Release date is 2010-11-18

The switchman's story: Shockley -- The wiper's story: How McGrath got an engine -- The roadmaster's story: The Spider Water -- The striker's story: McTerza -- The despatcher's story: The last order -- The nightman's story: Bullhead -- The master mechanic's story: Delaroo -- The operator's story: De Molay four -- The trainmaster's story: Of the old guard -- The yellow mail story: Jimmie the Wind.

Produced by Darleen Dove, Roger Frank, Mary Meehan and the
Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net

"Held for Orders: Being Stories of Railroad Life" by Frank H. Spearman is a collection of short stories written in the late 19th century. The narrative revolves around the lives of railroad workers, depicting their experiences, challenges, and camaraderie in the burgeoning days of America's railroads. Central to the opening story is the character Callahan, a switchman dealing with the tumultuous environment of the Benkleton depot, troubled by the dangers posed by local cowboys and the impending arrival of a new yard master named Shockley. The opening of the book introduces us to Callahan as he navigates his responsibilities while grappling with the threat of violence from nearby cattlemen, highlighting the intricate and often perilous world of railroad operations. He reflects on the arrival of Shockley, who has a mysterious and potentially dangerous past. As the tensions rise within the yard, particularly concerning the safety of his workers, the narrative hints at themes of loyalty, bravery, and the complexities of life on the railroad—setting the stage for a tale that combines danger with human resilience amidst the backdrop of a rapidly industrializing America. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

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