hazel-of-sodor

[hazel-of-sodor]

Its time to give my headcanon for one of my favorite StarTrek ships, the U.S.S. Yeager

By the dawn of the 2370s, Starfleet was, once again, embroiled in an Arms Race for the survival of both itself and the Federation. It had began the 2360s as the top power in the known Galaxy,  its only near peers either allied or hadn't been seen in a *century*. Now the Klingon-Federation Alliance was failing, the Romulans had emerged from their isolation, the Borg had *slaughtered* the Federation Fleet at Wolf 359,and the Dominion had emerged as a new threat. 

Starfleet had long followed a policy of only building new ships for frontline roles, with other roles being covered by older vessels. After the loss at Wolf 359, Starfleet had begun a fleet modernization program, but the majority of the fleet was over half a century in age, and new, more tactically minded designs were needed. Starfleet turned to their shipyards, and design teams were given free range to design their wildest dreams, as long as it could fight. Hundreds of designs were submitted by 2371, but only so many could be selected for prototype construction.

It was into this  era the Intrepid Class was launched. Nominally a science vessel, the class prototype’s frame had been under-construction during Wolf 359. This had resulted in a last minute redesign, giving the class far more redundancies and weapon arrays. The Intrepid class that emerged in 2370 proved to be fast, agile, and tough as nails. When put through combat trials, the science vessel proved to reliably punch above her weight class. Starfleet was suitably impressed, and authorized full production of the class, but a question arose. Could a tactical vessel be built from this science vessel's framework?

A design team was gathered, and the concept for the vessel quickly took shape. Drawing inspiration from one of Starfleet’s most prolonged headaches, the Klingon Bird of Prey, the proposed design featured a Primary Hull of the same type used on the intrepid class, a triangular secondary hull, and down swept wing like pylons mounting Intrepid type nacells. Early simulations showed promise, but the project had fierce competition from its rivals, each team racing to get their concept to the prototype phase as quickly as possible, and the team was concerned their project would be shelved before they could complete the work of designing the new secondary hull. Instead they approached the admiralty with an unusual proposition.

The team argued the technology for their project had already been proven in the Intrepid class. The configuration was the untested variable, and more specifically, how it performed in combat. The design could be tested for those traits *before* with a temporary secondary hull design in place, allowing Starfleet to determine if the project was worth pursuing before using the time and resources to design a full secondary hull. The admiralty, hungry for results, agreed. The team searched through existing hull designs for the closest hull profile to the concept, finding the mark in a design for a patrol craft (which had since become infamous for its role with the Maquis) and a MK 0 prototype was built. The ship was an odd sight, the elegant lines of the intrepid meshing with the harsh utilitarian lines of the patrol ship's hull. Furthermore, the hull had been scaled up to the intended size of the finalized design, her interior decks hastily redesigned to fit an intrepid style engineering assembly. Normally this would have been a poor proposition, as the hull limited the ships top speed severely due the hull being designed to work at a much smaller scale, but the prototype was meant for only one purpose, combat. 

The hull, nicknamed Prototype 0, entered her trials in mid-2373. Despite her construction's inherent limitations, she proved a lethal combatant. She proved to possess all the firepower and durability of her sister class, but with improved firepower and agility. Hull number NX-65674 returned triumphant, having proven the class's worth. Full development of the class was approved, but to the shock of the team, NX-65674 would not be returned to the team to test the new hull. She was to enter service. Starfleet needed every combat capable ship they had, no exceptions. Prototype 0 was hastily refitted, her secondary hull given significant structural reinforcements and a more permanent layout, then launched as the new U.S.S. Yeager NCC-65674. Following the completion of her trials, 5 more hulls were authorized for construction to the Mk 0 design, while U.S.S. Yeager was assigned to Deep Space 9 in light of rising tensions with the Dominion.

The finalized Mk1 design would enter service in late 2374, a far more conventional looking vessel, with all future class members being built to this design. Following the end of the Dominion war in 2375, the surviving Mk 0 hulls would receive ‘refits’ replacing their engineering hulls with the finalized Mk1 design. The final MK 0 Yeager (the prototype herself) would be refit in 2377.

#Star Trek #USS Yeager #Star Trek headcanon #my beloved #Yeager Class

[hazel-of-sodor]

Have you ever drawn The City of Truro?

No I haven't. Truro has never been asked for, believe it or not. I have alot of GWR engines on the list already and I've never found blueprints for the City class (although I've never went looking specifically). Truro has also never appeared in any of my stories.

The City class is one of those engines I'm sure I'll eventually do, but has never been anything making it a priority

#Ask Hazel #Hazel Asks #Hazel Q&A #GWR 37xx #City of Truro #Great Western Railway #City Class

[hazel-of-sodor]

I've just read over about the C&HR's mallet, and I have a question for you. What is the new Garrett design?

It hasn't been drawn out yet. I meed to draw some more irl Mikados before I draw them

They are likely to resemble the Beyer Peacock AD-60, built for New South Wales Government Railways

#Ask Hazel #Hazel Asks #Hazel Q&A #Garratt Locomotives #AD60 Garratt #New South Wales Government Railways

[hazel-of-sodor]

henlo again! the dumbass with the 8K and 01 obsession here! how many 8K's has sodor acquired through its years? asking because i have a feeling its more then 3 and they are all beans and deserve to be pat! also i figured out how to do asks >:3

So the NWR buys 5 in 1921, NWR No.28-32, directly from.the ROD. No.28, the engine in alot of my old scale comparisons, is named Vicarstown.

Another group is bought from the LMS in 1927, but I haven't locked in how many (I'm thinking 10)

Finally a group was bought from British Railways from 1957 (the 3 final GWR 30xx) to 1966 (LNER 04s).

Now not all of these are in service as ROD 2-8-0s. Some were Rebuilt in NWR Mikado's using LNER A1 (peppercorn) Boilers. Others have retired to museums.

Still, the ROD 2-8-0, GCR 8k, LNER O4, GWR 30xx, NWR 28 class is still the line's most numerous locomotive class.

How many exactly Im working on, as I am still working on the Locomotive Roster

#Ask Hazel #Hazel Asks #Hazel Q&A #ROD 2-8-0 #GCR 8K #LNER O4 #GWR 30xx #NWR 28 Class #2-8-0

[hazel-of-sodor]

One more for now, but who is this?

Snoot!

Shes a BR Class 18!

friends

#Ask Hazel #Hazel Asks #Hazel Q&A #BR Class 18 #Snoot

[hazel-of-sodor]

And why do you have 6 extra wheels?

because bullied designed a pacific based on the Q1. I don't have the blueprints (*sobs*) so I freelanced one.

#Ask Hazel #Hazel Asks #Hazel Q&A #SR T1 #4-6-2 #Southern Railway

[hazel-of-sodor]

And who is this?

Shes the Ivatt 1mt, The Tank engine version was a real proposed design in the 40s. The tender version was my creation.

#Ask Hazel #Hazel Asks #Hazel Q&A #Ivatt 1Mt #2-4-0 #2-4-2T #DWR #Denbigh and Wrexham Railway #C&HR #Chester and Holyhead Railway

[hazel-of-sodor]

The crop can’t get any smaller, but who is this?

Shes the C&HR's mallet, designed by Gresley himself.

I can't find the original lore post, so heres her lore

By the 1930s, the Chester and Holyhead mainline from Holyhead to Krestaen was overloaded. The railway's faithful class 5 2-8-0s rantheir goods trains as fast as was safe, but still struggled to keep up. Longer trains were not an option, as the existing trains already filled the passing sidings with mere feet to spare. The sidings could not be expanded without digging into cliffs along the line, which would risk landslides.Another route was needed. The existing mainline crossed the water at Holyhead onto Gwylan Island at Castell Hafan, then turned Northwest, climbing though farmland, plains, and forests in the heart of the Island before reaching the mountains. From there it climbed up the Llyn Pass to the capital, Krestaen. It was the clearest and best path to the city, but the path was narrow for long stretches in many places, taken up by the river Glaw. However, another line of the C&HR already came within 20 miles of the valley that held the capital city. A line ran North from Castell Hafan along the coast to the North Western port of Llanw.A path already existed between Krestaen and Llanw, and it would take minimal work to prepare it for track. Why then had the cities not already been connected then? Diawl's Bryn. The Devil's Hill. Climbing North, Northeast from the valley, the grade wound its way between the mountains with an average grade of 1 in 45 or 2.22%, in some places reaching 1 in 35 or 2.86% for short distances. For six grueling miles, the line climbed the mountain pass, before descending the 1 in 90 grade to Llanw. From there it was mostly flat running to Castell Haffan. It wasn't the steepest grade in Wales, nor the longest, but the combination was too great for the railway's existing fleet. The C&HR turned to May Traction and Railworks for an engine that could conquer the grade. A freight engine capable of making the run from Krestaen through the pass to Castell Haffan unaided. MTRW was forced to turn away the order, as such a monster was beyond their ability to manufacture. Next the C&HR turned to their mainland neighbor, the London, Midland, and Scotland Railway. The two railways had maintained a polite if distant working relationship since grouping, the the LMS running trains on the C&HR as far as Holyhead, and the C&HR running am express to London on LMS metals The LMS sent their number 4997, a 2-6-0+0-6-2 Garratt, for trials. While the engine certainly possessed the power required, the classes Achilles heel soon made itself known. The axle box design on the garratts was prone to hotboxes above 15 mph, far below the C&HR's running speed. Nonetheless, 4997 was purchased from the LMS to serve as banker until a suitable engine could be found. Several months later, a member of the C&HR board witnessed LNER U1 No.2396 banking at the Worsborough Incline . a 2-8-0+0-8-2, the U1 was the most powerful engine in Britain up to that point, and her frames were based on the LNER O4, the class the C&HR named the Class 5. The C&HR approached the LNER and its CME, Sir Nigel Gresley with their problem. The mention of the LMS's loan of 4997, and the subsequent chance to out-perform their rival, saw the LNER board order Gresley to design an engine capable of the task. Gresley spent a week watching the trains working Diawl's Bryn, before approaching the C&HR with his proposal. Rather than a Garratt like 2396, he wanted to design a simple mallet like those used in the United States. Whether Gresley truly believed a simple articulated was better suited for the C&HR than a garratt design, or if he simply wanted the chance to design such an engine is unknown; in either case, the C&HR approved the proposal. In Autumn 1933, Gresley presented the finalized design; a massive 2-6-6-4 locomotive which he dubbed the KM1.

Beyer Peacock was contracted to build the engine, and in early 1934, the KM1 left the works. With 6 cylinders and 76,000lbs of Tractive effort, she was the most powerful locomotive in Britain. She emerged in LNER Apple Green, shining in the morning light. The C&HR board, present to witness the unveiling of the engine, held a vote, and unanimously voted to name her Behemoth. Too large to travel by rail, she was delivered by sea to the harbor at Castell Haffan. Hundreds gathered to see the beast lowered onto the metals, even cold and with her fire unlit, she was an imposing presence. Two class 5 2-8-0s pulled her to Krestaen, where her fire was lit.A pair of American turntables had been purchased and installed at Krestaen and Castall Hafan in anticipation of her arrival, allowing her to be easily turned for the run to Castell Hafan. A line of 50 slate laden wagons waited as the engine backed down for her trail run, a pair of class 5's uncoupled at the back to bank the train in case of issues with the new engine. This would prove unnecessary. Behemoth charged the grade with a whistle, as was tradition on the C&HR, she was fitted with an American hooter whistle, and the echo thundered over the hills.the train had reached 30 mph when it reached the base, and the drivers of the two 2-8-0s eased their regulators, expecting the train to slow. To their shock, the train began to pull away from them, as Behemoth accelerated up the incline. They quickly caught back up, but kept having to increase the regulator as the monster at the front surged up the rails with a will. By the crest, Behemoth had broken 50mph, and the two bankers were left behind as she began the descent. Extra guard vans had been added to serve as extra braking power, but the C&HR had entrusted the 2-6-6-4 to a veteran engineer, and she skillfully kept the train in check. Behemoth would arrive in Castell Haffan ten minutes early to the cheers of the island's railfans. An order for a second engine was placed within the week, and Behemoth was soon joined by her sister Leviathan. Her arrival allowed 4997 to be sent to Beyer Peacock for a rebuild, emerging with new axleboxes, allowing her to join the two sisters on the run. By the advent of the second world war, the three engines were beginning to strain, so a third sister, Goliath, would be delivered in 1940. After the war, the facilities of MTRW would be expanded, and the C&HR would take delivery of a new Garratt design. Despite this, the three sisters would remain in service, keeping pace with the younger engines with ease.

#Ask Hazel #Hazel Asks #Hazel Q&A #LNER KM1 #LNER Mallet #LNER 2-6-6-4 #2-6-6-4 #C&HR #Chester and Holyhead Railway

[hazel-of-sodor]

You said I could ask about more of these, but I didn’t want to spam your ask box, then I forgot

But then I remembered!

Who are these three?

SPAM IT!

If you have asks send them!

These 3 (four actually) are my LNER Thompson I3 Dreadnoughts

In short these were Thompson's Answer to the Gresley's P1 and P2 locomotives.

#Ask Hazel #Hazel Asks #Hazel Q&A #LNER I3 #4-8-4 #Thompson I3 #LNER Dreadnoughts

[hazel-of-sodor]

Half tempted to take crops of last years roster and drop them in here to ask who some of them are

Like Styx Express?????

So alot of the art isn't 'canon' to the AU. Its me having fun with art.

Styx was a request someone made for a train inspired by the Hadestown play. They had several reference trains and I came up with her. Shes not canon to the AU.

The rooster list Im working on now is the 'canon' list. What engines (currently) reside on the AU railways.

But feel free to ask about any engines you want, I cant at least explain their origin of not their place in the AU.

#Ask Hazel #Hazel Asks #Hazel Q&A #Hazel's Art #Hazel's Au

[hazel-of-sodor]

I may be working on the long requested locomotive rooster...and the NWR alone maybe approaching 90 locomotives just from those mentioned in headcanon posts/fics

#Hazel Rambles #Hazel AU

[hazel-of-sodor]

reblogging for the release of season 5

Best of Discovery Season 1

This year the final season of Star Trek Discovery airs, bringing an end to the show that brought Star trek back to television after over a decade absense. To celebrate its 5 season run (which was incredibly long for a streaming show, I'll be doing a best of for all the seasons of streaming era trek so far, listing great moments/scenes (at least 13, as this was meant to be a bakers dozen series), and One honorable mention.

To start off, the season that Started it all, Star Trek Discovery Season One . Spoilers below

Battle of the Binary Stars

A fleet of Starfleet ships arrive to back up the USS Shenzhou against a klingon fleet, and what a fleet it is. A whole era of Starfleet design is explored in a single scene against a goreous backdrop of the titular binary stars.

2. U.S.S. Europa arrives

The U.S.S. Shenzhou is disable by the battle and is drifting towards an astroid when the Admiral's Flagship arrives. The Nimitz Class U.S.S. Europa arrives at the last second, tractoring the Shenzhou and calling a temporary ceasefire to the battle. It is a visually gorgeous scene with a wonderful score. For just a moment, the arrival of the mighty starship make it seem like everything might be okay.

3. U.S.S. Discovery arrives

U.S.S. Discovery, the namesake off the show doesn't appear till episode 3, but she make a grand entrance, saving the prison shuttle transporting Burnham in a scene that wonderfully conveys her size and grandeur

4. The shushing Klingon

Aboard the damaged U.S.S. Glenn, a team from the U.S.S. Discovery find the crew fataly mutilated by a failed spore jump, but more immediatly threatening, a monster roams the halls of the stricken ship, one capable of killing the klingon boarding party sent to recover the ships secerts. The scenes onboard the Glenn are brutal, and wonderfully tense. It also gives us the hilarious "did that klingon just shush me?" Moment. (I chose a pic of the Glenn rather than the interior as those were more graphic than I wanted for this post)

5. The Discovery saves Corvan II

Discovery makes her first successful long range spore jump and saves the Federation mining Colony Corvan II. Its a wonderful moment od Discovery's crew coming together to save civilians.

6. Please Don't Take My Ship, She's All I Have Left

This moment between Cornwall and Lorca is amazing, and makes me wish that lorca hadn't been mirror Lorca. His plea for him to keep command off discovery is heartfelt (but later revealed to be for all the wrong reasons)

7. Mudd Loses

Magic to Make the Sanest Man go man is amazing throughout, but the moment the crew finally outwits Mudd is so, so satisfying.

8. The Loss of the USS Gagarin

The Discovery attempts to save the U.S.S. Gagarin from the Klingopns and fails, despite their best efforts. The loss makes the war feel far more real, and highlights the fact the Discovery is just one ship, no matter her spore drive. I also love Lorca's speech here-"There will be time to grieve later"

9.Destruction of the Sarcophagus ship

A satisfying victory for the crew, and seeing discovery make all the jumps is an epic scene.

10.Mirror Tilly...kinda

"If you spoke to me that way I would cut out your tongue to lick my boots" What a line. Tilly taking on the role of her mirror counter part is amazing.

11. I.S.S. Shenzhou

The Mirror Shenzhou arrives, and she is beautiful. A former hero ships twisted mirror half.

12. Burnham kills Captain Connor

an amazing fight, and what a gut punch, as Burnham is forced to watch Connor die again, this time by her own hand. The crew clapping after the turbolift opens and his body falls out is chilling in the best way.

13. Reveal of the Imperial Palace

The I.S.S. Charon is an intimidating presense, and way cooler than a palace on a planet.

14. Destruction of the Charon and Discovery jumps Home

The bombing run Discovery makes on the Charon and her jump back to the prime universe using the resulting show wave is awesome, made even better on a personal layer by Burnham saving Mirror Georgiou-"I couldn't watch her die again"

15. Arrival at Qo'noS

Discovery jumps to a cave on Qo'nos, and I love the weight of the scene. You can feel gravity grabbing the ship and Discovery struggling against it.

16. We are Starfleet

The scene the show has been building to, Burnham stands up to command over the plan to destroy the Klingon homeworld, and the crew backs her up.

17. U.S.S. Enterprise

I remeber when I first saw her. The 1701 returned in all her glory. The TOS version is the definative U.S.S. Enterpise to me, but Discovery gave us an amazing earlier version. It had been decades since the prime 1701 had appeared on screen (we don't count certain series finalies) and its honestly still my favorite moment of the season.

Honorable mention: U.S.S. Discovery

the original teaser for the show showed a much different Discovery. While I understand this was never meant to be the final, I lover her all the same. It was also the moment Trek was back, after decades we had a new hero ship. I hope STO adds her someday, and that someone makes a model of her. She may not be the offical version, but she deserves love all the same.

[hazel-of-sodor]

behold, my worst performing post of all time. This reblog is the first note its ever had.

Bakers Dozen: Liscensed Ships I want in Star Trek Online

Welcome back to Bakers Dozen! This time we return to Star Trek Online ships, but instead of canon, its liscensed. Simply put, 12 ships (and one honorable mention) I want in STO, that aren’t canon, but appeared in an offical Star Trek Product (Books, Comics, Games, Ect.)

1.Premonition Class 

Hailing from Star Trek Armada, The U.S.S. Premonition went back in time to warn the Enterprise E of an impeding borg invasion. I never had the full game, but I played the demo countless times. Just look at her. She aleady looks like an Sto ship. One of the most iconic Star Trek Video games ships, I think she would be a great ship to appear in the current arc time/multiverse themed arc.

2.Yorktown Class (ENT Era)

Long before Captain Seven of Nine commanded the enterprise, and even long before STO. There was a Yorktown Class Starship in Star Trek Legacy. Star Trek legacy was the first star trek game I owned, and the Yorktown was a favorite of mine. The battleship to the NX Cruiser, the Yorktown was a powerhouse in the 22nd century. She’d need a new name, as the current Enterprise in STO is a very different Yorktown Class, but we could always use more Enterprise era ships.

3.Belknap/Ascension Class

Quite possibly my favorite TMP Era design (yes including the refit) The Belknap from  Ships of the Star Fleet Vol. 1 is the Constitution Refit’s smaller agile cousin. Stripped of diplomatic suites and scientic labratories, the Belknap posseses the Constituion’s firepower in a more compact and agile frame.

A “Dreadnoght” version exists, the Ascension class, but it’s literally a Belnap with the third nacelle of a Federation classs refit, maybe to give her longer warp sustainability?

4.Andor Class

This TMP era missle cruiser was introduced with FASA, and I loved this odd ball. I could see her functioning as a TMP era defiant, a small ship darting in with heavy torpedo fire. Also more TMP is always a win

5.Archer Class

Apperaing in the Star Trek Vangaurd Novels, this was a tiny tos scout ship, with only a crew of 14, and still didn’t have enough room for personal bunks. Incredibly fast and agile, she was too small for turbolifts, instead only having ladders.  Pls let me 1v1 a cube with this smol ship. Also TOS Ships are always a win.

6. Aegis Class

The U.S.S. Aegis is the hero ship of Star Trek Bridge Crew, and my god what a gorgeous ship. STO needs more Kelvin ships, and what better one than a proper Hero ship that has her own games, and looks this good?

7.Romulan Warbird, Unknown Class

This Stormbird (Romulan D7) esk dreadnought appeared in the DC Star Trek Comics in the 80s. Decades later, younger me would find the comics as a kid, and fall in love with this oship. Romulan TMP Warbird? Sign me up! Pls?

Also this comic has this awesome shot

8.USS Dorothy Garrod

From the IDW Dicovery Comic, this Federation science vessel looks cool. Thats it. Thats all I know. Discovery rep is always a win.

9.D-18 Gull Class

A Klingon ship from Fasa, this is a troop transport. Its weird and I love it. I had a fried who 3d prints move the neck to the top of the secondary hull and flip the bridge module upside down for a more traditional look, but I dont have any good pics of her on hand.

10. Chandley Class

Speaking of troop transports, The Chandley is perhaps Fasa’s most popular ship, and its not hard to see why. Maybe Sto, could give her a boarding console. 

11.Saladin/Hermes

Orginally appearing in the Star Fleet Technical Manual by Franz Joseph, this ship has TOS and TMP varaints, as well as a Kelving timeline version from both the comics and Star Trek Fleet Command. Simple yet iconic, with so many flavors. Legendary Discovery Variant?

12.Insignia Class

This gorgeous ship originally was a fan design, then was included in the Ships of the Line calender. It later appeared in the TNG Waypoint comics as the ‘Chimer’ class…USS ENTERPRISE???

This version of the Enterprise served at the same time as the Enteprise E (ummmm?) and was commanded by Geordi La Forge.

The Chimer name sucks though. Insignia class is a way better name.

Honorable Mention:

Locknar class

Another Fasa Ship, this is an honorable mention bc it is kinda…maybe…canon?

In Lower Decks we she the USS Titan’s lineage wall…including what was confirmed to be a Locknar class USS Titan?

Yes I am a TOS/TMP nerd, how can you tell?

[hazel-of-sodor]

I'm going through my old posts for a project, and I'm still really proud of this.

A Swindon Arrival

Other Stories

I mentioned an Au where Gordon and Henry are sent to Swindon instead of Crewe for their rebuilds. Here is the first story in this Au, Duck’s arrival at Tidmouth

5741 rolled slowly forward. In the siding beside the station stood a large express engine, longer than even the castles but slimmer, sleeker. The Pacific was dozing lightly as express engines were want to do.

“Excuse me, 5741 asked quietly. The pacific slowly opened an eye, clearly unimpressed with the interruption to its rest.

"Sodor Palace?” 5741 asked nervously.

The pacific’s other eye opened slowly, the disdain shifting to lazy interest. “Indeed cousin.” He spoke, “ but we do not stand on formalities here, cousin, while on the North Western I am known merely as Gordon.” His eyes swept over 5741’s frame, causing the pannier to do his best to straighten, glad he’d been repainted before arriving.

“What brings you here cousin,” the Pacific asked, “You are a long way from the Other Railway, much less the Great Western.”

“I’ve been sold.” The words felt like ash in 5741’s mouth. “I’m the new station pilot here.”

Sodor Palace, no Gordon, gave him a long searching look. “You did not choose to be brought here.”

“No.” 5741 admitted, slumping in defeat. I was quite happy back home. I was chosen because I was overhauled recently.“ He was quiet for several moments, "I did not want this assignment, but it is not The Great Western way to shirk our duty.”

“No, indeed it is not.” The mighty pacific stated gravely. “In my young days, I was less than pleased to be sold to this railway, away from my siblings, away from the mainline. I was young then, and the Great Northern and Later North Eastern were all I had ever known.” He paused thoughtfully.

“You must have been upset,” 5741 said, then winced at his presumptiveness.

The Palace only chuckled ruefully, “Enraged is more like it. I went from hauling trains such as the Flying Scotsman to a line only eighty miles long. I did not handle it well…but slowly this railway became home. It is not the Great Northern, but I am proud to be part of it. In time you will as be as well Montague.”

5471’s jaw dropped, causing Gordon to chuckle. “Your number threw me for a moment, but I recognize you from my time at Paddington.”

“I thought you had long forgotten me." 

"At one time you would have been right,” the pacific admitted, “but Swindon changed me for the better.”

  Montague went to speak again but hesitated.

“It is more than your new allocation that bothers you,” Gordon guessed.

“When I whistled hello to Tidmouth Hall he ignored me.”

“I would take care not to call him that in his hearing,” the pacific cautioned, “his name is Henry, and you would do well to only call him by that name. The great express sighed, "A finer engine, nor friend, you could not ask for, but he doesn’t care for our ways.”

The pacific’s crew returned, climbing into his cab. “Fear not Montague, we may not be on the Great Western, and they may not follow our ways, but I believe you will find a home here as well. Goodbye cousin, and good luck.”

The mighty Pacific rolled forward toward his waiting coaches. Montague called out a farewell, and head towards the yard and his waiting work. He smiled, at least he wasn’t alone on the North Western.

[hazel-of-sodor]

Have you done something about Big Emma/Bertha? (I think she (she had two names, hence why I put that) was designed to be an absolute unit and bank trains up the Lickey Incline?)

Not really, she was really popular for a while, and I've never felt I really had anything special to say about her. She was allocated to Wellsworth following Typhoon being reallocated to Tidmouth, but by 1963 BR attempted to withdraw her.

Before the North Western and British Railways could get into yet another brawl, a preservation group formed to save the engine approached with an offer to purchase her. The offer was unexpectedly large (its suspected the NWR made a generous donation) and BR happily accepted, not even complaining when the 58100 Preservation Group signed a deal with the North Western for her to assist with on their lines when not visting Preservation Lines in turn for taking on her overhuals.

Emma, as she prefers to be called, spends thetourist season touring preservation lines across the United Kingdom, a popular attraction where ever she goes. When not traveling she calls Vicarstown sheds her home, happily working with Typhoon, who she'd became close with during their time together on the Lickey incline.

An iincident of not occured in 2019, when a frieght stalled on the Lickey Incline. Emma had been traveling back towards the North Western following a visit to a heritage line when she was stopped and asked if she would assist. Footage of the 0-10-0 banking a modern train up the incline went viral, and was one of the last major railfan events before lockdown.

#Ask Hazel #Hazel Asks #Hazel Q&A #0-10-0 #Big Bertha #Big Emma #Midland Railway #LMS #They're Shedmates your honor

[hazel-of-sodor]

Love your answer to my question, thanks! Can you tell us anything about the U1 now that they’re on Sodor? Their name, livery, etc?

So when she arrived in 1955 she was sent for rebuild/overhual, emeerging in 1956, she requested her old LNER number of 2395, and was given it, along with a coat of BR Apple Green. One of her old drivers had nicknamed her Typhoon, and at her request this became official. While intially assigned as Wellsworth Banker, she didn't work at Wellsworth long, as it was realized she was perfectly capable of hualing mainline frieghts at speed.

She was allocated to Tidmouth for a time, hualing heavy coal trains across the island. In the early 70s, the Arlesburgh Branchline reached Harwick, and she was reallocated to the Harwick sheds taking the coal delivered bt the Cronk and Harwick Railway to the rest of the North Western. Around this time she was repainted into BR Green, but it was not to last long. In 1972 the North Western Region and British Railways had their final great falling out, and the North Western became independant in all but technicality. As a result, the other railway required all North Western engines to be painted in non British Railway colors.

Typhoon was sent for overhual, and emerged in LNER Blue (as seen on this illustation of Thompson I3 HMS Ark Royal.

Following her overhual, she was sent to work the newly completed line to Mantauo from Vicarstown, where her size and power were needed on the winding mountainous route. She's mostly remained allocated to Vicarstown ever since, hauling the long trains of containers offloaded from the ships at Mantauo, occasionally doubleheading when partically large ships come in. She occasionally pulls the express when the allocated engine is unable to. Shes kept her LNER Blue livery, the only change being lettering swapping to NWR in the 80s. Shes proven somewhat of a night owl, prefering to run at night, but is genarlly agreeably to do whatever work is given to her.

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[hazel-of-sodor]

The LNER Garratt?

A giant, unique LNER engine, whose only crime was being non-standard? This is what the discord server calls 'Hazel-Bait' (its literally been used to describe this exact engine.)

Both the longest and most powerful steam engine to ever run in Britain irl, she was a beautiful locomotive (I love garratts.)

But there is another reason to love this wonderful engine-the LMS Garratts.

See I don't hate or even dislike the LMS, I actually don't have any railways I dislike outside of those working for fascists or something like that. But the LMS is my least favorite of the big four, and as a certified LNER Fangirl, its honestly fun to play at caring about the rivalry (when in reality I would save any LMS engine in a heartbeat.)

Anyway the poor LMS Garratts deserve their own post (hint hint) but the basic idea is the LMS forced Beyer Peacock, the inventor of the garrat type, to use their standardized parts, and it crippled the poor things. They could still (usually) do the job they were built for, but not much else, when Garratts are famously well suited to many roles.

When the LNER and Gresley approached Beyer-Peacock to build the U1, they had the brilliant idea to let the company who had built practically every garratt in the world, design the engine.

The LNER garratt quickly proved why you let the experts do their jobs, and lacked the Achilles heel of her LMS counterparts. She was withdrawn in 1955 when LMS Jr. (BR) found her non-standard, but was quickly claimed by the North Western region for banking on the Marion Incline.

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