So here is the lineart WIP made by  Kumata for Tristan. Now to continue the story.

Nigel Presley, aka the Wing Controller, had been informed by his trusted aide and advisor Lewis Keaton, affectionately nicknamed "Whiskey" by his friends and by Mr. Presley (I have him as a human version of Whis from Dragon Ball and sounding like him and having a similar personality), that three engines had been offered up to the Pegasus Railway, two of them privately owned and completely unique. The first one was formerly owned by Union Pacific and was currently owned by the Sumpter family, the descendants of the man who designed, built, and drove him, and was on a small private heritage railroad owned and built by the Sumpters. A 4-6-4 configured mixed-traffic locomotive that was a cross between a Soo Line L-1 freight engine and a PRR K4 passenger engine, the being one of his halves being an engine class being one that was for freight trains and another that was meant for passenger trains, he was, essentially, a mixed traffic locomotive. His number was 144. The next engine dated back to the 1880s and was a 2-4-0 configuration that was completely custom-built. He was also on a private heritage railway owned by the family descended from his driver and fireman, Henry, who had disappeared without a trace one day, which passed drivership of the engine to his son. The engine did not, and never had a number. The third and final engine was an actual design. A Southern Railway Ms class 2-8-2 "Mikado" type. His number was 4501. (This is an actual real engine! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South.....n_Railway_4501) The unnumbered engine was named Linus, who came with the same two coaches and caboose that he had pulled in the mountains. 144's name was Tristan. And 4501's name was Matthias. The Wing Controller decided to bring them all there on trial.

Upon arriving, Tristan found the engines there to be nice, including the other newcomer, Linus. Matthias, on the other hand, who, to note, took great pride in his Southern Railway heritage (so much that he had requested to be put back in his original green SOU livery, which was granted, great pride in the company that built him, Baldwin, and great pride in his namesake, Matthias W. Baldwin, the founder of Baldwin Locomotive Works, while nice to Linus and the engines currently stationed there, Liam, an engine from the 1890s, aka Union Pacific 1243 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Pacific_1243, Ian, an s100 ex-military tank engine, aka Granite Rock Company Number 10 https://locomotive.fandom.com/wiki/.....ock_Co._No._10, and Maxwell, an autistic Boston & Albany D1A tank engine (class seen here: https://locomotive.fandom.com/wiki/.....and_Albany_D1A), aka my trainsona, he was particularly rude to Tristan for being a "halfbreed". At first, Matthias and Linus outperformed poor Tristan, who kept running late. This caused the Wing Controller to lightly scold the mix-breed, although Mr. Presley meant well, while he praised Linus and Matthias, especially Matthias.

But one day, in a conversation between him and his cars, Tristan said nobody liked him, but the kindly cars on his train told him not to be silly and that they liked him. They told him that he was much nicer and gentler than "that green engine", and that most of all, he could do it if he believed in himself. This, along with his crew cheering him on, motivated him and he charged onward. He then encountered Linus, who had broken down. He then pushed the poor fella onto the next station.

Later that night at Los Picos Sheds, the Wing Controller congratulated him and scolded Matthias sternly because he had been quite troublesome. The Wing Controller believed that Linus was not suited to mainline work and decided to make Linus the second branch line engine on the island, assigning him to the Los Panchitos Branch Line alongside Liam. This pleased Linus as he was comfortable being on his own without having to worry about outpacing the bigger, more modern engines. Then, the Wing controller made Tristan one of the main goods engines, but would still allow him to take the occasional passenger train. He was very pleased indeed to be assigned an important main role. While scolding Matthias, he told him that he MIGHT just get the main express role IF he improved his behavior. Matthias, feeling held back (which he indeed was), and despising not being assigned a main role, was furious. So while everyone cheered and whistled for Tristan, Matthias blurted out "This is an OUTRAGE!!! It's bad enough that I'm not the main express engine, but I will not take a back seat to a shunting tank engine who's a warshed-up veteran and not even meant for American rail originally, two old teapots from the 1800s, a tender engine-sized mainline engine contaminated by tank engine status, and some mix-bred... MONGREL!!!" Everyone was astonished, especially Tristan, who was most offended. Matthias stormed off as Mr. Presley attempted to scold him, calling him a disgrace to the man he was named after, but to no avail.

The next day Tristan and Maxwell were chatting at Baileydale Docks about what happened last night when suddenly, Matthias came running through with a train at a criminally reckless speed. This was what followed: Matthias: "This is how the Southern Railway runs! Ahead! Of! Schedule!" Driver: "MATTHIAS! SLOW DOWN! YOU'RE GOING TO CRASH!" Matthias: "Nonsense! What could possibly go wrong?" Driver: "Oh no. JUMP OUT!" Matthias: "Oh dear." Matthias became detached from his cars and came of the rails into some water that was shallow enough to keep the water above his lower side.

By the time he was pulled out, the Wing Controller was extremely cross. Presley: "Are you happy, Matthias? Causing a serious accident and injuring people? Is that the way of the Southern Railway?" Matthias: (weakly) "Ooooooohhhh... No sir." Presley: "Since I've already renewed your lease, I have no choice but to keep you. However, it seems your name and heritage have made you an arrogant engine, therefore, you will be painted black like most of the engines, with your number replacing your logo so we can get rid of the word Southern on your tender, and to avoid disgracing Matthias Baldwin even more, your name will be nullified, 4501." Matthias' face turned red. Matthias: "But, sir! You can't do that! You can't take away my name! It's- It's- It's-" Presley: "Be grateful that I'm giving you a second chance, 4501! Next time, you're outta here! Don't. Disappoint me. Again. *sigh* (under his breath) I can't believe that I invested in that engine." Just then, his secretary, Deborah arrived. "Excuse me, sir. There's someone who would like to talk to you." Presley: "Really? Now, who might that be?" Deborah: It's, uh, Wendy Richerson, the controller of the Alaskan Railroad."

to be continued...

BTW, Wendy Richerson is the actual real-life controller of the Alaskan Railway. If you'd like to see the NWR Origins episode that this was based, check here: https://youtu.be/hwmIs-zCsBY

Art and design by  Kumata

Linus and Henry are characters from the upcoming short film, "The Brave Locomotive" and belong to Andrew Chesworth.
All other characters are mine.