#relief for railway passengers

[sanctus-ingenium]

Inver - relief map relative to the continent with otherworld territory marked, broad habitat map, detailed local landmarks map, and political map of the northeast atlantic peninsula as of 1862

i was just having map fun for two days lol. i make habitat maps a lot already but the difference with this one is that i can't just download a handy shapefile and do some GIS magic. this was hand drawn (but obviously. somewhat traced over the actual irl map)

for the outline of the north sea coast i used bathymetry data to figure out where the true coastline would occur. the north sea recedes but the atlantic doesn't (to the same extent). because this landmass was formed through some ancient Event, i felt pretty okay about changing the bedrock because like, whatever, we can't be fully realist all the time. so the northern half of inver is mainly limestone, the southern half is silicaceous - so we got the bog/marl divide there, though lough cánamac (in volume slightly larger than any of the north american great lakes) appears to be the remnant of the north sea, it is freshwater with a relatively low pH. the water of the lough is black to dark brown due to the run-off from the southern bogs and swamps.

in the north, the mountain ranges are calcareous. calcareous grassland, scrubland, heaths and fens dominate with a largely alkaline profile. limestone marl lakes which regularly flood due to groundwater input make the region pretty unsuitable for crops other than rice.

the ruad is the name for a stretch of otherworld territory which contains the lough, though generally used to refer to the forested area. it is completely uninhabitable throughout the majority of its range due to the non-euclidian structure of the land making it impossible to navigate consistently, and the strange and frequently hostile creatures living there. the ruad is faery territory and belongs to an entity known as the Red King, who uses the symbol of a stag. so although inver may look like a large country compared to its neighbours, it has a relatively small population concentrated on the west coast.

however, sailing across the lough is the quickest way to trade with countries in the east, far quicker than trekking through the forest and over land. the trade route through the ruad from invergorken to the cánamac town is one of the most valuable in the continent. it consists of an old road with regularly-spaced ranger safehouses and patrols, and a newer pair of railway lines which can cut through the supernatural aura of the ruad due to their iron rails. the first and older line is no longer in regular use. it was constructed before the development of wrought iron and before the build crews learned how to blast through rock, so it takes a very slow and winding route and required a lot of maintenance. safehouses were constructed to board the workers while the tracks were laid. but without this original track, the construction of the second, far more advanced wrought iron track would have been impossible. workers for the second track were able to commute and sleep on the first track's train, keeping them from harm. the second track can fit two trains side by side and is in constant use ferrying cargo and passengers between the two towns

the country of inver, once The Event wiped out all of its original inhabitants a couple thousand years ago, was settled by hibernians and vikings from the north moving south, and aquitanians from the south moving north (thus the place names). the ruad mostly blocked incursions from the east. there was a long history of dispute over who truly owned the land, and that remained sort of up in the air for most of its history until the 1400s when armorican warlords (like Olivier) decided to make it theirs for realsies and waged war against their old hibernian trade partners (like Finbarr) for control of the land. the hibernians lost because finbarr fucked it up at the last second, and this cemented a ruling class of werewolves in inver until the 1860s

inver consists of three large duchies which cover 70% of the population. Moya in the west is the heart of lycanthrope rule, everybody worships a faery known as the immortal hound and the ruad is far enough away that it is not a fact of life as it is for everyone else. Inver duchy covers the capital city and the south-western farmland, the main sites of production in the country. And Cánamac duchy covers the trade port in the lough and surrounding territories, where forest clearing has led to new farmland and a thriving population. There was a fourth duchy in the north, Aber, but it was historically somewhat isolated and cut off from the south of the country and had developed its own customs and traditions, and its own form of the country's currency. In the 1840s, the duchy of Aber was dissolved and reconstituted into the king's lands, and southern customs were enforced in the north to prevent any more divergence. the palaces of the ruling families in each territory are shown in the local map alongside the family names.

Due to The Event causing massive damage in this region of Europe, forbidding the development of britain and france etc as colonial empires, the last great Empire of this continent was the roman empire, and even that didn't manage to overcome the Ruad. technology is rudimentary in Inver and the people living there are largely considered to be weird backwards superstitious barbarians. aquitan has been threatening annexation for decades, led mainly by the church of suzette, which forbids interaction with otherworld entities. the church holds in disregard the nobility of inver and their cultish ways, and as a result has been banned from attempting to convert inver citizens. but the church is still allowed to make minor inroads into inver for one very important reason: penicillin and antibiotics are the sole creation of the church, and the secret of how they are made is unknown outside suzette. so for the sake of good, advanced healthcare, the church is allowed to set up clinics and hospitals, on the condition that nobody is converted, and members of the church are strictly banned from engaging in any business but importing and selling antibiotics

[sudriantraveler]

Rheneas' Return

I’ve been thinking about Rheneas’ return to the Skarloey Railway after his overhaul, and there is a lot to talk about.

First of all, for those who don’t know or maybe just need a reminder, in the RWS Rheneas left the Skarloey Railway for a major overhaul in 1952, having just barely kept the railway running through its darkest hour as its sole working engine since Skarloey was sidelined in 1945.

He was then away from Sodor for 9 years, before finally returning home in 1961.

And he was probably in for a bit of a shock when he returned, because a lot happened in those 9 years.

First of all, the Skarloey Railway was in the middle of a crisis when Rheneas left. Only one engine is operable barely, the track is falling apart, revenue is low to non-existent, and about 90% of the work needed to keep things functioning day-to-day is being done by just two guys.

When Rheneas returns, it's like a completely new railway. Passengers are plentiful, there are new engines and coaches, the railways workforce has grown significantly, and the track actually feels good to run over instead of delivering a sensation of being repeatedly punched in the frames.

The thing is, Rheneas is still on some level probably going to be operating in crisis mode, because that’s all he’s known since about the beginning of the 1930s.

He insists on taking much more work than the other engines. Partly because he enjoy his work and is extremely happy to be home again, but mainly because he’s been having nightmares for the last few years about returning to nothing, and the fact that the railway still exists let alone that it’s actually thriving, is something which he’s having to constantly remind himself is not just a dream.

Then there’s all of the new stuff.

Before Rheneas left it was just him, Skarloey, the four old coaches and the one guard’s van, the numerous trucks, and a modestly sized workforce who Rheneas knew all of the names of. That was it since the railway began in 1865, the only exception being during WW2 when the war department briefly came in with a few of their own engines.

Now though, there are four new engines, several new coaches, and someone’s coming to light Rheneas’ fire in the morning who isn’t Mr. Hugh (keep in mind that in Rheneas' previous experience this usually meant the regular firelighter had either retired or died).

Also apparently the old slate quarry has been entirely taken over by the military and is now completely off limits, and there’s a big metal fence and a bunch of scary looking signs at the entrance, and frankly the whole situation up there just makes Rheneas feel really uneasy.

Needless to say, it takes something of an adjustment period for Rheneas to get used to everything.

I particularly want to talk about Rheneas early dynamic with the new engines, one in particular. You’ll know who when I get there.

To start with, Rheneas at least saw Sir Handel and Peter Sam before he left, so he at least knows they’re on the railway before he returns.

The thing is, his first impression of them was probably the same as Skarloey’s: Peter Sam is excitable and maybe a bit too overeager for his own good, and Sir Handel is bad tempered and takes his anger out on everything around him.

Rheneas probably breathed a sigh of relief when he saw they hadn’t burned the place down in his absence.

After Rheneas returns from overhaul he adjusts to the two former Mid Sodor engines well enough.

Sir Handel is still bad tempered, but he also still does his work regardless of how much he grumbles about it. Plus Peter Sam keeps insisting that Sir Handel does indeed mean well and is just having a hard time adjusting, and given the occasional details the two of them just casually drop about life on the Mid Sodor, Skarloey and Rheneas are inclined to give both of them plenty of time to adjust.

Peter Sam is still very energetic but Rheneas also sees that he’s clearly a hard worker, and the fact that the coaches adore him also helps to make him look pretty good in Rheneas’ eyes.

Rheneas immediately takes a liking to Rusty for much the same reason Skarloey did. They’re hardworking, kind, and their work repairing and maintaining the line makes them seem to the two old engines like an angel sent down by Lady herself.

I fully believe that after years of nothing but bent rails and rotted sleepers, running over an actually good permanent way for the first time after overhaul must have felt like a religious experience to Skarloey and Rheneas.

And then there’s Duncan.

Duncan, as he will happily admit himself, is a plain blunt engine who will rock and roll, and who speaks as he finds.

Sure, he means well, and he’ll pull just about anything… But Rheneas hears the story of him stopping on the viaduct, and is immediately wary of Duncan.

It doesn’t help that, having had the serious responsibility of being the only working engine on the line for an extended period of time, Rheneas has a bit of complex about doing everything himself and see’s anything that happens on the railway as, at least partially, his responsibility.

So Duncan just fully blowing off his responsibility to his passengers and stopping in the middle of the line, something which Rheneas did only once and very much against his best efforts, just feels like a personal insult to Rheneas.

It doesn’t quite register with him that Skarloey has already given Duncan the whole lecture on why that was stupid and how passengers are important.

And Duncan has improved since then. He acknowledges the importance of looking after his passengers and knows to at least keep his complaints out of earshot of them.

The thing is, Duncan is still a plain blunt engine, and passenger etiquette does not come naturally to him. But he’s trying, and quite frankly some of the passengers' complaints just seem ridiculous to him. So what if he rocks and rolls a bit? That's just how he is, and he still gets them to the station on time… usually.

But when Rheneas hears Duncan one night in the shed complaining about a particularly rough journey where there were significant delays and the passengers were really pushing his limits, Rheneas decides that Duncan still hasn’t learned their ways.

Rheneas may also be having a bit of a crisis of questioning just how much the railway still needs him with all of the new engines who are also there now. And what better way to reassure himself that he's still needed than to position himself as a mentor figure.

Duncan, for his part, does in fact respect Rheneas since Skarloey told him how he had saved the railway, and he wants to get along with the guy…

But that becomes increasingly difficult to do when Duncan keep having moments where he’s shunting the yard, minding his own business and doing a pretty alright job… and then he look towards the sheds and see Rheneas watching him like a hawk, looking for any sign that he’s about to mess up somehow.

And on the occasions that Duncan does mess up, however slight, Rheneas is very quick to give his input on what he did wrong and how the whole situation could have been avoided.

Skarloey may be stern, but he at least acknowledges that Duncan is trying his best, and gives him credit when he does well. He at least gives Duncan the respect of treating him like a capable engine.

So Duncan gets along fine with Skarloey… But Rheneas?

Respect him and his efforts to keep the railway running… Sure.

Actually get along with him… Not so much.

This pretty much sums up the dynamic between the two of them.

Until one day…

Duncan is taking the morning train, and one passenger in particular is just being a complete pain in the ass. It’s not just Duncan who’s fed up with him by the time they leave the station, this guy is getting on everyone’s nerves.

But Duncan puts forward his best effort, and maintains his professionalism.

But the guy keeps being a jerk throughout the entire run up the line. Anything goes slightly wrong, and he’s making his grievances known.

Duncan is glad when he doesn’t see him on the platform when he begins the journey back down the line, the man having decided to hike one of the various trails around Skarloey Lake.

When he gets back to Crovan’s Gate, Duncan immediately rolls off to the sheds and starts venting to whoever will listen about the angry passenger.

And right on cue, Rheneas begins his lecture.

Duncan, by this point, has been having a really bad day, and is quite frankly beyond his normal limits. So he just says “Alright then… You know how to deal with passengers, you take the afternoon train”.

So Rheneas does, and all goes well on the up journey. But then he finds Duncan’s passenger at the top station, who is apparently furious that Duncan’s train didn’t wait for him as he went wandering around the lake.

Rheneas tries to point out, very calmly, that there are schedules posted very clearly at every station building, but the man doesn’t listen.

Ok… This is fine.

Rheneas has dealt with his fair share of difficult passengers before, all of them with grace. He can handle this one.

But the journey back down the line doesn’t go smoothly, and all the while the angry passenger is becoming more and more unbearable.

And then, between Glennock and Cros-ny-Cuirn, Rheneas derails.

It wasn’t a particularly bad derailment, and it wasn’t his fault. Just a bad joint in the rails which Rusty and Mr Hugh hadn’t had the chance to fix on their last maintenance run, and which had been worsened by the last few times a train had run over it.

Naturally, the angry passenger is complaining more than ever now, and Rheneas is feeling rather defeated.

It’s Duncan who comes to rescue the train, and Rheneas is surprised but very grateful for the fact that he doesn’t say anything as Rheneas is leavered back onto the rails.

It’s a pretty speedy rerailing too.

Duncan is coupled on infront and the two engines double-head the train the rest of the way home. They get there with no further issues, and most of the passengers are just happy the derailment was sorted out quickly and efficiently, and that they were still able to catch the connecting train.

All except one.

The angry passenger is now just being insulting. Everyone is tired and unhappy, and now they still have to deal with him ranting about what a bad railway this is.

And then Duncan just snaps.

Rheneas never thought he would be happy to hear someone cursing out a passenger…

But Duncan’s tirade in Rheneas’, his own, and the railways defense, is just about the most cathartic thing he’s ever experienced.

Duncan only fully stops after the Thin Controller gets involved, denies the passenger a refund, and watches him storm off out of the station to catch a bus (he had spent so long arguing he had missed the connecting train).

After that, and with one final uttering of good riddance, the two engines shunt the coaches away and go to the sheds for a well deserved rest.

Rheneas see’s Duncan in a new light after that. He still often disagrees with his more grumpy and blunt approach, but he’s finally giving Duncan some space to make mistakes without needless criticism.

Rheneas still insists on the importance of passengers, and treats all of them with respect and high regard…

But he and Duncan have come to an agreement that some of them are just nuisances.

[hyperfixat]

AI LESS WHUMPTOBER DAY THREE ISOLATED

support and engagement would really motivate me to help post and work on the rest of this stuff!

(@ailesswhumptober)

You stretch your arms up in the air as you yawn, rolling out of your bed on the Astral Express. The memories of last night are hazy, but you don’t linger on it as you head to your ensuite bathroom to freshen up for the day.

When you make to step out into the passenger car, pulling on the door handle, it doesn’t budge.

Odd.

Maybe March was playing a prank on you or something?

You call out for March, Dan Heng, PomPom, Mr Yang, Himeko, to no avail. You try the handle once again, before trailing back to your bed, picking up your cellphone to message the Astral Express group chat.

Your phone turns off with a click and you let out a frustrated sigh. Walking back to the door you rest your ear against the panel and listen for any signs they’re out and about.

Nothing.

With not much to do you plop back onto your bed, clicking open your phone to doom scroll until something happens.

You hadn’t known the express had docked. Though why Pompom would land at a planet hostile to… your kind?, humans?, or perhaps something to do with just discrimination. They claim you’re their favorite passenger, so it had to have been an emergency for them to stop… at whatever this planet is.

Your blinds had been closed for the night, and you think better of opening them, but you peek out from the bottom.

It looks like any other planet’s railway. Nothing looks odd or out of place; no ‘humans dni’ signs or posters. You wonder how they’re getting by, your crew, they’re all human-oid, no?

There’s a long period of waiting, maybe an hour, maybe more. Then there’s footsteps, heavy and en masse. Not just the Astral Express crew. These are the sounds of heavy boots, those of soldiers. You can hear March’s distinct tone, so it’s not a raid or something uncouth, she’s at least somewhat calm.

“—and these are the sleeping quarters! They’re all empty at the moment.” They’re getting closer. When they’re outside your door, strangers, hostile on sight to you specifically, “this room is empty. We can’t let you check his one room, sorry!” March giggles.

“We keep unstable synthesis materials in there.” Dan Heng explains levelly. “It would take too long to safely have you search it, we’ll be gone before you’d be finished suiting up.”

There’s a feminine voice replying in a language foreign to you.

“There’s no need for that, we’re leaving within the hour.” Welt.

Your heart stutters and you hold your breath as a hand jiggles your door handle.

“Let’s move along,” Dan Heng’s voice is firm and the shadows peering in from under your door disappear. His voice commands the enemy soldiers away from your door and you let out a quiet sigh of relief.

The soldiers soon file off the ship and your door unlocks with a click and Dan Heng opens it. His body fills in the door frame, stopping March 7th from running in.

“Dan Heng,” she whines, shoving him inside your room so she can bound over to your bed and jump next to you.

Himeko peeks her head inside, “Pompom says we’re taking off soon. Settle down you three.”

“Yes, Ms. Himeko~!” March giggles.

“Sorry about not warning you, we hadn’t prepared to land here.” Welt says from the hallway, looking at you. “We needed an emergency refuel before we could stop at the Xianzhou Luofu. I apologize for any alarm this extrusion may have caused you.”

“Thank you Mr Yang, I’m fine now. It was a little scary at first.” You laugh a little.

“Excuse me!” Pompom shoves past Himeko and Welt’s legs, waddling their little body into your room. They clamber up your bed and smother you in a hug. “Pompom is so sorry for landing here!”

“Aw, it’s okay Pompom. No harm no foul,” you pat their fluffy ears.

Their large eyes seek yours for a moment before they nod and hop off your bed, heading to the captain’s chamber.

“We’re leaving now. You all,” they deliberately look at all the passengers gathered around your room. “Get seated.”

[smol4bluengine]

After much searching, Dowager Hatt had managed to find her husband's journal. The elderly woman was currently at her son Bertram's home sitting in front of the fireplace. She was a bit hesitant about opening Charles's journal after all these years. With a calming breath, the elderly Hatt flipped opened the book. Inside were Charles thoughts and feelings he had felt through his life, from his childhood, taking his father's place as controller, marrying Dowager Hatt, being a father to Bertram, the ordeal with Donald and Douglas, and more. Dowager smiled warmly at the photo Charles had stuck in his journal of the two getting married, he was such a kind man. The matriarch carefully searched the pages of her husband's journal for any entries on Gordon, she was surprised to see the large amount Charles had written on the big engine. Charles felt that Gordon had the most human aspects out of all the engines. He recalled the talks the two shared and how Gordon always seemed to have the most to say. Charles loved the deep conversation the two had on certain topics like politics, novels, and the weather. Dowager couldn't help to snort a giggle when her husband said his engine had more sense than most political figures of his time. Charles went on to describe Gordon's trip to London. He became panicked at first when he heard Gordon had been given permission to continue past his regular route, but once he received the newspaper about Gordon's arrival to London, he felt a huge wave of relief. Once he was composed, Charles was so proud of Gordon for making the trip and for all the publicity he was getting. Charles couldn't help but feel sorry for Gordon when he got back, the engine was pouting that the station he thought to be Kings Cross wasn't Kings Cross but St. Pancreas instead. Gordon reminded him of a child that just found out Santa Clause wasn't real. To ease the big engine Charles assured Gordon that him and the others were all right about the big stations name, it's just that they can never settle on a name. Then the Dowager Hatt turned to the pages about the dieselization and when Gordon learned about the fate of his siblings. Charles new it was true, and that Gordon was only one out of two of his class left. Charles wanted to console Gordon right then and there, but he knew the board would disapprove and that the passengers might not want to ride an engine that was sobbing his eyes out. Dowager Hatt remembered that night, both her and Charles had stayed up for hours to comfort the big engine. Dowager Hatt remembered what her husband asked her the morning after during breakfast. "I'm planning on seeing if my friend at the other railway will be willing to send over Flying Scotsman for a day to help cheer up Gordon. However, if he's not able to spare Scotsman I was thinking...." Charles said. "About"? Dowager asked. "Of us adopting Gordon as a Hatt." Charles finished. Dowager Hatt thought it was absurd back then to see an engine as an equal to humans, now she wished she had been more supportive. Even with Scotsman's visit, Charles still went to the board to convince them to let his family adopt Gordon. He tried to convince them that for Gordon's well-being he would be in better hands as a Hatt, but the board didn't see it like it. Even when Charles tried to convince them to let Gordon be a private engine they refused. Dowager Hatt blushed at the choice of words her late husband had decided to use to describe what he thought of the board. It was clear that Charles saw Gordon as an equal and that to him, Gordon was another member of the family, one he didn't want to see alone in the world.

[maria021015]

SPOILERS FOR CHAPTER 19 AHEAD!

Erica’s convulsing did not let up as Scott jumped into the back of the Jeep with her - him being the only one able to restrain her. “Where are we even taking her? Derek hasn’t gone back to his house for weeks!” Zaida exclaimed, the shaking in her hands starting to spread up her arms. She gripped the passenger seat beneath her and gritted her teeth, trying not to let it show, but Stiles noticed. Stiles always noticed. He sent her a worried expression with wide eyes, but she shook her head slightly, indicating for him to drop it. She didn’t want Scott to know just yet. Not when they had bigger things to worry about.

“The…railroad depot.” Erica managed to ground out between full-body spasms and choking sounds.

Stiles didn’t need to be told twice, he knew exactly where she was talking about and slammed his foot onto the pedal. They made it there within ten minutes and several ran red lights. From there on in, Scott led the way with his nose, managing to get inside through a back entrance. In their haste, they descended the stairs two at a time into the darkness of the abandoned building. Derek must have sensed that they were there because he was ready to meet them, opening the doors to a railway car.

“The Kanima attacked, and she just started seizing, we don’t know what to do,” Zaida explained frantically, her voice shaking from the nauseating fear within her stomach. The shaking had now spread to almost her whole body as if she was shivering. “Wasn’t her whole reason for taking the bite because it was supposed to stop the seizures? So, why is this happening?”

“Was she paralysed?” Derek questioned as Stiles sunk to the floor, holding Erica in his arms. The boy nodded and Derek kneeled beside him as Scott and Zaida watched on. “The Kanima venom stopped her accelerated healing. That’s why she’s having a seizure. Hold her up.”

“Is she dying?” Stiles asked anxiously, trying desperately to keep Erica as still as he possibly could while she writhed in his lap.

“She might. Which is why this is gonna hurt.” Derek answered blankly and reached out to clutch one of Erica’s arms with both hands, wrenching them to break the bone clean in half with a loud snap. Erica threw her head back and screamed. The sound of it was agonizing in and of itself, but for Zaida…it felt as if it was happening to her. She cried out and whimpered, biting her lip to stifle the noise so fiercely that she could taste the metallic essence of warm blood on her tongue. If her own pain was only an echo of what Erica was feeling…she truly felt horrible for the girl. Her eyes flickered between Scott and Derek, who were both so focused on Erica that they assumed Zaida was simply crying out in shock.

“You broke her arm!” Stiles exclaimed, outraged at the wolf’s actions. Zaida was too distracted to see the sense in it.

“It'll trigger the healing process. I still gotta get the venom out - this is where it's really gonna hurt.” Derek warned and Zaida braced herself, gripping the metal bars of the seat legs. Surely enough, the stabbing pain came, and tears spilled from her eyes as she struggled not to scream the way Erica was. Instead, she sobbed, watching through blurry vision as Derek dug his claws into Erica’s broken arm, draining the blood from the limb. Scott reached out to squeeze Zaida’s shoulder in support, believing she was having an emotional reaction to watching what was going on. From the look on Stiles’ face as she caught his eye, he knew. The boy couldn’t do anything to help her, lest he expose her secret, and she wasn’t yet ready for her newfound abilities to be out in the open yet. She sighed in sweet relief when Erica’s seizure stopped, resulting in the pain fading and the shaking stopping. The blonde wolf sagged in Stiles’ arms as she went quiet.

“Stiles...you make a good Batman…” She smiled up at him weakly and Zaida felt a pang of some unrecognisable emotion in her chest that left as swiftly as it came.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Something Holy This Way Comes

Ch.3 Champion

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The dead of Winter held the Uman and Din in its icy grasp. Snow piled ever higher, ice coated the rails, and passenger traffic slowed.

Screech and Tyto could often be found banking trains up the hills, their billowing snorts of steam visible for miles around.

Even Tyto soon grew tired of the endless snowdrifts, wishing for clear tracks once again. Work on the path to Glain slowed to all but a standstill, as every engine was needed to manage the trains. Even the trucks behaved, unwilling to be battered by the winter winds any longer than necessary.

It was required for the Uman and Din's smaller engines to doublehead their trains to manage the snow banks. Even then, Screech was often called to clear exceptionally large drifts with her tendrils. Even the whisper, normally gleeful at the prospect of smashing anything, was tired of the snow.

One night the engines were settling down in the sheds when Miss Morgan arrived, announcing the engine from the NWR would arrive within the hour.

"I hope they're able to make it through the snow," Enid said, shivering. Screech lazily reached over and tapped the tank engine, causing the snow to fall off. Enid sighed in relief.

"They're farther north than we are," Abbey assured. "They'll undoubtedly know how to deal with snow." Screech tapped her runningboard as well.

The engines chatted lazily as they waited, Screech tapping each of them to clear the snow from them.

Finally, a whistle was heard in the distance, high and piercing.

Blaidd frowned, "Well they're not one of us then. That's no Western whistle."

Avon huffed, "Does it matter? They're here to help. Besides, it wouldn't be the first time other railway's engine helped Westerners."

Abbey nodded, "I worked alongside some North Eastern V2s during the war. They were as hard-working as any Swindon engine...Screech?"

The engines turned to look at Screech, who was as tense as a taunt bowstring, her tendrils for once completely still, pointed towards the yard.

The whistle sounded again as the engine entered the yard.

Shining Golden eyes met Buring Blue as the two locked gazes.

The engine was a small blue shunter, with red stripes. They had six small wheels, a short stumpy boiler, and a short stumpy dome. Their No.1 and brass fittings glowed golden against the snow.

The Engine Who Escaped Death stared down the Lady's Champion.Caomhnóir gave a tense smile, "Well this is unexpected. It's nice to meet you all. I'm Cassandra"

AN: And she arrives!! Hello Loves, for those confused, Caomhnóir is genderfluid. While presenting male they go by Thomas, but she goes by Cassandra when presenting female. Shes appeared previously in a few tumbly headcanon posts and the fic "5 Till Midnight", but this is her 'Mainline' Fic debut. Love Y'all!

[wardenred]

Flufftober 3: "Wait, you love me?"

Tales from the Witch House is one of my oldest stories/settings that keeps growing out of control, changing directions, sprouting new characters and plotlines, and generally being a wild urban fantasy kitchen sink thing that refuses to stick to one shape. Some of the characters keep staying the same though. Like Tim and Leo, my favorite chaotic anxious fuck-ups in love.

The city was creeping up closer and closer to the Witch’s House. It wasn’t so evident if you stuck to the kitchen whose windows faced the desolate closed courtyard, or the living room that had no windows at all. Maybe if Leo was still only an occasional guest in this place, he would be able to pretend that this wasn’t happening. That the House’s borrowed time wasn’t running out. But he was now living under this leaking roof, sharing a room with Tim, and every time he passed the window with its sheer curtains, he caught a glimpse of the street on the other side of the barbed wire fence. What used to be a boring gray patch of asphalt and concrete, a border drawn between the House and the railway track, now brimmed with life. Streetlamps shone brightly through the evening fog, and the buildings were littered with signs for take-out venues, mom-and-pop shops, and other small businesses.

The Witch's House used to be an island drifting off the edge of the world. Now, it felt like a sinking ship about to crash into the shoreline.

Behind Leo’s back, the door hinges screeched. “The new guy is awful,” Tim complained.

Leo smirked, turning away from the window. “You say it about every new person.” It was a relief, really, to get this reminder that their broken boat was still getting new passengers. If the Witch kept letting people in, that could only mean she didn’t expect for the whole project to collapse any moment, right?

“Yes, but this one is particularly awful! He just called Tyssa a ‘buxom babe.’ Who talks like that?”

“The new guy, apparently,” Leo said. He hopped up to sit on the edge of the shabby, scratched desk, squeezing himself between Tim’s laptop and the ancient lamp with its dragonfly-patterned fabric shade. None of the mismatched chairs in the room offered much comfort for his lanky frame. The sunken armchair in the corner was occupied by Tim’s guitar and a stack of laundry they really needed put away. 

He supposed he could go plop down on the bed, like Tim just did. Except that was the thing: Tim was already there, stretched over the faded blue comforter, his toes nudging at the low table tucked between the bed and the door, the one with the record player and a stack of dusty vinyls they never played. It would be the easiest thing in the world to come join him, tuck himself against Tim, take a peek at whatever he was scrolling through on his phone, steal a kiss or two.

Get hopelessly late for work as a result.

“I have looked up ‘buxom’ in the dictionary,” Tim proclaimed, “and I have serious suspicions the guy is sexist, stuck-up, and old-fashioned.”

“The way you say it makes the last part sound like the worst of his crimes.”

Tim let out an over-the-top groan. “Love. Please. Take me seriously.”

The endearment made Leo freeze. He dug his fingers into the edge of the desk and forced a smile in place of the real one that had dimmed. “That’s really an impossible request.” He was speaking lightly, right? Just joking around. Tim wasn’t going to notice any weirdness.

Tim tossed the phone on Leo’s pillow and turned to his side, propping himself up on one elbow. “Is something wrong?”

Crap. Why was he getting so perceptive lately? Leo drew a breath. We did promise each other to be honest, he reminded himself. Maybe it was his turn to start.

“Nothing! Absolutely nothing.” Yup. Perfect start there. His suddenly damp palm slid uncomfortably against the unevenly polished wooden surface. “It’s just—I like all the pet names and stuff, all right? But, um. Maybe save this particular one for, for when you really mean it.”

Which was probably never, and he had now successfully stuffed his foot in his mouth again, and Tim was going to—

“But I do love you.”

Leo’s train of thought crushed into a wall of rock-solid confusion.

“You... love me.”

Tim sat up slowly, his brow furrowed. “Well, yeah? I mean, I always have. Like, literally always? From that very first night in the club? Come on, you must know. Everyone knew before I did.”

“I—” But this didn’t make any sense. What did he mean, everyone knew? Yes, of course, now that Leo thought about it, there had been all those jokes. Karolina needling Tim about being oh so smitten, Gella making cutesy faces. Xan’s exaggerated eyerolls. Agnia’s grumbling.

Leo thought those jokes had been at his expense.

“You... didn’t know,” Tim stated. He sounded kind of lost.

“Well, you never said! And the way you were acting around me, up until the last time we got back together—” Leo forced himself to shut up. There was no use rehashing it. Those old hurts were scabbing over just fine. The two of them had sorted it all out, hadn’t they? They were literally living together. He was here to stay. The past didn’t matter.

Tim had the grace to look sheepish. “Well, yeah, I was an ass, I know. But that was precisely because I was trying to come to terms with—ugh. Why am I so bad at this?” He dragged his fingers through his dark hair, and then suddenly, adorably, he was babbling. “Listen, I’m a coward, okay? I met you once, and I couldn’t think of anything else. And then we kept, um, meeting, and every second with you was like stars colliding. Yes, I know! It sounds sappy and stupid! But that’s how it felt. How it still feels. So I chickened out and tried to act like you weren’t important, because at that time, I was still fucked-up. I mean, I’ll probably always be fucked-up, that’s like, my style! But when we met, I still believed wanting something openly was the surest way to never get it. And I’ve never, ever wanted anything the way I want to be with you.”

Leo decided his shift could wait.

[ttteanimalau]

Thomas's First Day

Edward forced himself to suppress a groan of annoyance as Gordon babbled on and on about the same old stuff, as per usual. Pulling the express, being more "important" than the others, and how much of a bother it is that he needs to pull a goods train across the island.

"Grrr, why me? Of all workers, I was assigned to pull a GOODS train? The shame of it!" The grey lion grumbled to his unwilling audience.

Edward rolled his eyes, "It's not a big deal, Gordon, I'm sure you'll be back to passenger trains in no time.." The old wolf replied in the hopes his co-worker would shut up. He glanced around the yard, a thoughtful frown on his muzzle. His ear twitched upon hearing Henry approach, likely to take his next train.

"You alright, Edward?" He inquired, and in turn, making Gordon also notice the wolf's expression.

Edward huffed and nodded, "Yeah, I just..I was hoping he'd come out by now.." Henry and Gordon knew who he was talking about, and the former frowned as well. The Fat Controller recently acquired a new wolf pup, though much too young and small to work, and he was brought to Sodor the previous night. His name was Thomas, and he was placed into Tidmouth sheds that night and it seems he hasn't come out yet. If Henry would recall, the poor thing was whimpering all night, presumably scared of his new surroundings.

"I should probably go get him.." Edward barked, turning to make his way to the sheds.

Gordon snorted, "Leave him, he won't learn to face his fear if you're coddl-"

"He's just a pup, Gordon, he probably misses his old railway." Henry cut him off, "I've never heard of a child leaving his home railway so young." He mused softly to himself. Gordon, wisely, decided to say nothing about the sentiment.

It was a short walk to Tidmouth sheds, and at first, Edward couldn't see the little blue pup. He squinted his eyes as he peaked into the darkness and he almost walked away if he didn't hear the smallest little whine coming from inside. In the corner, huddled against the walls, two large blue eyes opened wide to stare at the older wolf.

Edward breathed a sigh of relief, "There you are, bud, you can come out, you know." He encouraged kindly. Thomas only remained silent and looked away from Edward, curling his tail around his small body even more.

Edward frowned, "Hey, I know its scary being in a new place, trust me on that. But I promise, I won't leave your side, okay?" He knew Thomas was more used to him than the others, since he was the one to bring him to Sodor. Though, he was surprised to see the pup actually stand up and slowly approach the shed entrance. Edward smiled kindly at Thomas as he finally reached him and was promptly picked up by the larger wolf. Edward turned his head and placed Thomas onto his back and made his way back to the yard. He noted the pup holding on tight so made an effort to be steady as he walked.

He imagined that he looked a bit silly as he worked while carrying a puppy on his back, but he couldn't help smiling when Thomas stopped cowering and started taking an interest in his surroundings. He felt safer with Edward around, and started watching intently and taking in everything his superior was doing. He hasn't asked any questions or even said anything at all, but Edward imagined that he still needed time so he didn't prod. He was happy to see he was coming out of his shell some.

It wasn't long until Thomas made the leap off of Edward's back and started wandering about by himself, remaining close to Ed of course. James came by at one point and, as expected, started cracking jokes about Edward having to "babysit" and commenting on how small Thomas was.

While Edward only gave the red fox an eye roll, Thomas was a..bit more vocal. James was caught off guard when his ears rang with the defensive barking of the blue wolf pup. Thomas yipped and yapped at the larger fox, catching James by surprise and making him take a step back.

Edward chuckled, his tail wagging a bit, "A fiery one, huh? Guess his personality is finally showing." He brought the agitated pup back over to him, "Okay, that's enough, little one. I think you've scared James enough."

Jame turned his nose up at the comment with a huff, "He did not scare me..just startled.." The fox quickly padded off to do his next job, his fur raised in annoyance. Edward chuckled once more as the pup in his paw settled down with a tiny snort towards James.

"Now, Thomas, you need to learn that you can't just bark at anyone. James may be annoying sometimes but I want you to remember that he's he's member of this railway just as much as you are, okay? So treat everyone politely and with respect." He barked gently as he advised the little pup. Thomas didn't seem to fully understand his words but he did understand that first part and nodded silently.

The day went on without much incident, Edward working up and down, and back and forth in the yard. All the while, Thomas was watching and seemingly getting more comfortable within his new railway, not entirely of course but close. Edward found himself growing proud of him as the pup started taking an interest in the work, of course, he would need training but the spirit was there.

Henry even came by at one point and got a proper introduction to Thomas. He was hesitant to get close but within a few minutes, Thomas was climbing all over the chestnut-colored lion, and nestling into his mane curiously. Both Henry and Edward were surprised yet joyful at the display. Henry's already shy nature seemed to melt as he tried to keep Thomas from falling off, chuckling with amusement.

"A spunky little guy, isn't he? And to think that he wanted to hide today." Henry commented. As he said this, Thomas slipped and Henry caught him before he could reach the ground.

The pup yipped happily as he was let down, "No, up! Up!" He spoke in a squeaky voice. Both Henry and Edward were surprised, that's the first time Thomas had spoken all day! Edward knew he was old enough to speak but it was still shocking to finally hear.

Henry shook his head, "I can't, bud, I gotta go, now. But we can play later, okay?" He nudged the pup playfully with his muzzle before giving Edward a nod and padding off. Thomas giggled and wished Henry goodbye, his little tail wagging with excitement. Edward looked down towards the pup and glanced up towards the sky, taking notice of the sunset, and how the yard was quickly coated in golden light. He sighed and looked to the pup, who was even starting to look a bit tired. He chuckled and gently picked him up, "Well, we oughta get back to the sheds, huh? Seems like you've have enough for today." It was with that, that Edward made his way back to Tidmouth Sheds. Thomas whined in protest but did nothing to get away.

Once he made his way back, Gordon was already there and done for the day, so he was about half asleep in his shed. Edward gently placed Thomas back into his shed before going into his own. Edward laid down and laid his head on his paws. Assuming his ward was already asleep, he closed his eyes.

But he was surprised when he felt a small, fluffy bundle curl up next to his head, he opened his eyes a crack and spotted the little blue pup snuggled against him, "Good 'ight, Edward..." Thomas murmured softly before falling into slumber.

Edward smiled, "Good night, Thomas."

[voraciousvore]

Big Corp Inc. (3/43)

Chapter 3: First Day

Candy left for her new job early the next morning, so she would have plenty of time to commute. Like before, the railway station was deserted. She boarded one of the high-tech railcars and sat in a seat within as it sped along. She was nervous, but appreciated the novelty of the remarkably oversized scenery. She had to admit, seeing such large beings so similar to humans was fascinating and astounding, if not outright petrifying. 

All too soon, the railcar reached her stop, outside the gigantic Big Corp building. Candy exited the car, into the fresh morning air, and gazed nervously at the pathway that cut through the vast sidewalk. The foot traffic for the Giants was busier with all the morning commuters, causing earthquakes and making the crossing all the more intimidating. 

Candy knew she had to be brave, so she buried her fears and forced her body to move forward. She couldn’t run in her high-heeled shoes, so she hobbled forward clumsily with all the haste she could muster, blocking out the immense behemoths stepping over her, until she reached the other side. 

She only had a brief second to catch her breath before she had to move out of the way of the colossal sliding doors as Giants clomped through them. She scurried inside and clung to the inner wall, finding her familiar safe spot behind the potted tree. The building within did not have designated lanes for humans to safely walk, so she was aware she needed to be extremely careful. 

Candy wanted to find the human elevator that Bianca had mentioned, but she didn’t know where to even begin looking. The lobby was massive; it would take her hours to search the space. While she scanned the room with her eyes, she made her way over to the Giant elevator, hugging the wall the entire time. When she reached it, she had to duck out of the way as the monstrous metal doors opened and a stampede of shoes the size of large cars threatened to trample her. 

Heart pounding, she raced inside before the doors shut, avoiding the Giants entering the elevator at the same time. She squeezed into the corner and prayed nobody would notice her. Fortunately, her wish came true, as none of the Giants towering hundreds of feet above her bothered to look down. Candy was so petrified that she forgot to get off when the elevator opened on the third floor. The elevator went all the way up to the fifth floor, then the sixth floor, and Candy found herself alone and trapped as the remaining Giants disembarked, with the doors closing shut after them. 

She didn’t know what to do. For a minute, she was stuck inside the huge metal box. She had no hope of pressing the buttons herself so she had to wait, with only the insipid elevator music for company, until the elevator started to move back down on its own. It stopped on the fourth floor and a Giant came in, pressing the button for the first floor. She considered simply asking the Giant to press the button for her, but she couldn’t muster up the courage to say anything. The elevator descended and picked up more passengers, but to her dismay none of them stopped on the third floor. She found herself alone again for several minutes. 

Candy started to sweat. She was grateful that she had the foresight to leave early, so she wasn’t late for work yet, but if she continued to have bad luck she might be stuck in the elevator all day. To her relief, the elevator finally began to move again. She wouldn’t allow herself to be cowed into silence this time—at least, that’s what she assured herself. Her stomach was twisting up into knots at the thought of what she’d have to do. 

The elevator halted on the first floor, and the doors opened to permit ingress of another massive Giant. Candy gulped and craned her neck back to look up. To her surprise, she recognized the Giant as Mr. Hardon, her new boss. She gave a startled cough and he glanced down. His eyebrows raised and he smiled with delight. 

“Candy!” he exclaimed. “I didn’t expect to see you here! Why didn’t you take the human elevator?” He bent down and snatched her up in his hand. Candy protested with a shrill cry. He ignored her and settled her into his open palm. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to being grabbed in such an invasive manner. 

“I-I didn’t know where it was… d-do you think you c-could show me? Please?” Candy stammered, trying and failing not to appear too flustered and scared. 

“Well, sure,” Mr. Hardon answered. He looked intently at her, bringing her in close to his immense face. “Then again…” Candy looked up at him with a pathetic, pleading look. He smirked. “I like meeting you like this, when you’re so helpless. Maybe I won’t tell you.” He chuckled and Candy’s face dropped as she realized he wasn’t going to help her. She opened her mouth to complain and he shook his hand purposely to make her lose her balance, then laughed at her. 

The Giant carried her into his office and closed the door. Candy felt sick as she recalled Bianca’s warning about being alone with her horny boss. In his office, there were no witnesses if he decided to have his way with her. 

“I’ll let you hang out in here while you complete your computer-based training. I can work on my laptop. We’ll have a great time, just you and me,” the boss uttered with a dirty leer. “Hell, if you want I’ll even let you sit in my lap!” 

“No thanks,” Candy groaned.  

Mr. Hardon wasn’t put off by her unenthusiastic response at all. “Oh, playing hard to get I see! Fair enough.” He winked at her, booted up his desktop computer, and opened the training module. Candy had to restrain herself from rolling her eyes. The Giant set her on his desk in front of the computer, and pulled his own laptop out of his bag. She began watching the training videos while he scrolled through his emails. 

The videos were extremely boring and Candy found her eyes glazing over as she struggled to focus or even just stay awake. When Mr. Hardon finished perusing his emails, he switched over to phone calls and started chatting in a very obnoxious and distracting manner. The conversations didn’t sound work-related either: At one point, he jovially described one of his lewd sexual exploits in a story inappropriate enough to make innocent little Candy blush. Even worse, as he spoke he began to absently pet Candy on her head like she was an animal and prod her with his gigantic fingers. 

Candy was becoming more and more uncomfortable and irritable by the second. She wanted to spin around, smack his fingers away, and tell him off. However, she had to admit she was afraid of the Giant, with his impossible size, and what he was capable of. She also didn’t want to lose her job; she had already lost so many. So, she bit her tongue and continued to watch her training videos in silence.  

She gritted her teeth as he stroked down her shoulders with the tip of his index finger. He stopped at the small of her back, distracted by his phone conversation, and laughed heartily at a raunchy joke from his interlocutor. His Giant voice was loud and impossible to ignore. Candy scooted forward to get away from his touch, and for a moment he didn’t seem to notice as he was absorbed in his call. Regrettably, she couldn’t escape him entirely, being trapped on his desk. Before long, she felt his finger pressing down on the top of her head again, stroking her hair. 

Candy put up with this treatment for several hours. She felt humiliated and dehumanized, like she was just a pet rather than a person who deserved basic respect. Eventually, her boss wrapped up his phone calls and typed on his laptop for a while, an activity which mercifully required both his gigantic hands. Candy was able to focus a little on the training videos, although she didn’t feel like she was learning anything of value.  

Mr. Hardon unexpectedly got up from his desk and left the room, leaving Candy by herself. She sighed with relief at his absence, despite still being able to see him from afar patrolling around the Giant office, checking in on the employees as they toiled in their cubicles. She saw him slap one of the female employees on the butt as she walked past him. The Giantess glared at him savagely, but he was unbothered and undeterred. Candy was appalled by this behavior. How was he able to get away with his inappropriate actions? Didn’t this company have an HR department? Candy could only assume Giant workplaces must be structured differently. She would have to watch her back. 

Her boss disappeared for a while and came back later with a hot lunch. Candy had been so worried about getting to her new job, she had completely forgotten to pack herself a meal for the day. She had skipped breakfast too, as was her usual habit. He had a tupperware full of leftover pot roast, and the delicious smell prompted Candy’s belly to whine for food. Mr. Hardon heard the tiny sound and raised an eyebrow. 

“Oh, did you forget to bring a lunch today?” he asked. Candy sighed and nodded. “Would you like some of mine? I doubt you’d eat much anyways, since you’re bite-sized yourself.” 

Candy hesitated, sensing a trap, but replied, “That… would be nice, yes.” 

Mr. Hardon slowly curled his lips into an evil grin. “Of course you know, if I share my food with you, I’ll expect something in return.” He stroked the side of her face with his massive finger. 

Candy’s stomach dropped. “Never mind,” she mumbled and quickly turned away, hunching her shoulders. Candy didn’t see her boss’s expression darken, but the shadow of a scowl disappeared as soon as it had come. He ate his meal, chewing pensively on his fork, and watched her with interest while she huddled on his desk facing the computer. When he was done eating, he stood up and walked out again to harass some of the other employees. 

Candy finished the last training module, but there was a short multiple-choice test at the end. She struggled to use the giant mouse to click the answers. She had to throw her weight on it and push it with her whole body to move it, then push with both arms to click the button. Admittedly, Candy wasn’t the brightest, and she hadn’t been able to focus for most of the training, so she failed the test the first time. She had the option to retest and managed to barely pass the second time with 72% correct answers. 

Just as she sat down next to the oversized mouse to catch her breath, Mr. Hardon came strolling in to check in on her. “72%? Ha, I knew you were a dumb blonde!” he teased, poking her with his finger. She winced. After putting up with his insufferable torment all day, she wasn’t in the mood to deal with him. 

“It’s about the end of the day today, so you finished at a good time. Most of the other employees have already left,” her boss remarked. “Come back here same time tomorrow, and I’ll set you up at your desk and show you what you’ll be doing for work.” As he spoke, he packed up his stuff and stuck his laptop in his work bag. “See ya.” He started to lumber off. 

“Wait!” Candy shouted. Mr. Hardon looked back over his shoulder. “Aren’t you going to let me down?” 

“Oh. Right,” he said, and reached his enormous hand towards her. Candy cringed as he grabbed her and placed her on the floor outside his office. “I’ll expect you here tomorrow,” he commanded, then ambled away, his receding footsteps vibrating the floor beneath Candy’s feet. She was a bit shaken from being grabbed again, so she stood dumbly and stared after him as he left her behind. It was only after she recovered and he was gone that Candy realized she still needed a Giant to operate the elevator again, unless she could locate the human elevator. She let out a heavy sigh and trudged onward. 

Chapter 4

First Chapter

[verypsbfan019]

Val Hawksworth (trainsona) 💚🚂

My first original character for my TTTE AU!

Random facts

She's based on the GWR 9400 class

Goods trains and passengers

Currently 34 years old (started to work as an engine driver when she was 22)

A good friend of The Main 12

Probably has a crush on Duck (but is unrequited)

Loves Retro Music so she and Oliver usually hang out to listen to music together

Autistic with Obsessive compulsive disorder (both diagnosed)

Frustrated illustrator

100% Anxiety

Forgets things easily

She worked on the Great Western Railway before moving to Sodor. He knew Oliver Swindon and was worried about him when he disappeared (so it was a big relief to meet him again in The Little Western)

[ophelia-jones]

May

8, 1880

Isadora was dirty and exhausted from her travels and her heart was laden with a steely grief which people told her time would ease. She knew, though, that these were empty words meant to ease the pain of the early days of loss.  The grief would not go away, rather it would become a burden she was accustomed to carrying. 

Eight months earlier she had returned to El Paso with her beloved Madre' who wanted to die in the town where she was born and be buried beside her parents.  Her father was a surgeon barber and though he wanted to accompany Maria, he had not dared lose his livelihood to make the journey.

Though the idea of Isadora traveling alone terrified him, he had put his faith in God and allowed her to undertake the task of seeing her mother home.

At least she did not need to cross the border, Hank had said, much to Maria's chagrin. El Paso had been a Mexican city when she was a girl, though it had eventually seceded to Texas but Maria's heart had always been with Mexico.

Isadora had been born in Texas after her parents were wed, and they had moved around the southwestern territories most of her youth.  They had finally found a home in New Hope Wyoming when she was a girl of 11. It was the first place she had felt accepted as she was, and not shunned by the Hispanic people for being half-white or called cruel names by whites for the same. She understood how Madre' felt about El Paso because it was the way she felt about New Hope. It was her home . 

At least the majority of the travel had been able to be accomplished by train, the Union Pacific railway had made possible the sort of journey that had once been in a lifetime for many people more accessible. 

Now, however, the train had taken her as far as it could and she would need a stagecoach to complete her trek. She sighed with relief as she settled into the covered carriage, despite knowing it would be a far from comfortable ride home. The carriage shook as the driver loaded her luggage into the boot and strapped it down. 

An immaculately dressed, well-groomed young man with ash brown hair and soulful grey eyes boarded first, offering Isadora a polite but proper nod and smile of greeting. Outside the carriage, there was a commotion between the coach driver and a woman, presumably another passenger for the trip to New Hope.

Soon a woman with flaming red curls climbed into the coach with a dramatic sigh. She wore a suede riding skirt with no bustle and an almost scandalously high hemline that fell just below the knees, and a white linen blouse long duster made of the same buckskin suede as the skirt. She also had a prominent holster on each hip containing a Lemat revolver in each. As soon as the doors were closed the woman began loosening the buttons on the neck of her blouse and fanning herself. 

Isadora averted her eyes at the woman's lack of modesty and tried to focus on the landscape passing outside her window.

"Mary Kate, your immodesty is disconcerting to proper ladies, we've discussed this a great many times," the young man scolded his companion.

"Oh for feck's sake, Aaron just because yer an old niminy-piminy doesn't mean everyone else is. I've got nothing she hasn't seen afore!" the woman declared with a thick Irish accent.

"Allow me to apologize, madam. My cousin has never been one for proper etiquette I'm afraid. I hope it doesn't trouble you too greatly," the young man said. He was soft-spoken and seemed sincerely kind to Isadora and she smiled at him in response.

"It doesn't trouble me, it's one of the better things about being home. Expectations are relaxed when it comes to manners," she said, stealing a glance at the fiery-haired woman. The gentleman's accent said east coast - Philidelphia, perhaps. The pair could not have been more unlike. 

"Aaron Murphy, Ma'am. This is my unruly cousin, Mary Kathleen Byrne," he introduced himself politely and Isadora turned to stare at the woman, her jaw dropping at the name as she put two and two together. 

"Wildfire Kate, the gambler?" She asked, and Kate's blue eyes lit up.

"See, Aaron, she's not such an old sage hen. She reads the papers." Kate nudged her cousin.  Aaron pressed his lips together in distaste; he was not a fan of pulp fiction. 

"Did you really beat Doc Holiday in a shootout?" Isadora asked, the corner of her mouth twitching up in excitement.

"Ach, no. I could, t'be sure, but I've yet to meet the man. He's avoiding me, I say," she said playfully, her steel blue eyes dancing.  Isadora could not help but return her smile, the woman's effervescent personality hard to resist.

"What brings you up to New Hope?" Isadora asked the pair, genuinely curious. New Hope wasn't a particularly large place and not a tourist destination by any means.

"I hear there's a man up that way making a name for himself, has done so well at the tables he went and started buying property up this way, I wanted to test his mettle, if ye will," She replied.

"Are you talking about Negan Smith?" Isadora groaned. The man was a menace. 

"That's the man himself! D'ya know him, then?" Kate asked.

"I do. He was a cowhand that drifted from ranch to ranch when he was younger, did an apprenticeship as a blacksmith, then he tried his hand at mining for gold up in the mountains. He did well with that, and that's when he started gambling. He did even better at that, I suppose. Now he owns a ranch not far from New Hope with more cattle than anyone in the county but Herschel Green. He also owns the dance hall in town, and a lot of folks think he's aiming to run for Mayor next." Isadora informed her.

"A real Jack-of-all-trades, eh? How is he with a pistol?" Kate wanted to know.  Isadora scoffed.

"He considers himself the best there is, from what I understand. He has a Colt Peacemaker he calls 'Lucille' that he terrorizes people with." 

"Sounds like just the sorta fella what needs to be brought down a peg or two. Sounds like fun, time!" Kate winked at Isadora. 

Suddenly, the stagecoach lurched forward, they could hear the reinsman cracking his whip and trying to drive the horses harder. The shotgun guard was calling out, but they could not understand his words amidst the clatter and bang of the carriage as it bounced dangerously fast over rocks and holes. The wheels were term long on their axles and it seemed a sure thing that at least one would soon break or come off.  Then they heard the boom of the guard's shotgun.

"Is it Indians, do you think?" Aaron asked, his eyes nervous. 

"More likely road agents. Relations with the tribes that once resided here are mostly peaceful these days. The Indian wars were awful but things have been quiet since," Isadora said, shocking even herself with her ability to remain collected.

"Highwaymen?" Kate said, arching a ginger eyebrow. "Well they're in for a surprise," she drew both pistols and checked that they were fully loaded. There was another shot, and another, followed by a horrible thump as the shotgun guard fell from his post. 

The driver reined the horses in and they came to an abrupt stop, Isadora thrown forward on top of Kate. She had no time to right herself before the doors were yanked open on each side and two men with bandanas tied around their lower faces pointed pistols at them.

"Hands up! I don't wanna see none o' you reaching for NOTHING, ya hear me? You breathe the wrong way and it'll be the last breath you ever take!" the taller of the two men yelled at them. He was thin and had the darkest, most dangerous blue eyes Isadora had ever seen. She believed the man would follow through with his threats. 

As Isadora managed to sit upright in her seat once more, she caught a glimpse of Kate looking very frustrated with the fact that she had accidentally prevented her from drawing her weapons. Isadora couldn't think about it at the moment, her mind was on trying not to panic.

"Well, what have we here?" The highwayman announced, sounding more than a little pleased at the sight of the pistols. Kate cursed at the man but cooperated as he removed the pistols from their holsters and handed over a was of bills she'd had secured in her boot. While he busied himself with taking everything of value Kate had in her, the other man focused on Aaron and Isadora.

"Hand over your money and your jewelry, any weapons, too," he demanded, his voice a low growl. This man, still taller than average despite being slightly shorter than the other, had the broadest shoulders Isadora had ever seen.  He wore a brown leather hat with a broad brim and shaggy brown hair that covered nearly every bit of his face which wasn't hidden by the bandana. As she slipped the rings off her fingers and untied the purse from her wrist, she caught sight of his silver blue eyes and hesitated. She was struck with the thought that this man was just as frightened as she was. Just as trapped. 

"And the necklace," he said, gesturing to the gold chain around her neck with his gun.

"Oh, no, please sir, this is all I have left of mi madre, my mother. Anything else, but this is a reliquia de familia!" she was ashamed at how quickly the tears sprang to her eyes. She knew it was foolish to beg a robber, it was only delaying the inevitable and might well agitate him enough to get her killed. But there was something about this man, a kindness in his eyes…

"Don't fall for that boohooing bullshit!" the first man yelled across the coach as the long-haired man hesitated. 

"We got what we need, let's go!" the kind-eyed man retorted.

"What the hell is the matter with you?" the other robber demanded. He looked Isadora up and down for a moment, then reached out and rubbed a lock of her long black hair between his fingers.  "Although, she is a prize in and of herself, ain't she? Maybe you should come along with us, sugar. Then you don't need to part with your 'reliquia'." 

Isadora's chest tightened, her heart beating so quickly that she began to tremble. She couldn't even find the strength to speak.  Suddenly, a strong hand reached out and grabbed the locket firmly, and with a sharp tug the chain broke and the hesitant man snatched it away from her.

"You happy? Let's GO!" he yelled at the other man before turning to mount his horse. The leader of the highwaymen, she could see now that there were at least two other riders on horseback keeping watch over their brethren as they robbed the passengers, kept his eyes on Isadora for a long silent moment. When he finally turned and mounted his horse she finally breathed out - and began to sob.

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph I coulda stopped 'em if I'd had half a chance to get me guns!" Kate exclaimed angrily. "I fecking hate being outdrawn!"

Aaron opened the door and stepped out quietly.

"And where are you off to?" Kate asked him, sounding annoyed.

"I'm going to see if there is anything I can do for the guard or the driver," he explained calmly.  He was the only one of the three who had kept his head during it all. His concern for the others brought both women out of their selfish reveries.

Isadora hurried from the coach to discover that the driver was uninjured but had been robbed, bound, and gagged in case he had any thoughts of giving chase. The shotgun guard, however, was on the ground with a broken arm and a shotgun wound to his chest. 

"He's still breathing, help me get him into the carriage!" Isadora said, the years of helping her father take over her thoughts. She moved with purpose as the four of them lifted the injured man into the coach. Kate sat up with the driver, taking the shotgun position even though the bandits had taken the shotgun. Aaron sat beside Isadora and they tried to keep the man as comfortable as possible for the rest of the bumpy journey.

"Thank the Lord they didn't steal the horses," Aaron murmured at one point.

"They knew what they could get away with," Isadora replied, "they'd be shot or hanged for stealing horses."

"Right. Of course," Aaron replied. He had only been west of Pennsylvania for a few months and still wasn't entirely familiar with the ways of the wild west.

When they arrived in the town the stagecoach pulled up to the station and Kate disembarked hurriedly, opening the door for the others.

"Aaron, would you go down the street and find my father? He's the barber-surgeon, his shop is just down there on the left!" Isadora asked her new acquaintance, then turned to Kate "And Kate, go to the jail and get the Sheriff." She herself was still applying pressure to the worst of the man's wounds to stem the bleeding.

********************************* 

Sheriff Rick Grimes was reading over a telegraph for the third time, trying to make sense of the why and how of the message. He had been doing everything within reason to catch the highwaymen who had been robbing the good people of this county for the past few months, and he was confident that he would catch the men in time. So why had Mayor Gregory sent for help from the Pinkerton Agency in Chicago? 

He was more than irritated at the man overstepping his place.  Rick was the Sheriff of the county, and Gregory was responsible only for what happened within the town limits. He was about to call into the man's home to demand some answers when a woman with wild red curly hair burst in.

"What the hell?" Shane cried out, standing up quickly from behind the desk where he had been nearly dozing. Shane was Rick's Deputy, and though other men were also deputies, Shane was the only one who was paid for his work. The others all made their living in other ways but could be called on when there was a need. 

"The stagecoach has been robbed, and a man has been shot, in case you were interested," she announced, her Irish lilt sassy and judgemental to Rick's ears.

He and Shane both hurried to follow the woman, arriving at the stagecoach at the same time as Beau Landry, the local barber-surgeon. Before long, they had the man carried into the jail and placed him on the cot so he could be treated for his injuries. 

Once they had done all there was to do, and Kate, Aaron, and the driver had filled the officers in on everything they could recall about the robbery, Rick watched through the doorway as the woman with the black hair and dark eyes washed the blood from the injured man's face and reassured him.  Her father had gone to the chemist for some laudanum to ease the man's pain and help him to rest.

"Miss Landry?" Rick said from the doorway. "How are you? Were you injured?" 

Isadora sighed and stood to face the sheriff. Her hair had come down from where it had been pinned up neatly on the back of her head when the day had begun. Her black mourning dress was dirty from kneeling on the ground to aid the man and stained with his blood. Her deep brown eyes were weary and filled with sorrow, and Rick's heart ached for her. He felt as if he had failed her by not stopping these robberies sooner. 

She was a striking beauty, even disheveled as she was, and there was a strength in her dark eyes he had rarely seen in most men, let alone a young woman. He found himself staring and yet despite knowing it was bad manners, couldn't quite tear his eyes away.

"I'm uninjured, Sheriff Grimes, gracias. Only tired." she smiled weakly.

"Do you think you can tell me about the men? Anything you noticed, anything at all no matter how small." 

"There were four of them. They were covered from head to toe, except for their eyes. I'm not sure I saw anything that would help," she replied, thinking of those blue eyes. She didn't know why, but she couldn't bring herself to mention them.

"I'll find them, they will pay for doing this to you," he told her earnestly. 

"Where are you from, Sheriff Grimes?" Isadora asked, noting his accent.  There was something about his presence, the way he stood, perhaps, that she found reassuring. A quiet strength in his eyes.

"Georgia, originally," he replied with a slight smile. "Before the war."

"You were a soldier," she said, as if this answered some question she had been asking herself.

"A sergeant with the 1st Battalion of Georgia Infantry," he replied, looking shyly at the floor. 

"You fought for the union?" she remarked, clearly surprised. "No wonder you left Georgia."Rick chuckled slightly, nodding slightly and looking up at her with his head still slightly bowed.

"That, and there was nothing left there for me. While I was fighting, my wife died in childbirth," he informed her.

"I'm sorry," Isadora told Rick sincerely.

"I'm sorry to leave you waiting so long, Izzy, but I'm back with the laudanum. Why don't you go home now and freshen yourself up? You must be exhausted," Beau told his daughter as he returned to the jail.

"Si, Papi. Thank you," she kissed the man on his cheek and moved for the door. 

"I'll walk you home," Rick offered, and Isadora was too weary to refuse.

[railrecipee]

Best Online Platform to Book Food Online In Train

Ordering food in the train at New Delhi Railway Station has become a hassle-free and enjoyable experience with RailRecipe. For passengers traveling through this bustling station, the convenience of getting delicious and fresh meals delivered directly to their seats is a major relief. RailRecipe ensures that your food in the train is not only tasty but also served with the utmost care, making your journey more comfortable and pleasant.

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The process of order food in the train at New Delhi Railway Station is simple and designed to meet the needs of all passengers. Whether you are tech-savvy or prefer traditional methods, RailRecipe accommodates everyone. The most popular way to order is through the RailRecipe app or website, where the user interface is intuitive and easy to navigate. To begin, you just need to enter your PNR number. This allows the system to automatically detect your train and seat details, streamlining the ordering process.

Once your PNR is entered, you can select New Delhi Railway Station as your delivery point. You will be presented with an extensive menu from which you can choose your favorite dishes. The platform offers a variety of cuisines, including North Indian, South Indian, Chinese, Continental, and more. Whether you're craving a hearty meal or a light snack, RailRecipe has something for everyone. After you’ve made your selection, you can review your order and make the payment using multiple payment options like credit/debit cards, digital wallets, or cash on delivery.

Variety of Food Options

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The menu includes everything from full-course meals like biryanis, thalis, and combo meals to quick bites like sandwiches, rolls, and pastries. For those with specific dietary requirements, such as vegetarian, vegan, or Jain food, RailRecipe provides specialized meals that are prepared following the strictest dietary guidelines. This ensures that every passenger, regardless of their food preferences, can enjoy a satisfying and nutritious meal during their journey.

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RailRecipe places a strong emphasis on the timely delivery of food, which is crucial given the dynamic and fast-paced environment of New Delhi Railway Station. The platform’s efficient delivery system ensures that your food reaches your seat at the right time, so you can enjoy your meal without any unnecessary waiting or stress.

Customers who have used RailRecipe to order food in the train have consistently praised the service for its reliability and punctuality. The food is delivered hot and fresh, thanks to the platform's collaboration with top-rated restaurants and food outlets that prioritize quality and hygiene. This attention to detail has earned RailRecipe a loyal customer base, with many passengers opting for the service on every train journey.

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The positive feedback from passengers highlights the convenience and satisfaction that comes with ordering food in the train through RailRecipe. Many travelers have expressed their appreciation for the wide variety of options, the ease of ordering, and the timely delivery of meals. This service has transformed the way passengers think about food during train journeys, making it a key part of their travel routine.

RailRecipe’s commitment to customer satisfaction is evident in the continuous improvements it makes based on customer feedback. The platform values the opinions of its users and strives to enhance the overall experience, ensuring that every meal delivered meets the highest standards.

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Ordering food in train at New Delhi Railway Station through RailRecipe is a reliable and enjoyable solution for all your dining needs while traveling. With a seamless ordering process, an extensive menu, and timely delivery, RailRecipe ensures that your food in the train experience is nothing short of excellent. The next time you travel through New Delhi Railway Station, trust RailRecipe to provide you with a delicious and satisfying meal, allowing you to focus on enjoying your journey.

[lboogie1906]

On August 6, 1942, Southern Railway adopted a policy effectively denying dining service to African American passengers on its rail cars.

The policy mandated that trains serve white passengers and African Americans meals at different times, which resulted in the denial of meals to African Americans. They further entrenched its commitment to segregation and to denying its African American customers service by adopting a policy that reserved 10 of the train’s 11 dining tables exclusively for white passengers at all times. The one remaining table in the dining car that was theoretically open to African Americans was available for use by white passengers and was to be given to white passengers upon request. If African Americans requested service while white passengers were dining, “they should be advised that they will be served just as soon as those compartments are vacated.”

In 1942, Elmer W. Henderson, an African American attorney, civil rights leader, member of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fair Employment Practices Commission, and one of the first African American graduates of Georgetown University Law Center, boarded a Southern Railway train, traveling first-class from DC to Atlanta. The train’s dining car remained and railroad employees denied Mr. Henderson a dining table based on his race. The train reached Greensboro and the dining car ceased serving passengers. Neither Mr. Henderson nor any other African Americans ever had a chance to eat.

He filed a complaint with the federal Interstate Commerce Commission, alleging that the railroad’s policy violated the Interstate Commerce Act and the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. The ICC denied relief, finding that Mr. Henderson “had sustained no compensable damage as a result of the disadvantage caused him” by Southern Railway. It would take six years for the SCOTUS to reexamine the case. While ruling in Henderson v. United States that Southern Railway’s policies violated the Interstate Commerce Act, the Court avoided declaring racial segregation unconstitutional, paving the way for that practice to continue for years. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[smol4bluengine]

It had been a few months since Edward's last visit to the steamworks. Mr. Percival had gotten word from Sir Topham Hatt a few months back that the steamworks had the parts needed to proceed with repairing Gordon. This was a big mood booster for the engines, feeling relieved and hopeful that things would turn out fine for their big engine friend. Now all they had to do was wait patiently to find out if the surgery was successful, which left the engines on pins and needles in anticipation. One day at Knapford, Mr. Percival was sitting at Sir Topham Hatt's desk looking over that day's schedule.  The narrow- gauge conductor's thoughts were soon interrupted by the ringing of the phone. He quickly answered. "Hello, Sir Topham Hatt's office, Mr. Percival speaking." Mr. Percival answered. "Ah, Sir Topham Hatt! What can I do for you today sir"? Mr. Percival asked. Station masters and rail workmen temporarily stopped what they were doing to discretely listen in to the two controllers conversation, though they couldn't hear anything from Sir Topham Hatts end. "They just finished with Gordon's surgery"? "You just heard from the steam works"? Mr. Percival continued to listen to Sir Topham Hatt, a smile soon spreading on his face. "That's great sir"! "Yes, I'll let them know right away"! Mr. Percival said as he hung up the phone. The thin controller quickly rushed over to the stations P.A. system, confusing the staff. He switched it on and began to speak. "Attention, attention, to all engines and passengers, we have just received an update from Sir Topham Hatt." Mr. Percival's voice rang out from the speakers. Every engine and passenger within ear shot quickly came to a halt and turned their attention to Knapford station. "We are very happy to announce that the North Western's number four express engine Gordon has had a successful surgery and is in recovery"! Mr. Percival announced. The station immediately erupted in cheers and happy whistles. Both engines and humans rejoiced at the news. "Alright, alright, settle down, we still have a railway to run, but engines are encouraged to spread this news to the rest of Sodor. With that being said, let's get back to work." Mr. Percival responded. And so, the engines who were at Knapford headed put to tell the others about the good news. At Vicarstown, Flying Scotsman was in the middle of unloading his passengers from the mainland when the little diesel boxcar Philip came rushing in, nearly colliding into the famous engine. "Philip be careful! You nearly ran into my passengers"! Scotsman scolded. "Oh no! I'm so sorry Scotsman. I was too focused on finding you to tell you about the update we just got from Mr. Percival and Sir Topham Hatt"! Philip apologized. "News? Does it have anything to do with Gordon? Are there any updates about his condition? Is he alright"? Scotsman asked in anxious anticipation. "Yes, we have an update! Sir Topham Hatt says: Gordon the big engine has had a successful operation and is in recovery! Gordon the big engine has had a successful operation and is in recovery"! Philip said in sync with an announcement from the Vicarstown intercom. Scotsman let out a big wheesh of steam in relief. "Thank steam"! Scotsman said. Ever since he had received the news about his brother's accident, Scotsman had been feeling like a failure as a brother. The two tendered engine had been going over Gordon and his interactions since the first time they met thanks to Sir Bertram Topham Hatt's father, Sir Charles Topham Hatt, reunited the two Doncaster brothers. Scotsman recalled the days of and up to the great race, and all of the teasing he had done to Gordon. He wondered if he hadn't said those things if it would've prevented Gordon from hastily streamlining himself and leaving behind his safety valve. Scotsman felt great shame for focusing more on the race than stopping his brother from overheating and exploding. Just the memory of that day sent a shiver to Scotsman's firebox. He could've lost his brother that day and to Scotsman it would've been his fault. Philip saw what had happened at the race and knew that Scotsman was going through a lot of inner turmoil over what had happened that day and what was happening currently. So, the little diesel spoke up. "I'm sure Gordon will appreciate you being here right now. Why don't you go check in on him? I'll take care of your coaches for you." Philip offered. Scotsman gave the little diesel a small smile. "Thank you, Philip, I think I will." Scotsman said as he uncoupled from his coaches. Philip smiled back. "Anytime Scotsman, tell Gordon I said hello and that everyone hopes he feels better soon"! Philip called out to a departing Scotsman. Scotsman blew his whistle in response as he made his way towards the steamworks. "What do you mean Sir Topham Hatt isn't allowing Gordon to have visitors at this moment?! I'm his brother for goodness sake"! Scotsman's voice boomed. The big mainland engine had just arrived at the steamworks and was trying to enter the building but had been stopped by Victor and Kevin. "I'm sorry friend, but Sir Topham Hatt asked us to not let anyone see Gordon right now until he is ready to fully explain what is going on." Victor replied. "Why would the Fat Controller need to wait to explain something to us? Everyone already knows what happened and that Gordon made it through! What more can there be to this ordeal"?! Scotsman angrily steamed. Scotsman's outburst had frightened Kevin, which caused him to back into a stack of empty crates. The crates tumbled over onto the track, blocking Scotsman's path further into the steamworks. The larger engine came to a stop, his attention drawn to the fallen opened crates before him. A logo on one of the crates had caught Scotsman's attention, it read "Little Tykes amusement park". That name was familiar to Scotsman who immediately confronted the narrow- gauge engine on it. "Victor, tell me Sir Topham Hatt didn't." Scotsman said horrified. "I'm afraid you'll have to wait a while Scotsman, Sir Topham Hatt promised that he would explain everything by the end of the week." Victor responded. Scotsman wanted to argue more, but Victor advised against it as confronting Sir Topham Hatt might add on extra stress to an already exhausted Gordon. Not wanting to cause his brother any more grief, Scotsman agreed to drop the subject and wait. It felt agonizingly long, but slowly and surely the days moved on, getting closer and closer to the day Sir Topham Hatt would supposedly tell them what was going on with Gordon. It was the day before Sir Topham Hatt's update, and Scotsman had found himself working with Spencer running the express. The two tendered engine was waiting at Knapford for Spencer. Toby was unloading passengers from Henrietta. Percy entered the station looking very confused. “Is Sir Topham Hatt and Lady Hatt having a baby”? Percy asked out of the blue. This question caught the engines and coach off guard. “A baby”? Scotsman stuttered. “Percy, whatever gave you that idea”? Henrietta asked. “Well, I was in the shunting yards organizing James’s goods trains when I overheard Dowager Hatt’s friends asking Dowager Hatt about a crib they saw in the back of her car during her drive to Sir Topham Hatt’s house yesterday.” Percy replied. “This is the first time we’re hearing about it. Usually when the Hatt family is expecting they’ll tell Edward, but he hasn’t said anything about a baby.” Toby said. “You should probably check in with Edward, Percy and get the facts, we don’t want to cause an upstart for no reason.” Scotsman advised. Percy agreed and promised to let the other three know if he heard anything as he left to resume his shunting duties. Toby and Henrietta soon departed, still very confused about the whole ordeal. “A baby at a time like this? Poor Sir and Lady Hatt must be overwhelmed with Gordon and a new baby.” Henrietta said worryingly. Scotsman was soon left with his thoughts. The sight of the Little Tykes amusement park logo along with what Percy just said made Scotsman worried. “Sir Topham Hatt wouldn’t do that, would he”? Scotsman thought. Memories of what his controller back on the mainland once said swarmed in Scotsman’s smokebox. “The folks in America have found a way to save the essence of an engine, though many controversies have sprung up. The mainland thinks this method can be beneficial with preserving engines and are looking to get it approved by Parliament.” Scotsman’s controller said. It had been approved and Scotsman recalled the feelings of unease as he passed by amusement parks. When he was approaching one, Scotsman would shut his eyes shut, not wanting to see what had become of the engines who were saved. All he heard were the tiny peeps of whistles. He hoped Sir Topham Hatt hadn’t gone with that solution to save Gordon. Though Scotsman wouldn’t have to wait in anticipation for long, as Sir Topham Hatt approached him. Scotsman was surprised to see Sir Topham Hatt, even more so in the current state. The Fat Controller looked like a mess! He looked disheveled, a five-o clock shadow had grown upon his face, and there were bags under his clearly tired eyes. Even so, Sir Topham Hatt did his best to make himself look presentable. “Good Scotsman you’re still here.” Sir Topham Hatt said. “Sir is something wrong? Is everything alright with Gordon”? Scotsman asked concerned. “Everything’s fine now Scotsman. I’ve actually come by to see if you would like to, well, see Gordon.” Sir Topham Hatt asked. “Oh yes sir, please sir”! Scotsman begged. “Alright, take the track up ahead, it will take us to my house. Just puff slowly and as quietly as you can.” Sir Topham Hatt instructed. “And Scotsman, one more thing.” Sir Topham Hatt said. “Yes, sir”? Scotsman asked. “Whatever you see at my residence, please wait to respond to it until after I told the others.” Sir Topham Hatt begged. “Very well sir.” Scotsman agreed, though he already wasn’t liking what was going on. Scotsman though still followed Sir Topham Hatt’s orders and quietly made his way to Hatt manor. As Scotsman pulled up to the Hatt residence, he could see both Lady and Dowager Hatt waiting nearby. There was no sign of Gordon, only a blue pram that was being pushed by Lady Hatt. Scotsman’s worse fear was realized. The two women approached the big engine and Sir Topham Hatt, who had climbed down from Scotsman’s cab to greet the two. Lady Hatt looked up at Scotsman. “Someone’s been wanting to see you.” Lady Hatt said in a soft hushed voice. She gently pulled back the blanket to reveal the pram’s occupant. Inside was a very small tender engine, fast asleep. Its face was soft and round with rosy red cheeks. A light blue baby bonnet adorned the top of its smokebox. The tiny engine gave little coos and whimpers from time to time though the pacifier it was suckling on muffled the noise a bit.  As more of the engine was revealed, its form became recognizable even at such a small size. That last bit was soon removed to expose the tender and the number four that had been painted onto it. Scotsman was frozen in utter disbelief. They had turned Gordon into an amusement park kiddie engine.

[beardedmrbean]

At least one passenger was killed and several were injured after ten coaches derailed in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, local media reported.

The train, a 22-car passenger service that operated along a 2,640-kilometer (1640-mile) stretch of the country, is believed to have jumped its tracks.

What more do we know about the accident?

Television footage showed passengers sitting outside the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express, which connects northern India to Assam in the east, with piles of luggage.

"The train accident in Gonda district is extremely sad," Uttar Pradesh state chief minister Yogi Adityanath posted on social media platform X.  

"District administration officials have been directed to carry out relief and rescue operations on a war footing and to take the injured to the hospital," he added. 

The broadcaster NDTV reported that at least four carriages had overturned at the accident site in Gonda district.

India's railway network remains the most popular form of transportation in country, although rail infrastructure has lacked funding and deadly accidents remain common.

Analysts say that, while accidents have reduced over time, the antiquated system still needs a lot of work.

According to official records, an average of about 20,000 people died each year between 2017 and 2021 in rail accidents due to derailments, crashes and other causes.

India's top auditing authority found that poor maintenance and old signaling equipment, as well as human error, were the main cause of derailments. 

[tfgadgets]

4 Passengers Die As 12 Coaches Of Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express Derail In UP

Four coaches of the AC compartment derailed a few kilometres before the Jhulahi railway station. Four passengers have died and 2 are injured after several coaches of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh express train derailed in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda today. The incident occurred in Pikaura, located between Gonda and Jhilahi in Uttar Pradesh.  A rescue team has been sent to the site for relief operations.…