My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Rail-Hawks
Chapter 1: All Aboard! (The Griffonstone Railways)
The Griffon Kingdom is growing, and with growth comes industry. I got to be a part of that growth and prosperity in the Kingdom. From the rush of steam to pulling passengers and freight from the kingdom and into Equestria, the new lines became the vitals to the kingdom in transportation and even luxury. My name is Heloise. I work on the railroad.
Together with my best friend Wilhelmina, we are conductors on our own locomotives, and serve the kingdom. Wilhelmina and I are both hippogriffs, and we are as strong and beautiful as the very locomotives we work on. Wilhelmina is a harpy eagle and dapple grey mare with a black mare's tail. I am a golden saker mixed with a gold gypsy vanner.
Together we are some of the best train conductors or 'Rail-Hawks' in the kingdom. Wilhelmina runs the Griffonstone-Cantorlot #462, a 4-8-2 'Mountain' locomotive. I run the Griffonstone-Appleloosa #540 which is also a 4-8-2 'Mountain' locomotive. Our locomotives are painted in a shade of black and silver. We take care of our locomotives like family.
The day for us starts early before the sun comes up. Wilhelmina and I meet in the rail yards to get our schedules. After a nice quiche for breakfast and some coffee, we meet up with our 'Coal-Canaries' or fire-griffons. For Wilhelmina, hers is a former mail-delivery griffon that found excitement on the rails, Gabby. Mine is a former archivist named Glenda.
"So what've we got today?" asked Gabby,
"We got the Appleloosa Mail today," said Billie,
"I'll get her stoked and ready," said Gabby with a salute and a shovel. Glenda and I were pulling the Cantorlot Express since the engine that was supposed to pull it today has a cracked front truck wheel. As I got my revised schedule, Glenda was talking with Gabby about plans for after the morning shift, mostly involving lunch which sounds quite lovely
Once the oil pressure was just right, and I checked the gauges and pulled the levers, it was time to go. I tipped my conductor's hat to Billie as I exited the rail yard to pick up the Cantorlot Express from the Griffonstone Grande Palace Station. Built in 1851, the plate glass and steel station is also an exhibition hall, and a popular social spot for griffons.
Every time I come here, I can't help but admire it's splendor from a time that has passed, but is not forgotten. I guided my engine into the terminal to be coupled to a line of passenger cars, ten of them to be precise, "All aboard, have your tickets ready please," said the ticket-collector on this trip named Galena, a nice griffon if you get to know her.
Ponies, griffons, and all manner of species got onto the train and into their seats in the cars. Once I saw the signal and all the passengers were seated and comfortable, Glenda and I started back up the engine. White steam wheeshed, and dark grey smoke puffed from the stack. I pulled the whistle to signal that we are off to Cantorlot with the Express.
"Wahoo!" cheered Glenda, taking in the breeze,
"Much better than being an archivist, no?" I joked,
"You said it!" said Glenda over the noise of the iron pistons and engine working hard, and steaming down the track. The passengers see the sights of the kingdom from majestic prairie lands and forests to rivers and lakes. I looked at my watch seeing we will make it on time to Cantorlot. The crank pins and main rods moved in it's own mechanical dance.
It's always a joy to see the faces of the ponies and young griffons as we pass by towns and villages along the line. You wave to them, and give them a blow of the whistle. The cheers they give back always warm my heart. Right now, the locomotive is going at a smooth 60mph, but can go at a maximum of 70mph. Let me tell you, the big girl can run.
Glenda is the kindest and most thoughtful griffon I know. I am sure Wilhelmina can say the same for Gabby. When we go on trips to Cantorlot pulling the Express, Glenda always seems to have something to share and make the trip smoother. She brought a thermos of coffee, and some buttered toast, "You really know how to make the dawn shift better"
"It's a long trip from Griffonstone, Big Bird, I thought we could use a snack," Glenda replied, and offered me a piece of toast. It takes a couple hours to get from Griffonstone to Cantorlot by rail so refreshments are always offered in the passenger cars from drinks to light snacks. The overnight trips always come with breakfast, snacks, lunch, and supper.
We were on time in Cantorlot, "Right on queue,"
"Since when are we ever late?" Glenda questioned,
"Never," I said with a grin, winking back to her. We led our engine to be coupled off the passenger cars in the Royal Rail-Yards, and chuffed the mighty 'Challenger' to the water tower for a drink. While there, Glenda and I had a drink of our own of coffee with cream and sugar. We even shared with a few of the worker-ponies in the rail-yard that morning
Glenda is my best friend. If something were to happen to me, I can count on her to run this locomotive the same way I do. To all the passengers, Glenda and I will always do our best to get you to your destination safe and sound. We both hope you enjoyed your trip. I apologize for this inconvenience, but this line does not offer passenger cinema service.
(Author Note: The locomotives are modeled after St. Louis-Southwestern No. 977)