The Tyro Pillar[1][2] was a Mag-lev train used by the COG Army to carry the Lightmass Bomb during the Lightmass Offensive. Possessing a total of nineteen cars including the locomotive, the Tyro Pillar contained three passenger cars, three sleeping cars, one baggage car, one locker car, one bomb car and nine freight cars. Despite being astoundingly fast, the train was hijacked mid transit by Locust forces who proceeded to throw the trains personnel and crew onto the train tracks.
Presumably, before Emergence Day, it was a commercial train, carrying passengers and cargo due to the variety and quantity of carriages that it pulls and the very size of the vehicle. However, its passenger transportation was limited, given the lack of seats in even the passenger cars, as well as a lack of a dining car and a max passenger limit of 27 (nine bunk beds for three sleeping cars).
As such, it is possible that the Tyro Pillar originally transported crew members from shipping companies in short-medium distances. This is supported by the presence of a locker car, which is filled with lockers presumably for the crew's uniforms. The front of the train carried a Lightmass Bomb and the now-deceased Locust General, RAAM.
History[]
Following the escape from Haldane Hall, Anya Stroud updates Delta squad on the status of the Tyro Pillar while they try to reach Timgad Station. It is during this time that Locusts attack, board, and hijack the Tyro Pillar. Delta is informed they are going to have to jump on the stolen train as it passes through the station.
As the train hurtled past Timgad Station, only Marcus and Dom managed to jump aboard the train before it passed, leaving Baird and Cole no choice but to board KR Eight-Zero with colonel Victor Hoffman, and pursue the train. Whilst aboard, Marcus and Dom had to contend with all of their deadliest enemies, including the encounter of a Berserker at the train's caboose.
After defeating the giant beast and many other Locust soldiers, the duo eventually reached the 8th carriage, in which they were forced to take out pursuing Reavers by using the carriage mounted Chain Guns.
After quelling the flying beasts, the pair eventually made it to the very front of the speeding train, and confronted the Locust General, RAAM, who stood between them and the Lightmass Bomb, into which they had to load the Nav Data. After a terrific and epic battle, the pair defeated the General and loaded the data, escaping the train in the nick of time by boarding the King Raven with Cole, Baird, and Hoffman. Free of all of its human passengers, the massive train, along with the body of General RAAM, then flew off a destroyed bridge and plummeted into the lake of Imulsion below, successfully allowing the Lightmass Bomb to launch and detonate inside the Locust tunnels and ultimately achieve the COG's primary goal. The bomb was later found to have destroyed the majority of the kryll breeding grounds and awoke the Rift Worm.
Appearances[]
- Gears of War (First appearance)
- Gears of War Ultimate Edition
The Tyro Pillar, or a similar Mag-lev train, on the map Tyro Station.
Concept art of a Mag-lev train, possibly Tyro Pillar. Notice the "Ephyra Departure 2:05pm" on the electronic sign.
Behind the scenes[]
- Though the Tyro Pillar is a Mag-lev train, if you listen carefully during the cinematic that plays after killing RAAM, the train makes sounds similar to a fast-moving steam locomotive.
- An unidentified Mag-lev train, possibly Tyro Pillar, is a map hazard on the map Tyro Station. Traveling in a loop, it periodically passes the station, crushing anyone unfortunate enough to be on the tracks at the time.
- In Gears of War Ultimate Edition, a Mag-lev type train very similar to the Tyro Pillar can be seen several times throughout Act 2, though it appears to be a bit smaller then the actual train in Act 5