mwolf0epsilon

[mwolf0epsilon]

Dear Edmundo,

Hello, my name is Morgan. Morgan the Kerr Stuart Joffre class trench loco. You wouldn’t know me, I am undergoing restoration at the sodor’s steamworks. My acquaintance, Mouse, is helping me write this letter. She says she’s dyslexia and not the best speller. She’s writing this using a piece of equipment called texospeech to help her write this. My apologies if things don’t come out right.

Victor was telling me about modern engines today. He was trying to explain how things have changed since I died in 1916. Mouse showed me a film featuring you and tried to explain what it was. I am blind so I can’t really see what you look like. Mouse says that you’re like a double fairlie engine, but diesel electric. Or something to that extent.

I have seen double fairlies before. I wonder how both ends get along so good, and what happens when one end dies but the other lives. The only diesel I know is Rusty, so I am assuming that you’re like Rusty, but with two faces? I don’t know exactly how rusty looks, I do have a general idea based off of the wooden railway toys the manager puts against my face.

Mouse says that you can go faster than steam engines. What is it like to go so fast? Do you feel both ends? If someone touches your face on one end, do you feel it on the other end? What is it like to be electric? Do you have a powerline connected to you or a wire like a telephone or telegraph? How do you move with a power line always connected to you?

Mouse also says you’re from Portugal. I think I might of heard something about it. What’s it like there? Do you like flowers? What about singing?

I hope this letter finds you well. Victor suggested that I should reach out to other engines. Something about learning about the modern world and others, I don’t know.

Love Morgan

P.S, I asked Mouse if she could include a pressed flower in my letter. It’s a wildflower, there’s tons of them on The Island. I hope you like it

Dear Morgan,

Hello there! This is Ed and Mundo (aka Edmundo), the CP Class 1900 diesel-electric that you've reached out to three months ago. Your letter, regrettably, only reached us yesterday morning. Which is par for the course over here. Our mail service could do with having some work done to their policies and overall reliability...

But Gil, our driver, is telling us it's not appropriate to spend a response letter on complaining about the post-office (he's writing it for us by hand because he hates those text to speech thingies that phones have these days, since they don't understand him too well when he speaks English!).

We hope that, in the time it took for us to get your letter, that your restoration has gone well. It can be scary going in for a refurbish after years of neglect. We didn't have to die for our glow-up, so your experience was likely a lot more scary than ours for sure.

That said, we've heard many wonderful things about the Sodor Steamworks and its dedicated workforce! Please do send our regards to Victor and Kevin.

We've heard nothing but praise!

Being gone since 1916 certainly would make for a shocking return! But not quite as shocking as learning that there's a recording of us out there that you got to see all the way in Sodor. We didn't think anyone really cared for us that much to film us, since we're more of a long-haul goods engine than anything extravagant.

And we don't usually carry anything all that exciting. The more dangerous materials go to engines with training on how to specifically handle them.

Maybe it's the new livery... Our driver says we look very smart in our new black and yellow. Like a great big wasp on the prowl! Our big sister, Eva, says it makes us look very refined, although I (this is Ed speaking) would have liked more yellow like what she has. It looks friendlier!

We wouldn't say we're the most modern of engines.

We were built in 1981 by Sorefame, under Alsthom licensing (which probably explains why some people confuse us for our much older French cousins, the SNCF Class CC 72000s, who we apparently resemble a whole lot? We personally don't see it). That makes us about, 44 years old at this point? Nowhere near Flying Scotsman's 102, but still a respectable age for a great big loco, wouldn't you say?

Still, we're flattered. Out of all the engines out there (some much younger and more impressive), you chose to write to us to ask what it's like to be a diesel-electric. We hope to clarify to the best of our ability, even if some of the questions are a little confusing!

To start it off, well, not exactly like a Double Fairlie...

From what we've come to find out over the years, Double Fairlies were built with the two personalities and faces as the expected result. People assumed it would be easier to drive back and forth if both ends could give input on what was ahead of them at all times.

Unfortunately, just because you're siblings doesn't mean your relationship will be automatically stellar. And it's even worse when each of you wants to go somewhere or do something different, and physically can't because you're bound to someone else who doesn't want to do either of those things... Such is the case with a lot of Double Fairlies, and I'm sure at this point you must have met Mighty Mac and seen what we mean.

That said, we'll return to the statement above. The Double Fairlie's double-ended design with two distinct beings sharing one chassis was a planned design. Ours was not...

Where one could say Mighty and Mac are identical twins, our case is more of the conjoined variety. An unexpected surprise.

Funnily enough, a lot of diesel-electrics, especially ones of our size, are technically double-ended (which Rusty is not because they're a narrow gauge diesel). There are cabs in both ends of the locomotive so that the crews don't have to find a turntable every time they complete a run. They just usually only have the one face and personality, rather than having two of them like we do.

We politely decline from answering the mortality question.

I'll have to be the one to burst Mouse's bubble, since Ed and I (this is Mundo speaking by the way) can only go 62 miles per hour. We're meant to work long hours with long heavy goods trains, so our speed isn't all that impressive compared to some steam engines like the A4s. We're less of a race horse and more of a draft horse. An analogy that likely won't be of much use to you if you never got to see the difference between those, prior to your sight failing you.

That said... We can't deny the rush of going at our max speed when it's just us, our crew, and a huge stretch of rails before us. It's a thrill unlike anything else in the world, when you're used to being held back by so much responsibility.

We do feel both ends. It comes in handy when someone approaches one of us when we're asleep, because we have a day and night schedule we stringently comply to.

One of us is always going to be awake to look out for the other, and trust me we've had our share of scaring off potential hijackers... If you don't have a standard uniform and identification, you have no business being anywhere near our cab doors, and we were made with loud horns for a reason!

Our type of electrification is not like the newer fully electric engines that have the reign of the rails these days. We've got a diesel engine inside of us that powers an alternator that, in turn, produces the energy we need to function. Which means we don't need to be connected to transmission lines. Instead we just take on diesel fuel, which probably feels about the same as taking on water?

We're not sure. We don't much like having water in out fuel tank anyway...

Driver says the only difference between steam engines and diesel engines is that we "eat" different things, smell a little different, and have different shape plans. Otherwise we're all engines and it's a great thing we exist in the same world, even if some people (and engines) think we shouldn't coexist at all.

I (this is Ed speaking again) think it's nice to look at what makes us similar. Mundo's never really told me what he thinks about this matter, but I know he just wants things to go well for everyone.

There's already so much strife in the world, why build more walls when you could open doors?

Portugal is a lovely country. It's our home and we love it very dearly! From the urban areas where the hustle and bustle could drive you absolutely crazy with all the smells and sounds, to the long stretches of quiet countryside with views towards the serene hills, imposing mountains, and beautiful beaches that inspire nothing but awe from us whenever we get to go somewhere different for a change.

And we've been to a lot of places! We've also met a lot of other engines too! Some nicer than others.

But, for all its charm our home country is not without some troubles...

But we don't think this is the letter for that kind of talk. We'd like to end it on a lighter note! Especially after you were so nice to us in yours.

We both like tulips very much! Orange and yellow tulips, and all the little bugs that come with them too! Nature is so fascinating and beautiful, and all creatures big and small have something to give to this world.

I (this is Ed speaking again) love to sing! But Mundo doesn't much appreciate when I do. Although, to be fair to him, when I'm awake he's supposed to be asleep, so maybe I'm not being too nice practicing my singing when he's been awake all night doing work...

Our favourite animals are capybaras and tigers! Frogs are also very cool. What's your favourite animal?

We really hope our letter finds you quicker than yours did us. Otherwise we might need to find a better way to send post over...

Maybe one of those app thingies driver doesn't like so much? Either way, we hope your experience learning about the modern world goes well, and that you make a lot of friends in the process!

Well wishes, Edmundo

P.S, our engineer, Joaquin, had the pressed flower encased in resin to keep in our cabs since he didn't want to risk damaging it when handling it. We swap which cab we keep it in every week!

We couldn't find you a flower, so we sent you a big chunk of frosted sea-glass that our driver found at the beach the other day. With some luck, it might still smell of the sea when it gets there!

[mwolf0epsilon]

Generational Confrontation

Edward, frustrated but mostly just confused: Why are you resisting so much? Why won't you let me help you? We don't have to fight, we can show the fat controller that we're both really useful engines! Diesel 10, clearly frustrated: Help me? HELP ME?! You think you're HELPIN' me?!! Diesel 10, bumping his buffers against Edward's enough to jolt him but not actually hurt him: All you've done today is DEMEAN me! Edward, shocked: That was never my intention! Diesel 10, clearly at the end of his rope but Pinchy is not snapping at Edward like it usually would be any other engine: Well damn your intentions old man, because they don't matter! One way or another, you meddlin' only served to demean me! Edward: But I-- Diesel 10, rolling his eyes: Oh wah wah wah... Go on! Go on and start spoutin' some sob story about real usefulness and equality... Ya think I ain't heard those before when one of you old pots realized your life was on the line if I failed my end o' the job?! Bah! Edward, frowning: I... Diesel 10, huffing and trying not to flinch when Pinchy settles down on the roof of his cab: There's nothin' you can say that'll change the way things are... We all know how this ends. Ol' Reliable Edward who everyone trusts, who everyone LOVES, survived havin' to work with the big clankin' brute, Diesel 10! He got the job done even when thrown to the wolves! Edward, distraught: That's not-- Diesel 10: And then what happens next? Edward the hero gets praised, appreciated and adored by the masses! While big nasty Diesel 10 gets tossed in his cage... Spendin' his days rottin' away... Not a single lick of gratefulness to his name, not allowed the hope that maybe tomorrow he gets to pull a train because he's been modded... Just scorn and disgust! The laughing stock o' the steamies, and an outsider even among his fellow diesels! Edward: Please just-- Diesel 10, backing up sounding almost defeated: Shut it... You're a good engine Edward... Stupidly, naively, good... Do us both a favour an' just leave me alone... If there's somethin' I've learned being leftovers to whatever half-cobbled railway decided to take me on as a challenge... Is that no matter how much they promise you it'll get better... That eventually you'll be loved an' appreciated just as much as the steam engines before you... It's all wishful thinkin'... Just your makers hopin' against hope that they made somethin' just as good as their forefathers... But they didn't. No one loves diesels... Not like you selfish kettles, and your old fashioned controllers, who won't even give us a chance to show the world just what we can do! All we can do is fight to survive in a world that idealizes an old memory of greatness! Edward: ... Diesel 10, moving off: ... Come on Pinchy... We got fallen trees to clear outta the way... That's all we're good for...

[mwolf0epsilon]

Updated the roster and resized the completed ones to better fit what animal they are. Gordon is also finally finished! You can't see it from this angle but he's got stripes on his back and the tip of his tail is bristly. The whiskers and collar definitely add charm to him!

I'm not sure if this is a Farm AU begging to be made, or if this is just the engines playing Ultimate Chicken Horse...

I'll answer the asks eventually gang, I'm just taking a mini break because Artfight got me good.

I uh... Also got a little uh...

...Sidetracked with my sculpting practice project...

Ok, I got very sidetracked...

[mwolf0epsilon]

You can trust the process, just not the artist...

Edward needs some more pizzazz to feel fully complete (I'm thinking flyaway feathers) and I just need to finish Thomas's fur texturing to be fully satisfied with him.

Otherwise we got a dog, bird, pony and cat show going on so far!

I'll answer the asks eventually gang, I'm just taking a mini break because Artfight got me good.

I uh... Also got a little uh...

...Sidetracked with my sculpting practice project...

Ok, I got very sidetracked...

[mwolf0epsilon]

I'll answer the asks eventually gang, I'm just taking a mini break because Artfight got me good.

I uh... Also got a little uh...

...Sidetracked with my sculpting practice project...

Ok, I got very sidetracked...

[mwolf0epsilon]

"Henry (the Green Engine) has been neutered for our sakes"

--Eps 2k25, you don't need the context...

[mwolf0epsilon]

ArtFight - Round 5

Andy - @inthenameofSverige

Dreamer - BusinessMang0

Kar'tyc - @marhan-writes-n-draws

Mo the Frog - @seaswine

Capy - @himochiart

☕️ Ko-fi | 🧡Commissions

[mwolf0epsilon]

You gave cat Gordon balls?

He's a blue cat with an engine's face... Of course I gave him balls...

If all goes well with the fur sculpting process you won't even be able to really see them anyway...

[mwolf0epsilon]

You know the heatwave is getting to you when you sculpt balls onto a weird sphinx creature, giggle about it with a friend, then begin pondering how to sculpt a horse body for big green number 3...

This isn't even mentioning the gymnastics I'm going to have to go through to sculpt a bird body...

Sometimes I open blender and create something truly magnificent. Other times I open blender and make something so godawful even I am confused by it...

[mwolf0epsilon]

Bro, what even is this???

Someone take this program away from me...

Sometimes I open blender and create something truly magnificent. Other times I open blender and make something so godawful even I am confused by it...

[mwolf0epsilon]

Sometimes I open blender and create something truly magnificent. Other times I open blender and make something so godawful even I am confused by it...

[mwolf0epsilon]

I'm not sure what's funnier:

The coincidence of two Spencer posts crossing my wife's dash in this specific order.

The tonal whiplash of me having very specific serious thoughts on Spencer's characterization in mind for my post vs LMAO NAKEY SPENCER.

Or the fact these are images of one of Spencer's baby siblings, and thus would likely lead to him taking extreme offense and making it everyone's problem (lets be honest, even if you don't get on with your sibling I doubt you wouldn't go ballistic if someone leaked their nudes to tumblr dot com).

I love the absolute whiplash on my dashboard between these three people. @milfcutlawquane reblogged @mwolf0epsilon 's post about Spencer and then @lordvonbunnyv just happened underneath....

[mwolf0epsilon]

Fleshed out personal interpretations of characters that serve the function of overexaggerated parallels to a main character are such an interesting thing to disect.

Mostly because it comes out of a place of sincerity.

Most people will look at that character and see little to no nuance to them, because they're just a prop to further the plot. But then there's a select group of people who look at that same character and genuinely see something more and feel for them. Enough so that they devote time into giving them the love that screenwriters didn't deign to give to them.

This is a post about Spencer from Thomas and Friends, but I'm pretty sure a lot of you immediately thought of another character from your favourite media.

[mwolf0epsilon]

You know you're cooking when one of your friends says "Oof, you're making them born with trauma" in response to a Thomas and Friends drabble that's been haunting your mind for a while.

[mwolf0epsilon]

For reference, how harmful/potent is Pear's venom? On a scale from 1-10.

1 being like...a mosquito bite

10 being a Sydney Funnel Web

Two words: Box Jellyfish...

[mwolf0epsilon]

Is Pears all floof ?? I want to pet him so bad (gently)

Yes, Pears is very floofy!

That said I wouldn't recommend touching him... That fur has a purpose beyond aesthetics and keeping him warm. It's actually a ton of urticating bristles that deliver an extremely potent sting.

[mwolf0epsilon]

Help guys, My wife keeps threatening me to take many videos and photos for Engine references- Send help-!

PROVIDE ME WITH REFERENCES WIFE I REQUIRE THEM FOR REASONS!!!!

It's not my fault I'm all the way here in Portugal and you're in Trainland where there's cool train-related events with such iconic looking engines...