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The '''Taggart Tunnel''', in [[Ayn Rand]]'s [[novel]] ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]'', was an eight-mile-long main-line [[railroad]] [[tunnel]] through the [[Continental Divide]]. Its eastern portal was at Winston, [[Colorado]].<ref name=disclaim>No such town actually exists.</ref> Through a combination of political maneuvering, a gross violation of safety rules occurred and caused the destruction of the Tunnel and the deaths of more than three hundred passengers and crew of two trains.

The '''Taggart Tunnel''', in [[Ayn Rand]]'s [[novel]] ''[[Atlas Shrugged]]'', was an eight-mile-long main-line [[railroad]] [[tunnel]] through the [[Continental Divide]]. Its eastern portal was at Winston, [[Colorado]].<ref name=disclaim>No such town actually exists.</ref> Through political maneuvering by an outraged passenger and several railroad officials who each was acting only to "cover his tracks," a gross violation of safety rules occurred and caused the destruction of the Tunnel and the deaths of more than three hundred passengers and crew on two trains.

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== Construction ==

== Construction ==

The novel gives no details of the actual construction of the Taggart Tunnel. It says only that it was built through the determined effort of Nathaniel Taggart, founder and first President of the Taggart Transcontinental Railroad, and that the tunnel was eight miles in length.

The novel gives no details of the actual construction of the Taggart Tunnel. It says only that it was built through the determined effort of Nathaniel Taggart, founder and first President of the [[Taggart Transcontinental Railroad]], and that the tunnel was eight miles in length.

It carried a ventilation system to remove [[locomotive]] exhaust fumes, but was still regarded as safe only for the passage of a train pulled by a [[Diesel]]-electric [[locomotive]]. For that reason, while [[Dagny Taggart]] was in charge of operations at Taggart Transcontinental, she observed a strict rule always to keep a Diesel engine on standby in Winston, Colorado, to pull any train that arrived at either portal of the tunnel without its engine.

It carried a ventilation system to remove [[locomotive]] exhaust fumes, but was still regarded as safe only for the passage of a train pulled by a [[Diesel]]-electric [[locomotive]]. For that reason, while [[Dagny Taggart]] was in charge of operations at Taggart Transcontinental, she observed a strict rule always to keep a Diesel engine on standby in Winston, Colorado, to pull any train that arrived at either portal of the tunnel without its engine.

== Derailment ==

== Derailment ==

On the day before the catastrophe, Representative Charles "Kip" Chalmers was traveling in a private railcar attached to the Taggart Comet, the railroad's signature coast-to-coast express. The Comet derailed about a mile east of Winston when the rails split. (The rails were due for replacement, but Clifton Locey had canceled that work for reasons that were never specified.) The Comet's Diesel engine was damaged beyond repair.

On the day before the catastrophe, Representative "Kip" Chalmers (from a State that was never named) was traveling in a private railcar attached to the Taggart Comet, the railroad's signature coast-to-coast express. He was on his way to California to establish a domicile in that State and then stand immediately for election to the [[United States Senate]].

 

The Comet derailed about a mile east of Winston when the rails split. (The rails were due for replacement, but Clifton Locey had canceled that work for reasons that were never specified.) The Comet's Diesel engine was damaged beyond repair.

The station agent at Winston immediately called the Ohio Division office at Silver Springs, Colorado. Dave Mitchum, distraught and close to panic, ordered a wrecking train sent out to make a quick repair and pull the Comet in to Winston. His initial decision, suggested by chief dispatcher William "Bill" Brent, was to hold the Comet at Winston until an eastbound train, pulled by a Diesel engine, could pass through the tunnel, meet the Comet, and change engines. This would result in an eighteen-hour delay for the Comet. The alternatives were either to:

The station agent at Winston immediately called the Ohio Division office at Silver Springs, Colorado. Dave Mitchum, distraught and close to panic, ordered a wrecking train sent out to make a quick repair and pull the Comet in to Winston. His initial decision, suggested by chief dispatcher William "Bill" Brent, was to hold the Comet at Winston until an eastbound train, pulled by a Diesel engine, could pass through the tunnel, meet the Comet, and change engines. This would result in an eighteen-hour delay for the Comet. The alternatives were either to:

== Messages ==

== Messages ==

Kip Chalmers would not accept the eighteen-hour delay. At first he threatened the station agent, but the agent pleaded orders from his own superiors. So Rep. Chalmers sent a [[telegraph|telegram]] directly to James Taggart, saying that Taggart's "incompetent...men" "refused to give [him] an engine."

Kip Chalmers would not accept the eighteen-hour delay. At first he threatened the station agent, but the agent pleaded orders from his own superiors. So Rep. Chalmers sent a [[telegraph|telegram]] directly to James Taggart. It ran thus:{{cquote|Am held up on the Comet at Winston, Colorado, due to the incompetence of your men, who refuse to give me an engine. Have meeting in California of vital national importance. If you don't move my train at once, I'll let you guess the consequences.}}

Taggart called Locey and harangued him, saying that at least when Dagny ran the operating department, James Taggart didn't have to worry about important passengers telegraphing him in the middle of the night.

Taggart called Locey and harangued him, saying that at least when Dagny ran the operating department, James Taggart didn't have to worry about important passengers telegraphing him in the middle of the night.

Locey went to the [[New York City]] Terminal, rushed around the offices to give the impression of activity, and then sent a peremptory message to Mr. Mitchum, which read in part:{{cquote|Give an engine to Mr. Chalmers at once. Send the Comet through safely and without unnecessary delay.}}

Locey went to the [[New York City]] Terminal, rushed around the offices to give the impression of activity, and then sent a peremptory message to Mr. Mitchum, which read in part:{{cquote|Give an engine to Mr. Chalmers at once. Send the Comet through safely and without unnecessary delay. If you are unable to perform your duties, I shall hold you responsible before the [[Directive 10-289|Unification Board]].}}

Dave Mitchum realized that this was a political set-up. He then prepared to set-up someone else in turn. He sent a message to the trainmaster to summon an engineer and fireman to "report" to Winston, Colorado, "for possible emergency assistance." He ordered the road foreman to make ready a coal-burning locomotive to make the trip to Winston. Then he ordered a track motor car for himself and prepared to journey east, to Fairmount, ostensibly in search of a Diesel engine that might be available, though he knew that no such engine was available. Lastly, he gave verbal orders to Bill Brent that if he had not returned by a certain hour, he was to send the Comet through the tunnel with the coal-burner to pull it.

Dave Mitchum realized that this was a political set-up. He then prepared to set-up someone else in turn. He sent a message to the trainmaster to summon an engineer and fireman to "report" to Winston, Colorado, "for possible emergency assistance." He ordered the road foreman to make ready a coal-burning locomotive to make the trip to Winston. Then he ordered a track motor car for himself and prepared to journey east, to Fairmount, ostensibly in search of a Diesel engine that might be available, though he knew that no such engine was available. Lastly, he gave verbal orders to Bill Brent that if he had not returned by a certain hour, he was to send the Comet through the tunnel with the coal-burner to pull it.