After due consideration Prince Rudolf has decided that Mr Playmofire has the best taste and judgement. He is granted an Honorary Knighthood (third class). So "Kaiser Otto" is now "Der Schwarze" (the black one) with not a drop of red anywhere. The locomotive has been painted at the renowned Melworks company in England and was seen today on test at Wetton on a handy nearby light railway.
Ruritania's two other Stainz class locomotives will remain in the paint scheme used since 1998. It is understood that Princess Katarina exerted some pressure on her father to maintain the status quo, not least as locomotive number 7 bears her royal name. It has to be admitted that after nearly 14 years, the engines' livery has acquired a certain patina which is hard to define, but evocative of many happy moments.
The two engines have an illustrious history, being the first and second to run in Ruritania. Over the years they have acted as testbed for many of our small, yet perfectly formed land's railway innovations. Fitted with the MTS system in 1999 and 2000 respectively using 55020 series french fried potatoes, the twins pioneered the national standard control system. Upgraded later to 55021 equipment, the twins are again today at the forefront of Ruritanian locomotive progress.
Zenda depot has now converted both locomotives to battery power using the Barker system as proven on Ruritania's Schoema diesel. The twins can be operated singly or in multiple as seen in the photograph below. Considerable advantages are expected from this development. First, the conversion saves two 55021 chips which may be used for new motive power or offered for purchase to other railways. Second, elimination of the carbons required for MTS pickup will make the locomotives suitable for running round the royal palace's Christmas tree. As Princess Katerina was heard to remark, no one likes skid marks in their ballroom.
More progress on Ruritanian Railways!