Train Hideout

"A hideout on the rails! What an excellent idea."

―Henry Green, 1868.^[src]^-[m]

The Train Hideout, nicknamed Bertha by Agnes MacBean, was a private passenger train hauled by a steam locomotive that served as the base of operations of the British Assassins Jacob and Evie Frye during their time in London.

History[]

Origins[]

The train was constructed in Garnkirk, Scotland by Mungo MacBean, an ironworker and expert in steam-engine construction, around the year 1831. Mungo worked the train on the Garnkirk and Glasgow lines as the operator and owner.^[1]

In 1834, the English and Scottish rail lines merged and Mungo's health began deteriorating, so his eldest daughter Agnes took her father's place aboard the locomotive and assumed his role and identity. Agnes' ruse lasted two years but she was eventually discovered to be a woman and, as punishment, was transferred to Starrick Industries. There, she was placed under the direct employment of Rexford Kaylock, the cruel Whitechapel gang leader of the Templar-affiliated Blighters. Under Kaylock, Agnes and the train, which she affectionately dubbed "Bertha", worked for his illegal ends.^[1]

Assassin base[]

"Then may I present to you Agnes and Bertha. Lady and locomotive, at your service."

―Agnes MacBean offering her services to the Frye twins, 1868.^[src]^-[m]

In early 1868, a gang war broke out in Whitechapel between Kaylock's Blighters and the newly-formed Rooks led by the British Assassins Jacob and Evie Frye. After the district was conquered by the twins, a final fight was organized between the two opposing gangs and Kaylock used the train as collateral in a bet that his forces would win. The war ended with the Rooks coming out victorious; Kaylock's death led to the conquest of the Whitechapel borough and the Frye twins claiming ownership of the locomotive.^[2]

ACS Freedom of the Press 17 — Henry and Jacob aboard the train

When the twins inspected their newly acquired train, they found Agnes aboard and took her into their employ. She continued her role of maintaining and running the train for the Assassins. Henry Green, the only other Assassin in London, helped set the train up to be a mobile Assassin hideout,^[2] something that had been missing in London since Reginald Birch and Haytham Kenway all but dismantled the British Brotherhood's presence in London over a century prior.^[3]

The train was used to plan and track all known active London Templars by the Fryes, who also took a carriage for themselves as a place for them to live while in the city.^[4] The twins later obtained aid in maintaining the train after finding Nigel Bumble trying to join the Rooks by stalking Agnes. After being interrogated by Evie and clarifying his intentions, Nigel was allowed to join the Rooks and worked directly under Agnes as her helper in tidying up the train.^[5]

At some point, the train was undergoing repairs when a fire broke out in the engine, inadvertently caused by the driver's apprentice Bob, who installed a wrong part of the locomotive. With its brakes malfunctioning, the train was unable to stop as it travelled through London ablaze. Fortunately, the catastrophe was averted by Evie and the driver, who managed to get the train back under control and extinguish the fires.^[6]

Later, the train became involved in a fight with the Blighters after Nigel stole a Gatling gun from them and the gang tracked him down to exact revenge. Using the gun, Jacob was able to fight off the attackers, but the weapon overheated in the process and soon caught fire, forcing Jacob to uncouple the cart it was standing on.^[7]

After Jacob and Evie assisted Maharaja Duleep Singh in sending stolen Punjabi gold back to India,^[8] the Blighters retaliated by attacking the train hideout while it was stationed at the Southwark train station. Although several Blighters managed to steal the train during the confusion and attempted to escape with it, the Frye twins chased and eliminated them, recovering the train.^[9]

Layout[]

First carriage[]

The first carriage was coupled directly to the locomotive, and this was where the Frye twins lived during their time in London. It was equipped with a bed, a seat, a small fire place, as well as a study and wardrobe.^[4]

When not on mission, Evie preferred to rest here, sitting on the seat next to the bed.^[4]

Second carriage[]

This was the main carriage used by the Fryes, containing their Assassin wall used to pinpoint their Templar targets. The main carriage also contained the safe used to store the money that the Rooks generated, and a small library of books and mementos.^[4]

Agnes also had her own desk here, where she worked on maintaining the train and managing its supplies. When not out and about, Jacob liked to hang out on the sofa next to the safe.^[4]

Third carriage[]

This carriage was used predominantly by members of the Rooks. It contained a small bar, serving beer and ale. It also had a booth where the Rooks discussed their activities in the city.^[4]

Fourth carriage[]

This carriage was used for storing the Fryes' equipment and crafting materials for future use. A black market dealer operated out of this carriage as well, selling all manner of goods at reduced prices.^[4]

Trivia[]

"Bertha" is lettered for the "Great Northern Railway Co.", and appears to be loosely based on the Rover class built for the Great Western Railway between 1871 and 1888.
In the final upgrade, it seems that the locomotive had been to Crewe, Doncaster, and Horwich; the latter of which has two builder's plates on the rear of the locomotive's tender and in the cab for the London, Midland and Scottish Railway. In reality, Horwich Works was owned by the Lanchashire and Yorkshire Railway at the time, as the LMS was not formed until 1923.
The train's carriages bore a close resemblance to the carriages that made up the Royal Train of King Edward VII. However, the Train Hideout's carriages were much shorter in length and used a different wheel arrangement.
With the train's second upgrade, the locomotive gained a nameplate that read "Herdwicke", despite Agnes referring to it as "Bertha". This could be a reference to a real locomotive named "Hardwicke", which was built in the 1890s for the London and North Western Railway.