A train ride in the UKUG

[Greywall]

Phillip O'Toule woke up to the sound of his alarm clock, 5:00 am as per usual on a weekday. He lightly tapped the brass alarm clock to silence it before rubbing his face in an effort to further wake him from the deep sleep he was in. He would stare off into the dark of his room before leaning over to his sleeping wife and kissing her whispering 'morning love, have a good day' he then proceeded to get dressed putting on coveralls, boots and denim for his long day at the forge. 

He entered the bathroom and brushed his teeth, went downstairs lightly to not wake his sons and exited into to the cool morning air. The sun hadn't risen yet but on his neighborhood bloc some men and women were already walking outside toward the nearby train station. "Morning Alvin" Phillip mustered from his still waking condition, the man Alvin simply waved and smiled before yawning himself. "Another day, Another pound." Alvin finally said as they entered the station, it was a small inner city station within the city of Kor Tanus, it illuminated the blue hued darkness that was slowly giving way to the sun rising. After a few minutes of talking to his neighbors about the local sports or how they enjoyed their evening the sound of a distant whistle could be heard. Alvin pulled out a pocket watch, "Right on cue, always two minutes early these blokes." A blue steam engine pulled onto the platform with four passenger cars and a service car. "All aboard!" called out the conductor, as several began to board it. 

In Ulster-Gaelia railway was publicly taxed and used as public transportation, meaning no ticket purchases were needed. Alvin took a seat patting it for Phillip, Phillip however shook his head "Going to grab some coffee and food from the service car. Want anything?" Alvin's eyes lit up, Coffee! Ice, Gaelic Cream of course. If they have berries and bacon too please." Phillip nodded and walked behind a line of others heading to the service car. It was a rather nice little car with a bar and small kitchen that served food and beverages. The line was moving at a decent pace meaning Phillip wouldn't wait long, they had everything a working Gaelic man or woman would want. Fruits, vegetables, fish, coffee, bacon, sweet ham, cheeses, bread, and even some foreign food from Roskana, Marrlan and Ashinara. By far the most popular item was coffee, Nevarran coffee to be exact mixed with Gaelic sweet cream and ice. Some might scoff at it but the drink was now a staple in the UKUG.

Phillip got what he ordered rather quickly, for himself some hashed potatoes, bacon, and a coffee for himself along with what Alvin ordered. The train slowly pulled from the platform heading to the next station. Phillip sat down handing the tray of food to his friend, "Much appreciated" Alvin said before getting into the coffee. They had a good thirty minutes before arriving at the station they needed to be at, they both worked at the forge. Their factory in particular made small washers, couplings and various other small metal parts from recycled materials or ores purchased overseas. "Heard we're making more bolts" Alvin said inbetween bites, "Oy, don't tell me 5 8ths?" Phillip took a bite of potatoes as Alvin shook his head trying to swallow before speaking "Bloody 3/8ths again, large order for em somewhere I don't know where." Phillip tended to his meal trying to not to think about how fast they had to get those made and shipped.

After they finished their meal attendants came and collected the trays and offered more coffee if they desired any, Alvin refused but Phillip took another cup. "Heard about that war in Touli anymore?" Alvin asked as the sun began to break finally over the city, the steam engine whistling ahead to alert of its arrival. "No, been trying to avoid reading about that mess honestly." Phillip quipped before thanking the attendant for his refill. "What about the Kumo princess? She turned 14. Same as ours, dear Colleen is now of age." Phillip drank his coffee pondering where Alvin was taking the conversation, "Your point mate?" Alvin shook his head, "Me Cousin fought them devils on Hawaii. Strangest thing, one time he tells me...he fell behind. And this Kumo found em, only she didn't wanna kill em. Curious yea? She let em go! You ever think maybe we're...I don't know. Taking this entire 'Cold War' a bit far? Maybe they'd talk to us." Phillip wasn't interested in politics like Alvin, he nodded but clearly showed his disinterest. Alvin grumbled raising his hand at an attendant, "Scuse me, do you have the new CI Herald?" the attendant nodded and handed him the warm paper, still heated from the press earlier that morning. 

After a few more minutes the train stopped at a platform and Alvin and Phillip stepped off the train, coming onboard were several men and women tired having worked the night shift. "Philly!" Phillip turned to see an older man covered in soot smiling with his broken yellow teeth, "How are the boys?" Phillip smiled patting the old man, "They're good George, heading home for some sleep?" the old man nodded, "Aye, might get a bit on the way but i'm washing up and heading to bed. Off the next four days thank the gods." The conductor popped his head out, "All aboard!" George jumped a bit waving before hastily jumping onto the train. Phillip grinned as Alvin shook his head, "Bloody man runs that train too early, what his name?" Phillip shrugged, "Alabaster I think, he's a highlander from the North." Alvin rolled his eyes "Northern folk" Phillip laughed "You say that about everyone not from the South, the other day, Carol 'Oy she that Faroe kind, ye know how they are' or bloody Kenton, 'them dark skinned Zedons, always talking they do' OH or poor Steve 'Sodor folk, always about trains em about' always a judgmental fella you are" Alvin rolled his eyes again "Bloody 2nd streeter" Phillip laughed. 

As they entered the industrial sector and into their factory they would hear the safety meeting and be inspected for proper PPE before heading into the hot forge, Alvin went to the melt shop where he processed ore and old metal to melt it down while Phillip worked in converting making the metal into the final product. They would work a long 12 hour shift before heading home working 4 days a week and taking 4 off. It was hard work but it paid well and for the most part they at least didn't have to drive home, just take the train. 

[Greywall]

Tom O'Louth was a lazy courier, sleeping into the hours of 10:00 am during the Gaelic Summer. His brick house remained cool letting him enjoy the long deep sleep until a series of knocks rapped at his door, "TOM DEADRIC O'LOUTH! Wake up this instant!" it came from an annoyed woman outside, his aunt, Tom stumbled out of bed opening the door and seeing her stand there annoyed. "Tom, you have a growing list of work! Get washed up, dressed and try to make it to the train station! The other couriers have already gone ahead of you!" Tom nodded before closing the door, he washed himself and put some clothes on before rushing outside. 

The small town of Gleanncloich was nestled in Southern Alba, a couple miles from the coast and the nearest major city to the North in Cloch Bhui. It was a peaceful quiet little place divided by a small river and populated by old brick buildings and stone walls, Tom walked down the main street fighting the urge to stop at the local fish and chips shop as the smell of battered fish and potatoes made his stomach remind him of not eating yet. Bakeries, candy shops, even a Lusatian restaurant that had been in the town for a couple of years made him struggle. He finally made it to the courier building; the Royal post service employed his aunt's business to pick up slack and the jobs were simple go to the city and pick up parcels and bring them to Gleanncloich to deliver. Simple enough, the pay was good and Tom's aunt was very kind to her workers, but she often wondering about hiring her brother's son. "Tom! You'll be taking the train to Cloch Bhui, there's a cart of parcels there ordered by some of the shops and people here. Royal postage is tied up again so you'll be loading and unloading these too." Tom moaned at the thought of actual work but his aunt slapped her hand silencing him. "You're a O'Louth! Our Clan have worked hard in the South for generations! Act it young man!" Tom nodded taking the list of items he needed and some money to pay for food in the city. 

Gleanncloich

He would then walk to the town train station, in Ulster-Gaelia the main way to get around was railway, almost every town and village had a branch line that fed into the main railroad network allowing the people free travel across the entire UKUG. Tom stepped onto the platform reading the menu options on the train, "Score! They got eggs and baked trout today!" he said excitingly. He was quite hungry when the distant whistle could be heard, from the distance he saw a Caledonian 812 pulling a long passenger train coming into view, its distinct royal blue popping against the summer green countryside. It would come to a slow stop at the platform allowing several people off, at the end would be some cars for luggage, packages, mail and the like. Tom got in line and boarded, taking his seat by a window as others boarded around him, his mind was fixed on getting something to eat but the conductor wanted everyone to be seated until the train was good and in motion. In his mind it seemed to last an eternity, the 812 needed water and Staol as crews in the station also looked it over to make sure it was good to go for the long trip ahead. The orange smoke lightly grazing by his window only made him think of orange juice and how we would take a glass with his food. The conductor finally said, "Seats! Destination is Cloch Bhui. Remain seated until told so!" the train gave a loud deep whistle to sound off its departure and a slow jerk of the cars showed them finally moving. It didn't take long for the 812 to get to optimal speed and the conductor waved his hands allowing people to roam freely, he then left to the other cars to do the same. Tom got up and made his way to the service car, the smell of food was strong in it. Only a handful of people were in here as most likely ate breakfast and weren't ready for lunch. He ordered his food and made his way back to his seat wolfing down the food rapidly. It was until he cleaned the plate and downed his orange juice that he noticed the young woman sitting across from him staring at him in amusement.

Caledonian 812

Tom quickly wiped his face and nodded at her but she covered her mouth and was clearly laughing a bit at him, he blushed as he placed the tray and glass on the side of his seat for staff to collect and looked out the window. The train crossed the open green valleys and forests of Alba, dotted little farms and homesteads could be seen but it was largely unspoiled countryside. The sound of wheels creaking down the center aisle of the car gave way to a staff member rolling a small cart filled with books, the staff member made her way to Tom asking "Sir, would you like any reading material?" Tom looked at the cart, he wasn't much of a reader, but the trip was going to be long and he needed to do something other than sleep the entire way. He looked over the cart, several old books that belonged to the rail company used to give out to riders, "I'll take the histories of the Sanshan" the staff member pulled the old book out and handed it to Tom, he never heard of the Sanshan empire but gave some curiosity to reading it. He noticed the woman staring at him again and when he looked up at her again she blushed and quickly turned her head into the book she chose, "What's that about?" Tom simply shrugged it off reading his book. It would be several hours before the train reached the city, plenty of time to read or sleep, to Tom this was the best part of the job getting paid to ride the train to and from. It was the parcels and actually having to load them that irritated him. He tried to not think about it reading over the old Inselni empire that once stretched over all of Touli as the train steamed across the emerald countryside heading North.