"For our first competition in our 20th ever Great Railway Show, the Strength Gauge! Six trains each of ten ex-Conrail and current Muffle Mountain Thrall 54' coil cars have been loaded to the brim with, well, steel coil!" The sixty Lifer cars stood stoically still. "Their brakes have been locked on as well. Our six competitors must pull them forwards beyond the red line a hundred feet away. Whichever one gets them beyond the line first wins! And let's see who's competing!

"A perennial Railway Show returnee is our first guest. He's been everywhere but shunting and he's coming back for another try at his first Strength trophy! He's a 4-8-4 Southern Australian Railways 520 Class, built 1943 and brought to life 1945. For Australia, Shane!" The teal tender engine smiled gratefully at the crowd.

"Next up is another returnee. Although given the events of the 19th show in 2016, it's debatable whether he's still beloved. Though he first worked in the US and still lives there today, he competes for the country who built him and operated his old turf. He's also a 4-8-4, this time a Grand Trunk Western U4a, built 1936 and brought to life 1951. For Canada, Vinnie!" Vinnie snorted indignantly.

"Our third returnee is definitely a fan favorite. Not only was she the first female competitor for the Strength competition, she's also the first female Lifer to win it! Though smaller than many of the boys, she's not afraid to stick up for herself. She may be her class' endling but she's not going down without a fight. She's a 4-6-2 Deutsche Bundesbahn Class 10, built and brought to life 1957. For Germany, Frieda!" Frieda smirked at the male engines.

"Now it's time for some new faces. He had a reputation on the LMS for two things: his love of fish and his law-abiding nature! Though there've been a few incidents that put some spots on his record in his new home, he still wouldn't give it up for anything. He's a 2-6-2 Ivatt 2MT, built 1947 and brought to life 1950. For Sodor, Arthur!" Arthur smiled.

"Diesel locomotives have been said to usually be inherently weaker than steamers. Our fifth competitor would like to challenge that assumption. When British Rail decided against diesel-hydraulics, his class was built to prove the worth of diesel-electrics. He's a C-C BR Class 47/4, built and brought to life 1963. For the United Kingdom, Wendell!" A blue Class 47 numbered 47419 with a yellow face smiled timidly.

"And lastly, you wouldn't expect much to come from Connecticut. But this guy is definitely something! The first in a long line of electric boxcabs operated by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, he's the oldest of our competitors here today. But hey, those cars are also American, and from his heritage line no less, so maybe he'll be used to them! He's a B-B New Haven EP-1, built and brought to life 1907. For the United States of America, New Haven!" The boxcab, painted the teal and white of male Muffle Mountainers, sighed.

Once they were all coupled up, "Begin!"

They all heaved and hoed. As predicted, New Haven had pulled heavy trains enough times to have the strength to clear the line first. "And New Haven gains his first trophy!"

"Not bad, mate," Shane said. "You've still got it and you're over a hundred!"

"I can run circles around a whippersnapper like you," New Haven replied wearily. "I'm just glad I got to be here. Electric engines keep getting ignored..."

"All right!" Hillary, Muffle Mountain's ALCO PA, whooped. "We got a trophy!"

"For once!" added a male 40' PS-1 boxcar also from that line.

"Wish it didn't need that old battery kit though," Miley scoffed. "I could've done any of these!"

"Like switching?" the boxcar asked slyly.

"No!" She spluttered herself into silence.

"Nice one Rollo," Hillary smirked.

"Thanks."

"And now for the Best in Show competition! Six engines are going to parade themselves in front of our judges and they'll decide who they like best!

"First up is a familiar face. Steam died in most of the world, but China's vast untapped coal reserves mean he's still chuffing around in active service! He earned his showy colors for his bravery and he's not afraid to flaunt them! He's a 4-6-2 China Railways RM, built and brought to life 1960. For China, Yong Bao!" Yong Bao nodded graciously at the crowd as he cruised in front of the judges.

"Next up is a true veteran of the show. He's been in every one since the start and has racked up more trophies than most engines have wheels! He's always looking for a new way to surprise us, and I gotta say he's doing a great job! Right now, he's spreading awareness for better solutions to Mexico's poverty. Not afraid to be political, now is he? He's a 2-8-0 N. de M. GR-3, built and brought to life 1903. For Mexico, Carlos!" Carlos had been repainted maroon with "MORENA" written on his tender in white and surrounded by alebrije. The judges took note.

"Look at this, folks! I believe this is the first time this country has entered someone! He's by far our youngest competitor, but with youth comes a new outlook on the world! Can he shake things up? We'll see! He's a C-C Abuja-Kaduna CDD3B1, built and brought to life 2017. For Nigeria, Ohwonigho!" A six-axle diesel with green ends and white in the middle gratefully motored in. The white space was interspersed with traditional Nigerian art.

"Another new face, for anyone who's never read a book or seen a telly that is! He's been around a long time too, proving that this truly is the year of the vintage train! And he's the only one in oak, too! He's an 0-6-0T ex-LNER J70 tram, built and brought to life 1908. For Sodor, Toby!" Toby's skirting was now a rich cobalt blue with intricate silver swirlies.

"Another day, another diesel. But this is no ordinary diesel! British Rail had a reputation for breeding absolutely dreadful attitudes into their diesels, causing them to loathe steam engines with a racist passion. It didn't take for this guy, though; in fact, he even helped a steam engine who'd failed to the next station, then took on another train that failed! While he wasn't working right! He's a B-B BR Class 35, built and brought to life 1964. For the United Kingdom, Bear!" The diesel, dark green with white window frames and a yellow face, humbly drove in, his sides decorated with vivid scenes from tapestries.

"And lastly, our next guest has been through a lot. First a giant conspiracy destroyed many of his friends and family, then he was replaced by newer trams. But he didn't give up, and he got a new lease on life with a new engine and a permanent route! He's a B-B Septa PCC II, built 1947 and brought to life 1948. For the United States of America, Penn!" A sleek green trolley wheeled through, honking merrily.

The judges conferred with each other before one of them finally spoke. "We have chosen Ohwonigho of Nigeria as this year's winner."

A small section of the audience cheered. "Good job, chico," Carlos said gratiously to the newcomer. "You've put your home into la historia eternal now!"

"I know!" Ohwonigho agreed. "Ọ mara oke mma!"

"I think I know Bear from somewhere..." Henry remarked.

"Feh! Too many boys!" Lucy grimaced.

"I know, that was weird."

"Ashima, shouldn't Rajiv be here too?" Thomas asked.

"He wanted to come, yes, but we haven't seen him for a while," Ashima replied. "It's very concerning."

"Yeah," Thomas said solemnly. "It is."

"And now for the highlight of our classic competition – The Great Race! Our six participants will race around a track specifically designed for this! To make things more fair, each one is the same length thanks to the magic of points. Now they'll need to be fast if they're to survive!

"First up is the first subway engine to ever participate in a Railway Show event. He's also extremely young, but will this be enough to defeat his more experienced seniors? We'll see! He's a B-B Buenos Aires Underground Alstom 300 Series, built and brought to life 2015. For Argentina, Gaspar!" A dark gray-and-yellow electric engine, separated from the remainder of his trainset, smirked.

"Next is a more familiar face. Lifers are known to playfully tease their friends, and he's raised it to the level of an art form! But he always makes sure that people know that's he's just being a good sport. So much so that he doesn't care if he wins or loses today's race! He's a 4-4-2 NMBS Type 12, built and brought to life 1939. For Belgium, Axel!" Axel smiled broadly.

"And here comes Axel's closest friend from another country! He's the first railway vehicle to reach 200 miles per hour and the Great Race's first electrically-powered competitor! He too is a gentlemanly sort, and he too is the last member of his two-unit class left, but can he win over the British? We'll see! He's a B-B SNCF 9000-series, built and brought to life 1954. For France, Etienne!" Etienne sparked his pantographs and beamed.

"Our next competitor is one of the NWR's newest additions to its fleet. She and her twin sister Emma were queens of British high speed transit, but after being obsolesced they sought a new life in the world's greatest haven for Lifers. Can she earn her place among her new shedmates? She's a B-B BR Class 43 HST, built 1977 and brought to life 1983. For Sodor, Pip!" Pip took a deep breath in.

"Speaking of Sodor, last year one of its engines attempted to one-up his brother! Though it didn't work, the two brothers rekindled their bond because of it. That brother is here today to stand for the bonds between all Lifers, big or small, powered or unpowered. He's a 4-6-2 ex-LNER Gresley A3, built 1923 and brought to life 1925. For the United Kingdom, Flying Scotsman!" Scotsman winked to Gordon in the audience.

"And rounding up our racers is truly a unique locomotive. She's one of the world's last remaining duplex locomotives, and she's got one of the most unique driving systems of any steamer, so much so that in the early days it caused her problems. Before we begin the race we must note that Lifers are actually quite rare, for only a fifth of all of the vehicles ever built will come alive. Even rarer than that are LGBT+ Lifers which, like humans, only make up 3.8% of their total population. But nonetheless we're bound to run into at least one, and our friend here is the first transgender entry in the Great Railway Show. She's a 4-4-4-4 ex-PRR T1, built and brought to life 1946. For the United States of America, Sylvia!" Sylvia whistled a deep, booming sound that startled many of her competitors.

"Begin!"

It was truly a spectacle to behold as the engines whizzed past each other, trying to one-up each other without crashing. And after some time...

Sylvia pushed herself to the finish line. "Whoo!" she panted.

The crowd went nuts. "And just like that, Sylvia becomes the first transgender Lifer to win a Railway Show event and snags Muffle Mountain another trophy!"

"You seem...bothered by something," Billy said, noticing the looks on Connor and Caitlin's faces.

"Yeah, Sylvia's from our old railway," Connor said. "We're happy that she won, she earned it..."

"But we wish Sodor would win something," Caitlin finished. "Like, on our own merit."

"Hey, we've got the ultimate diesel and shunter on our side. What could top that?"

"With the race itself done, it's now time for some shunting. Each shunter must assemble a train consisting of three vans, three tankers, three flatbeds, and a brakevan. Sodor has graciously lent some of its Lifer rolling stock for the event."

"Graciously my backside!" a tanker complained.

"Our first competitor is the 19th show's shunting winner. She was meant to be built meter gauge, but a slip-up in the notation on her blueprints led to her being built standard gauge. Because of that, she wound up on the Indian railway, where she was often bullied. One day, she found out what enlightenment really meant for her, and has taken to spreading that message ever since! She's an 0-8-2T Nilgiri Mountain X class, built 1953 and brought to life 1957. For India, Ashima!" Ashima smiled.

"Another familiar face is our next competitor. She's also the oldest engine to ever compete in the Show! Working in Italy for many years before her 1965 withdrawal, she's seen it all; she even took Mussolini for a ride! She didn't support him, before you ask. Can our old girl keep shining like the gem she is? She's an 0-4-0T Ferrovie Nord Milano Class 200, built 1883 and brought to life 1888. For Italy, Gina!" Gina huffed.

"Our third entry is a good old chum of ours. Although his homeland...really isn't. Especially given what it did to America in 2016. Nonetheless, he's given his all no matter what, and in our eyes, THAT is a much better justification for letting him come than keeping him out! He's also extremely friendly and well-spoken. He's a C Russian Railways TGM23BE, built and brought to life 1964. For Russia, Ivan!" Ivan laughed before putting on a comically serious face.

"And our fourth and final old face is our other winner for shunting in 2016. For a different reason! He kept Vinnie from trying to injure one of his friends and helped Ashima win, netting him an honorable mention trophy! Can he, with his abundance of historical shenanigans, earn one for real? He's an 0-6-0T ex-LB&SCR second-series E2, built 1916 and brought to life 1960. For Sodor, Thomas!" Thomas grinned cockily.

"Well, our fifth competitor isn't exactly a new face, but she's only appeared in two Shows before. But her resume is much more impressive than that: she competed in the 2000 Golden Railway's Induction Contest! Imagine that! She's a C Statens Järnvägar Class U, built 1934 and brought to life 1956. For Sweden, Elsa!" Elsa gulped.

"And rounding out the show is an actual new face! The United States is known for big locos; why, even the tank engines there tend to be giants compared to us Brits! That means that America rarely enters an engine into the Shunting competition. But the Mesa Roja heritage line has, with a war veteran who survived a grenade to her face! Wow! She's an 0-6-0T USATC S100, built and brought to life 1942. For the United States of America, Caroline!"

"I hope you're watching, little sister," Caroline said as her eyes landed on Rosie. "This is what we do back home."

"Uh, duh! I used to live there!" Rosie retorted.

"You don't have a good relationship with your sister?" Emily asked.

"Eh, she's just too...competitive at times. You get used to it."

Indeed, Caroline did dash about, trying to collect her cars before anyone else. Unfortunately, she was used to heavier American cars, so oftentimes her bashing made them skid too far.

"Gina wins Shunting!" the announcer boomed when all was done.

"Gah..." Caroline groaned.

"Hey, don't wor-ry, ragazzo," Gina said good-naturedly. "I was much like that when I was young too."

"I'm eighty," Caroline deadpanned.

"Oh...right. Well, there is always next time!"

"Not if we can help it," an Anti-Lifer said in the background.

Having finally arrived Charlie sniffed the air. "I feel tired..."

Bertram gasped; Charlie's voice was deeper than usual. "Charlie, hold your breath! If you fall asleep we'll be goners for certain!"

"Uh...okay." Charlie did so and they scooted out of sight.

Crana noticed the various canisters the Anti-Lifers were moving around. "Those cans," she said. "What are they?"

"Those, my queen, contain sulfur hexafluoride. It's an extremely effective Lifer anesthetic, usually used to knock us under so we don't feel them fixing major injuries."

"I see. And I suppose this bizarre machine has something to do with them?"

They witnessed a canister being affixed to the stage. "I do believe so. When the show ends they're going to release that gas and knock them unconscious...and then the killing begins."

But little did anyone notice that Sylvia, returning from a coal hopper to become a spectator, was so large that she knocked up against one of the feed pipes for the gas, which broke.

Only one competition left. Which countries will have entered some chumps? Which won't? Will this be when Ladyten is canonized or will you keep having to wait?

All this and more in the next chapter – Felled Truth!