40-2 was clear in the distance. He looked ahead and put a hoof on the throttle, pulling it open more, looking to the speedometer which was reading 57 MPH. 13 jolted hard as it hit a switch, thundering onto another line to avoid being hit by an oncoming freight train, the engine making a horrific creaking groan as it rocked.

“Smokey! Smokey!” Crosby shouted as he tossed another scoop of coal into the firebox, going over to Smokey’s side, his voice barely audible over 13’s cacophony of noises “We can’t keep going like this! We’re at half a tender of coal, water’s boiling off fast, and she sounds like every part’s working loose!”

“We need to get to Ponyville!” Smokey shouted back, wincing as 13 jolted, one of its bearings locking and then working loose again. “At least then we’d have authorities to stop them from taking her back to the scrapyard!”

Crosby looked to his friend, seeing the fierce determination in his eyes, at least the one that wasn’t blackened from the tustle he had with the scrapper who tried to board the engine while they were escaping. He knew with that look that Smokey would coax 13 to Ponyville or bust.

Twilight stood at the station, the scrapyard had not returned any message she sent about 13, and having not heard from Smokey in several hours, she was growing more and more worried.

“What in the name of Equestria!?” The dispatcher shouted from her office, Twilight rushing in to see her board, one after another, lights turning red and alarms going off.

“What’s happening?” Twilight asked as the dispatcher began flipping switches and grabbed her headset radio.

“Something’s flying northbound on the southbound mainline! It’s setting off every hotbox and defect detector on its way! And something’s behind it too!” The dispatcher said as she began to radio trains, giving a firm order. “STOP ALL TRAFFIC!”

Twilight turned to look at the board, each light flipping red, one by one, each getting closer to Ponyville. “Smokey…” she said softly. “What have you gotten yourself into…”

Smokey leaned out of the cab and smiled. “Thank Celestia! There’s the home signal!” He shouted as he pointed to the signal, under it was a sign which stated Yard Limit, Ponyville was only a mile ahead. “They can’t get us now! We’re on the homestretch!” Smokey laughed… that laugh was cut short however… for as he turned to Crosby… the cylinder head cover shattered with an almighty explosion of steam and shrapnel. “NO!” Smokey shouted.

13 began to drastically slow, Smokey leaning forward. “Come on old girl! Just half mile!” He shouted, tears in his eyes as the engine swerved again over a switch, the brick arch in the firebox collapsing due to the jolt.

Crosby yelped In fright as smoke and sparks shot from the firebox door before it slammed shut. “We lost the firebox! Smokey!” Crosby shouted as he dropped the fire, burning coals falling to the track bed.

Smokey gritted his teeth as 13 began to slow, the pressure gauge falling faster and faster. “We can’t stop! I won’t let them destroy my engine!”

“They can’t destroy it if you destroy it yourself!” Crosby shouted as a spring saddle broke on the left side, leaf springs shooting out like a deck of cards. Smokey looked to Crosby as the engine slanted to one side… he slammed the throttle shut and applied the brakes to a full emergency application.

13’s wheels locked up with a scream of metal on metal brakes as it skidded to a halt, smoke pouring from the ashpan, steam shooting from the busted cylinder, and parts barely clinging to the engine. As the engine stopped, Smokey grabbed the whistle cord and began blasting SOS in Morse Code.

Twilight's ears perked up hearing the whistle. “That sounds like… a distress signal! Something’s wrong!” She said before she turned. “Quick! We need to get out there and help him!”

“I can’t! We don’t have an engine free!” The dispatcher said worriedly.

“Oh yes we do!” A shout came from Turbo as she pulled up to the station. “Get aboard, Princess! If Smokey’s in trouble, I’m going to help!”

Twilight nodded and jumped aboard, Turbo throwing her engine into full throttle and racing down the line towards the whistling.

Smokey grabbed a large wrench from the toolbox while Crosby held his scoop defensively, snarling as Iron’s and Steel’s diesel approached, stopping.

“Last chance! Give us that wreck and no pony has to get hurt!” Steel shouted from behind the SD40-2’s headlights.

“Over my cold dead body!” Smokey shouted venomously.

“That can be arranged!” Iron Smelter snapped as the headlights dimmed, no less than a dozen cutting torches could be seen through the darkness, poised and ready to dismantle anything they went up against.

Smokey and Crosby prepared for a last stand against the scrappers when Turbo’s Genset pulled up and coupled to 13, Twilight jumping off and flying around the wrecked steam engine and landing beside Smokey. The scrappers, startled by seeing the princess, backed up a bit.

“Smokey! What happened? Are you two ok?” Twilight asked as Smokey didn’t back down.

“I’m fine! These… These brutes were about to cut up 13, we managed to build a fire and make a run for it, they tried to shove us off the track and into a blast furnace!” Smokey explained as Steel Cutter and Iron Smelter stepped forward.

“Princess! These two hooligans broke into our yard, pressurized an untested locomotive and stole it! We were merely trying to stop them! Now, if you’ll allow us to retrieve our property, we’ll be inclined to not press charges and sue these two delinquents” Iron Smelter said with a smug smile.

“Excuse me?” Twilight asked, tilting her head.

“The engine was untested and they had no permits! And they are now holding up traffic! Even if I don’t press charges, I’m sure the Royal Railway Administration and the EUR will have something to say about this unauthorized use!” Steel Cutter added.

“… that’s…” Twilight looked to Smokey, who seemed to realize that while they had to save 13… it was incredibly reckless to charge out on the mainline. “That’s incorrect! I… I had authorized 13 to be operational, and the engine had been inspected by Ponyville’s best! I had planned to officially file the paperwork in the morning” Twilight said with a stern expression. “Now unless you want Me to personally file charges on behalf of the engines owners, I suggest you go back to your recycling facility, and be prepared to pay for any damages you directly caused by forcing them to operate the locomotive to keep from it being dismantled”

Steel Cutter and Iron Smelter gawked for a moment before they glared at Smokey and Crosby, claiming aboard the SD40 and slinking back into the darkness.

Smokey and Crosby looked at Twilight, eyes wide. “Twilight.. you saved us… and 13…” the former said as Turbo walked up.

“I’ve coupled up to your engine, we can go back to Ponyville now” she said with a smile as she walked back to the Genset.

It wasn’t a very long trip back to Ponyville, though they had to stop twice to check 13. Steam and Brass waited eagerly at the platform for them… their faces fell when they saw 13 sporting its busted cylinder, collapsed brick arch and broken spring saddle. The engine limped unhealthy as it was towed in. Folks came out of their homes to see the odd move, gawking at the damaged locomotive as if they were seeing a great wounded beast of legend. Not a word was said as Turbo uncoupled 13 in front of the C&E’s Ponyville station. Turbo gave Smokey a reassuring pat on the shoulder before she set off back for the yard.

Smokey slowly walked into the station and climbed onto a bed, too tired to head back home, tears running down his face as he fell into a dreamless sleep.

Chapter 13: Aftermath

Celestia’s sun arose to a somber day for the four members of the Canterlot & Everfree Preservation Society, their prized possession now sitting at the station, beaten and damaged. Some residents had come over to see the old engine, others even offering to help where they could in fixing it.

Smokey, Crosby, Brass, and Steam had been working a decent part of the day to check 13 over, Steam having taken the day off to help. The broken cylinder would need to be replaced, though Smokey recalled there possibly being a spare in the machine shop, the spring saddle and brick arch too would be minimal repairs… but they found one major issue when checking the boiler. The front flue sheet had been leaking horribly, having been warped by firing up the boiler too fast. The flues too were damaged, and the running gear… if 13 didn’t need it before… it surely needed a complete overhaul now.

Smokey sighed before he slapped his old engineer's hat to the ground, swearing a bit as his long charcoal mane fluttered in the breeze. “Things were going so well…” he said before he looked over to see Twilight and her friends, Swift Sword, and several others walking to the station.

“Hello, how are all of you today?” Twilight asked softly with a smile as she approached.

“Gettin’ by… just inspectin’ 13… she’s in rough shape… last night’s cannonball run really jarred her somethin’ good…” Smokey said as he looked solemnly to his engine.

“This was out there all this time?” Swift said as he approached, looking at the engine. “It’s hard to believe that something like this could be hidden for so long” the Royal Guard said as he looked at the old engine.

“Eeyup… we were worried it wouldn’t be operable, it was a miracle it was overhauled right before it was put away, the last documented operation was well over sixty years ago” Smokey said as he looked over to the others.

“Oh my, it really needs to be repainted,” Rarity observed while Smokey spoke, looking at the rust and filth that caked the locomotive.

“Hey, I’ve seen trains like these in old derring do books,” Rainbow Dash said as she looked at the tall driving wheels. “These things were made for speed, Derring Do was once tied up on a runaway gold train and it was going 115 miles per hour

“Yeah but that’s just a book, RD," Applejack said to her friend as she looked at the engine, thinking it was much less scary to see in daylight.

“So… what brings y’all here anyway?” Smokey asked as he looked to the few who he didn’t recognize, one of them Brass recognized as Historica.

“This is Historica, Crosshead Rod, And Whistle Song, they are from the Baltimare Museum of Equestrian History, and they’ve came to help” Twilight said with a smile.

Smokey sighed again as his eyes went to the platform. “You’ve come to take 13 away?” He asked quietly.

“What? Of course not!” Crosshead said with a smile as the older earth pony approached Smokey. “My friends and I are responsible for keeping the EUR’s Princess running, we know everything about overhauling steam locomotives! Twilight told us about your complete machine shop, and we’re going to help you rebuild your fine machine!”

Smokey’s eyes widened. “Wait, really!?” He asked as he and Crosby looked at Twilight, hope in their eyes.

“Of course! If you're going to operate a steam engine, I want it safe, sound, and certified, something Steam was able to reassure me of yesterday with his reports” she said with a smile as Steam scratched the back of his head.

“It was just a report,” Steam said with a slight blush.

Smokey smiled broadly. “I can’t thank y’all enough!” He said as he looked at the group. “When do ya wanna get started? We’ll have to get the word out on the restoration and set up a donation fund, and we’ll have to have an official opening date! And establish a timetable!” He said, his voice growing horse and face turning blue before he took a couple deep breaths.

“One thing at a time, Smokey” Twilight laughed as Pinkie piped up.

“And an opening party!” The pink party pony squealed with excitement.

“You imbeciles! I trust you with one job!” A tall red unicorn said, snarling as she stared at Iron Smelter and Steel Cutter.

“Coachella, listen, we didn’t think he would-“ Steel spoke, only for Coachella to slam a hoof down onto her desk.

“No! Don’t Coachella Listen me!” She snapped as she stood up, going to the window and staring down. From her office, she could see the station. “All you did by letting that old rust bucket escape is help him win favor with the princess” she said as she turned. “We have similar goals, you want the metal from tearing up that old useless line, and I want the land to use for my motorcoach tours” she said as she raised a hoof and rubbed between her eyes. “This is a slight setback, but it won’t stop us, we’ll go to plan B” she said as she took out a quill and parchment.

Over the next few days, 13 was moved back to Everfree, 109 carefully moving it into the backshop. Smokey, Crosby, Brass and Steam, along with the Baltimare Museum crew, and even some mechanics from the Equestrian United began work on disassembling the old Baldwhinny engine, noting every single issue and imperfection.

While Smokey was devastated to see 13 knock herself apart like it did, he was relieved that such an overhaul could happen, as many small imperfections were found that would get worse over time, such as cracks in the driving wheels, worn bearings, and important various parts that could be repaired instead of worn out and need replacing.

At the same time, the three coaches the C&E had were being prepared, while The Empress was immaculate, the two passenger cars and the caboose were also receiving important work such as reupholstered seats and other creature comforts.

The most incredible development surprisingly came from the EUR, as they fully funded and donated a complete set of boiler tubes and flues for 13, another caboose, five surplus passenger cars, and even a locomotive.

6914 was an EMD SW9, it worked it’s early years as Manehatten & Alpony 1020, working as a switcher in the Manehatten rail yard, then after a railroad merger, became Manehatten Central 778 and was transferred and promoted to Station Pilot at the Vanhoover Terminal, and then finally becoming 6914 and becoming a Shop Switcher in Fillydelphia where it worked for the rest of its career with the Equestrian United.

Now retired from service as it was seen as too inefficient and outdated, it was decided against scrapping the 6914 since it was still in good shape, and as such was donated to the C&E to help with track work and to act as a relief engine for the 109.

Currently the engine was dressed in a faded and sun baked coat of black paint with white hazard stripes but had small patches of its old pink and gold livery showing through where the black paint had chipped away.

Smokey would never admit it, but he took an instant liking to the 6914, favoring it over the 109, as over its career, it had received upgrade after grade, one of which included air conditioning.

Some improvements which came to the C&E were the infrastructure, mainly stations and other buildings along the right of way. The East Ponyville station which acted as the C&E’s terminus was in relatively good shape, but the other stations on the route would need serious renovations.

Everfree’s station, while harboring a serious infestation, was still mostly sound, and wouldn’t take too much work to make ready for guests, but Auburn’s station…

Smokey brought 109 to a halt, shutting off the engine as he and a small work crew got off the train, walking to the old dilapidated depot.

Auburn was a small community between Ponyville and Everfree, it only had a population of a hundred ponies give or take, it had faded out into a ghost town even before the C&E was closed, and its station reflected it. Tall vines grew over the walls. the windows, long devoid of glass, the doors having not been walked through in decades.

While appearing eerie on the outside, Smokey found the station calming, almost homelike. After a few moments trying to work the ancient door knob, the knob turned and the rusted hinges groaned in protest to being moved after so long. Inside the old station, it was as if time had stopped, a thick blanket of dust coated the interior, which while sparse, was still surprising that it was still there despite how long the station had been vacant.

The floorboards creaked and squeaked as Smokey walked through the station, it was peaceful in the station, it was as if he’d been here many times before. Despite how the station appeared from the outside, Smokey and the work crew were surprised to find how well the station had fared, it was almost as well preserved as the Ponyville station.

Walking outside, Smokey made his way around the station, noticing a sign for Auburn laying on the ground, half obscured by weeds. He walked back to the boxcar they’d used to haul tools and supplies and grabbed a hammer, nail and a ladder. Climbing the ladder with the sign in hoof, Smokey carefully placed the sign back to the wall and nailed it up. Smokey wasn’t sure why, but as he hammered the sign back up, it almost felt like Auburn station regained some life.

Smokey climbed down and smiled widely as he gazed up to the sign, Crosby walking beside him. “I can’t believe it! No termites, no rot, no issues, I’ve never seen a station so well preserved”

“It’s shocking, I will say,” Smokey said with a nod. “It’s almost magical” he said as he looked at the signal which was connected to the station, noticing it had changed. Where the sign had been disconnected and hung limply before, now the signal was raised into the all clear position.

Other work that was going on was track work, after all, one can’t have trains without track. While this was taking time away from 13’s beginning restoration, it was incredibly important to ensure the safety of trains along the line.

Smokey despised track maintenance, it was hot and dirty work, much rougher than the dirty and hot work of working on a locomotive. He was more than thankful that some Pegasi had brought clouds for shade, and the natural breeze of the land was a miracle to him.

Big Mac had come out to help, the large farm pony could lift ties and rails alone, and could drive a rail-spike in with just one or two swings of a sledgehammer.

“Sweet Celestia…” Smokey panted as he worked with a wrench to secure a rail-joint, a plate which held two sections of rail together. “I don’t see how anyone did this for a livin”

“And I don’t see how anyone could make a living up in the cab of one of those smoke belching steam engines” Turbo teased, the Pegasus having flown out while on break to see how Smokey was doing, truth be told she’d grown fond of being around the earth pony.

“You just say that because you get to run one of those newfangled diesels” Smokey retorted with a grin, Turbo nodding, giving Smokey a mischievous grin as she leaned in.

“At least all the engines I use operate as intended” She cooed into his ear.

Smokey laughed and glanced at her. “Well buck you too!”

The two guffawed as Crosby walked over, having his overalls off for once, his bad wing bandaged to his body. “If ya got the energy to laugh, why don’t you finish that rail joint and come help us shift the alignment over here”

Smokey rolled his eyes. “On it! Turbo, wanna help?”

“No thanks, it’s my lunch break, I’ll enjoy 2732’s air conditioning for you!” Turbo said as she flew off, Smokey rolling his eyes, grabbing a crowbar and walking to the others, who were using crowbars and other tools to shift the track to make a curve more gentle and less of a sharp turn for an engine.

They were having trouble, it seemed they couldn’t all coordinate just right. Brass, who’d been watching, stepped down from the caboose with his own crowbar, clanging it against a rail a couple times to get their attention. He looked to the crew for a moment before he began to sing.

“Won't you ring, old hammer? Hammer Ring. Won't you ring, old hammer? Hammer Ring.” He sang as he began to shift, the others joining in as he continued. “Broke the handle on my hammer, Hammer ring. Broke the handle on my hammer, Hammer ring.”

Smokey looked over to Brass as the crew worked, it was working, the song was keeping them in rhythm, and the track was shifting closer to the intended alignment! He’d always heard that track crews would sing to keep in rhythm and help with work, but he never thought he would see it with his own eyes and ears.

After a few more rounds of the song, the track was shifted, Brass walking back and sitting on the step of the Caboose, Smokey approaching. “Heya brass! That was something back there! How’d ya know to do that?”

“Back in my day on the Baltimare & Ohayo, you started from the bottom and worked your way up, my first job on the B&O was a Gandy Dancer, I laid rail, fixed roadbed, worked on bridges, shoveled out landslides, if it had to do with track, I was there with my tools” the elderly unicorn said with a nod. “But Y’know, my old crew woulda did a better job, you wouldn’t know rhythm if it fell out of the sky, hit ya on the face, and started wigglin!”

The two laughed as the maintenance crew began to pack up to head home for the day, the grand opening was coming soon, and Smokey wanted to make the best impression he could on the people of Equestria.

Chapter 2: Preservation’s Bold First Steps

After compiling both their allowances, breaking piggy banks and getting birthday money early, and even calling on every favor they had, the two colts headed to Ponyville’s town hall to see the mayor and find if the Canterlot & Everfree was owned.

“So, did you want the current owners or a specific segment? Some of the railway was sold to various other railroads after it went bankrupt” Mayor Mare asked as she looked at the few papers she had on the obscure little railroad.

“Is there anything about the portion of the line heading into the Everfree Forest?” Smokey asked as he brushed his charcoal mane out of his face.

“Let’s see here… yes, opened in 877 CE, it was the fifth railroad to be built in Equestria, it primarily hauled mined ore and coal, lumber, and passengers, had a tunnel which ran through alicorn ridge which connected to a line that once ran to Los Pegasus… and was closed in 967 after that tunnel collapsed with a passenger train inside…” Mayor Mare said as she furrowed her brow a bit as she passed Smokey the papers. “It’s currently owned by the Royal Guard”

Smokey looked at the papers and nodded. “Thank you, ma’am!” He said with a smile before he turned to Crosby. “Looks like we’re heading to the office for the Royal Guard” he said with a smile as he stood.

Swift Sword sat at his desk, doing paperwork when his receptionist peaked her head in. “Sir, there are two colts here to see you,” she said as Swift nodded.

"Send them in," replied Swift as he put his papers aside.

Smokey and Crosby entered, the two gave a salute before going to sit at the desk. “So, what can I do for you two? Here to sign up for the junior guards?”

The two looked to each other before shaking their heads “No sir... We came to ask about the old train track in the Everfree.. The Canterlot and Everfree, we were told it’s owned by the Royal Guard," Smokey explained. Swift raised an eyebrow as opened his filing cabinet and began to search.

“That's something I haven’t heard about in a while... We used to use the line from Ponyville to Canterlot to move guards and supplies without disrupting traffic on the Equestrian United mainline, we never went down into the Everfree section of the line though, it was seen as too dangerous, especially since the outpost was destroyed by a hydra before it was railbanked decades ago” he said as he found the file. “Says here it was supposed to be converted to a new trail of a few years back, but then the Changelings attacked the Royal Wedding and we never got around to it, we had bigger issues at hand" Swift explained, as he looked to the two, “so, if I may ask, why are two colts like you asking?”

Smokey gave a nervous smile. "Well... myself and my friend...we wanted to...ask if we could purchase the line and maybe preserve it for future generations."

Swift laughed loftily. "So I take it the electric trains on a coffee table aren't enough anymore?” He asked as he picked up a quill in his magic “Let me ask my supervisor," Swift finished as he wrote on the parchment, his horn lighting up and causing the parchment to disappear in a puff of fire. A moment later another parchment appeared on his desk. Swift read it and nodded, "Your in luck, my supervisor says since the line is redundant, you can purchase it...and since we were planning to sell the line to a recycler for scrap value, I don’t see why you can’t buy it for that, she also said if you take it, you can also have one of the old diesels, engine 409, two troop carriages and caboose number 90753," Swift explained, then saying the price... one which Smokey almost instantaneously agreed to pay.

The two colts looked at each other with a grin as Smokey stood up. "Thank you sir! Thank you, thank you, you thank you!" He said as he vigorously shook the guard's hoof.

“It’s a pleasure! And when you start running trains, have a seat for me!” Swift said with a smile, shaking Smokey’s hoof. “I always love riding on trains! It’ll be nice to ride on one for fun instead of work”

The two left, grinning widely. They had been told that the rolling stock would be delivered to the Ponyville yard in two days. While Swift was concerned that neither were certified engineers, Smokey proudly declared that he managed to get his certification. Since his father was a machinist for Equus Lumber Co, Smokey had received training and certification to operate the company’s little engine when need be.

The two headed to the Ponyville yard, taking a hoofcar and peddling along the whole line to see what would need repairs before a train could run. It wasn't long after when they saw a wooden fence built over the track.

“Oh you gotta be kidding,” Smokey said as he saw the land around the track was now an orchard for Sweet Apple Acres, and in the time that the the railroad had been closed, the fences had been removed to give better access to the fields on the other side of the track, as consequence needing a fence over the track to keep our animals and unwanted ponies.

“Maybe we can get Applejack to let us run a train through?” Crosby asked as Smokey shook his head.

"The new diesel, maybe... but 13? Yeah right, they banned steam operation outside the Manehatten museum of Equestrian History, and the toy class they use on the EUR," Smokey said as he thought aloud. “It's a pickle…”

The colts hopped the fence and continued through the field, finding the tracks to be in a rather shabby state due to the saturated ground. “Huh...that could complicate things...” Observed Smokey, seeing the wooden ties had eroded away. “Maybe we’ll have to strengthen this section,” he continued onward.

“Howdy Smokey!” A hearty voice called, making the ash coat colt jump.

“Gah! Heya Applejack!” Smokey said as he turned with a smile.

“What brings ya here on the farm?” She asked before she furrowed her brow. “You ain’t pilfering’ apples again, are ya?”

“What!? No no no!” Smokey said nervously before he explained how they’d purchased the line and would need trains to be able to pass through.

Applejack nodded as she looked to the fence. “Well I don’t see why we can’t work somethin’ out, tell ya what! Me an’ Mac’ll put up a couple gates, and y’all can come through any time! Of course once we get a fence put up again you won’t need to worry about the gates” she said with a smile.

“That sounds great, Applejack! I appreciate it!” Smokey said with a smile, happy with the arrangement.

Despite being abandoned, the line was in relatively good shape, they planned to run their new engine over the line, just to be sure that 13 wouldn’t derail. It wasn’t long before they reached the abandoned town, finding out its name was Everfree. The two began to drain the turntable pit, it would need a decent amount of repairs before being used, luckily 13 was on the track aligned with the turntable.

“Well... that’s not good," Smokey said as he climbed out of the turntable, "the mechanisms rusted up, it won’t be turning for a while. We oughta save the station though, when they deliver the rolling stock, the first thing we need to do is bring some lumber to fix it… and a couple cans of bug spray…” Maybe Fluttershy has a couple bee suits we could borrow… Smokey thought as he walked into the shed. "For now, let’s see what 13 needs." Smokey brought 13’s blueprints to a workbench to read over it. “Looks like almost everything’s here. We’ll have to perform a hydro test on the boiler, so we might have to call a boiler inspector for that. ” Smokey planned as he took a wrench and began to open the old engine's smokebox to check the flue’s and superheater piping.

“That could be risky, couldn’t it?” Crosby asked as Smokey rooted around the smokebox. “What if they rat us out?”

“I doubt they would!… besides, I don’t wanna even try to steam this thing up if the boiler’s bad, remember what happened to the B&O Big Six, they didn’t inspect or maintain the boiler for three months before the blast” Smokey said as he popped his head out, ash clinging to his nose. “We’ll need a headlight, bell and a smokestack as well” he said as he looked over towards the adjacent brick Backshop which too was locked. surely there had to be some spare parts in there. He thought before he chucked.