hazel-of-sodor

[hazel-of-sodor]

https://youtu.be/YhJ78F0JMdU

The Bob Ross of building trains in Minecraft

The discord server Im in actually has that mod installed on our minecraftt server, but Ive never messed with the mod.

[hazel-of-sodor]

I feel like commercial flying boats like the Martin M-130 or the Boeing 314 would still exist in your au, or at least the Pacific Clipper, a 314 that was first to fly home the long way around(really interesting story, you should check it out), or the Dixie Clipper, the first to make a transatlantic flight, as these guys opened up transatlantic and Pacific flights and paved the way for air travel across the pond as we see it today.

And you can't tell me that Sodor didn't at least think about putting up a marine terminal to service flying boats, like these guys would have been a part of the back bone to Sodor's passenger service

Here is a 314

Here is an M-130

They would be preserved somewhere! Sodor was pretty dedicated to the ocean liners, so I'm not sure they would have utilized these.

[hazel-of-sodor]

I hit one hundred followers on Bluesky!

To celebrate, here is all of my engines so far!

(including a few unreleashed ones)

[hazel-of-sodor]

Does the magic railway exists in your au?

No, it doesn't. Lady does have her own domain, but of the living, only Caomhnóir has even glimpsed it beyond the odd dream, and the Lady's Champion keeps her secrets.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Sorry if you have been asked this before but, do you intend to use the characters from Tugs (thomas spiritual sister series created by David Mitton)?

Not really, I've never seen the show. They prolly exist somewhere, but I have no plans to explore that.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Reblog to open a rail line from your blog to the person you reblogged this from

[hazel-of-sodor]

No.6 for AO3 wrap?

6. Favorite title you used?

Something Holy This Way Comes

For so many reasons. The play on the title it's referencing, the fact it all but says Caomhnóir is coming.

Honorable mention: Ch.9 Shadows of the same fic

[hazel-of-sodor]

I would like to know what you answer to number 18 is on the AO3 wrapped thing. Thanks!

I already answered this for someone else, but heres the answer I gave:

18. The character that gave you the most trouble writing this year?

That's hard...but I have to say Culdee. I challenge myself each traintober to have NWR 1-12 each get a story, and each Railway on Sodor to get at least an appearance...I have very little to say about the Culdee Fell. So I continued from last year.

Honorable mention: Glastonbury Abbey. The Uman and Din's Star class has a mind of her own, and you can't move her once she's decided on something. Screech? Normally goes along with what I want...unless Abbey is involved. Abbey has derailed multiple plot lines over the years. I adore her, but Im well aware she's running the show when she's in a scene. Fun Fact-She wasn't originally meant to be with Screech. The second fic was meant to introduce an engine for Screech, but Abbey claimed Screech and refused to even entertain the idea of letting go.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Number 11 for the AO3 wrapped

11. What work took you the longest to write?

Something Holy This Way Comes, Which makes sense when you realize it is the longest fic Ive ever written.

Discounting the Uman and Din, Unsinkable was not only the longest one shot this year, beating out the nearest by over 500 words, but I also was researching to make sure it was accurate. All the ships listed in the fic were in wireless range of Titanic on that night.

[hazel-of-sodor]

On the ao3 wrap I would like an answer to question 27

So BrHater told me this was meant to be about 28, so I'll answer both.

27. What do you listen to while writing?

Cinematic/dramatic music or Neebs Gaming normally. Scott Buckly makes the music I'm currently listening to.

28. Favorite work you wrote this year?

Difficult question (I wrote over sixty fics this year), but in the end Something Holy This Way Comes won out, specifically Ch.10 What You Have Unleashed. I won't say why for those you haven't read it, but let some of my characters stretch their kegs so to speak.

Honorable Mention: Unsinkable. I just love liners, and Titanic's my favorite since I was a kid.

[hazel-of-sodor]

17 & 18!

17. Your favorite character to write this year?

Cassandra. She stole the show in Something Holy This Way Comes and A Western Summer. She also allowed me to explore more of what being Caomhnóir meant, both physically and emotionally.

Honorable Mention: Screech. As always I love writing Eldritch stuff, and she got to show out in Something Holy This Way Comes.

18. The character that gave you the most trouble writing this year?

That's hard...but I have to say Culdee. I challenge myself each traintober to have NWR 1-12 each get a story, and each Railway on Sodor to get at least an appearance...I have very little to say about the Culdee Fell. So I continued from last year.

Honorable mention: Glastonbury Abbey. The Uman and Din's Star class has a mind of her own, and you can't move her once she's decided on something. Screech? Normally goes along with what I want...unless Abbey is involved. Abbey has derailed multiple plot lines over the years. I adore her, but Im well aware she's running the show when she's in a scene. Fun Fact-She wasn't originally meant to be with Screech. The second fic was meant to introduce an engine for Screech, but Abbey claimed Screech and refused to even entertain the idea of letting go.

[hazel-of-sodor]

*shrugs* sure. Ask as many as you want.

ao3 wrapped [writers edition]

How many words have you written this year?

How many works did you publish this year?

What work are you most proud of (regardless of kudos/hits)?

What work of yours has the most hits?

What work of yours got more feedback than you expected?

Favorite title you used

If you use song lyrics, which artist’s songs did you pull from the most?

Pairing you wrote the most for this year?

Favorite pairing you wrote for this year?

What work was the quickest to write?

What work took you the longest to write?

How many WIP’s do you have in your docs for next year?

What’s your longest work of the year?

What’s your shortest work of the year?

What WIP are you taking into next year with you?

What’s your most common “Additional Tags” tag?

Your favorite character to write this year?

The character that gave you the most trouble writing this year?

What’s one pairing you want to explore next year?

Which work of yours have you reread the most?

How many kudos in total did you get this year?

Which work has the most comments?

Did you do any collaborative works this year?

Did you write any gifts this year?

Did you receive any gifts this year?

What’s your most common category?

What do you listen to while writing?

Favorite work you wrote this year?

Favorite line/passage you wrote this year?

Biggest surprise while writing this year?

[hazel-of-sodor]

Besides Henry, are there any Black 5s in active service on Sodor?

If yes, how often do they double head trains with him?

Theres a few! 4888/44888 is one of them

They really only double head for specials, the Black fives are fairly powerful locomotives for the British loading gauge, and so rarely double head trains.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Sodor Light Show

Vicarstown

1989

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Gordon was surprised to find the yard at Vicarstown a flurry of activity as he approached the coaling platform. The yard was supposed to be all but abandoned, but workers ran about a pair of long diesels, covering them in a truly obscene amount of lights. Beneath the strings Gordon recognized them as peaks, although he couldn't tell the exact class.

Cassandra was somehow beside them, despite Gordon knowing she was supposed to be on the other side of the island. She was black from flange to funnel, a hard glint of gold in her eyes. 

Gordon rolled up alongside the No. 1, noting the numbers 97 403 and 97 404 on the diesels.

“Tired of being Thomas?” He asked casually as he stopped by her. 

Cassandra snorted, “For some reason, I always present female around Screech, even if I was Thomas moments before.”

“Your…unholy friend.” Gordon looked over to the two nervous diesels. “I assume she is how you are here.”

Cassandra nodded, “We caught word Ixion and 404 were being withdrawn, Screech pulled me from behind Tidmouth, and we snuck them out of their storage facility. Screech managed to bring us this far, but couldn't risk any further. If she slipped while moving them…well that would defeat the point.”

Gordon nodded, quietly relieved he would not be dealing with any unholy entities for the moment, “and your plan now?”

“Pull them behind me to Tidmouth, I can hide them in the carriage sheds for now. Hopefully our speed and all the lights will keep anyone from recognizing us, everyone should be distracted enough with the lighting ceremonies.”

“...would I be correct in assuming this plan was a spur of the moment creation?”

Cassandra winced, “Yes? We only found out they were being withdrawn this afternoon, I think they hoped we would be distracted by the light show.”

Gordon sighed, “Amanda, get clearance to Tidmouth for us. I think I would prefer to sleep in my own shed tonight.”

“Thank you.” Cassandra sagged on her frames, allowing her exhaustion to show.

“United we stand. Together we fall” Gordon said simply as Amanda went to get them a route. He winced as he stretched his valve gear, “you'll have to berth at Tidmouth though, I have no intention of making any unnecessary stops.”

“That's more than fair.” Casandra agreed.

Amanda returned with the news they had been given a clear run to Tidmouth.

Gordon shifted his wheels, “get them shunted behind me and couple up. The sooner we leave, the less likely we're spotted.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Sodor Light Show

Arlesburgh

1989

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Other Chapters

Zephyr flew up the line, her turbine whirring as she raced Northward. The Christmas Wind was one of her favorite trains, a clear run down the West Coast. Oh she didn't mind trucks and goods trains, but she was at heart an express engine.

The wind blowing in from the sea was biting cold, but her crew were safely warm in her cab, and her passengers secure in her coaches. The sea rose and fell with great swells with the wind, the distant lights of ships blinking in and out of view as they rose and fell. She slowed for Haultraugh and stopped at Arlesburgh to allow the light to be passed to the little railway, before tackling the Western Mainline.

While all technically the same line, the engines all agreed the tracks from Tidmouth to Arlesburgh was the Little Western, and the tracks further North were the Western Mainline. For fifteen miles the line ran, nothing but the sea, hills, and cliffs until they reached Harwick. Many of the island's engines disliked the run, as it was one of the longest inhabited stretches of line on the island, miles of uninterrupted wilderness, with nothing but your crew, the sea, and your train to keep you company, only the occasional passing loop to change up the scenery.

The express engines loved it.

Fifteen miles with only gentle curves, no stations, no junctions, and no one watching. Sodor’s one hundred mile per hour club had been born here, on this long stretch of empty line. 

Zephyr surged forward once fully on the line, the coaches singing happily as she pushed for triple digits. She doubted she'd reach it tonight, she was only just capable of breaking one hundred thanks to Crovan's Gate’s upgrades, and the train was long and heavy, but the attempt was worth it in and of itself. There was a feeling to pushing yourself and your train as fast as it would go, stretching for every ounce of speed, a rush like no other. The crew's called it runner's high, and it was why only experienced crews were allowed on express runs. Engines could become distracted while running at such speeds, and needed steady crews to guide them safely.

Zephyr enjoyed the run, but soon enough she had to slow as she entered Harwick, which enforced speed restrictions within the city. She rolled into Harwick’s main station slowly, seeing Sapphire and Jennings waiting on the narrow gauge side of the platform with their own train. 

She sighed contentedly as she stopped to allow the lights to be transferred, ready for the run to Mantauo.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Sodor Light Show

Crovan’s Gate

1989

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Other Chapters

Skarloey loved running with Rheneas. It had been rare enough for the first hundred years of their lives that even almost thirty years after Rheneas returned from his overhaul on the mainland Skarloey cherished it.

The run was familiar enough she didn't have to pay any attention to where to start and stop, instead just enjoying the trip. They whistled to all their friends along the line, trundling up the hills, the lantern on her bufferbeam lighting the path. 

Night trains in the Skarloey had never been common, except for this one train, taking the lantern up to her namesake village.

She and Rheneas quietly chatted as they ran up the line, past Cros-ny-Cuirn, past Glennock. The celebrations in this part of the island were quieter, more personal affairs than those of the larger cities along the standard gauge lines, or even those at Peel Godred according to the former Mid-Sodor engines, but Skarloey wouldn't have had them any other way. 

They rolled into Rheneas station, stopping to let the Lantern be taken into the church to light the tree. The stop took longer than was strictly necessary, their crews being invited in for cocoa.

They set off again, the lantern secured once again to her bufferbeam, through lakeside, and into Skarloey Station. There was a ceremony for the lighting, but Skarloey paid little attention to the words, having heard them many times over the years. Instead she allowed herself to doze contentedly until it was time for the trip back home to the sheds.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Sodor Light Show

Wellsworth

1989

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Other Chapters

As Gordon accelerated off towards the hill, the lantern that had been used to light Wellsworth Staion’s tree was secured to Edward’s lamp irons. Edward pulled gently away with a happy whistle, he could afford to go slower, as he didn't have to face the hill, nor did he have anywhere near as far to go. He heard Jupiter's bell behind him as the tram set off into the city with their own train. The coaches came without fuss, happily singing ‘trickety trock, trickety trock’ as they went.

 It was a simple run, but all the more pleasant for it. He rolled along the line, slow enough for the many children waiting to see him go by had a good enough view. Suddery, the capital loomed large, and he actually stopped there, the Duke of Sodor himself collecting the lantern for the capital tree. 

The signal dropped once more, and Edward rolled out to the sound of carols being sung, on towards Brendam. He slowed to pass the light at Lower Suddery, before finally stretching his wheels as he ran along the coast towards Brendam. He could see many ships large and small in the Harbor, all waiting for the celebration to begin. He rolled into the station right on time, well…given a minute or three as the streets had been crowded with well wishers.

No one minded, all happy and bright with the spirit of the night. The streets were lined with carts and stands, selling cake and sausages and hot cocoa. He rolled to a stop beneath tinsel and wreaths in the station, greeting the engines already there. All polished and decorated with care, even the twins. He privately wondered what Boco had bribed themSodo with.

The lantern was lifted from his lamp iron with care, and carried to the tree at the end of the platform. The lights blazed to life, revealing strands hung over the street from building to building.

Cheers rang out as the night's celebration began, Edward simmering contently in the middle of it all.