Changes

=== The Destruction of Colorado ===

=== The Destruction of Colorado ===

The John Galt Line caused a boom in Colorado, which in this version of [[alternate history]] was the one State in the [[United States]] with the smallest government and the lowest level of [[tax]]ation and regulatory interference. But the machinations of the ruling clique in [[Washington, DC]], machinations in which Jim Taggart had a hand, destroyed the once-favorable economic conditions in Colorado. This happened in November of 2017, with the result that [[Ellis Wyatt]], the prime mover in Colorado, blew up his oil fields and vanished. Ultimately, every industrialist in consequence in Colorado would follow him. So the Rio Norte Line had insufficient traffic to pay for its upkeep, and its Rearden Metal rails, which had held up remarkably well, were needed to replace worn-out rail on the TTRR's main transcontinental line. And so, on February 15, 2019, the Rio Norte Line was closed, and its track torn up. It would not be replaced until after the "strike of the men of the mind" was over.

The John Galt Line caused a boom in Colorado, which in this version of [[alternate history]] was the one State in the [[United States]] with the smallest government and the lowest level of [[tax]]ation and regulatory interference. But the machinations of the ruling clique in [[Washington, DC]], machinations in which Jim Taggart had a hand, destroyed the once-favorable economic conditions in Colorado. This happened in November 2017, with the result that [[Ellis Wyatt]], the prime mover in Colorado, blew up his oil fields and vanished. Ultimately, every industrialist in consequence in Colorado would follow him. So the Rio Norte Line had insufficient traffic to pay for its upkeep, and its Rearden Metal rails, which had held up remarkably well, were needed to replace worn-out rail on the TTRR's main transcontinental line. And so, on February 15, 2019, the Rio Norte Line was closed, and its track torn up. It would not be replaced until after the "strike of the men of the mind" was over.

=== The Frozen Bond Scandal ===

=== The Frozen Bond Scandal ===

=== The Railroad Unification Plan ===

=== The Railroad Unification Plan ===

In June of 2019, Jim Taggart, unable (or unwilling) to lay track as Dagny had planned, made his most infamous achievement: the Railroad Unification Plan, under which all railroads would operate as a team, pool their revenues, and then receive payment in proportion to trackage owned, not necessarily for services rendered. Under this regime, TTRR's profits swelled, mainly because the TTRR was paid for owning miles of useless track that served no one. This cooperation did have its price, however. The TTRR received no remuneration from any other railroad for passage across the [[Taggart Bridge]], but that was a minor annoyance. Of greater consequence was that the Director of Unification ([[Cuffy Meigs]]) might cancel service at any time in order to lay on special trains to haul some of the strangest special cargoes imaginable, varying from [[grapefruit]] to [[soybean]]s. He also routinely stole and sold supplies.

In June 2019, Jim Taggart, unable (or unwilling) to lay track as Dagny had planned, made his most infamous achievement: the Railroad Unification Plan, under which all railroads would operate as a team, pool their revenues, and then receive payment in proportion to trackage owned, not necessarily for services rendered. Under this regime, TTRR's profits swelled, mainly because the TTRR was paid for owning miles of useless track that served no one. This cooperation did have its price, however. The TTRR received no remuneration from any other railroad for passage across the [[Taggart Bridge]], but that was a minor annoyance. Of greater consequence was that the Director of Unification ([[Cuffy Meigs]]) might cancel service at any time in order to lay on special trains to haul some of the strangest special cargoes imaginable, varying from [[grapefruit]] to [[soybean]]s. He also routinely stole and sold supplies.

The Plan could never last forever. By September, the other railroads had no more loot to seize. Dagny Taggart saw that coming, but Jim Taggart did not.

The Plan could never last forever. By September, the other railroads had no more loot to seize. Dagny Taggart saw that coming, but Jim Taggart did not.