Willard Eperts had considered himself lucky: He'd attained his dream job of stoking Southern Pacific's Daylight Limited at the age of twenty, he'd made quick friends with the engineer, and when the United States dove into the Second World War in 1941, he'd managed to dodge recruiters and keep his dream job by the skin of his teeth.
I did say "had," right?
Now, he's debtor to a princess in a world of talking ponies, and the only way he can repay his debt is through running loads on the Equestrian Railways. It wasn't even his fault for parking the 400-ton machine on that marble floor.
*Disclaimer: The characters of Willard "Willy" Eperts and Murton "Morty" Turner are completely fictional. Any relation to persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. The records for the true engineers and firemen of the Daylight fleet of locomotives can probably be found within Union Pacific's historical archives. This was just an idea I had that I wanted to write.
There is one problem with your statement. If you'll recall the Southern Pacific also purchsed G6's during the war, although some of them were given to the Western Pacific and dubbed GS-64's. They were painted black with no side skirting due to war restrictions and in the 1950's all Daylights were painted the same way. This led to them being dubbed "War Babys" and "Baby Daylights". The Western Pacific even attached elephant ear smoke deflectors onto them. One of them survives. Southern Pacific 4446 who pulled the last steam powered train on the Southern Pacific in the 1950's. It is on display at the St. Louis Museum of Transportation alongside Frisco 1522 and the FT diesel pair that covinced many railroads that diesel power could work better than steam.
As of right now the 4449 is undergoing an overhaul as required every 15 years by the government for all operating steam locomotives. It will likely not return to service for about 2-3 years.
Luna how dare you dent the Daylight, that's a beautiful machine and it has feelings too you know! Let's hope your magic can repair the damages.
Ponies.....+ trains....=......
I GIVE YOU ALL OF MY FAVOURITES, GOOD SIR!
This is good, I like it
, keep the good work up! 
Only thing I'd say is change the description to say something like 'When America entered the Second World War' but thats just me nitpicking
...this is brilliant. why aren't there more TiE stories?
blog.wtfconcept.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/well-well-whale-what-have-we-got-here.jpg
This looks like my kinda story! FAVED
KILL IT WITH FIRE!
quick Q:
Even though they didn't have hump yards, they still had knuckle-type couplers, so why did he get his fingers crushed using the safe knuckle system?
Did the daylight ever deadhead for more than a mile or two? The Daylights were passenger locomotives, so the only place they would have to go is from the shed to the yard to pick up the cars, or to the station where the cars are waiting. Were the sheds far away enough to be called a deadhead job?
2034106 Quick answers:
I'll be explaining Murton's lost digits later in the storyline.
As for the deadhead, I have 4455 running from San Francisco down to Los Angeles to pull a train for the Sunset Limited, a passenger train from Los Angeles to New Orleans.
I'm sorry if any of this doesn't add up just right, I wouldn't consider myself an expert on this by any means.
1991621 Good catch, done!
1990780 Hmm... I'll have to look into those GS-64's more and edit the fact page. As for the old 4449, I plan to see her when she's steaming again!
luna attacking a steam locomotive that has enough pressure in it to blow half the palace sky high wasnt your smartest move
Is this the 4449 or the Forgotten Daylight?
1990780 I can't wait for Doyle to get his PA running. I am an ALCOholic, as my dad puts it. I believe that if a PA, or the MILW 261 ever came through town, I'd need duct tape to keep me from foaming/drooling all my bodily fluids away!
I believe that you meant High Iron. I come from a railroading family, so I hear these things daily.
1990780 I'd love to see the 4446 returned to action!
Bogie, also known as a Truck. Bogie is used primarily in Europe
1992796 I've got one going right now!
2821826 Well it's not entirely impossible for that to happen but unless some die hard fan could cough up the money required to restore it chances are not likely for it's return.
Best. Story. Ever.
I've got a question. Why is it that Luna is the only one who seems to pull random huge objects into Equestria? Well, inadvertently at least.
I imagine its because Celestia's quite a bit more powerful and could end up pulling a whole city block through, if she had half a mind to.
Though, i don't imagine that this is Morty or Willard's fault at all, at least with parking a 400 ton locomotive in Canterlot's throne room.
Edit- I'm keeping an eye on this though, it's interesting.
In case anyone was interested, i was able to find a Picture that some might enjoy.
Southern Pacific engine number 4455
i20.photobucket.com/albums/b210/schnydrig/A%20N%20D%20Y/MAY%202011/JUNE%202011/IMG_5147.jpg
Next chapter please!
Oh, Daylight is such an incredible and nice train,
I'd give anything to blow it's whistle in the real cab. I do have it in MSTS
...he'd transferred to the Eldridge for some exercises they've been running in Philadelphia...
I see what you did there.
Interesting the engine in this is the 4455, which IRL got torched (4449 mentioned earlier in the fic is the preserved one in great shape, 4460 is also saved but not in Daylight colors). One wonders if Luna plans on keeping it.
Personally, I'd be surprised if there weren't any loading gauge issues. As far as I can tell, the trains in Equestria seem to be much smaller than in the U.S.
I want to see where this is going! Excellent writing! Have a favorite!
2822159 Same with 1218, or my personal favorite, 2714.
(Sorry for the reply on an old comment, but I'm just rereading this, praying for an update soon.
Hmmm, I'm intrigued.
This has potential.
5171959 Don't hold your breath for an update. He hasn't been on in around 7 months.
Where's next chapter ? just ask