Chapter 10 – Mid West, Sodor, and Diesels

'Stay out of my way and we'll do just fine.'

"It's not true! Tell me it isn't true!"

The smaller 2-6-2 Pacific type locomotive would have nodded sagely if she could. Instead she just raised her eyebrows and hooded her dark eyes. "I'm afraid so, Erika. They've already demoted your sisters; it's only a matter of time before they get you too. With these diesels taking over, your days are numbered." She paused to let the Daylight absorb and process this new information before continuing. "It's not just you, it's happening to all of us. On every railway, even around the world! Enjoy these last few moments while you can…" The smaller engine looked down sadly, shifting uneasily on her axles.

Los Angeles, California, 1953

Erika wheeshed sadly at the memory as she waited for her passengers to board; what made it worse was that Chloe had been right. Ever since the war ended, things had started to change drastically. These new engines, these diesels, started showing up and they weren't switchers either. No, they were big, nearly as big as her; streamlined engines in Daylight livery. They replaced her and her sisters. Edith and Ella had been sent into general service and went all over the railway. She barely saw them now. Erika's already somber mood fell further as she thought about them. Edith… poor Edith, she was appalled when she found out. The humans stripped her of skirting and painted her black. The older Daylight's cries and protests had fallen on deaf ears. The diesels had laughed at her and all Erika could do was watch.

It wasn't just her line; she barely saw Alice or Aaron either. When they did show up, it was like meeting them for the first time. Alice had been forced into helper service and was usually somewhere in the middle of the country. She hadn't seen Aaron or Glen in years and feared the worst. They were the largest steam engines in the world. They could pull the heaviest of trains up the steepest of hills. They would thunder through the mountain passes with such grace, so surely they still meant something to these humans? Surely they still had a place, a purpose? She didn't think she could bear it if she learnt either of them got scrapped. Knowing Glen, he probably didn't care. From what Aaron told her, after losing Elena, he didn't care about pretty much anything. He probably thought being scrapped meant he could be with her again. Erika shook the morbid thoughts from her mind, thinking about that wasn't going to make her feel any better.

However, Erika had been lucky. She still had her colors and her skirting. She didn't know why but she was grateful nonetheless. She may have lost her job as the Daylight engine, but she still pulled passenger trains. Today, she was heading towards Chicago. Erika smiled slightly; the Mid West was so much different than California. It was busier, livelier. The engines looked different too. Their streamlined design made them look smoother, sleeker, faster and a bit more hyperactive.

"You ready to go, girl?" Sam asked softly, putting a hand on her cowcatcher.

Erika forced herself to smile wider, "Yeah… Hey Sam?"

"Yes?"

"What's going to happen to us?"

The blue-eyed man paused, taking a seat on her cowcatcher. "What do you mean?"

"With all these diesels coming in… what's going to happen to steam engines?"

Her driver shifted uncomfortably, "Well… as of now, they're just putting you into general service."

"Are they going to… scrap us?"

"I can't really say. I wouldn't rule it out." His answer shocked Erika, himself as well. "Erika, I don't know what's going to happen to you or steam in general. However…" he got up and climbed on top of her cowcatcher so he was meeting her nearly eye-to-eye. "I'll do everything within my power to make sure they won't scrap you. Hell if I can, I'll buy you myself." He kissed her nose softly, something he'd always do when she was feeling down.

The former Daylight sighed softly as she started to relax. Ever since Elena's death, Sam had been there for her, stayed with her in the sheds sometimes, just like he had before he got with Aaron's driver, Victoria… Erika let off a bit of steam at the thought of her. That woman took Sam away from her! If there was one positive thing about the whole situation, it was that her absence allowed her to spend more time with the man she still loved and cherished. She'd like to think he felt the same way. Her fireman never showed her this kind of affection but then again, she wasn't that close to Andrew. One of these days, she was going to have to tell Sam how she felt. She didn't care if he was human. Love was love and that's all that mattered.

"You may not be pulling many Daylight trains anymore, but you're still the most beautiful engine in the world. No matter what train you pull."

Erika smiled and felt her face start to warm up. "Even freight?"

"Especially freight," he kissed her nose again before climbing down and heading for her cab. "Let's hit the rails, girl."

It was dark by the time she reached the windy city. The Chicago Union Station was teeming with life. Dozens of trains making their way in and out of the station, whistling to each other cheerfully, their headlights and lamps lighting the way. As she came to a stop to let her passengers off, Erika's blue eyes looked around frantically, looking for the streamlined, blue engine with matching coaches. Where was she? He said she was coming in with a special. Maybe she missed her? Or maybe she was late, wouldn't be the first time. She was always with that streamlined Hudson from the New York Central railway… Maybe something "came up?" Erika chuckled to herself; teasing those two about their relationship was always a blast.

Just then, she heard two oh-so familiar whistles coming from behind her. A face-splitting grin formed on Erika's face. There they are… and they're both late.

The B&O Royal Blue pulled into the station along with the silver New York Central Hudson at an alarming speed, damn near missing the entire platform altogether. Once her passengers were all gone, Erika approached them slowly, still grinning.

"See Caitlin, I told you we'd make it on time!"

The Royal Blue rolled her eyes, letting off some steam as she began to settle. "Just barely, you know I don't like being late Connor."

"But it was fun!"

"Where have you two been?" Two pairs of eyes looked to the left before landing on the grinning steam engine in Daylight livery. "Look at you, all tuckered out and red in the face. Must have had fun popping each other's safety valves!"

"That's not what we were doing!" Caitlin stammered unaware of her scarlet cheeks.

"No need to hide it, Caitlin. How long have you two been coupled now, a few years?"

"We're not coupled and we're not double-heading either! If you must know, I ran into Connor on my way here. He wanted to show me this shortcut of his and we ended up wasting more time!"

"But it was fun!" Connor added.

"Yes, valve popping is very fun." Erika chimed in and the two engines only groaned in response.

After being uncoupled from their trains, the trio continued to chat as they made their way from the station and towards the sheds for a much needed rest. According to Connor and Caitlin, things on the east coast were just as bad as on the west. However, steam was still pulling passenger trains like it always had; it was still needed to some degree. That gave Erika some hope. Maybe they'd survive this diesel takeover. Maybe the humans wouldn't scrap them and keep them around. For the first time in a while, she was hopeful for the future.

"You ever heard of Sodor?" Caitlin asked once they were all settled and their crews had left, all but Sam who sat quietly on Erika's cowcatcher as he listened.

Erika raised an eyebrow, "Sodor?"

"I met a tank engine a few years ago who was being shipped over there. Sodor's supposed to be a safe haven for steam engines like us. It's not like here. There they run free, without having to worry about being scrapped or overrun by diesels."

"Seems like my kind of place. Where do I sign up?"

Caitlin would have shrugged if she could. "Other than that, I don't know much about it. I'd love to go though."

"So would I," Connor said yawning as he suddenly felt extra tired.

"Well," Erika began. "Maybe we will. Who knows?"

"Maybe!" Caitlin smiled, "Maybe I'll work for royalty!"

"And I'll be a fancy, posh engine, world famous even!"

"Maybe all three of us will wind up there. I'm sure we will! Oh how exciting!" The Royal Blue was giddy with excitement at just the thought of it. "Isn't it exciting, Connor?" she looked over at the silver Hudson to discover that he had fallen asleep long ago. She found herself rolling her eyes again, "Ran out of steam already!"

As the sun rose to greet the city of Chicago, there was a buzz among the engines at the sheds. Erika woke up to see Connor, Caitlin, some other engines she didn't know, and her driver talking about some steam engine in Europe.

"I heard he's one of the strongest engines in the world!" one said.

"Certainly not stronger than a Challenger or a Big Boy." Another retorted.

"I heard he's very fast. He can go above 108mph."

"I can go faster than that!" Connor said rather snootily.

"What are you guys talking about, and at this hour?" Erika asked grumpily.

"They're talking about this," Sam said, showing her the world news section of the Chicago Tribune. She found a headline that read, "Queen Elizabeth II Visits the Legendary Island of Sodor." Below the headline there was a black and white photo of a 4-6-2 tender engine; he had a sash around his boiler and was smiling proudly. The Queen was standing next to the engine on the platform.

Erika was unimpressed, "And?"

"He's from Sodor!" Caitlin answered happily. "Do you know what this means?!" Erika raised a tired eyebrow as she waited for the Royal Blue to continue. "Sodor's real! To pull a train for royalty… what an honor, I wish I could do that!"

"He's quite handsome too…" a female Hudson said, blushing slightly.

While the engines chatted, Erika studied the engine. He certainly didn't look like any of the engines around here. "He looks old fashioned," she said.

"He looks like a Gresely A1 Pacific," Sam said. "Those were built in the 20's in England. You won't see those kinds of steam engines here. Their steam engines look a whole lot different than the ones we make in the US. And to think an engine that old still up and running at this day and age..."

Her driver's fascination with the engine only angered her further. "What's his name?"

Sam scanned through the article, "Uh… it says his name is Gordon. He's a passenger engine on Sodor."

Erika laughed, "Gordon, what kind of name is that? It even sounds old!"

"I wouldn't mind visiting this place, actually. I heard they have engines there that date back to the 1890's!"

Erika ignored him; she was too busy focusing on this Gordon. So what if he got to pull the Queen's train? He wasn't better than her. She was a Daylight, a premier passenger engine. Well, she used to be. She could hit up to 110mph. She was the most beautiful engine in the country and he was just some old passenger engine… that got to pull a train for royalty. Erika glared at the photo.

'I'll prove I'm better than you, Gordon. I can become world famous too.'

A commanding female voice cackled to the right of her. She looked over and her blue irises landed on a bullet-styled, 4-8-4 tender engine in black livery, short, red skirting, and gold lining. Her dark red lips and dark eye shadow matched her livery perfectly; she was pretty. She had never seen an engine like her and she was just as big as she was. Her gold eyes met Erika's blue as she spoke, "Sodor? What's so great about Sodor? Steam's still up and running here, I'm living proof of that!"

"And who just might you be?" Erika asked.

The black streamliner pulled out of the sheds slightly to get a better look at the engine who questioned her. She laughed snootily, "You're one of those west coast streamlined Daylights, aren't you?"

Before Erika could answer, Caitlin chimed in. "What are you doing here Madison? Your railway doesn't even come this way!"

Madison huffed, "I could tell you the same thing, Caitlin. Last I checked D.C. wasn't this far west!"

"I have a special!"

"Well, maybe so do I? Besides, what business is it of yours?" She turned her attention back to Erika, "As I was saying, I don't know where you get at calling yourself the "World's Most Beautiful Engine" because that simply isn't true! Want to know who is? Me! Name's Madison, an N&W J-class. Stay out of my way and we'll do just fine."

Well, that was a rather rude introduction. However, Erika could be rude too, if not ruder. "Well bitch, let me tell you something! Yes I am one of those "west coast streamlined Daylights." Name's Erika, and I am the most beautiful engine! I must be, seeing as how you know about my class while I've never heard of yours, must not be all that popular." She glared at the J-class. "What makes you think steam is safe in the US? We're being overrun left and right!"

"Maybe you are. My railway is still using steam. In fact, they're still requesting new ones to be built! I'm one of them. I arrived just a few short years ago." Madison smiled proudly at that fact.

Erika didn't believe her; they stopped making steam engines back in the 1940's. This engine was full of crap.

Sam looked up at her, "She's telling the truth, Erika. Steam's still wanted here."

The former Daylight's mouth hung open slightly. She couldn't believe it. It seemed like everything this side of the Mississippi was doing fine while all hell was being let loose back home. It just wasn't fair.

"Like I was saying, bitch, steam will be just fine. None of us are going anywhere. We'll be around for years and years to come." Her words seemed to bring comfort to the other engines. All except Erika, she had a feeling that things were only get worse for herself and steam engines everywhere.

Erika sadly made her way back to Los Angles that evening only to be greeted by the laughs and taunting air horns from the new diesels. She looked around and there wasn't a steam engine in sight. No Edith, Ella, not even Alice or Aaron. She was all alone and outnumbered. At the lead of it all was Marlena, an EMD E7-class diesel. She absolutely despised the steam engine and couldn't wait for her to get retired and hopefully scrapped. Truth be told, Erika didn't care for the diesel either and did her best to ignore her as she made her way towards the sheds for a rest before her next run, whatever that may be. She never had a problem with diesels up until now but, then again she never had one take her job and then mock her.

Marlena's gold eyes followed Erika as she steamed by slowly towards the farthest end of the sheds. "How was your trip, Grandma? Hope you didn't break anything!" she cackled and her sisters laughed right along with her. Erika ignored her; she wasn't in the mood for the diesel's crap. The Daylight diesel continued, "I don't know why they keep you guys around, really. I mean, steam is old technology. Who would want to bother with Old Iron over there?" Erika closed her eyes as she tried to calm herself. She wasn't going to let Marlena's words get to her. She was better than her. She wasn't going to stoop down to her level but then, the diesel said something that she knew would get the reaction from Erika that she wanted. "Did you guys hear about what happened to that other GS Daylight? Stupid bitch went right over the Horseshoe Curve and wrecked herself. Hey Erika, why don't you set an example for the rest of your kind and do the same?"

That was it, she had gone too far and Marlena knew it. She didn't care though. She enjoyed working the steam engines up and she knew just how to do it. Tears stung Erika's eyes as she tried to hold them back and let her anger overtake her, to not let them see how hurt she was. How dare she speak disrespectfully about Elena, an engine she didn't even know!

"Screw off Marlena, you and your dirty, diesel bastard sisters!"

"Nice come back there, Grandma. Hate to tell you the truth but she was going to get scrapped anyway. She just did herself a favor and did it sooner."

"Shut up, you know nothing about Elena, nothing!"

"Keep telling yourself that. I bet the rest of your kind will do the same once they start getting retired. What's more shameful than getting sent to the smelter? Why not just do the humans a favor and take yourself out? Seems fair I think."
"Shut up, shut up!" Tears were streaming down her face now, but she didn't care anymore, "Steam will live on! We'll still be around while you and your kind are sitting in museums if not scrapped!"

The diesel rolled her golden eyes, "Yeah right." She laughed at the GS-4's comment and her sisters soon followed. "Oh look at the time! I'd love to stay and chat with you, Grandpuff but I need to get ready." She and two of her sisters pulled out of the sheds with her. "Oh by the way, the Costal Daylight is still the most beautiful train in the world, more so now that I'm pulling it!" The three diesels chortled loudly as they left Erika to her own sadness, Sam and Andrew sitting on her cowcatcher and doing their best to comfort her.

Erika sat in the shed alone that night with no one to talk to but herself. Her crew had gone home for the evening and there hadn't been any other jobs for her. She stared sadly at the rails in front of her, sniffing occasionally, hoping the sun would rise one day and everything would be back to the way they once were. Before dieselization, before Elena's death, before everything started to go wrong. She longed for the days when it was just her sisters and Alice. Hell, she even missed spending time with Aaron.

She sighed sadly; a few more tears rolled down her already tear stained cheeks. Those days were gone and it was hopeless to think they would return. Chloe was right. The days of steam were winding down and it would only be a matter of time before they were to be overtaken by diesels completely. However, there was a hint of hope, a dim light at the end of the tunnel. She remembered Madison's words:

"My railway is still using steam. In fact, they're still requesting new ones to be built! I'm one of them. I arrived just a few short years ago."

"Steam will be just fine. None of us are going anywhere. We'll be around for years and years to come."

"Oh Madison, I hope you're right…" Erika sniffed again as she mumbled to herself softly. "I hope you're right…" She continued to repeat the J-class's words in her mind as she drifted off into another restless sleep. She was going to take those words and hold onto them as tightly as she could. There was still hope for steam, there just had to be.

A/N: Well, this didn't take forever, nope! We finally got to see some different faces, both new and old! I figured Caitlin and Connor would be in the same livery as their basis at this point in time, not the rainbow colored messes they're in now. Marlena the EMD E7 belongs to my friend Simon and that quote I stole from him. He knows the one! She's based off the #6017. Chole's based off SP 2472 and belongs to metalheadrailfan. No, I'm not asking for characters.