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Held for Orders: Stories of Railroad Life
Ten railroad stories - some of Spearman's best - originally published in 1901. Frank Hamilton Spearman (1859-1937) was a prolific writer of heroic fiction, and particularly railroad fiction. He is also the author of The Strategy of Great Railroads.
376 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1901
About the author
Frank H. Spearman
117 books4 followersFrank Hamilton Spearman was an American author.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 9, 2018
Great old book.
This is a really fascinating book. It gives a look into the lives of the railroad workers of the turn of the 20th century. Their struggles, triumphs, loves, and hates. It's written in a style on the early 1900's, which took a few pages to get used to, but it's well worth the read.
This is a really fascinating book. It gives a look into the lives of the railroad workers of the turn of the 20th century. Their struggles, triumphs, loves, and hates. It's written in a style on the early 1900's, which took a few pages to get used to, but it's well worth the read.
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January 29, 2024I read the free kindle edition ASIN B004UJH104 ISBN 1500843911
This is a collection a very interesting short stories about working on the early railroads. The social life of the workers and their relationships to each other is fascinating.
This is a collection a very interesting short stories about working on the early railroads. The social life of the workers and their relationships to each other is fascinating.
February 24, 2023
The Switchman's Story
Shockley takes on the Peg Leg Reynolds’ cowboys who shoot out any lantern they see at night.
The Wiper's Story
Steel rail grows whiskers depending on the weather. McGrath is a sweeper. He is promoted to wiper and then fireman. Johnnie Horigan is fooling around and loses his engine. A runaway! McGrath jumps on the train and tries to slow it.
The Roadmaster’s Story
The Spider Water is a raging river. It brings down bridges. Brodie is brought in to design a new bridge. Then Hailey is given the same task. But the cost brought the project to an end. New owners resurrect the project. The bridge is built. A great winter thaw puts its design into question. Hailey races to save it.
The Striker's Story
Mrs. Mullenix keeps a short order house. She has a lovely daughter Kate, who hates newcomers. McTerza a new guy is in love and hates unions. When a strike breaks out, he is against it and is chased and beaten. He sees a kid being roughed up and tries to save him. I liked this story.
The Despatcher's Story
Blackburn is a widower. Fred Norman is a reckless dispatcher. After a wreck, Blackburn covers for him. Norman is injured after a fight. Blackburn stitches him up and nurses him. Bone weary he is lax at his job. Two trains would meet head-on. Blackburn prays. He dies. The strangest story.
The Nightman's Story
Bullhead is a new employee. He learns the ropes slowly. He is given the nightman’s post at Goose River Junction. He also takes a detective exam. He wants to impress Nell Cassidy. He goes out to change a light and is hit by rolling stock. He changes the light. A good story.
The Master Mechanic’s Story
Maje Sampson is an engineer and a joiner. He is a member of many clubs and societies. When Delaroo is stricken with smallpox, only Maje will help him. Delaroo survives and is loyal for years. Maje tries to convince him to join but he just sits and listens. Delaroo gets his own train. There is an accident. Delaroo dies and Maje falls to pieces.
The Operator’s Story
Monsoon headlights are the best. Martin and Bob Duffy. Martin is a skilled telegraph operator. Bob liked a good time. The Templars were having a conclave in San Francisco. Many trains were scheduled back to back for the transit. De Molay 4 wants to stop for fifteen minutes in Medicine Bend. Bucks agrees. This completely changes conditions. Bob gives approval to a train to go ahead, which sets it up for a collision. A mistake on the line prevents that collision.
The Trainmaster’s Story
Dave Hawk, a former British soldier and a thief, jumps a train. He is not arrested and is given some money. He works on the rails for years and then is offered a managerial post. He works his run while he mulls the change. Thieves stop the train and kill all passengers in one of the cars. Hawk ends the attack and is shot.
The Yellow Mail Story
Running mail to California faster is the mission and Jimmy (Wind)Bradshaw get the mountain leg. The mail train is derailed. They transfer the mail to a freight, with the help of many Sioux, who have been promised tobacco. They decide to go for a ride and cling to the box cars.
The men are all flawed in one way or another. They are given impossible tasks. Some succeed, some fail, some die. It is interesting to think about how complicated running trains across the nation was and still is.
This is the first whole book I have ever read on an ereader. I prefer not to do so again.
Shockley takes on the Peg Leg Reynolds’ cowboys who shoot out any lantern they see at night.
The Wiper's Story
Steel rail grows whiskers depending on the weather. McGrath is a sweeper. He is promoted to wiper and then fireman. Johnnie Horigan is fooling around and loses his engine. A runaway! McGrath jumps on the train and tries to slow it.
The Roadmaster’s Story
The Spider Water is a raging river. It brings down bridges. Brodie is brought in to design a new bridge. Then Hailey is given the same task. But the cost brought the project to an end. New owners resurrect the project. The bridge is built. A great winter thaw puts its design into question. Hailey races to save it.
The Striker's Story
Mrs. Mullenix keeps a short order house. She has a lovely daughter Kate, who hates newcomers. McTerza a new guy is in love and hates unions. When a strike breaks out, he is against it and is chased and beaten. He sees a kid being roughed up and tries to save him. I liked this story.
The Despatcher's Story
Blackburn is a widower. Fred Norman is a reckless dispatcher. After a wreck, Blackburn covers for him. Norman is injured after a fight. Blackburn stitches him up and nurses him. Bone weary he is lax at his job. Two trains would meet head-on. Blackburn prays. He dies. The strangest story.
The Nightman's Story
Bullhead is a new employee. He learns the ropes slowly. He is given the nightman’s post at Goose River Junction. He also takes a detective exam. He wants to impress Nell Cassidy. He goes out to change a light and is hit by rolling stock. He changes the light. A good story.
The Master Mechanic’s Story
Maje Sampson is an engineer and a joiner. He is a member of many clubs and societies. When Delaroo is stricken with smallpox, only Maje will help him. Delaroo survives and is loyal for years. Maje tries to convince him to join but he just sits and listens. Delaroo gets his own train. There is an accident. Delaroo dies and Maje falls to pieces.
The Operator’s Story
Monsoon headlights are the best. Martin and Bob Duffy. Martin is a skilled telegraph operator. Bob liked a good time. The Templars were having a conclave in San Francisco. Many trains were scheduled back to back for the transit. De Molay 4 wants to stop for fifteen minutes in Medicine Bend. Bucks agrees. This completely changes conditions. Bob gives approval to a train to go ahead, which sets it up for a collision. A mistake on the line prevents that collision.
The Trainmaster’s Story
Dave Hawk, a former British soldier and a thief, jumps a train. He is not arrested and is given some money. He works on the rails for years and then is offered a managerial post. He works his run while he mulls the change. Thieves stop the train and kill all passengers in one of the cars. Hawk ends the attack and is shot.
The Yellow Mail Story
Running mail to California faster is the mission and Jimmy (Wind)Bradshaw get the mountain leg. The mail train is derailed. They transfer the mail to a freight, with the help of many Sioux, who have been promised tobacco. They decide to go for a ride and cling to the box cars.
The men are all flawed in one way or another. They are given impossible tasks. Some succeed, some fail, some die. It is interesting to think about how complicated running trains across the nation was and still is.
This is the first whole book I have ever read on an ereader. I prefer not to do so again.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews