The Zombie Train The Transport Corp

Chapter 17: Race Time

With the sounds of heavy barking and steam escaping, we were gaining speed fast.
"Give it all you can give her Michell!"
"Yes Sir!"
I looked out the window, the rival train looked like it was standing still next to us. Only the moving drivers and the bark of the engine convinced me we were moving. But slowly, I could see the M-6 mogul begin to pass us.
"Give her all you got!"
I picked up the extra shovel, giving her all that bit more steam. I looked out for that nice grey smoke, the pressure gauge hovered just below 205 PSI. I could see buildings in the distance. Gilroy. The place where the tracks merge into one, probably the most dangerous place.
We began to pull ahead, but that other engine was not more than 15 feet behind our footplate. Powell wasn't a person to take big risks, he slammed on the independent. The mogul began passing us as we rushed through the station, we were in second as the tracks merged. We stared down the passenger coach of the rival train, we were stuck behind 1744 as we passed the quarry near Chittenden.
I went back to check on the passengers, climbing over the tender to the coach railing. The people were rowdy, watching the scenery pass and cheering Powell on. As I returned to the cab, a small plume of steam rushed past me.
Now back in the cab, I looked out the window to see the smokebox was leaking slightly. A small wisp of smoke was escaping from the sides. Not good. That means the draft was really bad.
"Here! I'll go take care of it for you!"
"Okay!" Powell called.
"Be careful!" Michelle also
Closing the door behind me, I took special care not to touch the boiler. The wind rushed past me, the afternoon air chilling me. Despite my jacket, I began to shiver. Keeping my body just near to the boiler to feel its heat, but far enough for a less than likely chance of burning myself, I eventually reached the footboard.
Grabbing the leaver, I tightened the smokebox door until the white mist stopped.
I turned back to the tracks. The next thing I saw was a flash of brown, then the sound of crackling wood. I felt a stinging in my arm.
I looked over my shoulder to see a nice splinter in my arm. Pinching it, removing it with a shot of pain. A small bit of red liquid oozed from the site. I padded the red patch of skin with my shirt, grabbing hold of the rails. I felt a slight pain in my stomach, I'll investigate that when I get back into the ca-
Wham!
Splinters flew past me again, scrapping my face. The whistle of the old K4 chimed, something was wrong.
"Marvin!"
Huh?
"Marvin!"
I looked back, Powell was pointing ahead.
I looked. All I could see was the coach.
I listened harder. A dull scraping could be heard under the pilot. The train was inching further away. Something was lodged between the wheels.
With much persuasion, I turned around, heading back to the front of the engine. I looked over at the pilot wheels.
There was a 4x4 plank of wood lodged between the left wheel. I looked for any tools, there were none. Then I had a bad idea. Swinging down under the engine, I began to kick at the scrapping wood. The heavy thunks as my shoe heel met the brown wood. I kicked until my foot was sore, I stooped on the platform. I could see that darn thing through the platform.
Through my raspy breath, I drew my pistol. Loosely aiming at the middle of the plank, against the wheel.
Bang!
I adjusted left slightly.
Bang! Bang! Pow! Bang! Pow! Pow!
The slide locked back, the wood creaked and groaned. Suddenly, the wood split messily down the middle. The train rocked as a chuck slipped under the bogie.
"Finally Jesus."
I headed back to the cab.
"Fu#%ing hell." Powell cursed.
"You alright?" Michell checked me.
"Yeah."
Powell tossed me some gauze. "Here! Bandage yourself up. We'll be arriving in Salinas soon!"
The two engines roared, running at the speed of a cheetah. Black smoke and white mist trailed the first, only to be broken and more added by the trailer. In the gas stations and office buildings lining the route, people cheered as the big iron horses trundled by. The siding track at Salinas was not long enough to pass, we didn't test our chances.
Gonzales would be the first passing point.