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== Decline and Collapse ==

== Decline and Collapse ==

In 1917, Nathaniel Taggart's grandson [[James Taggart]] was in charge of the railroad, and James' sister [[Dagny Taggart]] was its Vice President in Charge of Operations. The management styles of Nathaniel Taggart's grandchildren could not have been more different. Dagny Taggart ran her department with the same flair for innovation and disregard for politicians' wishes that characterized Nathaniel Taggart's own administration. But Jim Taggart was as much politician as railroad executive, and sought to increase the profits of his company by forming political alliances rather than through productive labor.

In 1945, Nathaniel Taggart's other descendant, [[James Taggart]], was in charge of the railroad, and James' sister [[Dagny Taggart]] was its Vice President in Charge of Operations. The management styles of Nathaniel Taggart's two descendants could not have been more different. Dagny Taggart ran her department with the same flair for innovation and disregard for politicians' wishes that characterized Nathaniel Taggart's own administration. But Jim Taggart was as much politician as railroad executive, and sought to increase the profits of his company by forming political alliances rather than through productive labor.

=== The San Sebastian Line ===

=== The San Sebastian Line ===

=== The Frozen Bond Scandal ===

=== The Frozen Bond Scandal ===

This would have been a scandal had the [[Mainstream Media|media]] not surrendered itself to the whims of the ruling party. Essentially, under [[Directive 10-289]], certain bonds issued to finance railroad construction were "frozen," which is to say, not payable. But a well-connected man might buy "frozen" bonds, for pennies on the dollar, and then prevail upon his Washington connections to "defreeze" them. At least one person who made money in this unethical manner is mentioned as a passenger who died in the [[Taggart Tunnel]] collapse.

This would have been a scandal had the [[Mainstream Media|media]] not surrendered itself to the whims of the ruling party. Essentially, under a "directive" from the Bureau of Economic Planning and Natural Resources, certain bonds issued to finance railroad construction were "frozen," which is to say, not payable. But a well-connected man might buy "frozen" bonds, for pennies on the dollar, and then prevail upon his Washington connections to "defreeze" them. At least one person who made money in this unethical manner is mentioned as a passenger who died in the [[Taggart Tunnel]] collapse.

=== The Frozen Trains ===

=== The Frozen Trains ===

The more enduring consequence of Directive 10-289 were the "frozen trains." Quite often, the conductor, engineer, fireman, and other members of a train crew would stop a train in a rural region and simply walk away from it. The problem began with the Directive and continued until the end of the railroad later in 1929. Even the Taggart Comet, the TTRR's flagship passenger limited, was not immune to such "freezing." In fact, Dagny Taggart disappeared from one such "frozen train" for a month, before resurfacing at a small [[airport]] in Colorado on or near July 1.

On May 1, 1957, the Economic Planning Bureau issued [[Directive 10-289]], an absurd effort to make the country's economy "stand still." The most enduring consequence of that directive were the "frozen trains." Quite often, the conductor, engineer, fireman, and other members of a train crew would stop a train in a rural region and simply walk away from it. The problem began with the Directive and continued until the end of the railroad later in 1958. Even the Taggart Comet, the TTRR's flagship passenger limited, was not immune to such "freezing." In fact, Dagny Taggart disappeared from one such "frozen train" for a month, before resurfacing at a small [[airport]] in Colorado on or near July 1.

 

 

 

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 Railroad Unification Plan ===

=== The Railroad Unification Plan ===

In June of 1929, Jim Taggart 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.

In June of 1957, Jim Taggart,k 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 Minnesota Wheat Disaster ===

=== The Minnesota Wheat Disaster ===

In the fall of 1929, hundreds of freight cars were diverted from [[Minnesota]], where they had been intended to pick up a cargo of [[wheat]], to [[Louisiana]], to pick up soybeans instead. The result was the worst famine that the United States of America ever suffered, and this no doubt contributed to the stresses that led, finally, to the collapse of American society into [[anarchy]]. The entire Minnesota wheat crop was lost, and several farmers died trying to carry their wheat to market on their own backs. Ironically, the soybean crop spoiled en route and was declared unfit for human consumption.

In the fall of 1957, hundreds of freight cars were diverted from [[Minnesota]], where they had been intended to pick up a cargo of [[wheat]], to [[Louisiana]], to pick up soybeans instead. The result was the worst famine that the United States of America ever suffered, and this no doubt contributed to the stresses that led, finally, to the collapse of American society into [[anarchy]]. The entire Minnesota wheat crop was lost, and several farmers died trying to carry their wheat to market on their own backs. Ironically, the soybean crop spoiled en route and was declared unfit for human consumption.

 

On October 15, the signal interlocker at the Taggart Terminal in New York failed. For at least two days, Dagny Taggart organized the unskilled labor force to wave signal lanterns to move the trains in and out by hand. That was only a temporary setback, but it was a signal of what was to come.

=== The Final Collapse ===

=== The Final Collapse ===

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.

=== Aftermath ===

=== Aftermath ===