The Zombie Train The Transport Corp

Chapter 21: Planning For A Party

Engineer's log No 23 8/28/23

I'm glad to say that Jonathan is starting to become productive again! He managed to catch the runaway of the ammo train to Morgan Hill. (View my last log for more information.) I think I can bring him back on the more vital consists, but I'll keep that armed guard with him a little while longer. Powell still has a grudge against him, but even still, they ran a double header to San Miguel for some food and materials. When they got back, both were in high spirits. Tim, Jonathan's assistant, he finally is able to tackle the grades leading to Wooster. Once again allowing both to take the high priority trains to Wooster with men and supplies. If he continues at this pace, I might even let him be my substitute secretary. Maybe. But for now, they're both allowed to pull priority 2 trains. Hopefully he'll be able to surprise me and all the engineers very soon. Also, Dai has finally got around with processing my request about a big birthday party for everyone who had a birthday since the apocalypse. Since we're sitting pretty on extra food, and morale has dropped to a little lower since before The Great Train Race, let's give 'em something to be happy about. The party is scheduled on Halloween as well, so we'll have monsters roaming the streets once more. No pun intended.

Marvin Jerez
Secretary of Transportation

The day after, I was conducting a double header from Wooster for most of the baked goods. We took the 70's (Our reclaimed trio of F7 Diesel engines. Two A units sandwiching a B unit.) and the 844 on an express freight back to Gonzales.
This was the first time running the 844 on the Wooster route, and it was doing splendidly. We didn't even need the extra pier from the 70's. We had already loaded up and were returning back to Gonzales where the main party would be.
Most of the building materials, buffet, and sugar treats were stacked high in the boxcars and our only three reefer cars. We could have our own party on the train if we wanted to, but I had instilled strict discipline to anyone who even asked to just open the cars for a snack. Just in case, I had all the train staff have a good brunch at Wooster so they wouldn't complain.
"Everything doing alright Powell?"
He turned around in his seat. "It would be 'hundred times better if I could have some of that cake!"
I chuckled. "You know Dai would kill me if this cargo was damaged!"
"And thats why I'm joking!" I lightly elbowed Powell, But I wasn't kidding.
I had barely managed to convince Dai, he trusts me but I don't think he would put his life in just my hands. I'll still invite him over to dinner though, I even run a special presidential consist with armored cars if he wishes to go somewhere. But I expect he still keeps secrets from me, as do I.
But for now, our highest priority was getting our cargo to the staging area, Gonzales. We had just past Morgan Hill, well on our way back.