Changes

== Chick's Special ==

== Chick's Special ==

Shortly after the promulgation of [[Directive 10-289]], a [[Washington, DC]] politician named Charles "Chick" Morrison announced his intention to carry out a "whistle-stop tour" of the country "to boost morale." The trouble began when Mr. Morrison demanded a Diesel engine for his special train. All of Taggart Transcontinental's Diesel engines were in service, except for the spare Diesel at Winston.

As far back as May 1, [[Dagny Taggart]] had planned to replace the rail from Winston, [[Colorado]], eastward with [[Henry Rearden#Rearden Metal|Rearden Metal]] rail taken from the now-defunct John Galt Line. But when Washington official Tinky Holloway was held up for three hours after a train derailment along the Miami Line, pressure began to build to send the Rearden Metal rail to the Miami Line, even though the Winston section was in worse shape. Dagny Taggart would have stuck to the original schedule, but on May 1, the Economic Planning Bureau promulgated [[Directive 10-289]]. Furious, Dagny Taggart resigned. Her replacement, one Clifton Locey, canceled the replacement of the Winston track and sent the Rearden Metal rail to the Miami Line. (Clifton Locey was not a long-term thinker. He thought only in terms of the political offense of the moment.)

Sadly, Dagny Taggart was not in charge at the time. She had declared her resignation and retired to a mountain retreat. Her brother [[James Taggart|James]] placed one Clifton Locey at Vice-President of Operations. Clifton Locey was a creature of politics, and correspondingly irresponsible. At his direct order, the spare Diesel was assigned to Chick Morrison's special.

Then in the middle of May, Mr. Charles "Chick" Morrison, of the Office of Morale Conditioning, announced his intention to carry out a "whistle-stop tour" of the country "to boost morale." The trouble began when Mr. Morrison demanded a Diesel engine for his special train. All of Taggart Transcontinental's Diesel engines were in service, except for the spare Diesel at Winston.

The superintendent of the Colorado Division, the division that included the Tunnel, quit his job. Mr. Locey quietly recruited one Dave Mitchum and assigned him to that position.

 

The superintendent of the Colorado Division, the division that included the Tunnel, quit his job. Locey quietly recruited one Dave Mitchum and assigned him to that position.

== Derailment ==

== Derailment ==