Read "Opening the Iron Trail" by Edwin L. Sabin online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
SOMETIME in the night he knew that they were in motion -- the engine was pushing them along, over the track. But when he really woke up, they were standing still, in daylight. North Platte, as like as not; or maybe Kearney. No, it couldn't be Kearney, could it, for Kearney was 100 miles and more, and that seemed a long way to go, in just one night. At any rate, they were standing in some town; there was a lot of noise outside, of shouting and engine-puffing and feet-scuffling. So he put on his clothes in a jiffy and jumped down through the curtains.
By the rattle of dishes and the smell of bacon the cook was getting breakfast, but the main part of the car was empty. Everybody had left. Seemed as though General Dodge didn't take time to sleep, himself, for no other bunk was open. Here came old Shep, yawning, from his night's quarters. Terry hastened to the platform, to find where they were.