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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's grandson, who was then President of the [[Taggart Transcontinental Railroad]], and that the tunnel was eight miles in length.

Nathaniel Taggart's grandson, who was then President of the [[Taggart Transcontinental Railroad]], built the Tunnel in 1902. At eight miles in length, it was the most stunning engineering achievement of its time. 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.

== Chick's Special ==

== Chick's Special ==

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.)

As far back as May 1, 2019 [[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 that fateful date, 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.)

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.

Then, on or about May 7, Mr. Clarence "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.

[[Eddie Willers]] tried to avoid mentioning the spare Diesel to Clifton Locey, but someone else, whose name is unrecorded, did. Accordingly, Locey gave the Diesel to Chick Morrison's special.

[[Eddie Willers]] tried to avoid mentioning the spare Diesel to Clifton Locey, but someone else, whose name is unrecorded, did. Accordingly, Locey gave the Diesel to Chick Morrison's special.

== 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 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.)

On May 27, 2019, "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 unicameral Legislature that had replaced the [[United States Congress]] and now passed laws in the United States (that is, when the Economic Planning Bureau wasn't issuing Directives). ([[Wesley Mouch]] desperately needed another sympathetic vote in the Legislature, 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.

The station agent at Winston immediately called the Colorado 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 Colorado Division office at Silver Springs, Colorado. Dave Mitchum, the superintendent, 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:

# Send the Comet through the tunnel with a [[coal]]-burning [[steam]] locomotive to pull it (totally unsafe, especially since the ventilation system was not functioning at par), or

# Send the Comet through the tunnel with a [[coal]]-burning [[steam]] locomotive to pull it (totally unsafe, especially since the ventilation system was not functioning at par), or

The longest main-line railroad tunnel in the [[United States]] is actually the Moffat Tunnel, 6.2 miles long and at a maximum elevation of 9,239 feet. It was completed in 1927 at a cost of 18 million US dollars.

The longest main-line railroad tunnel in the [[United States]] is actually the Moffat Tunnel, 6.2 miles long and at a maximum elevation of 9,239 feet. It was completed in 1927 at a cost of 18 million US dollars.

That a somewhat longer railroad tunnel could have been built through the Divide at about that time is conceivable. David Moffat, for whom the tunnel is named, tried to raise money to build the tunnel as early as 1902, though he never lived to see it built.<ref name=moffat>"Entry for Moffat Tunnel," Denver and Rio Grande Guide, n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://ghostdepot.com/rg/mainline/moffat%20route/moffat%20tunnel.htm></ref><ref name=moffatpic>Map showing location of Moffat Tunnel, Center for Land Use Interpretation, n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/CO3162/></ref>

That a somewhat longer railroad tunnel could have been built through the Divide in 1902 is conceivable. David Moffat, for whom the tunnel is named, tried to raise money to build his tunnel in 1902, though he never lived to see it built.<ref name=moffat>"Entry for Moffat Tunnel," Denver and Rio Grande Guide, n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://ghostdepot.com/rg/mainline/moffat%20route/moffat%20tunnel.htm></ref><ref name=moffatpic>Map showing location of Moffat Tunnel, Center for Land Use Interpretation, n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://ludb.clui.org/ex/i/CO3162/></ref>

The Alpine Tunnel, a 1771-foot narrow-gauge tunnel through the Sawatch Mountains (elevation 11,523 feet), was completed in 1882.<ref name=legends>"The Alpine Tunnel: An Engineering Marvel," ''Legends of America'', n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-alpinetunnel.html></ref><ref name=colorado>"The Alpine Tunnel," ''The Colorado Guy'', n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://www.coloradoguy.com/alpine-tunnel.htm></ref> While the Alpine Tunnel did support the passage of coal-burning steam locomotives, an eight-mile tunnel would not have been been safe for any locomotive other than a Diesel-electric.

The Alpine Tunnel, a 1771-foot narrow-gauge tunnel through the Sawatch Mountains (elevation 11,523 feet), was completed in 1882.<ref name=legends>"The Alpine Tunnel: An Engineering Marvel," ''Legends of America'', n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-alpinetunnel.html></ref><ref name=colorado>"The Alpine Tunnel," ''The Colorado Guy'', n.d. Accessed May 1, 2009. <http://www.coloradoguy.com/alpine-tunnel.htm></ref> While the Alpine Tunnel did support the passage of coal-burning steam locomotives, an eight-mile tunnel would not have been been safe for any locomotive other than a Diesel-electric.