#also in case you didn't pick up on it bert is ariel rebuilt (also trans-masc)

[leatherbootlace]

The Lakeland Bank Railway

Many years ago on the Mainland, there laid a small railway with small engines. The railway was founded by the Raven family, local landowners and shipping magnates, who had taken a keen interest in the creation of their own estate railway after visiting the lines of Sir Arthur Heywood.

Opened in the early 1900s, this railway was first known as the Raven Hall Railway, and existed only to serve the Family Estate and connect it to a local town. It was serviced by a selection of small tank engines, named after the family’s children: Lila, Ulla, Ariel, & Brady.

The Engines of the Raven Hall Railway.

Lila (She/Her), an 0-6-0 Tank Engine, was the engine most plagued by difficulties over the Raven Hall Railway’s brief history. She had trouble steaming, trouble seeing, and trouble staying on the track. However, Sir Morton remained adamant he could cure her ails, and often would take her on night runs when the line wasn’t as busy.

Ulla (They/Them), an 0-6-0 Tank Engine, was Lila’s twin, and suffered many the same problems as her. Unfortunately, they weren’t as doted upon as their sibling, and often felt overshadowed by her. But they were determined to prove themself, even if they just wanted to be thought of as a part of the family.

Ariel (She/Her), an 0-8-0 Tank Engine, was the biggest and strongest engine of the Raven Hall Railway, though was difficult to handle due to her size. All the same, in spite of this she was the engine most respected by outsiders, even though others felt she was more burdensome than anything else.

Bradley (He/Him), an 0-4-0 Tank Engine, was the “baby” of the line. Despite this, he had a will to power unlike any of the other engines, and would do his best to tackle any train no matter how long, even if it was better suited for the other engines. He was a particular favorite among the family’s children.

These four would continue in service for some time, but after the end of the Great War, a new fortune would strike the line. Metals such as Copper and Iron Ore were discovered on the Raven Estate alongside good stone, and Sir Morton Raven sought to capitalize on this. With his son Brady assisting him, he began his expansion proper as the Lakeland Bank Railway, servicing the new quarries in the area.

With this, more engines would be needed, and, as Heywood had passed away, he sought assistance from Bassett-Lowke and Henry Greenly, who graciously supplied him with the new engines he desired as well as rolling stock. Among the Bassett-Lowke engines arrived two familiar engines named Rex and Mike.

Glenda (She/Her), a Bassett-Lowke Class 30, was the railway’s new flagship engine. She headed the line’s limited passenger services, and acted as quite the celebrity in the local area. Unfortunately, her position would later be usurped by another engine, which did plenty of damage to her ego.

Magnus (They/Them), a Bassett-Lowke Class 60, overtook Ariel as the line’s goods engine, and developed quite the rivalry with her -- one that threatened to destroy them both in time. They were stoic and believed in adhering to authority, but had a great respect for their predecessors. The same couldn’t be said for their brother, unfortunately.

For a time, the line was considerably profitable, but tragedy struck in the late 1920s when Ariel and Magnus collided with one another in a wreck that nearly destroyed both goods engines. Despite his aging condition, Sir Morton got to work with his son to undo the damage that had been done, and as Ariel was in the better condition, she was rebuilt into an 0-8-2 tender engine under a new name. Magnus would not be so fortunate.

Things changed drastically for the line afterwards, as not long after, Sir Morton Raven passed away. His son Bradley inherited his Baronetcy, but had to sort affairs regarding the family’s shipping company, leaving the line to the now widowed Lady Douglas Raven.

Lady Raven worked to ensure the line’s stability during the Great Depression, though at times this meant some engines had to part ways with the line. Bradley was sold off first, being unable to manage the workload. Lila and Ulla were withdrawn and scrapped during the 1930s, with Glenda sold to another railway shortly after. Come the Second World War, only Three Small Engines were left: Rex, Mike, & Bert.

The War went by fairly uneventful, as the engines were mothballed in the ghastly Raven Estate. But the return following proved very difficult. Much of the equipment used by the railway hadn’t been invested in since the 1920s, and by the 1950s, the line officially closed. A worn Sir Bradley returned to oversee its closure, and placed what he deemed salvageable in storage on the Raven Estate. And for some years, that was that.

But, in the 1960s, Sir Bradley received a visit from a rather famous Stout Gentleman, seeking engines to run a special project of his in the Arle Valley on the Island of Sodor. Sir Bradley was eager to find a new home for Rex, Mike, Bert and the line’s old rolling stock, but sad to see the last of his father’s dream leave the line.

#ttte #rws #lore post #ttte rex #ttte mike #ttte bert #ttte ocs #i don't see myself doing too much with these characters in a historic sense #i would like to write something about glenda though #since i kinda combined synolda and sans pareil into one engine for the sake of making things easier for me #also in case you didn't pick up on it bert is ariel rebuilt (also trans-masc) #i'm not doing whatever the fuck was river mite (i) for mike though #lakeland bank railway