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: ''Main Article: [[Taggart Tunnel]]

: ''Main Article: [[Taggart Tunnel]]

On May 28, 2019, the Taggart Comet, with Washington man Kip Chalmers on board, derailed east of Winston, [[Colorado]]. The division superintendent ordered the Comet held at Winston, to wait for a fast freight and the Diesel-electric engine that pulled it, so that the Comet could pass safely through the [[Taggart Tunnel]]. But Chalmers sent a threatening letter to Jim Taggart, who then roared at his temporary Operating Vice-President, Clifton Locey, to "do something" and get the Comet through. Thus the Comet entered the Tunnel pulled by a coal-burning steam locomotive. Consequently, the Comet stopped just past a sharp curve, with all its passengers and the engineer asphyxiated. (The fireman jumped from the engine and ran all the way to the western portal.) Then an Army ammunition train crashed into the rear of the Comet, causing an explosion that collapsed the tunnel.

On May 28, 2019, the Taggart Comet, with Washington man Kip Chalmers on board, derailed east of Winston, [[Colorado]]. The division superintendent ordered the Comet held at Winston, to wait for a fast freight and the Diesel-electric engine that pulled it, so that the Comet could pass safely through the Taggart Tunnel. But Chalmers sent a threatening letter to Jim Taggart, who then roared at his temporary Operating Vice-President, Clifton Locey, to "do something" and get the Comet through. Thus the Comet entered the Tunnel pulled by a coal-burning steam locomotive. Consequently, the Comet stopped just past a sharp curve, with all its passengers and the engineer asphyxiated. (The fireman jumped from the engine and ran all the way to the western portal.) Then an Army ammunition train crashed into the rear of the Comet, causing an explosion that collapsed the tunnel.

Dagny Taggart returned at once, set up a new transcontinental route, and ordered new rail laid, in violation of several regulations and directives. But that night, Dagny departed New York on the Comet on an errand to Afton, Utah. As mentioned, the Comet was "frozen." Dagny got off and took off in a rented aircraft. She was last seen flying into the Rocky Mountains after taking off from Afton, Utah. A never-confirmed account said that she had taken off in pursuit of another plane. Neither plane was ever seen again.

Dagny Taggart returned at once, set up a new transcontinental route, and ordered new rail laid, in violation of several regulations and directives. But that night, Dagny departed New York on the Comet on an errand to Afton, Utah. As mentioned, the Comet was "frozen." Dagny got off and took off in a rented aircraft. She was last seen flying into the Rocky Mountains after taking off from Afton, Utah. A never-confirmed account said that she had taken off in pursuit of another plane. Neither plane was ever seen again.

=== The Final Collapse ===

=== The Final Collapse ===

Finally, the day (March 20, 2020) came in which American history, as Americans had known it, drew to a close. This was the day that Dagny Taggart had finally decided to join the strike of the men of the mind, and also to collaborate with [[Francisco d'Anconia]] and [[Ragnar Danneskjöld]] in their attempt to rescue [[John Galt]], who had been arrested weeks before. That day was marked by three events, in rapid succesion:

Finally, the day (March 20, 2020) came in which American history, as Americans had known it, drew to a close. This was the day that Dagny Taggart had finally decided to join the strike of the men of the mind, and also to collaborate with [[Francisco d'Anconia]] and [[Ragnar Danneskjöld]] in their attempt to rescue [[John Galt]], who had been arrested weeks before. That day was marked by three events, in rapid succession:

# The embarrassment of the government by [[John Galt]], who famously told them, on national [[television]], to "get the *** out of [his] way."

# The embarrassment of the government by John Galt, who famously told them, on national [[television]], to "get the *** out of [his] way."

# The detonation of [[Project X]] and with it the destruction of [[Iowa]]

# The detonation of [[Project X]] and with it the destruction of [[Iowa]]

# The demolition of the [[Taggart Bridge]]. This was a direct result of the Project X detonation, because it was at the limit of the Project's range.

# The demolition of the Taggart Bridge. This was a direct result of the Project X detonation, because it was at the limit of the Project's range.

Dagny Taggart declared that, for once, she did not know what to do about the disaster any more than did the breathless employees who brought her the news. When the story broke in [[New York City]], millions of people loaded their belongings onto the roofs of their cars and drove out any way that they could. This was the final trigger for the anarchy that marked the end of the strike, and of the government.

Dagny Taggart declared that, for once, she did not know what to do about the disaster any more than did the breathless employees who brought her the news. When the story broke in [[New York City]], millions of people loaded their belongings onto the roofs of their cars and drove out any way that they could. This was the final trigger for the anarchy that marked the end of the strike, and of the government.