"Horace" (Locomotive)

The Horace is a Narrow Gauge Steam Locomotive That was Built and Operated by the Stickburg Stickville & Sticktropolis Railway, which operates on the eastern coast of The Sticklands. The Horace has a long and Colorful History, and is in many ways the reason that The Sticklands became the nation it is today.

Origins
In 1909, The Stickburg Stickville & Sticktropolis Railway Reached "Horace's Landing, Named After The Sticklands Founder and Governor "Horace Edward McStickley the 1st. The Railroad functioned as a "Portage Railway" of sorts, serving as a shuttle from the pier itself to the town of Stickville, which was 5 miles north. The Railroad initially operated off of Forced Labor, but it was clear that a faster way to move the trains was needed. 3 days after completion, a stickman by the name of Sandusky "Dusky" Clayton came to Horace's Landing in a homebuilt steamboat. what interested Horace was the Salvaged Boiler that had been rigged to power the boat. Horace negotiated with him and paid him 150 Grapheons for the boiler. The Railroad's Shops set to work assembling an engine for the small railroad. on July 25th, 1909, Locomotive #1 of the Stickburg Stickville & Sticktropolis Railway rolled out of the shops. it was named "Horace" after the Governor and Founder of The Sticklands (as well as the Railroad), Horace Edward McStickley the 1st. The little engine would go on to loyally serve the Railroad for 12 years.

Career
for it's first year of service, the engine ran the 5 mile section, functioning as a portage railway between The Dock at Horace's Landing and Stickville. in 1911, the Railroad announced plans to expand south to South Stick City (Which had recently been renamed Sticktropolis). The Locomotive was given a tender to allow for it to move further distances. over time, more locomotives were built, and the Horace Soon became the "Little Brother" of the roster. Luckily, the Locomotive remained in service long enough to pull the first train into Sticktropolis in 1915. the railroad immediately began constructing the Stickburg Extension, with the Horace again leading the charge. But several key factors put it's a career to a halt. First was the retirement of the last 4 wheeled cars, which the Horace pulled. With the little engine unable to handle the large 8 wheeled cars that the railroad used. The road decided to put the locomotive back into service on the original section of the S.S.&.S. in portage service. The Locomotive ran the original section with a 4 wheeled baggage can and a pair of 4 wheeled coaches. With new ports at Sticktropolis, Portage traffic at Horace's Landing dropped rapidly. eventually, there just wasn't enough traffic to continue the service. The Last train departed Horace's Landing on July 25th, 1921-the 12th anniversary of it's first run.

Preservation and Current Status
Following it's retirement, The Horace was put on display in the former S.S.&.S. Engine house in Stickville. it has emerged several times for special events and ceremonies. Most notably was the Sticklands Centennial in 2003, where the Horace ran with Several of the preserved 4 wheeled cars. in January of 2023, the railroad announced that the "Horace" would be making a return in time for the 120th Anniversary of The Sticklands (November 19th 2023)