,*APT] ,,XVIII

,ON ! ,H5DRICKTON & ,PAS ,ALOS

  ,! TRANSCONT95TAL 0 DELAY$ ?REE H\RS
0! /REWN WRECKAGE (! RE> ( ,NUMB] ,=TY-
EI<T4 ,:5 %E W5T ON ! TWO "Y FELL[S F
,%OPTON GAZ$ ANXI\SLY AT ! ,H]CULES
#JJJA1 : /OOD 2T TWO GONDOLAS 9 ! =W>D
5D (! FREI<T TRA94
  8,J 0LUCK NO?+ HAPP5$ 6X10 MUTT]$ ,N$4
  8,J LUCK10 AGRE$ ,TOM ,SWIFT4 8,X 0 A
%OCK 6ME 6LE>N T ,&Y ,O',MALLEY 0 "R "!
ON ! SPOT :5 ! A3ID5T HAPP5$40
  8,& 8 EMPLOY]1 TOO10 A4$ ,N$4 8,= WE
M/ ADMIT T ,MR4 ,MONTAGNE ,LEWIS IS !
MAN :O SICK$ ,O',MALLEY ON 6Y40 8,TRUE40
  8,& !Y 7 BO? 9 ! A3OMMOD,N T 0
SIDESWIP$ 0! DERAIL$ C>S ( ,NUMB] ,=TY-
EI<T40
  8,T1 LIKEWISE IS A FACT10 SD ,TOM1
NO4+ QKLY4
  8,B :AT PUZZLES ME1 Z X SEEM$ 6PUZZLE
,LEWIS1 M ?AN ANY?+ ELSE1 IS :AT 2CAME (
,O',MALLEY80
  8,I GUESS ,I C SEE "? T KNOT-HOLE10
,TOM REJO9$4
  8,YES80
  8,I BET ,O',MALLEY GOT A SQU9T AT ME--
OR P]H AT Y--Z WE WALK$ UP ! TRACK F ?
COA*1 & HE LIT \ 9 A HURRY4 ,"! /OOD !
,?REE-,"\S-,"O1 & "! 7 WE4 ,HE KNEW WE
WD RAISE A HUE & CRY IF WE SAW HM 9 !
VIC9;Y ( MY LOCOMOTIVE40
  8,I BET T'S ! TRU?1 ,TOM40
  8,I "K X4 ,HE DIDN'T EV5 H "T 6W>N 8
EMPLOY]4 ,0! WAY1 ,N$1 :AT A BRUTE T
,MONTAGNE ,LEWIS LOOKS 6BE40
  8,I 2LIEVE Y6 ,I REMEMB] HAV+ SE5 8
PHOTOGRAPH 9 A MAGAZ9E4 ,OH1 HE'S "S
PUNK9S1 ,TOM40
  8,& J Z WICK$ Z !Y MAKE 'EM1 ,I BET6
,FACE J Z PL1SANT Z A BULLDOG'S60
  8,Y SD X4 ,I'M AFRAID ( T MAN4 ,I % N
H A MO;T'S P1CE UNTIL Y H H&$ ! ,H]CULES
,?REE-,"\S-,"O OV] 6,MR4 ,B>?OLOMEW &
GOT 8 A3EPT.E40
  8,IF ,I D10 MURMUR$ ,TOM4
  8,( C\RSE Y W1 IF T ,LEWIS OR 8 H5*M5
DON'T SMA% ?+S UP4 ,Y >E N AFRAID (!
SPE$ MATT] N[1 >E Y80 DEM&$ ,N$
3FID5TLY4
  8,I C 2 SURE ( NO?+ UNTIL AF ! TE/S10
SD ,TOM1 %AK+ 8 H1D4 8,REMEMB]1 ,N$1 T
,I H SET \ 6A3OMPLI% :AT 0 N"E D"O 2F--
6DRIVE A LOCOMOTIVE OV] ! RAILS AT TWO
MILES A M9UTE4 ,X'S A MI<TY BIG "UTAK+40
  8,( C\RSE X W -E \ ALL "R4 ,IF ,KOKU
IS FAI?;L
  8,T IS ! SMALLE/ ,8IF0' 9 ! CATEGORY10
,TOM 9T]POS$1 )A LAU<4 8,IF ,I 0 Z SURE
( ALL ELSE Z ,I AM ( ,KOKU1 WE'D H PLA9
SAIL+ 2F U40
  ,TWO "DS LAT] ,TOM ,SWIFT & ,N$
,NEWTON 7 U%]$ 96! PRIVATE (FICE (!
PRESID5T (! ,H4 & ,P4 ,A4 AT !
,H5DRICKTON T]M9AL4 ,! TWO "Y FELL[S F !
,EA/ _H GOT 9 ! NI<T 2F1 _H 2COME
E/ABLI%$ AT ! BE/ HOTEL 9 ! RAPIDLY GR[+
,WE/]N MUNICIPAL;Y1 & _H SE5 "S?+ (! T[N
XF DUR+ ! H\RS 2F MIDNI<T4
  ,N[ !Y 7 R1DY = BUSI;S1 & V IMPORTANT
BUSI;S1 TOO4
  ,MR4 ,RI*>D ,B>?OLOMEW SAT UP 9 8 DESK
*AIR & 8 KE5 EYES SU45LY SP>KL$ :5 HE
SAW 8 VISITORS & RECOGNIZ$ !M4

8,I DID N EXPECT Y S SOON4 ,YR
  LOCOMOTIVE >RIV$
YE/]"D1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT4 ,H[ >E Y1 ,MR4
  ,NEWTON80

  ,HE MO;N$ = !M 6TAKE *AIRS4 ,8
SECRET>Y LEFT ! ROOM4 ,! RAILROAD
MAGNATE AT ONCE 2CAME 3FID5TIAL4
  8,NO?+ HAPP5$ ON ! WAY80 HE ASK$1
PO9T$LY4 8,"! 0 A FREI<T WRECK1 ,I
"U/&80
  8,& WE *.ED 6BE "R AT H& :5 T HAPP5$10
SD ,TOM4
  8,S 0 YR FR1 ,MR4 ,LEWIS10 REM>K$ ,N$
,NEWTON4
  8,Y DON'T M1N 6SAY T ,MONTAGNE ,LEWIS
--0
  8,WAS "!4 ,& ,&Y ,O',MALLEY10 PUT 9
,TOM4
  ,!N HE DETAIL$ ! 9CID5T1 Z F> Z HE &
,N$ KNEW ! DETAILS1 6,MR4 ,B>?OLOMEW1 :O
LI/5$ ) CLOSE ATT5;N4
  8,WELL1 X MI<T M]ELY H BE5 A
CO9CID;E10 MURMUR$ ! RAILROAD PRESID5T4
8,B1 ( C\RSE1 WE C'T 2 SURE4 ,ANYH[1 X
IS J Z WELL IF YR S]VANT1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT1
KEEPS CLOSE WAT* / ^U T LOCOMOTIVE40
  8,HE W10 SD ,TOM1 NO4+4 8,HE IS D[N "!
9 ! Y>D )! ,H]CULES ,?REE-,"\S-,"O1 & ,I
M1N 6KEEP ,KOKU "R ON ! JOB40
  8,GD6 ,LET'S G D[N & LOOK AT H]10 ,MR4
,B>?OLOMEW SD1 EAG]LY4
  ,B F/ ,TOM WANT$ 6G 96! !ORETICAL
"PICUL>S ( 8 9V5;N4 ,& HE 3FESS$ T ?US
F> 8 TE/S (! LOCOMOTIVE _H N BE5 ALT
SATISFACTORY4
  8,I H GOT 6H A CLE> TRACK ON A /RET* (
YR [N L9E "H1 ,MR4 ,B>?OLOMEW1 & "U
C]TA9 3DI;NS1 2F ,I C 2 SURE Z 6J H[ M*
SPE$ ,I C GET \ (! MA*9E40
  8,SPE$ IS ! ESS5TIAL PO9T1 ,MR4
,SWIFT10 SD ! RAILROAD MAN1 S]I\SLY4
  8,T IS :AT ,I H BE5 TELL+ ,N$10 ,TOM
REJO9$4 8,I 2LIEVE MY IMPROVE;TS OV] !
,J&EL PAT5TS >E WOR?Y4 ,I "K ,I H A V
P[];L LOCOMOTIVE4 ,B T IS N 5\<40
  8,WE H GOT 6%OOT \R TRA9S "? ! ,PAS
,ALOS ,RANGE FA/] ?AN TRA9S 7 "E %OT OV]
! GRADES 2F1 OR WE H FAIL$10 SD ,MR4
,B>?OLOMEW1 ) DECI.N4
  8,B--0 2GAN ,N$2 B ,TOM PUT UP AN
>RE/+ H& & 8 F9ANCIAL MANAG] C1S$ SP1K+4
  8,I H N =GOTT5 ! DETAILS ( \R 3TRACT1
,MR4 ,B>?OLOMEW10 HE SD1 QUIETLY4 8,TWO-
MILES-A-M9UTE IS ! T>GET ,I H AIM$ =4
,:E!R ,I H HIT X OR N1 WELL1 "T W %[4 ,I
H GOT 6TRY ! LOCOMOTIVE \ ON ! TRACKS (!
,H4 & ,P4 ,A4 9 ANY CASE4 ,! ,H]CULES
,?REE-,"\S-,"O HAS BE5 DRA7$ A L;G 4T.E1
& HAS BE5 "? AT L1/ "O WRECK4 ,I WANT
6SEE IF %E IS ALL "R 2F ,I TE/ H]
(FICI,Y40
  8,I'LL >RANGE T = Y10 SD ,MR4
,B>?OLOMEW1 BRISKLY1 PUTT+ AWAY 8 PAP]S4
8,I W G ) Y1 TOO1 & TAKE A LOOK AT !
M>VEL40
  8,&A M>VEL X IS10 GRUM#D ,N$4 8,DON'T
LET HM FOOL Y1 ,MR4 ,B>?OLOMEW4 ,TOM N"E
DOES 3SID] :AT HE'S D"O Z 2+ Z GRT Z X
RE,Y IS40
  8,"EY?+ M/ 2 PROV$10 ,TOM SD1
CAUTI\SLY4 8,IF X 0 A F9ANCIAL PRO#M1
,MR4 ,B>?OLOMEW1 2LIEVE ME X WD 2 ,N$ :O
4PLAY$ CAU;N4 ,B ,I H SELDOM BUILT ANY?+
T CD N--& HAS N--LAT] BE5 IMPROV$40
  8,Y D N 3SID] YR ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE1
!N1 A -PLET$ 9V5;N80 ASK$ ,MR4
,B>?OLOMEW1 Z ! ?REE WALK$ D[N ! Y>D4
  8,I H TOO M* EXP]I;E 46SAY X IS
P]FECT10 RETURN$ ,TOM4 8,I C SC>CELY
2LIEVE1 EV51 T X IS GO+ 6SUIT Y1 ,MR4
,B>?OLOMEW1 EV5 IF ! SPE$ TE/ IS Z
PROMIS+ Z ,I HOPE X MAY BE40
  8,HUMPH60
  8,B 2F ,I % 2 WILL+ 6?R[ UP ! SP;GE &
SAY T ,I H FAIL$1 ,I % MONKEY )!
,H]CULES ,?REE-,"\S-,"O Q A LL ON YR
TRACKS40
  8,YR SIX MON?S ISN'T UP YET10 SD ,MR4
,B>?OLOMEW1 M *E];LLY4 8,& X DOESN'T
MATT] IF X IS4 ,IF Y SEE ANY *.E ( MAK+
A SU3ESS ( YR 9V5;N1 Y >E WELCOME 6TRY X
\ ON ! TRACKS (! ,H4 & ,P4 ,A4 = ANO!R
SIX MON?S40
  8,ALL "R10 ,TOM SD1 SMIL+4 8,N[1 "! IS
! ,H]CULES ,?REE-,"\S-,"O1 ,MR4
,B>?OLOMEW4 ,& "! IS ,KOKU LOOK+ L;G+LY
"? ! W9D[40
  ,9 FACT1 ! GIANT1 ! MO;T HE SAW ,TOM1
RAN 6UNB> & OP5 ! DOOR (! CAB ON T SIDE4
  8,MA/]6 ,IF NO LET ,KOKU \1 ,KOKU G
AMUCK -EQUALS CRAZY6 ,NO C BR1! 9 "H6
,NO C EAT6 ,NO C SLEEP60
  8,! POOR FELL[60 EJACULAT$ ,N$4
  8,:AT'S ! MATT] ) HM80 ASK$ ,MR4
,B>?OLOMEW1 CURI\SLY4
  8,GET \1 IF Y WANT TO1 ,KOKU4 ,I'LL
/AY 0:ILE Y KICK UP YR HEELS40
  ,NO SOON] _H ! 9V5TOR SPOK5 ?AN !
GIANT L1P$ F ! OP5 DOOR (! LOCOMOTIVE &
DA%$ AWAY AL;G ! C9D]
PA? Z ?\< HE ACTU,Y _H 6RUN AWAY4 ,TOM
BUR/ 96A LAU<1 Z HE WAT*$ ! GIANT 4APPE>
2Y ! /R+S ( FREI<T C>S4
  8,:AT IS ! MATT] ) HM80 REP1T$ !
RAILROAD PRESID5T4
  8,HE'S GOT ! CRAMP ALL "R10 LAU<$ ,TOM
,SWIFT4 8,Y DON'T "U/&1 ,MR4 ,B>?OLOMEW1
:AT X M1NS 6T BIG FELL[ 6BE H\S$ 9 = S
_M "DS1 & UNA# 6KICK A FREE LIMB4 ,I BET
HE RUNS T5 MILES 2F HE /OPS40
  8,! POLICE W >RE/ HM10 SD ! RAILROAD
MAN4
  ,X 0 !N ,N$'S TURN 6*UCKLE4 8,I AM
SORRY = YR RAILROAD POLICE IF !Y TACKLE
,KOKU "R N[10 HE SD4 8,HE'D LAY \ AB A
DOZ5 ORD9>Y M5 )\T HALF TRY+4 ,B1
ORD9>ILY1 HE IS ! MO/ MILD-MANN]$ FELL[
:O "E LIV$40
  8,HE W -E BACK1 IF HE IS LET AL"O1 Z
H>M.S Z A KITT510 ,TOM OBS]V$4 8,& :5 ,I
AM N )! ,H]CULES ,?REE-,"\S-,"O1 & :ILE
,I 3T9UE MAK+ MY TE/S1 ,KOKU W 2 ON
GU>D4 ,Y MI<T TELL YR POLICE =CE1 ,MR4
,B>?OLOMEW1 6LET HM AL"O4 ,N[ -E ABO>D &
LET ME %[ Y :AT ,I H BE5 TRY+ 6D40
  ,!Y SP5T TWO H\RS 9SIDE ! CAB (! GRT
LOCOMOTIVE4 ,MR4 ,RI*>D ,B>?OLOMEW 0
POSSESS$ ( NO SMALL DEGREE ( ME*ANICAL
$UC,N4 ,HE MI<T N 2 A G5IUS 9 ME*ANICS Z
,TOM ,SWIFT WAS1 B HE CD FOLL[ ! LATT]'S
EXPLAN,NS REG>D+ ! IMPROVE;TS 9 !
ELECTRICAL EQUIP;T ( ? NEW TYPE (
LOCOMOTIVE4
  8,I DON'T "K :AT YR SPE$ TE/S W %[1
,MR4 ,SWIFT10 SD ! RAILROAD PRESID5T1 )
A4$ 5?USIASM4 8,B IF ^? "PS W D :AT Y
SAY !Y H ALR D"O1 Y'VE GOT ! ,J&ELS B1T
A MILE6 ,I'M = Y1 /R;G4 ,YES1 SIR6 L YR
FR1 ,NEWTON1 "H1 ,I 2LIEVE T Y H HIT !
"R TRACK4 ,Y >E GO+ 6TRIUMPH40
  ,B ,TOM'S TRIUMPH DID N -E AT ONCE4
,HE KNEW M AB ! UNC]TA9TIES ( ME*ANICAL
3TRIV.ES ?AN DID EI ,MR4 ,B>?OLOMEW OR
,N$ ,NEWTON4
  ,! V NEXT "D ! ,H]CULES #JJJA 0 GOT \
^U A SEC;N (! ELECTRIFI$ SY/EM (!
,H5DRICKTON & ,PAS ,ALOS ,RAILWAY1 &!
PANTAGRAPHS (! HUGE LOCOMOTIVE =! F/ "T
CAME 963NEC;N )! TW9 3DUCTOR TROLLEYS :
OV]HUNG ! RAILS4
  ,N$ A3OMPANI$ ,TOM Z ASSI/ANT4 ,KOKU 0
ALL[$ 0! 9V5TOR 6ROAM AB ! HILLS Z M* Z
HE PL1S$ DUR+ ! H\RS 9 : 8 MA/] 0 5GAG$
)! ,H]CULES #JJJA4 ,TOM DID N ?9K ANY
H>M WD -E 6,KOKU1 & HE KNEW T ! GIANT WD
5JOY IMM5SELY A FREE FOOT 9 S* A WILD
C.TRY4 ,! TWO "Y FELL[S1 DRESS$ 9 "W+
SUITS ( OV]ALL /UFF1 SP5T L;G H\RS 9 !
CAB (! ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE4 ,_! TRY-\TS
_H 6BE MADE =! MO/ "P ON SIDETRACKS &
FREI<T SWIT*ES1 "S MILES \TSIDE
,H5DRICKTON1 ": ! 9V5;N WD N 2 9 ! WAY (
REGUL> TRA6IC4
  ,SPE$ ON LEVEL TRACKS _H BE5 RAIS$ 9
"O TE/ 6OV] N9ETY-FIVE MILES AN H\R &
,MR4 ,B>?OLOMEW *E]$ WILDLY F ! CAB (A
HUGE ,MALLET T PAC$ ,TOM'S LOCOMOTIVE ON
A P>ALLEL TRACK4 ,NO /1M LOCOMOTIVE _H
"E MADE S* FA/ "T4
  ,B ,TOM 0 AF "S?+ BI7] ?AN ?4 ,HE
WANT$ 6%[ ! PRESID5T (! ,H4 & ,P4 ,A4 T
! ,H]CULES #JJJA CD DRAG A LOAD OV] !
,PAS ,ALOS ,RANGE AT A PACE N"E 2F GA9$
0ANY M.TA9-HOG4
  ,"!=E HE COAX$ ! ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE \
96! HILLS1 "S HUNDR$ OR M MILES F
H1DQU>T]S4 ,HE _H 6KEEP 9 T\* )! TRA9
4PAT*]'S (FICE1 ( C\RSE2 ! NEW MA*9E _H
(T5 6TAKE A SIDETRACK4 ,NOR 0 M* ( ?
HILLY "R-(-WAY ELECTRIFI$4 ,! ,J&ELS
LOCOMOTIVE _H BE5 F.D 6BE A FAILURE ON !
%>P GRADES2 S ! EXT5.N (! TROLLEY SY/EM
_H BE5 AB&ON$4
  ,B "! 0 "O /EEP GRADE 2T ,HAMMON &
,CLIFF ,C;Y T _H BE5 -PLET$4 ,! CURR5T
CD 2 F$ 6! CA#S OV] ? /RET* ( TRACK1 &=A
WEEK ,TOM US$ ? L;G & /EEP GRADE J Z M*
Z HE CD1 3SID]+ ( C\RSE ! DEM&S (!
REGUL> TRA6IC4
  ,! TELEGRAPH OP]ATOR AT ,HALF ,WAY
7M]ELY A "N =A /,N1 = "! 0 N A HABIT,N 9
SI<T7 ?RU/ 8 L;G UPP]-L5G? \ (!
TELEGRAPH (FICE W9D[ "O AFN & WAV$ A
8HI<BALL0 6! WAIT+ ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE
ON ! SIDETRACK4
  8,4PAT*] SAYS Y C H ,TRACK ,NUMB] ,TWO
,WE/ TILL ! F\R-?IRTE51 WE/B.D1 IS DUE4
,I'LL SLIP ! OP]ATOR AT ,CLIFF ,C;Y !
NEWS & HE'LL 2 ON ! LOOK\T = Y Z WELL Z
ME1 ,MR4 ,SWIFT4 ,G 6X40
  ,E MAN ON ! SY/EM 0 9T]E/$1 & MO/ ( !M
5?USIA/IC1 AB ,TOM'S 9V5;N4 ,! LATT]
KNEW T HE CD DEP5D ^U ? OP]ATOR & 8 MATE
6WAT* \ =! WE/]N-B.D FLY] T WD 2G9 XS
CLIMB (! GRADE AT ,HAMMON LESS ?AN HALF
AN H\R H;E4
  ,! ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE 0 COAX$ \ ACR !
SWIT*4 ,TOM 0 E>NE/LY 9SPECT+ ! M
DELICATE "PS (! ME*ANISM :ILE ,N$ 7&
PR\D HE 0 6D X7 H&L$ ! L"ES4 ,ONCE ON !
MA9 L9E HE MOV$ ! 3TROLL] =W>D4 ,! MA*9E
2GAN 6PICK UP SPE$4
  ,! DRUMM+ (! :EELS OV] ! RAIL JO9TS
2CAME A S+LE NOTE--AN 9CR1S+ RO> ( S.D4
,! ELECTRIC LOCOMOTIVE %OT UP ! GRADE4
,! >R[ ON ! SPE$OMET] CREPT >.D ! DIAL &
,N$'S EYE 0 M (T5 FA/5$ ON T ?AN X 0 ON
! GLI/5+ TW9 RAILS : M.T$ ! GRADE4
  ,BLACK-GRE5 HEMLOCK & SPRUCE BORD]$ !
"R ( WAY ON EI H&4 ,_! %AD[S MADE !
TUNNEL "? ! =E/ ALM D>K4 ,B ,TOM _H N
SE5 FIT 6TURN ON ! H1DLI<T4
  8,H[ IS %E MAK+ \80 ASK$ ! 9V5TOR1 -+
6LOOK OV] 8 *UM'S %\LD]4
  8,X'S GRT1 ,TOM60 BR1!D ,N$ ,NEWTON1 8
EYES GLI/5+4 8,%E EATS ? GRADE UP40
  ,& X'S )9 A N>R[ FRAC;N (A TWO P]
C5T410 SD ! 9V5TOR PR\DLY4 8,%E TAKES X
)\T A J>--,HOLD ON6 ,:AT'S T AH1D80
  ,! LOCOMOTIVE _H TRAVEL$ T5 MILES OR M
F ,HALF ,WAY4 ,! SUMMIT (! GRADE 0 N F>
AH1D4 ,B ! =E/ %UT \ ALL VIEW (! /,N AT
,CLIFF ,C;Y &! /RUCTURES T /OOD NE> X4
  ,"R ACR ! /EEL RI2ONS ON : ! H]CULES
#JJJA RAN1 ,TOM _H SE5 "S?+ : BR"\ ! "Q
6HIS LIPS4 ,N$ ,NEWTON SAW X TOO1 & HE
%\T$ AL\D3
  8,TREE D[N6 ,A LOG FALL51 ,TOM60
  ,HE DID N LOSE -PLETELY 8 SELF-3TROL4
,B HE GRA2$ ! L"ES ) LESS C>E ?AN HE %D4
,HE TRI$ 6YANK TWO ( !M AT ONCE1 &1 9
DO+ S1 HE F\L$ ! BRAKES6
  ,HE _H %UT (F 3NEC;N )! CURR5T4 ,B !
BRAKE 3TROL 0 JAMM$4 ,! LOCOMOTIVE QKLY
CAME 6A HALT4 ,!N1 2F ,TOM CD GET 6! OP5
DOOR1 ! :EELS 2GAN SP9N+ 9 REV]SE &! GRT
,H]CULES #JJJA 2GAN ! DESC5T (! /EEP
GRADE1 UTT]LY UNMANAGEA#6














