This is my first fanfic. Unless otherwise noted, all characters are mine and may be used with permission.

-Harizon

Huntington, W. Va, c. 1946

The chairman of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, Robert R. Young, announced that in 2 years' time, a new passenger train would be going into service, to be called the Chessie. It would be a classy way to travel between Washington, D.C. and Cincinnati, Ohio. He also stated that the railroad would acquire 3 new steam turbine locomotives that would be built by Baldwin Locomotive Works for the train, and that the existing F-19 Pacifics would be rebuilt into L-1 Hudsons, 4 of which would be streamlined. The Hudsons were intended for pulling trains that would connect the Chessie with Norfolk, Virginia and Louisville, Kentucky. The entire project was an effort to prove that coal was still the ideal fuel source for railroads.

There were many mechanics who would come and go, but there was one unlike any other. His name was Bob Nichols. He was an Ohio native, working across the river from his home in Crown City. He enjoyed working on the engines, though he knew that if diesels took over like they were predicted to, he would be out of a job. But this didn't stop him from working his hardest.

When the Hudsons emerged from the shops a few weeks later, they looked resplendent. The only pieces of them that remained were their faceplates, boiler jackets, fireboxes, and tenders. Everything else was completely replaced.

The oldest of the Hudsons, Logan, headed towards the Huntington Roundhouse, where he met his friend Kaleb. Kaleb was a class K-4 Kanawha. He was astounded when he saw Logan.

"Is that really you, Logan," asked Kaleb jokingly, "or did you get eaten by a big yellow monster?"

Logan rolled his eyes. "In all seriousness, what do you think of my new shrouding?" he asked.

"You look awesome," said Kaleb.

Logan blushed. "Well, thanks. Did you hear about the new turbine locomotives that Baldwin's building for the Chessie?"

Kaleb's face fell. "Unfortunately, yes. I fear they may put us out of service. If they succeed, Young might replace the Alleghenies with them. Or me and my brothers."

At that point, a green Ford pulled into the yard. Out of it stepped a smartly dressed man. It was Mr. Young. "Logan, you will be pulling a test train for the Chessie. We will use standard heavyweight passenger cars for now since Budd is still producing the actual cars for the Chessie."

Logan was excited. "Yes, sir! When do I start?"

"You need to leave for D.C. as soon as possible. Tomorrow morning you will pull the train from Washington to Cincinnati, stopping at Charlottesville and Ashland. Your brothers will be waiting at those stations with trains that will provide connections to Norfolk and Louisville."

Logan gave 2 blasts of his 6-chime whistle before racing towards the nation's capitol. Many railfans were taking his picture at various places along the way, notably at the popular runby spots in Barboursville and Hurricane. Logan was bombarded by even more photographers in White Sulphur Springs that were waiting on the station platform near the Greenbrier Hotel. He really wanted to weesh at them, but he knew he could get in big trouble if he did. Logan stopped for coal in Hinton and continued on his way afterwards. When Logan arrived in Washington, he immediately went to the roundhouse where he was met by the workmen. They made sure to clean him thoroughly and polish his stainless steel accents. Many of the other engines were astounded.

"Man," said Lawrence, a L-2 class Hudson and one of Logan's half-brothers, "you look awesome. Wish I could be streamlined."

"Careful what you wish for," said Lord Baltimore, the class V-2 Hudson from the Baltimore and Ohio, "You could become arrogant, like those self-righteous Hiawatha engines that my friend Connor has met in Chicago."

"Shut up, Old Balty," replied Charlie, a streamlined BO P-7d Pacific, "you're just jealous that you didn't get chosen to pull the Cincinnatian, and your relationship with a streamliner failed."

Lord Baltimore rolled his eyes. "You were the one who ruined my relationship, so I don't wanna hear it."

"Guys, guys," said Ethan, a T-1 Texas, "Let's just be supportive of our friend, here. Logan has a test train to pull tomorrow, so let's not argue, alright?"

"Thanks, Ethan," said Logan, "Goodnight, everybody." He was nervous inside, as he knew that Mr. Young was relying on him to prove that the new train would be worthwhile. He drifted off into an uneasy sleep, worrying about what would happen to him and his brothers if he failed.

Logan pulled with all his might, but cracked his poppet valves just as he pulled into Cincinnati. He came to a complete stop, and there he sat for many hours... days even... or was it weeks? Suddenly, out of nowhere, he felt a jolt inside and began to move. Faster, faster, faster than any steam engine had ever gone. The towns he passed were nothing but a blur. Florence, Augusta, Maysville, Vanceburg, and South Portsmouth were all just oddly-colored objects that zipped by. Then Logan began to slow down. He heard laughter that made his boiler run cold. Logan saw lines of diesels, most from other railroads, but some painted for the CO. They were all laughing and blasting their horns out of spite. Logan now knew where he was headed: Russell, Kentucky. Russell was home to the largest classification yard in the entire world to be operated by only one rail company, and engines were often brought here to be disciplined, or worse, terminated. He suddenly stopped in front of a facility that had previously been under construction. Many diesels raced in and out of the building in just a few minutes, and they also laughed at Logan's misfortune. Then, as if out of nowhere, Mr. Young appeared. He had a very intimidating look in his eyes and grinned evilly at Logan."Logan," he began, "you have failed to prove your capabilities, and more importantly, your ability to follow orders. Because of your incompetence, the Newport News and Louisville sections of the Chessie will be pulled by diesel locomotives."Logan was distraught. "I-I'm sorry. Please give me another chance. I won't let this happen again."Young shook his head. "I'm afraid that business doesn't allow for second chances, as your brothers found out, the hard way." He pointed to a line of 3 Hudsons behind the diesel shops, all streamlined like Logan. But something was wrong. Very wrong."They- they're dead!" shouted Logan, then he realized what would happen next. He began to plead for his life, but Young ignored him."Take him to the torch," said the businessman to a diesel switcher."With pleasure," replied the diesel in a greaser-sounding voice. He forcefully coupled to Logan's tender and began to shunt him towards the smelter's shed. The doors opened, and Logan was left in the building, and to his surprise, he saw Bob holding the torch. Bob hung his head in shame as he began to cut apart the Hudson. The last thing Logan heard was a distraught "I'm sorry, Logan". Then, everything went black.

Logan woke up screaming at the top of his cylinders, waking every engine in the roundhouse. They all stared at Logan, some out of concern for the L-1, others out of irritation of being woken up.

"Are you alright, Logan?" asked Lawrence.

"What's the matter?" inquired Ethan.

"Did you dream of getting married to a J?" laughed Lord Baltimore, "I've had that nightmare before, too."

"To think I'd be able to sleep in the damned capital," snorted Kent, a Class BA from the Virginian Rail Company and a brother of Kaleb's.

Logan didn't know what to say at first. "I-I think I had a nightmare," he began, distraught, "I broke down in Cincinnati, sat there for God knows how long, and then, out of nowhere, raced into Russell Yard with no steam in me. Mr. Young told me that I had failed and was to be replaced by diesels. I saw the dead bodies of my brothers and then I was scrapped. I really felt the sting of the torch as it cut through me. Oh God, it felt so real!"

The roundhouse was silent. The first engine to speak was Ethan. "I've known Mr. Young long enough to say that that will never happen. Sure, he is rather arrogant and doesn't believe people should tip their waiters, but he wouldn't have you junked after being rebuilt so recently. And even if he did, he would not replace you with diesels. I'd make sure of that, and I'm sure Kaleb and his brothers would make sure of that."

"I'd hope to hell that my brothers on the CO would make sure of that," said Kent.

"I gotta tell you," said Lord Baltimore, "you are lucky to have such friends on your railroad that care about you so much. Lord knows that the BO couldn't care less about my well-being, or my relationship."

Charlie snorted. "Will you stop bringing that up?" he griped, "She was never meant for you, and I was trying to tell you that."

"She WAS meant for me," said Lord Baltimore, "YOU ruined everything. Back when you and her were a thing, you got too big for your tender and cheated on her, no less with her own sister. Then when me and her started to get close, you kept bugging us and she had enough."

Charlie growled. "I don't know why I bother with you or Caitlin. You are both rude and don't deserve my attention."

Ethan was furious. "Be quiet, Charlie! You and Lord Baltimore have squabbled like chickens the whole night, and Logan just had a nightmare! You need to cut him a break."

"Thank you again," said Logan as he drifted off to sleep again, this time without any nightmares.

A/N: Bob Nichols is not a fictional character. He is my deceased step-grandfather who actually was a mechanic for the Chesapeake and Ohio. He was laid off when the steam engines were replaced with diesels. I would like to request that no one use him in their stories without my permission.

So that you know who each character is meant to be:

Logan: CO L-1 #490

Kaleb: CO K-4 #2716

Lawrence: CO L-2 #305

Lord Baltimore: BO V-2 #5340

Charlie: BO P-7 #5301

Ethan: CO T-1 #3002

Kent: VGN BA #507