As Russ and Jim crossed the tracks they felt a strange energy envelope them from behind. Jim noticed that the freight house now seemed to be a little fresher in color and up keep. As they approached the fence, a group of people came to enquire about the strange baggage car now sitting on the siding.
Robert: Well hey there stranger. Where’d you come from? I could’a swore that track was empty just a moment ago.
Jim: It’s a long story…one that’s been going on for near on a year now. Speaking of years. What’s the date today
Mike: It’s Friday July 6th
Jim: And the year?
Mike: Well that doesn’t change to often but it’s 1956.
Jim realized why they depot looked newer all of a sudden.
Jim: Uhhhh, Okay… Well I’m assuming this is Morgan, in the state of Utah?
A cute girl in her late teens or early twenties answered.
Cindy: Sure is, good old Mormon country. You ever heard of the Mormon’s?
Nate: Now Cindy, be nice to the boy, we don’t want to be scaring him off.
Cindy: Sorry dad! You always tell us to show people how normal we are since they think we’re weird.
Jim had heard of Mormons and that they were indeed “weird”. He was once told that the men had a bunch of wives and would actually try to live with all of them.
Jim: Mormon’s? Aren’t you the people with like 10 wives or something like that?
Robert: Weeeelllll, maybe not 10 wives, more like 2 or 3.
Jim replied with an awkward: Uh huh…
Mike: Robert’s just joking with you. One wife, that’s it. Could you even imagine multiple wives? The nagging is bad enough with just one.
One of the womens eyes flashed red and she quickly turned toward Mike.
Suzzane: Michael Joseph Young! I HAVE never… I do not nag you. And if I have you sure ‘nough deserved every bit of it.
Mike (under his breath to Jim): See what I mean?
As Jim was listening to the banter between the Mormons, he started to feel dizzy again. His vision started to tunnel in, he could hear Russ making some odd noises too and then he and Russ fell down. Trying to open his eyes, he noticed an odd train running down the tracks. It looked foreign. It looked like something from Japan, but how?
Mary Ann: Oh Jim! You o.k.?
Jim: Yeah, I’m a little hungry that’s all. (Even though he knew it was more to do with the flux capacitor acting up) Is there anywhere to get some food around here?
Mary Ann: Yeah, Darlene’s produce stand’s just down the way. If you’re lucky she might even have some fresh trout from the river and some jerky.
Jim: Sounds good, show me the way. By the way what was that strange train that just flew through town?
Nate: Oh that thing? Some rich kook down in Salt Lake bought a Japanese passenger train had it shipped here and converted it to run on American rails. I’ve never figured out how he got the railroad to allow it on their tracks. It pretty much stays on this stretch and only comes out a few times a year.
As the newly formed group of people walked down to Darlene’s stand Jim could smell the sweet smell of charcoal smoke cooking corn and fish. Jim’s mouth began to water as he imagined some freshly grilled trout with lemon and dill, corn on the cob cooked over coals with that smoky flavor mixed with the saltiness of fresh farm butter. And then he saw the early crop of peaches. Oh this was heaven for a hungry man.
As they all ate their lunch, the group of Mormons were still interested about where he came from.
Robert: Well Jim, I’m still curious on where you came from. It’s not too often we get Pennsylvania equipment out here.
Jim: It’s hard to explain. I started out west with some special packages in the b60 and one of those packages ended up making a real mess of time and locale. Time travel is a real thing as is teleportation.
Sometimes though, certain items can get lost in the chaos. I had one large black package get lost. I’m not sure if someone thought it was junk and rubbed it off the shipping list or what. Anyway, I wake up in new places and years all the time now.
Nate: Okay now, we really don’t like fibbers around these parts. I think it might be time for you to head back to that “ time traveling “ baggage car to wait for your pickup.
Jim: Sorry to offend you Nate, but it’s the truth. Robert even noticed we pretty much came out of nowhere. And the real reason Russ and I collapsed back at the depot was that the time machine is acting weird. But you’re right it’s time for me to move on to my next destination.
Cindy: Dad, don’t let him go so quick. He’s kinda cute!
Feeling a little pleased at himself but at the same time awkward having been found attractive by someone a little less than half his age.
Jim: Uh, thanks Cindy. But I do have to leave. Traveling is my job.
Nate: Oh Cindy, you’re a little young for him…
Cindy: Well if you can’t stay, I’m coming with you! I’ve always wanted to go to the city.
Flabbergasted on what to say Jim could only let out a confused "Uhhh.."
Nate: Listen young lady, what are you going to do on a train car?
Nate continued to lecture Cindy about how bad it would be to run off with a total stranger who tells lies about time travel. Jim decided that it might be a good time for he and Russ to slip away and run back to the baggage car.
As Jim and Russ crossed over the last main before the siding the b60 was on, they felt that strange energy again and out of nowhere a Union Pacific FEF-3 appeared screaming it’s whistle as it slowly came to a stop.
Ed D: Hey guys, there’s that passenger car dispatch was telling us about. (Ed notices Jim and Russ by the b60) Hey you, is this your’s?
Jim: Well technically it belongs to the PRR but I’m in charge of it’s contents.
Ed D: PRR? Well, let’s see that’s part of NS now and well, I guess I could get corporate to buy that. We are the borg afterall. We assimilate all!!!
Jim: Uh, well from where I come from PRR owns the transcontinental so I think we own you.
Ed D: Resistance is futile! Boys couple that beauty to our train
Train crew: Yes boss!
Ed D wanted the baggage car as close to him as possible so he had it couple up in front of the tool car.
Jim: Well Russ, I don’t know what is happening right now but hopefully this will get us to our next destination.
Russ: Baaaaa! BAaaaaA! Ba Baa BA
Jim: No Russ! Don’t you dare.
As the loco’s pushed the baggage car towards the rest of the train Russ jumped from the b60 and ran toward the FEF across the water car.
Jim tried to chase Russ down but can’t keep up with the determined sheep.
Jim: Russ, I told you no! What are you doing?
Russ: BAAAAA BAAAA BA BA
Jim: So how’s a sheep going to take control of the train and what are you going to do with it if you did.
Russ: Baa Baa BAAAA Ba ba Ba BAAAAAAA
Jim: YOU what? You’re going to take the train hostage until it’s owned by the PRR again?
As the train rounded out the corner, Jim felt the speed increase! He looked into the cab of the old steamer and noticed the maniacal look of Ed D’s face and recognized it as someone wanting more speed. Oh no! he thought. This thing is going to hit 88mph and take us somewhere else.
Jim: Russ, get back to the baggage car! It’s going to time jump again.
As they got to the rear of the diesel loco, they felt a final surge of speed as they jumped across the gap into the baffle door.
Jim landed first on the floor with Russ landing on top of him. Jim nudged Russ off his now sore body and noticed through the porthole window that the scenery had not changed but they were slowing down considerably.
Jim leaned out of the baggage car and was confused at what he saw. A trio of loco’s that would normally not be consisted together with a California Zephyr in tow.
There must be something wrong with the flux capacitor. He looked at the machine closer and noticed in big red letters. PROTOTYPE! May not function as designed.
Great he thought. A malfunctioning time machine that now distorts reality from what it should be.
After thinking about the situation they were in, Jim decided that they weren’t going to get to where they needed with this train.
Jim: Okay Russ. Here’s what we are going to do. We are going to put some salt in the TSPSSTRCU and get this train moving to speed again. I’m hoping that it doesn’t crash through the car end so we are going to chain the thing up really well.
Not knowing what the physics of this set up would do, Jim prayed that it would work.
Jim: Okay Russ here we go! 3…2…1…
BOOOOOOM!!!
The TSPSSTRCU came to life and miraculously Jim could feel the train begin to gain speed. But not at the rate he had hoped.
As the train rounded another corner he could hear the dynamic brakes on the ES44 and GP60’s kick on to slow the train from the increased speed. Jim poured some more salt into the TSPSSTRCU and boom again. The train began to barrel down the tracks at a faster speed.
This time though, there was a light show. Sparks began flying both from the wheels and the machine and in a brilliant flash the train slowed again.
He looked out the window and saw…nothing.
Nothing but a few trees and a lot of grass. No hills, no mountains. He could now hear the chuff of a 2-8-2 and the smell of burning oil and steam.
Jim wasn’t sure on where he was, it sure looked like Nebraska but he was tired from today’s time jumps and didn't really care where here was. Maybe he could just follow this train for a while and take in the simple but beautiful scenery.
Jim: Well Russ, like normal I’m not sure where we are at but hopefully we are headed in the right direction. I think I’m going to take in the view and let the clickity clak lull me to sleep.
Russ: Ba!
As the train sauntered through the landscape Jim couldn’t help feel like this was in some ways closer to home. This was a less busy time that seemed less stressful. That made Jim happy and as he relaxed and washed any care away of where they were heading with a glass of brown liquid he found, he gently fell asleep to the repeated chuffing of the CB&Q Mikado.
