amaotonovel Chapter 103 The Dwarfs' Visit
Chapter 103 The Dwarfs' Visit
From the moment he arrived in the Voronezh frontier and saw the enormous machine lying across the railway tracks, the dwarven emissary Loralan Forgehammer knew that the demons had so much for them to learn.
"What a...exhilarating creation!"
The second-generation steam locomotive, the "Victory" Type VI, is the sixth improved version of the "Victory" type steam locomotive, which was improved from the first-generation steam locomotive. The new design optimized the boiler and cylinder. As an alternate world version of the Victory Type VI from Alice's previous country, this steam locomotive perfectly replicated the Victory Type VI steam locomotive that ran in the northeast. In addition, based on the actual situation, a magical power supply module was experimentally designed to provide energy for all the magical lamps in the locomotive. On the Voronezh-Whiteman City trunk line, this locomotive was responsible for passenger transport and the transport of small and medium-sized goods.
The level of automation of the entire vehicle was still not high, but as a locomotive improved from the first generation of steam locomotives, the Victory VI was sufficient for use and there was nothing to complain about, at least before the advent of diesel locomotives.
However, in the eyes of the dwarven envoy, the Victory VI steam-powered locomotive alone, lying across the station, was enough to intimidate the dwarves. The team that received him explained how this huge industrial machine was manufactured, and that it used steam power, which the dwarves had previously paid no attention to. Now that the dwarves widely used magical power, Rolanda Forginghammer had a different idea about this new power source.
The power of magic-guided power is not high, the conversion efficiency is low, and the magic consumption is high. With the existing magic energy conversion inscription technology, the power machinery they can make is bulky and easily damaged. Moreover, it consumes a large amount of magic crystals every day. Magic crystals can only be found in mines hundreds of meters underground. There are no substitutes, so they can only be synthesized naturally.
The demons used coal, the kind of ore they used to start fires or forge minerals—a black substance. They used coal to power the entire vehicle, while the dwarves, the race that invented railroads, still do not have such a massive rail machine.
"Get on board, Mr. Loralan. I've contacted the Voronezh depot and they've added an extra car for us."
The demons sent three envoys: one was a thoroughly civil official, another a soldier, and the last one, whom Lolaran detected as having a metallic scent, was a so-called "engineer" among the demons. He was the one who explained all of the demons' technology, and these demons also knew how to feed his dwarven appetites.
As a race living in extremely cold places, dwarves can adapt to all kinds of extreme environments. They have a fondness for forging and machinery, and this train in front of them is a treasure to them.
"I'd like to see the engine compartment of this car... is that alright?"
"Of course, sir."
The demon's receptionist opened the door between the carriages for him, and the entire train began to shake. A huge whistle sounded like the roar of a flying dragon, which caught his attention. Behind the train was a coal car. If he wanted to get through, he could only go through the narrow passages reserved on both sides, or climb onto the coal car and walk through the coal.
As a dwarven craftsman who often dealt with minerals and furnaces, Lolaran naturally climbed onto the coal cart. The cart was open, and he glanced at the coal beneath his feet; it was all top-quality.
The locomotive is divided into two parts, upper and lower. There is a staircase in the rear half of the locomotive, leading to the driver's cab. The engineer who greeted him opened the door for him, and he immediately saw the stoker shoveling coal.
“Ah, hello sir. My superiors told me in advance that you might come. Orn Casey, I’m the driver of this car.”
The driver got out of the driver's seat, and the dwarf could see that he was wearing a jumpsuit with an overcoat, and had small horns on his head; he was a demon through and through.
"Ah, hello, Mr. Cassie, I am Loralan Forgehammer, just call me Loralan."
“Alright, Mr. Loralan, you must be here to see the core of this steam locomotive? Then please allow me to explain this steam locomotive to you.”
"Grateful."
"In general, this is a brand new locomotive. Normally, it wouldn't be available to our Northern Railway Bureau, but unfortunately, we have always lacked passenger locomotives. The director had to beg for a long time to get enough locomotives and carriages."
The railway locomotives in the entire Amelia West region are divided into freight locomotives and passenger locomotives. As a major resource province in the north of the country, the Northern Railway Bureau naturally focuses on freight and does not have many passenger carriages. This locomotive was delivered to them by the National Railway Commission under the pretext of "testing the locomotive operation under low temperature conditions in high latitude regions" through various coincidences.
Prior to this, there were no passenger cars in the Voronezh section; passengers could only travel on freight cars. Freight cars were not very fast, and minor accidents were inevitable for cars transporting various industrial raw materials, making delays a common occurrence.
"The working environment of the new train is much better, and there is also a small rest room. Hmm, this behemoth uses a 2-3-1 axle configuration and a 1435mm gauge track."
The dwarf and the driver kept asking questions about every detail of the vehicle, looking at this and that from time to time. The dwarf messenger even shoveled a shovel of coal into the boiler himself.
"Sir, is this really a good idea? We can answer any question posed by a dwarf, but what if they go back...?"
While the dwarf envoy was talking to the stoker, the driver pulled the engineer aside and asked him a question.
"Don't worry, my brother. So what if they find out? Do you know how many industrial categories are involved in making all the parts for this car?"
No matter how basic a steam locomotive is, it's not something one person can manufacture. The components of a steam locomotive require raw materials from thousands of manufacturers. From raw materials to parts, to large components in the final assembly, and finally to production at the No. 1 Railway Industrial Plant, the number of workers and the time spent building it are unimaginable.
Even if the dwarves knew all the technical details, they would never be able to replicate this motorcycle. Or rather, even if they tried their best to replicate one, what would it matter?
Thanks to their industrial system, the cost of the Victory VI locomotive is within an acceptable range. Without this industrial system, the dwarves might be able to build one or two, but what then?
Many of Amerlane's industrial products appear simple, even replicable by hand. But behind this simplicity and low price lies a nation's entire industrial chain, hundreds of thousands of workers and engineers, massive and expensive machinery, raw material reserves, a powerful navy guaranteeing shipping routes, cheap transportation, and a booming market.
The absence of any one of these elements would significantly increase costs, and any country without this industry would be unable to compete for the future.
To possess it, the only option is to send students to Amelansi.