“I have never met a lover of railways who felt the slightest need to produce any justification for his pleasure. Why should he?”

-Roger Lloyd, The Fascination of Railways

Hello everyone. I'm a female railfan (yes, you read it right) and I love steam locomotives to the moon and back.

My username is a tribute to Rosie The Tank Engine and Angelina Ballerina, my daughter's favourite characters.

English is not my first language, so I hope you understand my mistakes.

I believe in God. Most of my stories include references to Christianity.

My OCs:

Locomotives and their bases (all from the USA):

Nathaniel - B&O EM-1 #7629 2-8-8-4 (renumbered #679) * Built: August, 1945

Austin - B&O EM-1 #7600 2-8-8-4 * Built: 1944

Bernard - B&O EMD F7A #4538 * Built: December, 1950

Washington - B&O P-7 #5300 “President Washington” 4-6-2 * Built: February, 1927 (preserved)

Jessica - N&W J #611 4-8-4 * Built: May, 1950 (preserved)

Humans

Gabriel Sand (Driver)

Sophia Sand (Gabriel’s wife)

Mr. Brian O’Mara (Driver)

Mrs. O’Mara and Nathania (Mr. O’Mara’s wife and daughter)

Joseph McAllen (Driver)

Elijah Wise (Baldwin's employee)

A special character who appears in my fics is Lady, the Angel of the Engines. This is not TATMR Lady as we know her, but a heavenly being inspired on her character. She is the angel entrusted with the task of helping humans to give live to the engines as they are built, and, in the case of an engine is subsequently scrapped, she takes his/her soul again to carry it to the Railway of the Clouds. The engines usually address their prayers to her, and they notice her presence by the particles of golden dust that appear in the air at certain moments.

Why do we love steam locomotives so much?

“No other product of man’s mind has ever exercised such a compelling hold upon the public’s imagination as the steam locomotive. No other machine in its day has been a more faithful friend to mankind, nor has contributed more to the growth of industry in this, the land of its birth and indeed throughout the whole world. Those who have lived in the steam age of railways will carry the most nostalgic memories right to the end.”

R. F. Hanks – March 18, 1960 - Swindon, Wiltshire, UK.

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"We see entire families tailgating, waving flags, and kids holding pictures of trains they have drawn. There are very few things you see that can rival that."

Ed Dickens, senior manager of Union Pacific Heritage Operations

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"Maybe it is the sheer baroque beauty of the engineering on display. The sight from the cab window, along the boiler to the chimney and down to the organic, reciprocating motion of the valve gear, is mesmerising. Then there is the fire, which makes this more a living being than a machine. It is not surprising that steam engines are held in so much affection. They have an urgent, animal magnetism entirely absent from even the most charismatic diesel or electric locomotive."

Michael Hanlon - www*dailymail*co*uk

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"Steam. Definitely. What’s not to love? They were usually referred to as a “she,” for good reason. They are endowed with all the attributes we normally apply to the female of our species. You see, when out and running, the pounding of the cross-compound air pumps is her heartbeat, and when at rest, their panting comes after arduous work, while the water is her life’s blood. The whistle is her voice, crooning long and low throughout the night, her headlight her ever vigilant, never closing eyes. Wood, coal or oil is her food, and the aroma, blended of oil, hot grease, steam and smoke is her heady perfume, the bark of the exhaust her laborious protest. Her bell lets one know that she is ready to go somewhere, while the action of the side rods, cranks and eccentrics are her legs in dizzy dance. And, as with all ladies, she requires lots of tender love and care. The diesel electric? Well, he's a powerful brute, but he just can’t sing…"

Best answer for "Which do you prefer, Steam engines or Diesel engines?" from uk*answers*yahoo*com

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“The UN is Satan. It’s liar, killer, anti-Christian and it hates children with a passion. May the wrath of God fall on it!” –Me

“Amen! Amen! Amen!” –Nathaniel

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