The Brave Locomotive

The Brave Locomotive is a 2023 American independent animated short film by Academy Award-nominated Disney animator Andrew Chesworth.

Summary
Linus is a small 2-4-0 English-American Steam Locomotive that works at the Trailway Railroad in the Western United States in the late 1890s with his engineer and good friend Henry (Linus and Henry). Their job is to take passengers to and from locations and through the mountains and a small town called Colonnaville. At the end of one journey, Baron von Kapital, who has recently purchased the Trailway Railroad and merged it with his own Von Kapital Railroad, announces to Henry that changes are to be made to improve the railroad (The Baron's Proposal). He introduces Samson, a large 4-8-4 northern type Steam Locomotive that is to replace Linus. Henry is assigned as Samson's engineer, while Linus is reassigned to work the Lumber Mill, controlled by the evil and stern Logging Manager (What Becomes of Linus).

Samson soon takes over running the railroad's passenger trains, quickly improving travel time thanks to his speed and the new wooden trestle bridge built over a large canyon. Linus sadly watches Samson work as he's forced by whip to haul heavy lumber trains across the mountain (Samson Assumes). Due to the speed at which Samson moves, Colonnaville soon expands into a major town, but this soon causes extra stress on the bridge, which was built too quickly to accommodate him. While passing over the bridge one day, Samson's speed causes part of it to break, leaving him dangling dangerously over the chasm. Henry whistles for help, which is heard by Linus. He quickly breaks free from his chains and rushes off to help, taking a bullet from the Logging Manager's gun in the process.

Linus is able to get the coaches to safety, but Samson's tender disconnects in the process, leaving him, Henry, Von Kapital and his daughter Katrina stranded. Linus goes back to save them, but struggles to pull Samson to safety. Henry and Katrina begin shoveling coal into Linus' firebox, giving him enough strength to pull Samson just as the bridge begins to collapse (Linus to the Rescue). The strain causes Linus' boiler to explode just as they reach safety, leaving him a charred wreck. Henry and the others mourn as Linus' spirit flies up to heaven (Train Heaven).

However, Linus soon finds himself in the railroad workshop: Henry, his wife Scarlet, Katrina, and other passengers worked together to restore him to full working order. Linus is hailed a hero for his efforts and given his old job back, while a grateful Samson is reassigned to haul Lumber.

Years later (possibly 1946), the bridge has been replaced with a steel and concrete one, the Baron has passed away, and modern trains now run the line. Linus runs a tourist railway on his old line, with a now elderly Henry and Scarlet acting as his engineers (The Bravest Locomotive).

Production
Chesworth formerly worked at Disney (being animator on Wreck It Ralph, Frozen, Get a Horse!, Big Hero 6, Feast, Zootopia and Moana) and Netflix (on the 2019 Annie Award for Best Animated Feature winner Klaus) while working independently on his passion projects including The Brave Locomotive (first conceived in 2008; he released online in 2015 the opening sequence that was in progress before shelving it after being hired by Disney in 2011).

Release
It was released to film festivals for Oscar qualification before airing on YouTube.

Accolades

 * The Brave Locomotive - LA Shorts Film Festival: Best Animation (won)