Originally serving as two of three tail Cargo Cars, these cars were overrun by stowaways later named "Tailies" during Snowpiercer's departure from Chicago.
History
The Tail was kept so cold and dark because of limited power.
During the first couple of years, there were cannibal kill cults in the Tail (including Pike). One gang in particular, they would kill anyone, eat anyone. Having no choice, the rest of the Tail including Andre Layton ambushed and killed it’s leader and brought it to a end. Layton and a group of Tailies, then ate a piece of the leader’s heart, so that no one could say they were innocent and vowed never again. The rest of the train thought it (the cannibalism) was a myth.
During the Year Two Rebellion, the Sub-Train doors were sealed, but the Tailies compromised the hinges (locks) and managed to open them.
During the Year Three Rebellion the Tail revolted, but was blind at every door and was defeated, 62 were killed and 13 (including Old Ivan) lost a arm. During this revolution, the Tailies used fertilizer bombs created by Lights. Only the Tailie War Council knew of the existence of Lights’ cookbook containing recipes for bombs and other such weapons.
When Snowpiercer traveled through mountains, it consumed a lot of power, so power in the Tail (including heat) was sacrificed. The Year-Four Slowdown lasted a month. It started with darkness and water rations.
Seven years after departure, the Tail had their rations cut again and were being starved to extinction. The women were being sterilized and there had not been a child born in the Tail for five years.
After celebrating his 84th birthday, Old Ivan hung himself, causing the Tail to revolt. During the failed revolution, 14 Tailies and at least 13 Jackboots are killed. After the failed revolution, Suzanne has her arm frozen as punishment and later dies from an infection.
After realising they were a day behind climbing the Sierra Madre and consuming power, because of damage from the avalanche; the Tailies were afraid that their drain of resources, would eventually outweigh their value as labor and would be uncoupled from the train.
When the revolution came, Layton said they march for everyone that they have lost to hunger and sickness, to all the failed rebellions.
Technology
Interior
The Cargo Cars offer very little space and a tight environment, just big enough to survive in. Considering almost 400 sparks live in just these three cars (Docking Car included), there is an extreme lack of personal space, as noted by Old Ivan. The cars consist mostly of bunk beds (that were once shelfs) on each side, and some space for barrels of stored Protein Bars, water and medicine. There are 2 holes in the hull (on both sides of the Car) that is used by the Jackboots to freeze arms off Tailies as punishment.
Appearances
Trivia
- Tailies would play bunk beds like a piano.
- Layton taught children how to breed rats so the Tail could eat them.
- 14 people from the Tail lost a arm.
- Whenever disagreements in the Tail got bad, the Tailies would settle it, "Old Ivan’s Way". It consisted of the two parties, sitting eye to eye, in the Docking Car and weren’t allowed to leave until it was resolved. Once they come to terms, the whole Tail holds them to it. However, if the two feuding parties can’t come to terms, they fight to the death with knives, in which they would say, "We call for the knives" (both would have a knife, so it would be fair). Also the two parties, could only fight to the death, if both agreed. After killing a party, the survivor would stay with the deceased, to reflect and guide the deceased through whatever comes next.
- The drug Kronole had been in the Tail for two revolutions.
- In the series, 3 people have been seen that died in the Tail: Old Ivan, Suzanne and Pike.
Gallery
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The Tailies boarding the Cargo Cars
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Cargo Car insides
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Cargo Car insides at departure
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Cargo Car Doors
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Cargo car insides, seven years later
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Alexandra Cavill boards Snowpiercer
