Guys, have the pones discovered steel?
Seriously, we discovered steel with science n' shit (Iron+carbon), but in MLP the only science they know is alchemy. Plus, they can just do anything with magic. Does that mean ponies use only elements to make stuff? In EQG (The equivalent of our world) has cars, which means they probably discovered steel the traditional way, what about in Equestria? We have seen places like Manehattan, but what if it's all iron or some magic metal? Throughout the show, I think we haven't seen any real science as we define it here in our world. Just magic and alchemy.
Pic related, it's a train. Trains are mostly made of steel in our world, so would the train be made of iron or a mix other materials? This is really fucking with me.
>>30957333
I like to think there are "laboratories" hidden all over Equestria
>>30957365
So like stations where unifags are slaved away to make materials?
>>30957333
I'm pretty sure preindustrial civiliazations were able to make crude alloys of steel too. Ever heard of Damascus Steel?
>>30957333
Steel really isn't that hard to make, even with pre-industrial age technology. Making fuckhuge amounts of high-quality steel - the kind you need to say, build a city - is a bit trickier, but frankly even before they cocked up the setting by making Manehattan a glass-and-steel metropolis there's no reason ponies shouldn't have discovered steel in general.
>but in MLP the only science they know is alchemy
You're taking a really huge leap here by assuming that they have no knowledge of conventional science or that alchemy doesn't cover that. In reality, "Alchemists" often pursued early chemistry as well as more arcane attempts.
For that matter, the actual science - as in, understanding how chemical bonding and alloying work - is irrelevant to discovering the actual stuff. Through trial and experimentation, steel was produced for hundreds of years before the actual principles behind chemistry were solidly understood.
>>30957333
If I had to make a bullshit guess they have steel but haven't yet discovered the Bessemer process for making inexpensive steel. That's why building frames are still made of wood. Steel is available, but expensive.
>>30957333
You'll be surprised by the amount of technology they had back then.
They have steel however they are not a widely industrialized society. Magic probably plays a large role in this. Magic fulfills a lot of the utilitarian/quality-of-life desires that an industrial society meets. With demand not being as widespread due to magic filling those desires in a lot of areas industrialization is slow, patchy but growing. Most mechanical inventions are probably specifically built for only a few buyers at a time as there isn't a large enough demand to warrant things like assembly lines or large factories. Near total environmental control also reduces demand for industry as the agrarian needs are easily met.
>>30957333
you cant make railway tracks with any sort of reliability or distance using iron. Its either too brittle or too soft. Judging by the size of the ponyville express, they would have to have steel rails. There is no way cast iron ones would support an engine that size, they'd just crack under the weight
>>30958133
Maybe its magically enhanced iron.
Friendly reminder that season 1 exists (Episode 15). Proof that pone tech is quite advanced.
>>30957333
Alchemy is merely chemistry plus spiritualism.
>>30957333
>Throughout the show, I think we haven't seen any real science as we define it here in our world.
Dr. Whooves is supposed to be a scientist.
>>30958123
Equestria feels like early game Victoria. Rich Manehattanites probably have enough capitalists who own factories to produce enough steel for the city, however these are likely trade secrets. Canterlot is almost certainly a lot more ancient, being made of stone. A marvel of engineering, though using worse materials, like European cathedrals. Most other cities are propably made with stone and wood (or clouds for paradise cities), like early 1800's cities in our time. Hell, Manehattan might have been where the steel railways come from, which must have cost billions of bits to make. Since mass produced steel exists, but only a city or two has it, it's clearly early Industrial Age.
Magic seems to be the analogue for electricity, demonstrated by Twilight's weird gadgets and Vinyl's sound setup. Since actual electricity isn't understood by the masses, Earth Ponies and Pegasi can't have elaborate sound systems without unicorn assistance.