Equestria. Have you ever wondered about how some things in that world are how they are today? Well now, you are about to find out. From having fun, in the park, to fighting crime, or evil terrorists, this is the History of Equestria.

Episode 3: Railways

When most ponies decide to travel, or send goods from one place to another, they rely on the train. Freight trains bring in goods, and supplies that ponies need, while passenger trains take ponies from one place to another.

One of Equestria's famous trains is the Friendship Express. It's the only modern passenger train to be powered by steam.

Fluttershy: If you're looking for a good way to get around one place to another, it's The Friendship Express.
Pinkie Pie: It's wunderbar! Zhe train is decorated to look like candy, und some of it is pink. Zhat is my favorite color.
Reporter: I figured.

The Friendship Express runs from Ponyville to Canterlot, and occasionally goes to Manehattan. Plans are being made for the train to go into Fillydelphia.

Most trains nowaday are no longer powered by steam. They now run on diesel, or electricity.

Big Macintosh: The way I see it, most ponies prefer steam trains than diesel.
Applejack: The only reason why Railroads moved onto diesel, and electric locomotives was because they were cheaper to operate. Though they weren't as powerful, the diesels, and electric engines were faster, more fuel efficient, and didn't require much maintenance, but I ain't gonna forget that story my Granny Smith told me.

During World War 2, Granny Smith worked to load up apples onto freight trains heading to Manehattan. The Equestrian Army needed lots of food, soldiers, guns, vehicles, and other supplies to win, and every railroad helped the war effort by delivering most of these supplies to Manehattan, Los Angeles, or San Franciscolt.

In 1941, just before Equestria got bombed by Japan in Pearl Harbor, The Union Pacific Railroad ordered twenty five massive locomotives called the Big Boy. They were the largest steam engines to be manufactured, and were capable of pulling five mile long trains. They got the supplies to where they needed to be, and at a fast speed to. The Big Boy had a top speed of seventy five miles an hour. At that time, it was faster than most road vehicles. As mentioned earlier, steam trains were replaced by diesels. The Big Boys were used by the U.P until 1959, when all twenty five of them were either scrapped, or placed on static display.

Rainbow Dash: Those engines were so awesome. It's a shame they don't use them anymore. If I were to go into the past, I'd go back in time by sixty years, and see one pulling a train.
Shining Armor: There's only eight left, but only one of them are going to be restored to operating conditions.
Fluttershy: As we speak, they're restoring engine 4014, one of the twenty five Big Boys manufactured for the Union Pacific.
Rarity: I'd love to see it operate, but I wouldn't want to drive it. A lady like myself needs to stay clean, and I can't get any coal dust all over me.
Sweetie Belle: Oh come on Rarity, there can't be that much dust.

Rarity, and Sweetie Belle time travelled to 1946, and saw for theirselves.

Rarity & Sweetie Belle: *Covered in black dust*
Sweetie Belle: Well, looks like I was wrong. At least nopony will call us marshmallows.

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