Grandpa (Train)

The D-51 Stanwich Steamer, affectionately nicknamed "Grandpa", may have been replaced by more efficient, less polluting trains, but he can still move carriages up and down a railway line. According to Midnight Express, he may actually be alive, but he's probably just a steam engine. Probably.

2001 Robots in Disguise cartoon
Grandpa was one of the first trains to run on the tracks near Metro City. Many many years after the introduction of other forms of trains made steam engines obsolete, it was painstakingly restored.

Information was stored on a floppy disk by Doctor Onishi for his son, Koji, and given to Doctor Yoshimoto for safekeeping. The disk fell into the hands of the Predacons, who had trouble reviewing the contents, and concluded that the train was some kind of super weapon. Megatron tasked his men with capturing the train.

The newly restored Grandpa was making a special passenger run when the Predacons tried to seize it. Fortunately he was being escorted by the Autobots, including Team Bullet Train. One by one, the Predacons attacked, but were unable to secure the steam engine. Even Gas Skunk's pulse field weapon was useless in stopping it.

Once the train reached its destination and the passengers disembarked, the Predacons saw their chance and stole Grandpa. With Dark Scream shoveling coal, it seemed like they would get away with their prize. Midnight Express refused to give in and followed the steam engine off a cliff into the sea, where he was able to retrieve it before it fell into Megatron's waiting hand. Grandpa was soon back on dry land and back to pulling carriages.