Work Zone

Work Zone is the 8th episode. It aired on September 2nd, 2020.

Plot
One day, Arthur brings a train into Highland Valley Yard. After some talk with Mr. Edwards, the latter recalls the time in 1957 when some bridges on the mountain branch and the Tidewater branch were undergoing repairs, causing trouble.

15 mph speed limits were set on those parts of the line, and steam engines with massive coast to coast tenders were not allowed to travel over the bridges while work was being done. This aggravated many larger steam engines, including Nick.

One day, Nick complains about not being able to run on those lines, knowing that his weight is important to haul heavy freight trains. Mr. Edwards gets annoyed at how some briefings begin, recalling a week earlier when two E8s were arguing for no reason.

Mr. Edwards instructs Joey to fetch Nick's train. Nick never liked sorting his own trains anyway, even states that he technically shouldn't be backing up the mountain anyway due to his long tender (even though he did in Power and Speed). Joey brings Nick's train back down and he later sets off, bypassing the Tidewater branch.

Meanwhile, Bob has a train to take from Pittsburgh to Columbus. He runs late due to brake issues on one of his cars, collecting more cars, then running through the work zones. He tries to make up time, but he fails to do so. When he arrives at Columbus, a GP7 chews him out for being late.

That evening, neither Nick or Bob had a good day. While Bob got scolded for being late, Nick notices that only one train he passed had a steam engine. He continues thinking about steam engines disappearing left and right.

Nothing gets better the next day. Nick is at another yard with Eric and another diesel. The engines are upset about this continued work causing problems. Nick suggests closing the branch down, despite how essential they are. They later come to the idea how having the lighter weight switchers collecting the needed cars ahead of time and taking them to Mapleton or Highland Valley for the mainline trains, which would then use the mainline. They tell their idea to the yardmasters, where it goes to the regional managers. Unfortunately, the regional managers took a slightly different approach then what was planned. The lightweight switchers were now exclusively diesels. Only diesels would use the Tidewater and mountain branches while other steam engines were evicted from the area until the work is done.

Frank meets a snobbish NW2 and is shocked when the switcher tells him what all is going on. Frank later goes back to Highland Valley, shocked to find no other steam engines there. A nearby diesel tells him that the last two steam engines around the area were sent elsewhere, and advises Frank to leave before more trouble stirs up.

As work continued, steam engines decreased in abundance around the area, except for some run-through trains. Diesel switchers took the cars along the branch lines, while mainline diesels later took them away.

Nick is still not enjoying helper service, complaining about how long the bridge work is taking. But one day, a supplies train stops at Altoona, where it is revealed that the supplies is the last of what's needed to complete the bridge work. One of Nick's brothers mentions that he's soon going to be retired. The lead GP9 feels bad for him and offers to let him lead up to Tidewater. PRR #6755 accepts his offer and Nick asks if he can help on the back. It's agreed to, so the M1s take their positions and help the supplies train.

That night, PRR #9156 is working the Tidewater branch when he has to wait on the supplies train. He's annoyed, but then is shocked when he sees a steam engine on the point.

Several days later, the bridge work is finished and engines can return to normal speeds. PRR #6755 and Nick are recalling their exploit as a win, but sad that the former will be leaving them. Howard tells them they were lucky to be around that long, as progress is coming a long way, other than dieselization. Highways are now being built to better compete with railroads, EMD's done making F units, EMD's already replaced the GP7 with the GP9, SP already replaced the E7s with PAs on some trains, UP's been bumping the Erie Builts and PAs to freight service in favor or E units, and Ford's now crash testing. He tries to tell them not to stress dieselization too much, as even if they don't know when their time is coming, there is still work to do until then. Howard departs with his train, and 6755 remarks "He really is a nice guy".

Arthur enjoyed the story and thanks Mr. Edwards for sharing it. Mr. Edwards remarks that the Railroader's Memorial Museum may have better ones. Arthur then leaves with his train after blasting his P5.

Characters

 * Arthur
 * Mr. Edwards
 * Nick
 * Alfred
 * Mr. Edwards (PRR)
 * Joey
 * Bob
 * Eric
 * Oscar
 * PRR E8A #5898 (not named)
 * PRR E8A #5761 (not named)
 * PRR F3A #9519 (not named)
 * PRR GP7 #8585 (not named)
 * PRR FA-1 #9605 (not named)
 * PRR NW2 #9156 (not named)
 * PRR H-24-66 #8705 (not named)
 * PRR M1B #6755 (not named)
 * PRR GP9 #7006 (not named)
 * PRR conductor (not shown)
 * Nicholas (cameo)
 * Angel Ace (cameo)

Locations

 * Highland Valley
 * Tidewater
 * Conway Yard
 * Columbus, OH
 * Altoona, PA
 * Pittsburgh Line
 * Cima Sub
 * Marias Pass
 * Other generic locations

Trivia

 * This episode marks the first of a few things:
 * First episode of Season 3.
 * It is revealed that PRR #5895's real name is Oscar.
 * N&W Productions joins the cast.
 * First Pride of the PRR episode to use Trainz 12 footage provided by the creator.
 * This episode is loosely based on The Full Bucketniers Episode 6 and the Thomas The Tank Engine episodes "Wrong Road" and "Better Late Than Never".


 * The Cajon Pass runaway incident in 1989 is referenced.
 * It is implied that the train passing Highland Valley at the beginning (the F unit pulling three steam locomotives) is a reaper train.
 * The PRR E8s mention James Monroe, William Henry Harrison, Yellow Journalism, The De Lome Letter, and Marylin Monroe.
 * PRR E8A #5761 has a New York accent.
 * Power and Speed is referenced when Joey reminds Nick of when he backed up three-four miles along the mountain line to collect his train.
 * When Joey says "Wherever you got it, it sure stays with you a long time", it is a reference to The Andy Griffith Show episode "Alcohol and Old Lace".
 * Bob and PRR #9519 mention that if a PRR passenger train arrives more than three minutes late, the crews have to explain to the superintendent why, and that when running around Horseshoe Curve, they are allowed to delay the train for up to three minutes so that the passengers can get a good view.
 * PRR #9519 tells a war story about how the last survivor of a machine gun squad got other parts from the destroyed machine guns working, which slowed the German defense line.
 * Eric mentions the Battle of Little Bighorn and how General Custer didn't know what to expect.
 * The plane shown while NW2 #9156 is talking is a Boeing C-97. The truck is an unidentified Kenworth.
 * A 1953 Ford Sunliner passes Frank as he pulls into Highland Valley.
 * PRR NW2 #9156's personality is similar to E8A #5895's.
 * An MSTS hornsound is used for an E7A.
 * The scene of PRR 6755 uncoupling from the supplies train and moving onto the adjacent track to let the supplies train continue may slightly mirror a scene from The Mohawk That Wouldn't Quit.
 * Several references are made to The Full Bucketniers fanfiction: Unrecognizable.
 * Stock footage from the YouTube videos Ford Crash Test Now and Then (AAJNowTV), Pennsylvania Railroad Steam Engines (American Nostalgia), The Penny Off The Beaten Track (John Pechulis), and Pennsylvania Railroad Film Wheels of Steel [4k] (Backshop Rail Productions).
 * The sound of Arthur's horn blowing comes from the creator's video "A rare, must see Belle Isle catch".
 * This will be the final episode to have Mr. Edwards as the narrator.
 * Bob and PRR #9519's montage was initially going to use Bob Dylan's "Tangled Up In Blue", but when the creator found out that song gets the video blocked worldwide, he had to change it.

Goofs

 * TheUP Railfan is credited for voicing Oscar even though the creator stood in for this episode.
 * Mr. Edwards doesn't say "Enough!" angrily.
 * Some of the voice acting isn't very strong.
 * PRR 6755 pronounces "Intriguing" wrong.
 * The supplies train rounds the bend at Horseshoe Curve a little too quickly.
 * Some of the graphics are pixelated.