The Engine also known as Big Alice is the propulsion method of Big Alice. Big Alice is a propulsion method of a secondary supply train of the same name. The Engine is a perpetual motion machine that propels the train forward with the use of hydrogen gained from the snow outside and without any obvious need for maintenance. The secondary function of the Engine is that of a powerplant for car bogie-motors and on-board batteries. As such, the speed of the train is directly tied to its power supply.
History
Big Alice was the prototype of the Eternal Engine. It was built by Wilford Industries and stored at its compound near Chicago. After construction of Snowpiercer, she was delegated to a secondary role as the Engine for the secondary supply train of the same name.
Technology
The Engine has a Booster that increases its speed.
Wilford had a dimmer installed in The Engine
The Engine also has a airlock on the left side, that allows breach personnel to conduct breaches and walk on the ground.
Interior
There are two control rooms, the main one at the front and a secondary one at the back. The main control room has a armored door and the secondary one has a certain.
In a clockwise motion the interior consists of a couch, a kitchen with a bar surrounded by shelves with statues, the door to the Engine, a bookcase and a dining room table with a chandelier in the secondary control room alongside a closet and display case with swords built into the bottom of a fold out bed, a desk with a microphone to the intercom alongside a red phone and a record player in a drawer, a bathroom with a bathtub, a shelve, two chairs and a table inbetween with a dimmer switch.
The interior also has a dimmer and is filled with various pantings, artworks, statues, masks and other items.
Exterior
Big Alice is large and boxy similar to a modern diesel locomotive. It is also ridiculously large compared to it's train cars, rather than being flush to the profile like Snowpiercer. There is a airlock on the left side. On top of the Engine there is one large spotlight directly above both cockpits as well as two smaller ones on the back and below the secondary cockpit. There also appears to be walkways with railings on the front sides of the Engine.
Appearances
- Season One
- Season Two
Trivia
- Big Alice is push-pull type engine with the ability to go forward and backwards at apparently the same speed. This is contrary to the Snowpiercer which is a pull-type engine with the primary ability of pulling its cars behind it.
- Big Alice is powerful enough to push the entire train of Snowpiercer completely powered down for a short time, push the entire train of Snowpiercer with it's brakes on, because it has more torque (and when it has the momentum) and power Snowpiercer without the Engine.
- In the front cockpit, Alexandra Cavill overhauled a panel and upgraded the interface on the second revolution.
- Both Engines were built with a comms panel for communication (the panel in Big Alice is a red box on the wall, in the secondary control room), but there was a flaw in Big Alice that was fixed in Snowpiercer. If two wires were swapped, Wilford wouldn't know if his comms were on or not. However, Miss Audrey failed her mission and defected.
- The Engine has a brig. There’s also a phone for the public address system near it.
- There is a secret way into the Engine by a hatch, in the floor, in Wilford's closet.
- The public address system was connected to Snowpiercer’s at some point, presumably after Wilford took control.
- Wilford hosts book club meetings in the Engine. Which he used to find the original thinkers (among the ones he saved in his cull).
- Among Wilfords paintings are, Caesar 1875 by Adolphe Yvon and Napoleon Crossing the Alps. Both were famous conquerors.
Gallery
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Big Alice at the end of season 1
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Big Alice departing Chicago
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Outside
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Outside
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Outside
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Cockpit Interior
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Secondary Cockpit
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Big Alice CGI
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Cockpit Blueprint
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Behind the scenes Cockpit Interior
