The Great Sticklands Train Wreck of 2022

Synopsis
During the waning days of the Axelheim-Sticklands War, the Stickpeople of The Sticklands began to turn on the remaining Axelists in the Sticklands. Thousands fled aboard private vessels or evacuation ships sent from Axelheim. a small band of Axelist Soldiers Ordered a special train to bring axelists from the north to Sticktropolis where they could board ships for safety. The Sticklands Government Reluctantly agreed, and sent S.S.&.S. Mikado #70 North to Pick up the Refugees. The Train was made up of Seven Stainless Steel Narrow Gauge Cars from Axelheim, The Locomotive, and an S.S.&.S. Caboose. The Locomotive was to Push the Train south, collecting Refugees along the way. The Train left Graphite Flats at 8:00 AM on the morning of March 28th 2022, with 27 Refugees Aboard. Along the way, hundreds of Refugees boarded the train at designated points along the railway. Finally, with 1591 Refugees Aboard, the train left Stickburg for the home stretch to Sticktropolis. Engineer Ike Sullivan was Anxious to "get this run over with" and Highballed south out of the yard. The Train was soon Making good time, hitting speeds of up to 55 MPH. At 2:03, the Train reached Sinful hill, a steep grade. It was at this point that things began to go wrong. Instead of slowing, Sullivan, convinced that the heavy cars would simply coast the train downhill, closed his throttle but did not apply his brakes. the cars clattered down the hill, gaining speed as They went. When The Train reached the foot of the hill, it was doing a considerable speed. Sullivan now began to apply his brakes. This was the second mistake. Had Sullivan put his engine at the head of the train, he would have had more control over the cars. but the heavy cars dragged the mighty Mikado as if it were a paperweight. In addition, While the Axelheim Cars used airbrakes, S.S.&.S. Trains still relied on only handbrake. Sullivan Radioed back to his Conductor, Fred Leavett, to set the hand brakes on the caboose. Leavett set the brakes, but it was no use. The Train continued to slide along the tracks at a speed too fast for the train to handle. Sullivan saw The Cars violenently swing and sway as the train thundered around the sharp curves, barely staying on the rails. Ahead lay Whittlers Point, where the tracks made a Sharp curve. Sullivan knew that they were going too fast, and called back to Leavett, telling him to climb over the Tender and take the throttle. He did, and Sullivan clambered to the edge of the engine, pulling the hand pin. He waved back to Leavett, who applied his brakes. The Mikado began to decelerate while the cars continued to coast. The Curve came into, and the Mikado finally halted. But the heavy cars flew off the tracks and plunged into the ocean. The Cries and Screams of Victims soon filled the air. Leavett and Sullivan Backed to Stickburg as fast as they could for aid. They returned with doctors and nurses. 3 cars hand sunken out of sight and 4 were half sunken. The Rails were temporarily repaired and the hospital train, full of victims, rushed to Sticktropolis. At 3:51, the train thundered into Sticktropolis with the 592 Survivors. They were loaded onto a refugee ship and taken back to Axelheim. Axel tried to sue the Railroad, but because the victims were not sticklands citizens, or had visitor visas, they were not responsible. In the end, the railroad won, and The half sunken Railroad cars were salvaged and brought back to Sticktropolis where they remain today as a source for parts.