Changes

== Derailment ==

== Derailment ==

On the day before the catastrophe, "Kip" Chalmers, a member of the Washington cabal, 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]]. ([[Wesley Mouch]] desperately needed anothe sympathetic vote in the Senate, and California was already becoming restive even then.)

On the day before the catastrophe, "Kip" Chalmers, a member of the Washington cabal, 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]]. ([[Wesley Mouch]] desperately needed another sympathetic vote in the Senate, and California was already becoming restive even then. But Mouch also made clear to Chalmers that failure ''was not'' an option.)

The Comet derailed about a mile east of Winston when the rails split. This was the very section of rail that should have received the Rearden Metal replacement, but didn't. (See above.) The Comet's Diesel engine was damaged beyond repair.

The Comet derailed about a mile east of Winston when the rails split. This was the very section of rail that should have received the Rearden Metal replacement, but didn't. (See above.) The Comet's Diesel engine was damaged beyond repair.