Editing The Engine (section)

==History==
Little is known about the history of The Engine or its perpetual motion technology. Before developing this class of Engines, there was at least one [[Big Alice (Engine)|prototype]] built,<ref name=":1">[[994 Cars Long|S01E10 - 994 cars Long]]</ref> the prototype was later used with the supply train known as [[Big Alice]].

While Wilford created the technology, Melanie was the one who built The Eternal Engine, which Wilford took credit for.

In ''The Time of Two Engines'', Melanie states that she drained ''Snowpiercer's'' batteries too much trying to escape from [[Joseph Wilford|Wilford]]. As a result, the train can not restart moving on its own without moving to generate new electricity.  While traveling through Neckbreaker, ''Snowpiercer'' had to shut down power to First and Second and put the passengers into muster stations in order to deal with the power loss of traveling at a much slower speed even with the boost from ''Big Alice'' as well as transfer the power needed to make the journey to ''Big Alice''.

After receiving supplies from ''Big Alice'', the Engine appears to have been at least partially repaired, although it is not back to full running capacity. As a result, ''Snowpiercer'' is capable of moving on its own again somewhat with Alex noticing when the train is forced to slow down due to damage to the water intakes on the Engine. This suggests that ''Big Alice'' recharged or replaced some or all of ''Snowpiercer's'' batteries at some point after the two trains connected.

After Wilford takes full control of both trains, [[Andre Layton]], [[Bess Till]], [[Josie Wellstead]], [[Bennett Knox]] and [[Alexandra Cavill]] steal the Engine and the following nine cars of ''Snowpiercer'', creating a ten car [[Pirate Train]] powered by the Engine Eternal. Without the Engine's power, the train left behind is powered solely by ''Big Alice's'' Engine, leaving the train with freezing conditions and low power while the Pirate Train runs hot due to the Engine still having to power ten cars while standing stationary, waiting for the return of Ben and Josie, unable to vent. The Eternal Engine had to do cooling runs, moving back and forth to prevent overheating. During a game of cat and mouse between the Pirate Train and ''Big Alice'' in a rail yard, the Engine's power made the short 10-cars long Pirate Train faster and more nimble than Wilford's train, at one point knocking ''Big Alice'' backwards down the track after the other train is "tapped out" during Wilford's attempt to escape. Following Wilford's defeat and Layton reclaiming both trains, the Engine is reconnected to ''Big Alice'' and ''Snowpiercer'', restoring full power to both trains.

Later, Big Alice with some of Ag-Sec, separates from Snowpiercer and heads for New Eden. Leaving the Engine, to power Snowpiercer by itself again, but this time with improved energy distribution and solid numbers, from loss of weight, thanks to parts supplied by Big Alice's supply train.