I did initially intend to revisit a train monster I made years ago when the bane of my life was (specifically southern rail) Trains ( https://www.deviantart.com/acidshad.....onsta-40759718 ) but you know what? THE SERVICE HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. TRAIN MONSTER ISN’T FUNNY ANY MORE. I couldn’t think of a way to do the train monster ‘justice’ in the face of how awful UK train services has been over the last few years.

So instead I did a Pokémon re-design. Less rage inducing. Rambling below!

So when Rolycoly (should have been called rolyCOALY but oh well) people were excited because it was cute and it’s little ‘wheel’ rock clued to good things…maybe train based things?

Then Carkoal was revealed. Poor chap has a face only a mother could love (but no offence if you love this Pokémon just as it is). But it had the mine cart look down and started to be seen in game running around on tracks! So it seems like this line has a steam train theme! How fitting!

By the way I had a go at fixing the face a little. I think it’s the eyes really.

https://66.media.tumblr.com/c00b52e.....d18dc02c0d.jpg

Rolyoly orange eyes’ works well and give the smile more of a cheeky look then slightly mad. But I went one further.

https://66.media.tumblr.com/9e0628b.....34940b0032.jpg

I really liked the one eye thing. Felt more like a head lamp that way.

Then there is Coalossal.

Now it’s not a bad design at all. But this design threw away all of that wheel stuff and just went bipedal. It’s gigantamax form has the ‘boiler’ look down (and what is a steam train if not a very big boiler that can move?). But I could see people were disappointed at the lack of train theme.

Now I kind of think that Nintendo knows it’s audience. I think that; generally speaking- Object based Pokémon get a bit of backlash. So maybe this design pleased a more general audience? But they really missed an opportunity here.

So I had a go at designing!

I personally like the bottom one more but it does resemble Onix and Steelix a little so the ones at the top are just to make some difference. I toyed with the one eye thing again although the normal Coalossus face works fine too. Also added some ‘chimney stacks’ because the official design looked like they toyed with the idea then abandoned it, leaving these odd ‘spikes’ in place.

I like the idea of Carkoal often following behind but I guess with Falinks and Dragapult introduced in this gen it might be too many Pokémon with similar followings.

I like the idea of the ‘wheels’ being on the end of legs so it can crawl around or wheel around depending on terrain. Could have even added spikes to the ‘wheels’ to make them more imposing!
Any who that’s enough babble!