Railroad Alaska (2013–…): Season 1, Episode 5 - Ice Dagger - full transcript
IN ALASKA...
THIS IS WHAT DERAILS TRAINS
RIGHT HERE.
...DEADLY ICICLES...
THAT THING'S MASSIVE.
YOU NEED A ROCKET LAUNCHER.
...AND WILD ANIMALS...
MOOSE. MOOSE!
A MOOSE!
...THREATEN TO SHUT DOWN
THE ALASKA RAILROAD...
WE'VE GOT TO
GET THIS TRAIN THROUGH.
...LEAVING OFFGRIDDERS
STRANDED...
IT'S THE LIFELINE WE HAVE.
THAT'S IT.
...WITH NO CHANCE OF RESCUE.
CLYDE, WHERE ARE YOU?
THE PORT OF SEWARD...
ALASKA'S VITAL TRADING LINK
WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.
NEARLY A MILLION TONS OF FREIGHT
PASSES THROUGH THIS PORT
EACH YEAR,
FROM BUILDING SUPPLIES
AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT,
TO PETROLEUM AND COAL.
READY DOWN THERE, DAN?
OVER.
YEAH, I WOULD ESTIMATE 25...
2-5... CAR-LENGTHS TO THE HOOK.
RAIL CREW DANNY AND ANIMAL
ARE HOOKING TOGETHER
A MILE-LONG TRAIN
LOADED WITH
A CRITICAL DELIVERY...
$10 MILLION OF DRILLING PIPE
THAT WILL BE USED IN
THE OIL FIELDS OF NORTH ALASKA.
THE OIL INDUSTRY IN ALASKA
IS THE NUMBER-ONE BUSINESS HERE.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH
THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE STATE.
THE OIL INDUSTRY IS WORTH
AROUND $9 BILLION A YEAR TO ALASKA.
WE PUT A POPPER IN BETWEEN
THE ENGINES AND THIS PIPE LOAD.
THE REASON WE DO THAT IS BECAUSE
THE PIPE LOADS COULD SHIFT.
IF THEY SHIFT, THEY COULD
DAMAGE THE LOCOMOTIVES.
THOSE ARE $2-MILLION LOCOMOTIVES
APIECE.
WE HAVE SIX OF THEM UP HERE
TODAY.
SO WE DO NOT WANT TO
DAMAGE THOSE ENGINES.
WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY
ON THIS PROPERTY,
SO THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT
TO PROTECT THEM.
EVERYTHING LOOKS REAL GOOD.
BEFORE DANNY AND ANIMAL
BEGIN THEIR FREIGHT MISSION,
TRANSPORT SUPERVISOR PAT VOLMER
GIVES THEM THE LOWDOWN
ON JUST HOW CRUCIAL
TODAY'S JOURNEY IS.
MORNING, BOSS.
HOW'S IT GOING, PAT?
HEY, WHAT'S UP, GUYS?
I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT TRAIN
TODAY.
YEAH, WE HEARD.
HOT, HOT LOADS.
YEAH, YOU KNOW THE DEAL.
EVERYTHING'S HOT, BUT THIS ONE
IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.
I KNOW
YOU'VE MOVED LOTS OF PIPE,
BUT THIS PIPE IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT'S A NEW CUSTOMER.
LOT OF POTENTIAL BUSINESS COMING
UP IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS HERE,
AND THIS IS THE BEGINNING
OF IT.
THIS IS
THE TIP OF THE SPEAR.
SO, A HUGE SHOT IN THE ARM
FOR THE RAILROAD.
EVERYONE FROM THE C.E.O. ON DOWN
WILL BE WATCHING.
SO THE SOONER WE CAN GET
THOSE CARS IN ANCHORAGE...
YOU GOT IT.
YOU KNOW THE DEAL.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH
SOME BUDGET CONSTRAINTS,
SO WE'RE TAKING ON
A NEW CUSTOMER
WITH THE HOPES THAT HIS PRODUCT
WILL LEAD TO FUTURE WORK.
MORE BUSINESS
WILL CREATE MORE JOBS.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
THE ALASKA RAILROAD'S REVENUE
IS DOWN $12 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR.
THE RECESSION
IS HITTING THEM HARD,
AND IT'S NO SECRET
THAT LAYOFFS ARE LOOMING.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
WALKING AROUND HERE VERY SCARED.
NOBODY WANTS TO SEE ANYBODY
GET HANDED A PINK SLIP
AND WALK HOME
AND HAVE TO TELL THEIR FAMILY
THAT THEY CAN'T FEED THEM
THAT DAY
BECAUSE
THEY NO LONGER HAVE A JOB.
A LOT OF UNCERTAINTIES THERE.
ALL RIGHT, ANIMAL,
I BELIEVE THAT ALL THESE LOADS ARE SECURE.
LET'S GET THIS OUT OF TOWN.
LOOKS GOOD.
LET'S GET BUSY.
RAILROAD HAULS MORE PIPE
FOR THE NORTH SLOPE OIL INDUSTRY
THAN ANY OTHER MEANS
OF TRANSPORTATION.
WE HELP EACH OTHER EXIST.
SO, HOPEFULLY,
THAT TREND WILL CONTINUE.
IT'S NOW 8:00 A.M.
THEY HAVE
A SEVEN-HOUR JOURNEY AHEAD
THAT WILL TAKE THEM
THROUGH WOODLANDS
NOTORIOUS FOR DEADLY COLLISIONS
WITH WILDLIFE
AND ICE-PACKED TUNNELS RUNNING
THROUGH THE KENAI MOUNTAINS.
THEY WANT TO ARRIVE AT ANCHORAGE
BY 4:00 P.M.
CONSTANTLY ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR ANYTHING
THAT WOULD AFFECT THE MOVEMENT
AND SAFETY OF THIS TRAIN.
GOT MIRRORS PLACED
ON THE SIDES OF THE LOCOMOTIVE
SO YOU CAN LOOK BACK
AND SEE BEHIND YOU.
YOU LOOK OUT IN FRONT...
CRITTERS COME OUT, HUMANOIDS.
YOU JUST GOT TO STAY ALERT
AND AWARE.
IF A CRITTER
DID COME OUT OF THE WOODS,
WE TRY TO MAKE NOISE AND GET IT
TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY,
TRY TO SLOW DOWN.
I MEAN, WE HIT MOOSE,
WE'VE HIT CARIBOU.
WE'VE HIT BLACK BEARS,
GRIZZLY BEARS.
IT'S KIND OF GORY SOMETIMES.
TRAINS ON THIS LINE HIT
MORE MOOSE THAN ANY OTHER ANIMAL.
THEY FIND IT DIFFICULT
TO WALK THROUGH DEEP SNOW,
PREFERRING, INSTEAD,
TO USE THE SNOW-CLEARED TRACKS.
UNUSUALLY HEAVY SNOWFALL
LAST YEAR
LURED MANY MOOSE
ONTO THE RAIL LINE,
AND NEARLY 300
WERE KILLED IN COLLISIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE NO INCIDENTS.
WE'LL SEE SOME CRITTERS,
AND THEY'LL BE A WAYS AWAY,
AND THEY'LL LOOK GOOD,
AND THEY WON'T GET HURT AT ALL.
WATCH OUT!
**** ME.
JUST HIT A DOG.
DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE.
HE'S DONE.
WELL, WE HIT A DOG,
AND...
****
DAMN IT.
OBVIOUSLY NOTHING
WE COULD DO THERE.
THAT'S A SHAME,
BUT IT HAPPENS.
YEAH, IT DOES.
DON'T LIKE DOING IT,
THOUGH.
KIND OF SUCKS.
200 MILES NORTH, IN SHERMAN...
...THIS ISOLATED WILDERNESS IS
HOME TO 76-YEAR-OLD MARY LOVEL
AND HER 84-YEAR-OLD HUSBAND,
CLYDE.
THEY'VE BEEN LIVING OFFGRID
FOR 49 YEARS.
YOU WANT A CUP OF HOT TEA?
YEAH.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE
TO LIVE.
ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES
LIKE THE FIRST WINTER THAT
WE SPENT HERE IN THIS CABIN.
THERE WAS NO INSULATION.
IT GOT DOWN
TO 67 DEGREES BELOW ZERO.
YOU COULDN'T BREATHE OUTSIDE,
IT WAS SO COLD.
BUT THAT ONLY LASTED
FOR TWO DAYS.
AND THEN IT WARMED UP TO,
I THINK, 47 BELOW,
WHICH ACTUALLY FELT
ALMOST SPRINGLIKE BY COMPARISON.
GOT TO QUIT THOSE THINGS.
I'LL BE EATING
THE WHOLE BAG OF THEM.
GOT PRETTY CHILLY LAST NIGHT.
YOU NOTICED
ABOUT 4:30 IN THE MORNING?
IT WAS 16 THIS MORNING.
16... OOH.
YEAH.
WEATHER HERE CAN BE
REALLY, REALLY BAD.
IF YOU DON'T USE COMMON SENSE,
YOU COULD DIE IN A HURRY.
WE ARE REAL PROUD
OF OUR INDEPENDENCE
BECAUSE WE CAN DO
WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T,
A LOT OF PEOPLE
DON'T WANT TO DO,
WHICH I'M GRATEFUL FOR, TOO,
BECAUSE OTHERWISE,
IT'D BE AS CROWDED HERE
AS IT IS ELSEWHERE.
I LIKE MY INDEPENDENCE OUT HERE.
IT'S GREAT.
I CAN DO WHAT I WANT,
WHEN I WANT.
BUT IT'S HARDER NOW
THAN IT USED TO BE
BECAUSE WE'RE OLDER.
RECENTLY, BOTH MARY AND
CLYDE HAVE HAD MEDICAL PROBLEMS.
BUT THE COUPLE, WHO RAISED
THEIR FOUR CHILDREN HERE,
DON'T WANT TO LEAVE
THE FAMILY HOMESTEAD.
A YEAR AGO, I HAD A STROKE.
MY HANDS STOPPED WORKING.
I COULDN'T MAKE THEM
DO ANYTHING.
I WAS TRYING TO LIGHT A MATCH,
AND THEY WOULDN'T WORK.
CLYDE CAME OVER TO ME AND SAID,
"WHAT'S WRONG HONEY?"
AND I COULDN'T TALK.
AND OUR SON CALLED THE TROOPERS,
AND THEY CALLED A HELICOPTER,
AND THEY COULDN'T
GET IT OFF THE GROUND
BECAUSE THE WIND WAS BLOWING
AT 70 MILES AN HOUR.
SO THEY CALLED THE RAILROAD.
GOOD OLD RAILROAD TO THE RESCUE.
THEY SENT A MEDIC UP.
TOOK ME TO TALKEETNA,
AND THEY SAID I WAS OKAY,
EXCEPT THAT IF IT HAD HAVE BEEN
A MAJOR STROKE,
I WOULD NEVER HAVE MADE IT
BECAUSE IT TOOK TOO LONG.
IT WAS TWO HOURS.
THAT'S THE ONLY BAD THING
ABOUT LIVING OUT HERE,
IS WE'RE TOO FAR
FROM THE HOSPITAL.
OOH!
HONEY, I FORGOT
TO GET MY BLOOD PRESSURE PILLS.
BETTER CALL BUD
AND GET SOMETHING UP HERE.
I WAS TOLD
THAT I NEED TO TAKE THEM
TO PREVENT
HAVING ANOTHER STROKE.
MARY HAS A SUPPLY OF
HER MEDICINE AT HER SON BUD'S HOME
100 MILES AWAY IN WASILLA.
THEY NEED TO RADIO HIM TO CATCH
THE WEEKLY PASSENGER TRAIN.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY
TO BRING THE EXTRA MEDICATION
TO THE HOMESTEAD.
CAN'T GET THE DIAL TONE.
THE TRAIN LEAVES
IN LESS THAN AN HOUR.
I CAN'T DO IT.
IF MARY CAN'T GET THROUGH TO BUD
SOON,
HE WILL MISS THE TRAIN,
LEAVING HER WITHOUT MEDICINE
FOR SEVEN DAYS.
I HAVE NO IDEA.
STUPID PHONE.
9:30 A.M.... SHERMAN.
OFFGRIDDERS
CLYDE AND MARY LOVEL
ARE STILL TRYING
TO CONTACT THEIR SON BUD
IN WASILLA
TO BRING THEM VITAL MEDICATION.
THIS IS THE ONLY COMMUNICATION
WE HAVE WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
AND IT'S NOT VERY RELIABLE
AT ALL.
SOMETIMES WE CAN'T EVER GET
A NUMBER ON IT.
THERE IT IS.
MAYBE.
HELLO?
Mom?
Hello, mom, is that you?
YEAH, IT'S ME.
How you doing?
WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY HERE.
I KIND OF RAN OUT
OF MY BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE.
Could you repeat that, please?
I NEED MY MEDICINE, BUD.
I FORGOT IT. I'M SORRY.
IF IT'S TOO MUCH TROUBLE, YOU
COULD JUST MAYBE STOP THE TRAIN
AND GIVE IT TO THEM TO THROW OFF
AS THEY GO BY.
I'd better get going.
IT'S 9:40 A.M.
THE PASSENGER TRAIN
HAS ALREADY LEFT WASILLA.
IT'S HEADING NORTH TOWARDS
THE FRONTIER TOWN OF TALKEETNA.
BUD MUST DRIVE TO THE STATION
AND BOARD THE TRAIN THERE.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO ACCESS
THE REMOTE FAMILY HOMESTEAD
IN SHERMAN.
THERE'S ALWAYS WORRY.
I MEAN, THERE'S RETIREMENT HOMES
WHERE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING
YOU NEED,
ON-STAFF NURSES AND STUFF,
AND THIS IS NOT MY MOM AND DAD'S
WAY OF LIFE.
AND WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO HELP THEM UP THERE.
I NEED TO GET THESE PILLS
UP TO HER RIGHT AWAY.
IF I DON'T GET THEM THERE TODAY,
THEN SHE'LL BE EXPOSED TO RISK
OF HAVING A STROKE AGAIN.
SHE NEEDS THEM NOW.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY
PROBLEMS FOR THE PASSENGER TRAIN.
NORMALLY,
WE'RE PRETTY MUCH ON TIME.
70 MILES NORTH, IN TALKEETNA...
...ROADMASTER HUGH EVANS
IS READYING HIS CREW
FOR A DAY OF TRACK REPAIRS.
WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT
OF JOB LOSSES EXPECTED SOON,
HE WILL BE THE ONE
DELIVERING THE BAD NEWS
TO ANY OF HIS WORKERS
IF THEY'RE LAID OFF.
24 YEARS I'VE WORKED
FOR ALASKA RAILROAD,
AND I GOT REAL GOOD CREWS
THAT WORK ALONG WITH ME.
I MEAN,
IT'S A PRETTY GOOD RELATIONSHIP.
I WORRY ABOUT MY EMPLOYEES
OUT HERE.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THEM.
IT'S A BAD TIME FOR
ANYONE TO MAKE A SLIP UP ON THE JOB.
WE'VE GOT A LOADER HERE WE USE
FOR OUR SNOW REMOVAL UP AND DOWN
THE RAIL BELT OUT HERE.
WHAT HAPPENED IS
SOME EXHAUST LUBRICATING FLUID
GOT PUT IN THE FUEL TANK
ACCIDENTALLY.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S
A PRETTY EASY MISTAKE TO MAKE.
SOMEBODY'S DONE IT BEFORE.
IT'S GOT "NO FUEL"
WRITTEN ON THE CAP.
WE REALLY NEED
THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT,
AND IT'S HAVING TO GO
TO ANCHORAGE TO BE REPAIRED.
ALL I GOT TO SAY IS, THIS IS
PRETTY DEVASTATING RIGHT NOW.
THE LOADER IS A VITAL MACHINE
IN THE FIGHT TO KEEP
THE RAILROAD CLEAR OF SNOW.
HUGH NEEDS TO GIVE
EMPLOYEE TODD ROBBINS
A WRITTEN WARNING
FOR THE MIX-UP.
THIS IS THE BAD PART
OF MY JOB, RIGHT HERE,
WHERE I GOT TO
DISCIPLINE SOMEBODY.
OKAY, BROTHER. YOU KNOW HOW HARD
THIS IS FOR ME, THERE.
YOU KNOW,
SOMETIMES WE GET COMPLACENT.
WHENEVER YOU ACCIDENTALLY
POURED THE EXHAUST LUBRICANT
INTO THE LOADER,
YOU KNOW,
IT REALLY MESSED US UP.
THAT'S A KEY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
WE NEED OUT HERE RIGHT NOW.
AFFECTS US ALL.
SORRY I HAD TO PUT YOU
IN THIS POSITION, HUGH.
YEAH, WELL,
I GOT THIS DISCIPLINARY LETTER.
****
THAT HITS HOME HARD.
IT DOES, YOU KNOW.
IT'S KIND OF A BUMMER.
HIGH-PRIORITY JOB, AND
IT'S A BUMMER THAT IT HAPPENED.
IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED,
YOU KNOW?
HUGH'S AN AWESOME ROADMASTER,
ONE OF THE BEST
I'VE WORKED WITH.
IT'S REALLY HARD ON ME
TO LET A GUY DOWN LIKE THIS.
I TREAT MY PEOPLE
LIKE I LIKE TO BE TREATED.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL
MY BROTHERS OUT HERE.
IF I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY
TO SOMEBODY,
I SAY IT.
AND IF THEY GET MAD AT ME,
YOU KNOW,
I TAKE AND MAKE IT ALL GOOD
BECAUSE WE NEED TO MOVE ON.
170 MILES SOUTH,
IN THE KENAI MOUNTAINS...
...DANNY AND ANIMAL'S
FREIGHT TRAIN
IS ALMOST HALFWAY
ON ITS JOURNEY TO ANCHORAGE.
THEY'RE CARRYING
2,000 TONS OF DRILL PIPE
FOR A NEW OIL-MINING COMPANY.
CLIMBING THE HILL, BABY,
CLIMBING THE HILL.
THERE ARE MORE THAN
20 BILLION BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL
BURIED BENEATH
ALASKA'S NORTH SLOPE.
PIPE'S ALL ON STILL.
YEAH.
PIPE'S LOOKING GOOD,
RASCHAD.
ALL RIGHT.
KEEPING 200 DRILL
SITES SUPPLIED WITH EQUIPMENT
IN THE EXTREME WINTERS
IS A CONSTANT BATTLE
FOR THE RAILROAD
BUT VITAL
FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMY.
NICE THING ABOUT THE LOOP IS
WE CAN ACTUALLY
REALLY LOOK AT OUR TRAIN.
WE CAN SEE MOST OF IT NOW.
**** BEAUTY THAT'S OUT
HERE, THAT YOU GET TO SEE.
WE'VE ALL BEEN OVER THIS
PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF TIMES
EACH,
BUT YOU NEVER GET USED TO IT.
IT'S FABULOUS.
40 MILES AHEAD,
FIVE TUNNELS CUT RIGHT THROUGH
THE KENAI MOUNTAINS.
THIS IS A NOTORIOUS DANGER ZONE,
WHERE 30-FOOT-LONG
KILLER ICICLES
HANG RIGHT ABOVE THE TRACK.
ROADMASTER BRUCE GOUGH
AND HIS CREW
ARE ON THEIR DAILY MISSION
TO INSPECT THIS SECTION OF LINE,
TO CHECK IT'S SAFE FOR THE
FREIGHT TRAIN TO PASS THROUGH.
WE HAVE A NORTHBOUND
FREIGHT COMING THROUGH.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THE ICE IS CLEAR OF THE TUNNELS.
THE ALASKA RAILROAD RIGHT NOW
IS GOING THROUGH
SOME ECONOMIC CHALLENGES,
BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY
LET IT AFFECT YOU.
YOU STILL HAVE TO
KEEP THE LINE OPEN.
YOU STILL HAVE TO
GET THESE TRAINS
SAFELY TO THEIR DESTINATIONS.
****
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ICE
HERE... OVERHANG.
IT COULD STRIKE OUR TRAINS.
ICICLES LIKE THIS
CAN WEIGH MORE THAN 20 TONS.
IF THEY BREAK FREE, THEY CAN
SMASH INTO A PASSING TRAIN
AND DERAIL IT.
HERE WE GO.
THEY'RE TOO HIGH
FOR EXCAVATORS TO REACH.
THE SOLUTION... SHOOT THEM DOWN.
BOY,
THAT'S A BIG CHUNK OF ICE.
THAT THING'S MASSIVE.
I THINK YOU NEED
A ROCKET LAUNCHER.
THAT'LL DEFINITELY DO SOME
DAMAGE TO A TRAIN OR A HIGH RAIL.
YEAH.
NOW LET'S JUST
THROW ONE ROUND IN IT
AND SEE WHAT IT DOES.
THIS IS A .45-70 RIFLE,
AND I'M THINKING
THIS MIGHT BE THE TICKET.
LET'S SEE
HOW GOOD A SHOT YOU ARE.
BRUCE HAS ONLY 30 MINUTES
TO MAKE THE AREA SAFE
BEFORE DANNY AND ANIMAL'S
FREIGHT TRAIN ARRIVES.
GIVE HER HELL, BRUCE.
LET'S MAKE IT LOOK LIKE
SUMMERTIME.
THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.
YEAH.
IT'S FAIRLY THICK ICE.
YEAH, I THINK YOU'VE GOT YOUR
WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU ON THAT ONE.
ONE MORE GOOD ONE.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO JUST
CUT A LITTLE LINE ACROSS IT.
****
THING IS PRETTY SOLID.
IT MIGHT BE TOO THICK.
WE'VE GOT TRAINS COMING.
WE NEED TO GET THOSE DOWN.
IN THE KENAI MOUNTAINS...
COUPLE MORE LOOKS LIKE
IT'LL GET IT.
...BRUCE IS BATTLING
TO SHOOT DOWN
A DEADLY 20-FOOT-LONG ICICLE
AND MAKE THE TRACKS SAFE
BEFORE DANNY AND ANIMAL'S
FREIGHT TRAIN ARRIVES.
I THINK
I'M HITTING THE RIGHT SPOT.
I THINK
YOU MIGHT GET IT ON THIS ONE.
THE TRAIN'S GETTING CLOSER.
THERE SHE GOES.
GOOD SHOOTING, BRUCE.
THE TRACK
IS NOW COMPLETELY BLOCKED
WITH HUGE CHUNKS OF ICE.
****
Gough: THAT'S A BIG CHUNK.
THAT'S MASSIVE.
YEAH.
THE HARD PART OF THIS
IS TO GET THE ICE REMOVED
FROM THE DITCH LINE,
CLEAR THE TRACKS UP,
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO
GET THIS TRAIN THROUGH.
120 MILES NORTH,
BUD HAS CAUGHT UP
WITH THE PASSENGER TRAIN.
HE NEEDS TO GET AHEAD
TO GET ONBOARD AT TALKEETNA.
CUT OFF FROM ROADS,
THE TRAIN IS THE ONLY WAY
TO REACH
HIS PARENT'S REMOTE HOMESTEAD
TO DELIVER HIS MOM'S MEDICATION.
THERE'S NO WAY
TO GET TO MOM RIGHT NOW,
EXCEPT FOR BY RAILROAD.
WE'RE RACING THE TRAIN
TO GET THAT STUFF UP TO HER.
WE SHOULD GET THERE
IN THE NICK OF TIME.
AT THE LOVEL'S
HOMESTEAD IN SHERMAN,
MARY AND CLYDE ARE WAITING
FOR BUD TO ARRIVE.
THEY'RE PROUD OF THE HOME
THEY'VE BUILT HERE, ALL BY HAND,
AND DON'T LIKE TO
RELY ON ANYONE.
YOU CAN'T PLAN WHAT DAY
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY.
AN EMERGENCY JUST HAPPENS.
OOP!
TRIP OVER MY OWN FEET NOW.
YEAH.
ARE YOU GOING TO
GO GET WATER?
YEAH.
YOU GOING TO TAKE THE PUMP,
TOO?
I'VE GOT TO REMEMBER
WHERE THE HECK IT IS.
I THINK IT'S OUT HERE.
I THINK SO.
I DON'T THINK
MANY OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION
COULD LIVE OUT HERE.
I'M USED TO IT.
THIS IS MY WORKSHOP HERE,
MY TOOLS, NAILS,
AND HANGING STUFF EVERYWHERE.
THE WIFE AND KIDS AND I
BUILT THIS.
USED TO BE FOR COAL YEARS AGO.
WE HAD COAL IN HERE.
QUITE A BIT OF STORAGE.
BEHIND YOU HERE IS MY SAWMILL
AND THE OUTHOUSE.
THIS IS OUR SHOWER HOUSE HERE.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE,
IT'S CLOSED FOR THE WINTER.
LITTLE BIT TOO CHILLY.
AND THEN MY WOODSHED HERE
AND THE MAIN HOUSE.
TOO MANY PEOPLE TODAY
DEPEND ON SOMEBODY ELSE
TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM.
IF YOU LIVE OUT HERE,
YOU CAN'T DO THAT
BECAUSE THERE'S NOBODY TO DO IT
BUT YOU.
DOWN SOUTH,
IN THE KENAI MOUNTAINS...
...AS DANNY AND ANIMAL'S
FREIGHT TRAIN
APPROACHES THE FIRST
OF FIVE TUNNELS,
BRUCE AND HIS CREW
ARE STILL CLEARING THE ICE
FROM THE TRACK AHEAD.
HE IS DOING REALLY GOOD.
DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING
ON THAT TRAIN YET?
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
YEAH, LET'S GET THIS THING
IN THE HOLE.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE DONE OUR JOB.
OUR NEXT BIG THING
IS JUST GET OFF THE TRACKS
AND GET THIS FREIGHT MOVED.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
YEAH.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE GET HERE.
IT'S A CRAPSHOOT.
YOU TAKE YOUR CHANCES.
THAT'S ALL YOU CAN DO.
VIBRATIONS FROM THE TRAIN
COULD LOOSEN THE ICICLES
ABOVE THEIR HEADS.
SEE ALL THAT ICE?
****
TO REDUCE THE RISK
OF AN ICICLE HIT,
THEY SLOW DOWN
TO LESS THAN 10 MILES AN HOUR.
I GET WAY MORE CONCERNED
WITH THIS ****
THAN WHAT'S INSIDE THEM TUNNELS.
****
THAT STUFF THERE,
GREAT BIG ICICLES.
IT'S A LITTLE UNNERVING
SOMETIMES
TRAVELING UNDERNEATH THAT.
SOME OF THAT ICE UP THERE IS 30,
40 FEET LONG, FIVE FEET THICK.
I'D SAY SOME OF THAT
COULD BE EASILY 20 TONS.
EASILY.
IT COULD BREAK LOOSE,
CUT THROUGH THIS CAB LIKE
A KNIFE GOING THROUGH BUTTER.
WATER SEEPING THROUGH
HOLES IN THE TUNNEL'S WALLS
FREEZES SOLID,
CREATING EVEN MORE ICICLES.
I'VE ACTUALLY HAD ICE COME DOWN
AND TEAR THE MIRRORS
OFF A LOCOMOTIVE.
LOOK AT THAT ICE CHUNK.
YIKES.
I SEE THE LIGHT.
YEAH.
JOB WELL DONE.
WE ARE NORTH OF TUNNEL.
Thank you very much.
10-80 out.
150 MILES NORTH,
JUST OUTSIDE TALKEETNA,
BUD LOVEL IS STILL TRYING
TO CATCH UP
WITH THE PASSENGER TRAIN.
SOUNDS LIKE THE TRAIN'S
ALREADY UP ON THE HILL.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HURRY TO
GET THESE PILLS UP THE TRACKS.
IF HE MISSES IT,
HIS MOTHER, MARY,
WON'T GET HER MEDICATION.
THE NEXT TRAIN
ISN'T FOR ANOTHER WEEK.
ALL ABOARD!
IN THE NICK OF TIME.
MR. HARRY,
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, SIR.
HOW YOU DOING?
EXCELLENT.
ALL RIGHT.
GOING UP TO THE CABIN TONIGHT?
YEAH, I'VE GOT TO TAKE SOME MEDS
UP TO MOM.
SHE FORGOT SOME MEDS, SO...
A TICKET FOR YOU.
AWESOME. THANK YOU, SIR.
AND YOU CAN LOAD UP.
ALL RIGHT.
20 MILES UP THE TRACK,
NEAR CURRY...
...ROADMASTER HUGH EVANS,
TOGETHER WITH BROTHERS
ANTHONY AND MIKE HOADLEY,
ARE CARRYING OUT
A TRACK INSPECTION IN CONVOY.
THEY'RE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR ANY PROBLEMS ON THE LINE
THAT COULD STOP
THE PASSENGER TRAIN.
I LOVE MY JOB.
SOMETIMES I GET CALLED OUT
TO GO CHECK OUT ROUGH TRACK
OR GET CALLED OUT
TO HELP WITH A MOOSE
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
SO I SPEND A LOT OF TIME
OUT HERE.
YEAH, I DON'T GET MUCH SLEEP.
THE TRACK CREWS ARE CRITICAL
TO KEEPING THE TRAINS ROLLING
DURING THE WINTER.
LAST YEAR, THE RAILROAD SPENT
$36 MILLION REPAIRING THE LINES.
I'D HATE TO BE OUT HERE
RISKING MY LIFE
ONLY TO, I GUESS, BE THANKED
BY LOSING MY JOB.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO MAKE A CUT
IN THE WORKFORCE,
SO I JUST HOPE
THAT I'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH
TO NOT BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
THAT GETS CUT.
****
WHAT HAVE WE GOT UP HERE?
I'M STOPPING. OVER.
THE NORTHBOUND
PASSENGER TRAIN CARRYING BUD
IS ONLY 40 MINUTES AWAY
FROM HUGH.
WELL,
WE'VE GOT AN ELECTRIC SWITCH,
AND THINGS DON'T LOOK RIGHT,
SO I'M GOING TO GET OUT, TAKE
A LOOK WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
IF THE SWITCH IS
BROKEN, THE TRAIN CAN'T PASS,
AND BUD WON'T BE ABLE TO DELIVER
THE MUCH-NEEDED MEDICINE
TO HIS MOTHER.
HOLY ****
THIS IS WHAT DERAILS TRAINS
RIGHT HERE.
JUST OUTSIDE TALKEETNA,
BUD IS HEADING NORTH TO SHERMAN
TO DELIVER HIS MOTHER'S
BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION,
UNAWARE THAT TRACK PROBLEMS
LIE AHEAD.
HARRY, HOW ARE WE DOING
ON TRAIN TIME HERE TODAY?
WE ARE ON TIME.
WE'RE RIGHT ON THE MONEY.
IN SHERMAN,
84-YEAR-OLD CLYDE LOVEL
HAS BEEN OUT GATHERING WATER
FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS.
SO I GOT ABOUT 50 POUNDS
IN EACH ONE OF THESE.
TAKES A LOT OF STAMINA.
I'M USED TO IT.
I HAD A HEART ATTACK
TWO YEARS AGO.
THERE.
MY KIDS ALL FUSS NOW
TO GET OUT OF HERE.
"WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DIE?"
CAN'T LIVE FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
YOU'VE GOT TO LIVE YOUR OWN.
THAT'S THE WAY LIFE IS.
HIS WIFE, MARY, IS WORRIED.
CLYDE?
CLYDE, WHERE ARE YOU?
CLYDE HAD A HEART ATTACK
NOT TOO LONG AGO.
IF HE'S DELAYED FOR ANY REASON,
I ALWAYS WORRY.
CLYDE, WHERE ARE YOU?
WHEN YOU'RE A PARENT
AND YOU HAVE KIDS,
YOU KNOW,
YOU WORRY ABOUT YOUR KIDS.
AND NOW, US KIDS
ARE WORRIED ABOUT OUR PARENTS.
THEY COULD FALL,
AND THAT COULD BE IT.
SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THAT
COULD KILL THEM.
LOTS OF FUN.
CLYDE!
I THINK
MARY WORRIES A LOT ABOUT US,
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'VE SAID
WE'D BE BACK AT A CERTAIN TIME,
AND MAYBE WE GET ENJOYING
WHAT WE WERE DOING,
OR WE JUST GET BUSY AND FORGET.
THERE HE IS.
I THINK A COUPLE TIMES,
SHE ACTUALLY CAME OUT ON SNOWSHOES
AND READ US THE RIOT ACT.
THERE YOU ARE.
LUNCH IS READY.
COME ON.
CAN I GO TO BED NOW?
30 MILES SOUTH, AT CURRY...
HOLY ****
THIS IS WHAT DERAILS TRAINS
RIGHT HERE.
THE POINT'S GAPPED.
THIS IS AN ELECTRIC SWITCH,
AND THINGS ARE NOT RIGHT.
...HUGH'S CREW MUST
FIX THIS FAULTY SWITCH FAST,
OR IT WILL WRECK BUD'S CHANCES
OF GETTING
TO HIS PARENT'S HOMESTEAD.
HOLY ****
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
THAT'S **** UP.
I KNOW.
THE SWITCH IS GETTING
OUT OF **** CONTROL.
THANK GOD WE'RE HERE TO FIX IT
NOW.
A GAPPED POINT
WILL PUT A TRAIN ON THE GROUND.
WE CAN'T DRIVE OVER IT
UNTIL WE GET IT FIXED.
BACK IN 2004,
ENGINEERS INSTALLED
A $62 MILLION
HEATED TRACK SWITCHING SYSTEM
TO MOVE TRAINS BETWEEN LINES.
BUT THE HEATING ON THIS SWITCH
HAS BROKEN.
ICE IS BLOCKING THE TRACK FROM
CONNECTING TO THE MAIN LINE,
LEAVING A TWO-INCH GAP
THAT WILL DERAIL THE TRAIN.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND CHECK THE HEAT SENSOR
TO SEE IF I CAN GET THE HEATER
TO KICK ON.
OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD.
YOU GOT YOUR KEYS?
NOT KICKING ON.
NOTHING?
YES.
DOWN IN THE KENAI MOUNTAINS...
...DANNY AND ANIMAL'S
FREIGHT TRAIN
IS HEADING TOWARDS
BRUCE'S TRACK CREW,
WHO ARE IN POSITION TO CHECK
THAT THEIR LOCOMOTIVES AND
$10 MILLION LOAD OF OIL PIPES
HAVE NOT BEEN DAMAGED
BY FALLING ICE.
I SEE THE PIPE.
THEY'RE GOING TO
CHECK OUR TRAIN OUT FOR US.
HOPEFULLY
EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.
ROLL BY LOOKED GOOD.
12-49 TO DAN FORSMAN.
OVER.
YES, SIR.
DAN, YOUR ROLL BY LOOKED GOOD
ON BOTH SIDES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP.
YOU GUYS HAVE A SAFE DAY.
THANKS, DAN.
HAVE A GOOD TRIP. BRUCE OUT.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOMEBODY
LOOK AT OUR TRAIN.
OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T SEE IT ALL.
SO IT'S KIND OF NICE
FOR THEM TO BE OUT THERE
AND BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING'S LOOKING GOOD.
MOOSE. MOOSE!
**** MOOSE!
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
IT'S 3:00 P.M.
DANNY AND ANIMAL ARE ON THE
LAST STAGE OF THEIR MISSION...
HAULING $10 MILLION WORTH OF
DRILL PIPE NORTH TO ANCHORAGE
FOR A NEW CUSTOMER.
MOOSE. MOOSE!
**** MOOSE!
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.!
SEE, IT'LL GO
RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU HERE.
WE GOT LUCKY THERE.
GOOD JOB, RASCHAD,
SLOWING HER DOWN.
SAVED THE LIFE
OF THAT THING.
IT WAS
A HEALTHY-LOOKING SPECIMEN.
THAT WAS A BIG MOOSE.
IF IT WENT DOWN AND WENT UNDER,
WE'D HAVE TO STOP,
PULL IT OUT.
IT'D PROBABLY BE GROUND UP
ON THE TRACTION MOTORS,
UNDERNEATH THESE MOTORS,
WHICH COULD LEAD TO BIG DELAYS
AND LOTS OF UNPLEASANT WORK.
IT'S KIND OF GORY SOMETIMES.
I MEAN,
WE'VE HAD TO GO UNDERNEATH,
AND YOU'VE GOT TO ACTUALLY
GO GET THEM OUT
FROM UNDERNEATH YOUR TRAIN.
IT'S NOT A VERY PLEASANT THING
TO DO.
I PULLED MOOSE
WHERE THE SHANK
CAME OUT OF HIS SOCKET,
AND I WENT OVER
THE SIDE OF THE BANK
AND WENT DOWN WITH THING
IN MY ARMS,
SPEWING NASTY
ALL OVER ME AND IT,
AND THE BOYS THAT WERE THERE
TO HELP
WERE LAUGHING QUITE HARD
ABOUT IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW **** HAPPENS,
AND THEN YOU JUST GOT TO
DEAL WITH IT.
BUD IS HEADING NORTH TO
SHERMAN ON THE PASSENGER TRAIN,
CARRYING URGENT MEDICATION
FOR HIS MOM.
AWESOME.
ON THE TRACK AHEAD...
I'M GOING TO START
DIGGING IT OUT.
...ROADMASTER HUGH EVANS
AND HIS CREW
ARE CLEARING ICE FROM A FAULTY
SWITCH AS FAST AS THEY CAN.
HOPEFULLY
THE SWITCH AIN'T BROKE.
MIKE CAN'T CLOSE THE SWITCH
TO CONNECT THE TRACK
TO THE MAIN LINE.
THE ICE
IS STILL JAMMING IT OPEN.
SOMETHING'S HOLDING IT UP.
****
LET ME SEE THAT.
****
THERE IT GOES.
GOOD POINT.
IT WORKS GOOD NOW.
I'VE GOT A GOOD POINT.
WITH THE SWITCH MADE SAFE,
HUGH AND HIS CREW
MOVE OUT OF THE WAY
TO ALLOW THE PASSENGER TRAIN
THROUGH.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD JOB.
WE'RE KEEPING THIS STATE
RUNNING.
YOU'VE GOT TO WANT TO BE HERE.
I GUESS THE GOOD STUFF
OUTWEIGHS THE BAD.
AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE
YOU WORK WITH,
I MEAN,
IT'S GREAT TO WORK WITH THEM.
A GOOD WORKING DAY IS GOING OUT,
MY PEOPLE GOING HOME SAFELY
AT THE END OF THE DAY.
WHEN THEY LEAVE HERE
WITH ALL THEIR FINGERS AND TOES,
I'M HAPPY.
AFTER TWO AND A HALF HOURS,
BUD FINALLY MAKES IT
TO HIS FAMILY'S HOMESTEAD.
SO THIS IS ALL MY YARD
FOR ABOUT 100 SQUARE MILES.
LIKE THEIR FOREFATHERS,
ALASKANS ARE STILL ABLE
TO STAKE A CLAIM FOR LAND
IN AMERICA'S LARGEST STATE.
AND THAT WILL DO, 4-3-2-8.
BUT NOT EVERYONE
HAS THE RAILROAD
TRAVELING THROUGH
THEIR FRONT YARD.
COME ON DOWN, MR. BUD.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU, HARRY.
TAKE CARE.
ALL RIGHTY.
MR. LOVEL...
HE RIDES ALL THE TIME.
HIS FAMILY GREW UP THERE.
I DO ADMIRE HIM.
I KNOW I WOULDN'T DO IT
BECAUSE I LIKE
MY FLUSHING TOILETS
AND HOT SHOWERS,
AND ALL OF THAT OTHER STUFF
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE OUT THERE.
HEY, MOM!
WHAT WE DO UNDERSTAND OUT HERE
IS THAT THERE ARE RISKS.
HEY, MOM.
MOM HAD A STROKE OUT HERE, AND
THAT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
MOM!
YOU UP THERE?
AND WE FULL KNOW
THAT ONE DAY WE MAY GET THE CALL
THAT DAD IS NOT COMING BACK
FROM OUT CUTTING A TREE DOWN.
YOU KNOW, YOU JUST DEAL WITH IT
DAY BY DAY.
HEY, MOM!
YEAH, IS THAT YOU, BUD?
YEAH.
I'M SO GLAD YOU CAME.
I GOT THE PILLS FOR YOU, MOM.
ALL RIGHT.
JUST MADE IT TO THE TRAIN
IN TIME TO GET ON.
THANK YOU, HONEY.
YEAH.
CAREFUL COMING DOWN THERE.
YEAH.
WELL, I'M GLAD I GOT HERE.
YEAH.
I WAS PRETTY SCARED.
I THOUGHT WE WERE
GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE THERE,
BUT IT WAS ALL GOOD.
GET YOU SOME OF THOSE
IN THERE.
I'M REALLY, REALLY GLAD
THAT BUD CAME
AND WENT TO ALL THE TROUBLE
TO PICK THESE UP FOR ME.
I'M A HAPPY CAMPER.
150 MILES SOUTH,
JUST OUTSIDE ANCHORAGE,
DANNY AND ANIMAL ARE ON SCHEDULE
WITH THEIR HOT FREIGHT
OF DRILL PIPE.
THESE ARE VERY HOT LOADS,
SO THIS IS A HUGE THING FOR US.
WE SHOULD MAKE TOWN JUST BY THE
HAIR OF OUR CHINNY-CHIN-CHIN.
****
WHAT HAPPENED?
DON'T KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT'S WHAT.
WE'RE GOING TO GET OFF
AND TAKE A LOOK.
3:30 P.M.
DANNY AND ANIMAL ARE SEVEN MILES
FROM THE TRAIN YARD IN ANCHORAGE
WITH THEIR 2,000 TONS
OF DRILL PIPE.
****
WHAT HAPPENED?
WE'VE GOT A DEFECT.
DEFECT DETECTOR
JUST TRIPPED A DEFECT.
DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S WHAT,
SO WE'RE GOING TO GET OFF
AND TAKE A LOOK.
WOW. A WHEEL.
CHECK THE ALARM.
GOT HOT WHEELS.
ON A MISSION, BOYS.
THE ALASKA RAILROAD HAS
SPECIAL DETECTORS ON THE TRACKS.
THEY MONITOR PASSING TRAINS
FOR PROBLEMS,
FROM UNBALANCED LOADS
TO HOT WHEELS,
TRIGGERING AN ALARM
IN THE LOCOMOTIVE
IF THEY PICK UP A DEFECT.
YEAH, I CAN SMELL IT.
IT'S **** HOT ENOUGH
TO **** OVER HERE.
THOSE BRAKE SHOES
ARE HOTTER THAN HELL.
THE BRAKE PADS ON ONE
OF THE CARS HAVE LOCKED ON
AND STUCK TO THE WHEELS,
CAUSING THEM TO OVERHEAT
TO 440 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
I'LL TRY TO WORK IT HERE, AND
THEN HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE OKAY.
****
OKAY. THERE WE GO.
SOME REASON, THE AIR WAS HANGING
UP ON THE CAR A LITTLE BIT,
CAUSING THE BRAKES TO STICK.
ANIMAL HAS EASED THE BRAKE SHOES
OFF THE WHEELS,
BUT THE AIR-BRAKE SYSTEM
ON THIS CAR
IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
THERE'S A RISK
THE BRAKES COULD LOCK BACK ON
ONCE THE TRAIN GETS MOVING.
HEY, ANIMAL?
LET'S CUT THE **** AIR
OUT OF IT.
YEAH.
HELLO, 40-16.
THESE SHOES, THEY ARE HOT.
BEARINGS ARE NOT.
THE AIR WILL BE CUT OUT
OF THE 12-6-2-7.
You can cut the air out.
WE'RE GOING TO CUT THE AIR
OUT OF THIS CAR
TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
FOR THE BRAKES TO APPLY.
THEY'RE CLOSE ENOUGH
TO ANCHORAGE
TO DISENGAGE THE BRAKE SYSTEM
ON THIS ONE CAR.
ANIMAL!
AIR'S CUT OUT. YOU'RE CLEAR?
YOU'RE FINISHED
WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
YEAH,
IT'S ALL RELEASED.
WE CUT THE CAR OUT
SO NO AIR COULD
GO THROUGH THE BRAKE SYSTEM
ON THAT CAR ANYMORE
AND TOOK CARE OF THAT PROBLEM.
ONCE IT GETS TO ANCHORAGE,
IT'S GOING TO ORDERED
AND BE FIXED.
WE GOT IT TAKEN CARE OF.
READY AHEAD
WHEN YOU'RE READY.
AFTER SEVEN HOURS,
DANNY AND ANIMAL FINALLY MAKE IT
WITH THE DRILL PIPES
TO ANCHORAGE.
4,012, ANCHORAGE YARD,
ON CHANNEL FIVE.
WE'VE MADE IT TO TOWN.
A COUPLE MINUTES TO SPARE.
PULLING INTO THE YARD NOW.
PIPE'S VERY, VERY HOT.
THE MAIN THING IS
WE GOT THE TRAIN HERE.
CUSTOMER WILL BE HAPPY.
YES, I THINK SO.
BLIND-DOG LUCK ONCE AGAIN.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE
THE POWER OF THE PIPE.
EVERYBODY CONCERNED WITH THIS
NEW BUSINESS WILL BE SMILING.
ALL IN ALL, A JOB WELL DONE, AND
EVERYTHING LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO
WITH THE OIL INDUSTRY
IS REAL IMPORTANT
TO THIS RAILROAD.
IT'S ALL GOOD REVENUE.
IF WE GET THE MONIES FROM THAT,
MORE PEOPLE HAVE WORK.
THIS SHOULD PROVE TO BE
VERY VALUABLE TO THIS RAILROAD.
IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME.
YEAH.
OUT OF HERE, WE ARE.
YES, WE ARE.
IT'S BEEN A GOOD DAY
FOR DANNY AND ANIMAL.
****
BUT HUGH'S DAY ENDS
WITH BAD NEWS.
AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS
WORKING ON THE ALASKA RAILROAD,
HE'S JUST HEARD THAT HE IS ONE
OF 29 WORKERS BEING LAID OFF.
**** ****
IT'S PART OF THE RAILROAD'S
BID TO CUT COSTS BY $4.5 MILLION.
****
HAVING HUGH GET REMOVED,
IT SHOCKED ALL OF US.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S...
HE'S THE LAST ROADMASTER I WOULD
HAVE EXPECTED TO GET CUT.
I'M SURE
HE'S NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.
I WOULDN'T BE.
AT HOME,
HUGH'S BREAKING THE NEWS
TO HIS WIFE, LAUREN.
WE STILL HAVEN'T EVEN
TOLD MY DAUGHTER,
BECAUSE WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY?
YOU KNOW, "SORRY YOU WANT TO
GO TO COLLEGE,
BUT I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU CAN NOW"?
I DON'T... I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO TELL HER,
BUT I'VE GOT TO TELL HER
BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE DOES.
YOU'RE TOLD
YOUR JOB IS ABOLISHED,
AND YOU'VE PUT IN 24 YEARS
OF BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS
OUT HERE, YOU KNOW,
MAKING THE RAILROAD
A BETTER PLACE TO RUN TRAINS ON,
YOU KNOW,
TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE IN ALASKA,
AND YOU'RE TOLD
YOUR JOB IS NO LONGER.
MY FIRST REACTION
WAS TO BE PISSED.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
WHY BE ANGRY?
I'VE GOT TO MOVE ON.
HIS FUTURE ISN'T LINED OUT
ANYMORE.
HE'S HAVING A HARD TIME.
BUT HE'S GOT A BUNCH OF IRONS
IN THE FIRE.
SHOOT. IT'S ALL RIGHT.
IT'LL BE GOOD. IT'LL BE FINE.
THIS IS WHAT DERAILS TRAINS
RIGHT HERE.
...DEADLY ICICLES...
THAT THING'S MASSIVE.
YOU NEED A ROCKET LAUNCHER.
...AND WILD ANIMALS...
MOOSE. MOOSE!
A MOOSE!
...THREATEN TO SHUT DOWN
THE ALASKA RAILROAD...
WE'VE GOT TO
GET THIS TRAIN THROUGH.
...LEAVING OFFGRIDDERS
STRANDED...
IT'S THE LIFELINE WE HAVE.
THAT'S IT.
...WITH NO CHANCE OF RESCUE.
CLYDE, WHERE ARE YOU?
THE PORT OF SEWARD...
ALASKA'S VITAL TRADING LINK
WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.
NEARLY A MILLION TONS OF FREIGHT
PASSES THROUGH THIS PORT
EACH YEAR,
FROM BUILDING SUPPLIES
AND HEAVY EQUIPMENT,
TO PETROLEUM AND COAL.
READY DOWN THERE, DAN?
OVER.
YEAH, I WOULD ESTIMATE 25...
2-5... CAR-LENGTHS TO THE HOOK.
RAIL CREW DANNY AND ANIMAL
ARE HOOKING TOGETHER
A MILE-LONG TRAIN
LOADED WITH
A CRITICAL DELIVERY...
$10 MILLION OF DRILLING PIPE
THAT WILL BE USED IN
THE OIL FIELDS OF NORTH ALASKA.
THE OIL INDUSTRY IN ALASKA
IS THE NUMBER-ONE BUSINESS HERE.
IT'S PRETTY MUCH
THE LIFEBLOOD OF THE STATE.
THE OIL INDUSTRY IS WORTH
AROUND $9 BILLION A YEAR TO ALASKA.
WE PUT A POPPER IN BETWEEN
THE ENGINES AND THIS PIPE LOAD.
THE REASON WE DO THAT IS BECAUSE
THE PIPE LOADS COULD SHIFT.
IF THEY SHIFT, THEY COULD
DAMAGE THE LOCOMOTIVES.
THOSE ARE $2-MILLION LOCOMOTIVES
APIECE.
WE HAVE SIX OF THEM UP HERE
TODAY.
SO WE DO NOT WANT TO
DAMAGE THOSE ENGINES.
WE ONLY HAVE SO MANY
ON THIS PROPERTY,
SO THEY'RE VERY IMPORTANT
TO PROTECT THEM.
EVERYTHING LOOKS REAL GOOD.
BEFORE DANNY AND ANIMAL
BEGIN THEIR FREIGHT MISSION,
TRANSPORT SUPERVISOR PAT VOLMER
GIVES THEM THE LOWDOWN
ON JUST HOW CRUCIAL
TODAY'S JOURNEY IS.
MORNING, BOSS.
HOW'S IT GOING, PAT?
HEY, WHAT'S UP, GUYS?
I'M GLAD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MAN.
IT'S AN IMPORTANT TRAIN
TODAY.
YEAH, WE HEARD.
HOT, HOT LOADS.
YEAH, YOU KNOW THE DEAL.
EVERYTHING'S HOT, BUT THIS ONE
IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.
I KNOW
YOU'VE MOVED LOTS OF PIPE,
BUT THIS PIPE IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE IT'S A NEW CUSTOMER.
LOT OF POTENTIAL BUSINESS COMING
UP IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS HERE,
AND THIS IS THE BEGINNING
OF IT.
THIS IS
THE TIP OF THE SPEAR.
SO, A HUGE SHOT IN THE ARM
FOR THE RAILROAD.
EVERYONE FROM THE C.E.O. ON DOWN
WILL BE WATCHING.
SO THE SOONER WE CAN GET
THOSE CARS IN ANCHORAGE...
YOU GOT IT.
YOU KNOW THE DEAL.
WE'RE GOING THROUGH
SOME BUDGET CONSTRAINTS,
SO WE'RE TAKING ON
A NEW CUSTOMER
WITH THE HOPES THAT HIS PRODUCT
WILL LEAD TO FUTURE WORK.
MORE BUSINESS
WILL CREATE MORE JOBS.
THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT.
THE ALASKA RAILROAD'S REVENUE
IS DOWN $12 MILLION FROM LAST YEAR.
THE RECESSION
IS HITTING THEM HARD,
AND IT'S NO SECRET
THAT LAYOFFS ARE LOOMING.
THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE
WALKING AROUND HERE VERY SCARED.
NOBODY WANTS TO SEE ANYBODY
GET HANDED A PINK SLIP
AND WALK HOME
AND HAVE TO TELL THEIR FAMILY
THAT THEY CAN'T FEED THEM
THAT DAY
BECAUSE
THEY NO LONGER HAVE A JOB.
A LOT OF UNCERTAINTIES THERE.
ALL RIGHT, ANIMAL,
I BELIEVE THAT ALL THESE LOADS ARE SECURE.
LET'S GET THIS OUT OF TOWN.
LOOKS GOOD.
LET'S GET BUSY.
RAILROAD HAULS MORE PIPE
FOR THE NORTH SLOPE OIL INDUSTRY
THAN ANY OTHER MEANS
OF TRANSPORTATION.
WE HELP EACH OTHER EXIST.
SO, HOPEFULLY,
THAT TREND WILL CONTINUE.
IT'S NOW 8:00 A.M.
THEY HAVE
A SEVEN-HOUR JOURNEY AHEAD
THAT WILL TAKE THEM
THROUGH WOODLANDS
NOTORIOUS FOR DEADLY COLLISIONS
WITH WILDLIFE
AND ICE-PACKED TUNNELS RUNNING
THROUGH THE KENAI MOUNTAINS.
THEY WANT TO ARRIVE AT ANCHORAGE
BY 4:00 P.M.
CONSTANTLY ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR ANYTHING
THAT WOULD AFFECT THE MOVEMENT
AND SAFETY OF THIS TRAIN.
GOT MIRRORS PLACED
ON THE SIDES OF THE LOCOMOTIVE
SO YOU CAN LOOK BACK
AND SEE BEHIND YOU.
YOU LOOK OUT IN FRONT...
CRITTERS COME OUT, HUMANOIDS.
YOU JUST GOT TO STAY ALERT
AND AWARE.
IF A CRITTER
DID COME OUT OF THE WOODS,
WE TRY TO MAKE NOISE AND GET IT
TO MOVE OUT OF THE WAY,
TRY TO SLOW DOWN.
I MEAN, WE HIT MOOSE,
WE'VE HIT CARIBOU.
WE'VE HIT BLACK BEARS,
GRIZZLY BEARS.
IT'S KIND OF GORY SOMETIMES.
TRAINS ON THIS LINE HIT
MORE MOOSE THAN ANY OTHER ANIMAL.
THEY FIND IT DIFFICULT
TO WALK THROUGH DEEP SNOW,
PREFERRING, INSTEAD,
TO USE THE SNOW-CLEARED TRACKS.
UNUSUALLY HEAVY SNOWFALL
LAST YEAR
LURED MANY MOOSE
ONTO THE RAIL LINE,
AND NEARLY 300
WERE KILLED IN COLLISIONS.
WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE NO INCIDENTS.
WE'LL SEE SOME CRITTERS,
AND THEY'LL BE A WAYS AWAY,
AND THEY'LL LOOK GOOD,
AND THEY WON'T GET HURT AT ALL.
WATCH OUT!
**** ME.
JUST HIT A DOG.
DIDN'T HAVE A CHANCE.
HE'S DONE.
WELL, WE HIT A DOG,
AND...
****
DAMN IT.
OBVIOUSLY NOTHING
WE COULD DO THERE.
THAT'S A SHAME,
BUT IT HAPPENS.
YEAH, IT DOES.
DON'T LIKE DOING IT,
THOUGH.
KIND OF SUCKS.
200 MILES NORTH, IN SHERMAN...
...THIS ISOLATED WILDERNESS IS
HOME TO 76-YEAR-OLD MARY LOVEL
AND HER 84-YEAR-OLD HUSBAND,
CLYDE.
THEY'VE BEEN LIVING OFFGRID
FOR 49 YEARS.
YOU WANT A CUP OF HOT TEA?
YEAH.
THIS IS A WONDERFUL PLACE
TO LIVE.
ALTHOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES
LIKE THE FIRST WINTER THAT
WE SPENT HERE IN THIS CABIN.
THERE WAS NO INSULATION.
IT GOT DOWN
TO 67 DEGREES BELOW ZERO.
YOU COULDN'T BREATHE OUTSIDE,
IT WAS SO COLD.
BUT THAT ONLY LASTED
FOR TWO DAYS.
AND THEN IT WARMED UP TO,
I THINK, 47 BELOW,
WHICH ACTUALLY FELT
ALMOST SPRINGLIKE BY COMPARISON.
GOT TO QUIT THOSE THINGS.
I'LL BE EATING
THE WHOLE BAG OF THEM.
GOT PRETTY CHILLY LAST NIGHT.
YOU NOTICED
ABOUT 4:30 IN THE MORNING?
IT WAS 16 THIS MORNING.
16... OOH.
YEAH.
WEATHER HERE CAN BE
REALLY, REALLY BAD.
IF YOU DON'T USE COMMON SENSE,
YOU COULD DIE IN A HURRY.
WE ARE REAL PROUD
OF OUR INDEPENDENCE
BECAUSE WE CAN DO
WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN'T,
A LOT OF PEOPLE
DON'T WANT TO DO,
WHICH I'M GRATEFUL FOR, TOO,
BECAUSE OTHERWISE,
IT'D BE AS CROWDED HERE
AS IT IS ELSEWHERE.
I LIKE MY INDEPENDENCE OUT HERE.
IT'S GREAT.
I CAN DO WHAT I WANT,
WHEN I WANT.
BUT IT'S HARDER NOW
THAN IT USED TO BE
BECAUSE WE'RE OLDER.
RECENTLY, BOTH MARY AND
CLYDE HAVE HAD MEDICAL PROBLEMS.
BUT THE COUPLE, WHO RAISED
THEIR FOUR CHILDREN HERE,
DON'T WANT TO LEAVE
THE FAMILY HOMESTEAD.
A YEAR AGO, I HAD A STROKE.
MY HANDS STOPPED WORKING.
I COULDN'T MAKE THEM
DO ANYTHING.
I WAS TRYING TO LIGHT A MATCH,
AND THEY WOULDN'T WORK.
CLYDE CAME OVER TO ME AND SAID,
"WHAT'S WRONG HONEY?"
AND I COULDN'T TALK.
AND OUR SON CALLED THE TROOPERS,
AND THEY CALLED A HELICOPTER,
AND THEY COULDN'T
GET IT OFF THE GROUND
BECAUSE THE WIND WAS BLOWING
AT 70 MILES AN HOUR.
SO THEY CALLED THE RAILROAD.
GOOD OLD RAILROAD TO THE RESCUE.
THEY SENT A MEDIC UP.
TOOK ME TO TALKEETNA,
AND THEY SAID I WAS OKAY,
EXCEPT THAT IF IT HAD HAVE BEEN
A MAJOR STROKE,
I WOULD NEVER HAVE MADE IT
BECAUSE IT TOOK TOO LONG.
IT WAS TWO HOURS.
THAT'S THE ONLY BAD THING
ABOUT LIVING OUT HERE,
IS WE'RE TOO FAR
FROM THE HOSPITAL.
OOH!
HONEY, I FORGOT
TO GET MY BLOOD PRESSURE PILLS.
BETTER CALL BUD
AND GET SOMETHING UP HERE.
I WAS TOLD
THAT I NEED TO TAKE THEM
TO PREVENT
HAVING ANOTHER STROKE.
MARY HAS A SUPPLY OF
HER MEDICINE AT HER SON BUD'S HOME
100 MILES AWAY IN WASILLA.
THEY NEED TO RADIO HIM TO CATCH
THE WEEKLY PASSENGER TRAIN.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY
TO BRING THE EXTRA MEDICATION
TO THE HOMESTEAD.
CAN'T GET THE DIAL TONE.
THE TRAIN LEAVES
IN LESS THAN AN HOUR.
I CAN'T DO IT.
IF MARY CAN'T GET THROUGH TO BUD
SOON,
HE WILL MISS THE TRAIN,
LEAVING HER WITHOUT MEDICINE
FOR SEVEN DAYS.
I HAVE NO IDEA.
STUPID PHONE.
9:30 A.M.... SHERMAN.
OFFGRIDDERS
CLYDE AND MARY LOVEL
ARE STILL TRYING
TO CONTACT THEIR SON BUD
IN WASILLA
TO BRING THEM VITAL MEDICATION.
THIS IS THE ONLY COMMUNICATION
WE HAVE WITH THE OUTSIDE WORLD,
AND IT'S NOT VERY RELIABLE
AT ALL.
SOMETIMES WE CAN'T EVER GET
A NUMBER ON IT.
THERE IT IS.
MAYBE.
HELLO?
Mom?
Hello, mom, is that you?
YEAH, IT'S ME.
How you doing?
WE HAVE AN EMERGENCY HERE.
I KIND OF RAN OUT
OF MY BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE.
Could you repeat that, please?
I NEED MY MEDICINE, BUD.
I FORGOT IT. I'M SORRY.
IF IT'S TOO MUCH TROUBLE, YOU
COULD JUST MAYBE STOP THE TRAIN
AND GIVE IT TO THEM TO THROW OFF
AS THEY GO BY.
I'd better get going.
IT'S 9:40 A.M.
THE PASSENGER TRAIN
HAS ALREADY LEFT WASILLA.
IT'S HEADING NORTH TOWARDS
THE FRONTIER TOWN OF TALKEETNA.
BUD MUST DRIVE TO THE STATION
AND BOARD THE TRAIN THERE.
IT'S THE ONLY WAY TO ACCESS
THE REMOTE FAMILY HOMESTEAD
IN SHERMAN.
THERE'S ALWAYS WORRY.
I MEAN, THERE'S RETIREMENT HOMES
WHERE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING
YOU NEED,
ON-STAFF NURSES AND STUFF,
AND THIS IS NOT MY MOM AND DAD'S
WAY OF LIFE.
AND WE DO EVERYTHING WE CAN
TO HELP THEM UP THERE.
I NEED TO GET THESE PILLS
UP TO HER RIGHT AWAY.
IF I DON'T GET THEM THERE TODAY,
THEN SHE'LL BE EXPOSED TO RISK
OF HAVING A STROKE AGAIN.
SHE NEEDS THEM NOW.
I DON'T ANTICIPATE ANY
PROBLEMS FOR THE PASSENGER TRAIN.
NORMALLY,
WE'RE PRETTY MUCH ON TIME.
70 MILES NORTH, IN TALKEETNA...
...ROADMASTER HUGH EVANS
IS READYING HIS CREW
FOR A DAY OF TRACK REPAIRS.
WITH AN ANNOUNCEMENT
OF JOB LOSSES EXPECTED SOON,
HE WILL BE THE ONE
DELIVERING THE BAD NEWS
TO ANY OF HIS WORKERS
IF THEY'RE LAID OFF.
24 YEARS I'VE WORKED
FOR ALASKA RAILROAD,
AND I GOT REAL GOOD CREWS
THAT WORK ALONG WITH ME.
I MEAN,
IT'S A PRETTY GOOD RELATIONSHIP.
I WORRY ABOUT MY EMPLOYEES
OUT HERE.
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THEM.
IT'S A BAD TIME FOR
ANYONE TO MAKE A SLIP UP ON THE JOB.
WE'VE GOT A LOADER HERE WE USE
FOR OUR SNOW REMOVAL UP AND DOWN
THE RAIL BELT OUT HERE.
WHAT HAPPENED IS
SOME EXHAUST LUBRICATING FLUID
GOT PUT IN THE FUEL TANK
ACCIDENTALLY.
LOOKS LIKE IT'S
A PRETTY EASY MISTAKE TO MAKE.
SOMEBODY'S DONE IT BEFORE.
IT'S GOT "NO FUEL"
WRITTEN ON THE CAP.
WE REALLY NEED
THIS PIECE OF EQUIPMENT,
AND IT'S HAVING TO GO
TO ANCHORAGE TO BE REPAIRED.
ALL I GOT TO SAY IS, THIS IS
PRETTY DEVASTATING RIGHT NOW.
THE LOADER IS A VITAL MACHINE
IN THE FIGHT TO KEEP
THE RAILROAD CLEAR OF SNOW.
HUGH NEEDS TO GIVE
EMPLOYEE TODD ROBBINS
A WRITTEN WARNING
FOR THE MIX-UP.
THIS IS THE BAD PART
OF MY JOB, RIGHT HERE,
WHERE I GOT TO
DISCIPLINE SOMEBODY.
OKAY, BROTHER. YOU KNOW HOW HARD
THIS IS FOR ME, THERE.
YOU KNOW,
SOMETIMES WE GET COMPLACENT.
WHENEVER YOU ACCIDENTALLY
POURED THE EXHAUST LUBRICANT
INTO THE LOADER,
YOU KNOW,
IT REALLY MESSED US UP.
THAT'S A KEY PIECE OF EQUIPMENT
WE NEED OUT HERE RIGHT NOW.
AFFECTS US ALL.
SORRY I HAD TO PUT YOU
IN THIS POSITION, HUGH.
YEAH, WELL,
I GOT THIS DISCIPLINARY LETTER.
****
THAT HITS HOME HARD.
IT DOES, YOU KNOW.
IT'S KIND OF A BUMMER.
HIGH-PRIORITY JOB, AND
IT'S A BUMMER THAT IT HAPPENED.
IT SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED,
YOU KNOW?
HUGH'S AN AWESOME ROADMASTER,
ONE OF THE BEST
I'VE WORKED WITH.
IT'S REALLY HARD ON ME
TO LET A GUY DOWN LIKE THIS.
I TREAT MY PEOPLE
LIKE I LIKE TO BE TREATED.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE ALL
MY BROTHERS OUT HERE.
IF I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY
TO SOMEBODY,
I SAY IT.
AND IF THEY GET MAD AT ME,
YOU KNOW,
I TAKE AND MAKE IT ALL GOOD
BECAUSE WE NEED TO MOVE ON.
170 MILES SOUTH,
IN THE KENAI MOUNTAINS...
...DANNY AND ANIMAL'S
FREIGHT TRAIN
IS ALMOST HALFWAY
ON ITS JOURNEY TO ANCHORAGE.
THEY'RE CARRYING
2,000 TONS OF DRILL PIPE
FOR A NEW OIL-MINING COMPANY.
CLIMBING THE HILL, BABY,
CLIMBING THE HILL.
THERE ARE MORE THAN
20 BILLION BARRELS OF CRUDE OIL
BURIED BENEATH
ALASKA'S NORTH SLOPE.
PIPE'S ALL ON STILL.
YEAH.
PIPE'S LOOKING GOOD,
RASCHAD.
ALL RIGHT.
KEEPING 200 DRILL
SITES SUPPLIED WITH EQUIPMENT
IN THE EXTREME WINTERS
IS A CONSTANT BATTLE
FOR THE RAILROAD
BUT VITAL
FOR THE STATE'S ECONOMY.
NICE THING ABOUT THE LOOP IS
WE CAN ACTUALLY
REALLY LOOK AT OUR TRAIN.
WE CAN SEE MOST OF IT NOW.
**** BEAUTY THAT'S OUT
HERE, THAT YOU GET TO SEE.
WE'VE ALL BEEN OVER THIS
PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF TIMES
EACH,
BUT YOU NEVER GET USED TO IT.
IT'S FABULOUS.
40 MILES AHEAD,
FIVE TUNNELS CUT RIGHT THROUGH
THE KENAI MOUNTAINS.
THIS IS A NOTORIOUS DANGER ZONE,
WHERE 30-FOOT-LONG
KILLER ICICLES
HANG RIGHT ABOVE THE TRACK.
ROADMASTER BRUCE GOUGH
AND HIS CREW
ARE ON THEIR DAILY MISSION
TO INSPECT THIS SECTION OF LINE,
TO CHECK IT'S SAFE FOR THE
FREIGHT TRAIN TO PASS THROUGH.
WE HAVE A NORTHBOUND
FREIGHT COMING THROUGH.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
THE ICE IS CLEAR OF THE TUNNELS.
THE ALASKA RAILROAD RIGHT NOW
IS GOING THROUGH
SOME ECONOMIC CHALLENGES,
BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY
LET IT AFFECT YOU.
YOU STILL HAVE TO
KEEP THE LINE OPEN.
YOU STILL HAVE TO
GET THESE TRAINS
SAFELY TO THEIR DESTINATIONS.
****
I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ICE
HERE... OVERHANG.
IT COULD STRIKE OUR TRAINS.
ICICLES LIKE THIS
CAN WEIGH MORE THAN 20 TONS.
IF THEY BREAK FREE, THEY CAN
SMASH INTO A PASSING TRAIN
AND DERAIL IT.
HERE WE GO.
THEY'RE TOO HIGH
FOR EXCAVATORS TO REACH.
THE SOLUTION... SHOOT THEM DOWN.
BOY,
THAT'S A BIG CHUNK OF ICE.
THAT THING'S MASSIVE.
I THINK YOU NEED
A ROCKET LAUNCHER.
THAT'LL DEFINITELY DO SOME
DAMAGE TO A TRAIN OR A HIGH RAIL.
YEAH.
NOW LET'S JUST
THROW ONE ROUND IN IT
AND SEE WHAT IT DOES.
THIS IS A .45-70 RIFLE,
AND I'M THINKING
THIS MIGHT BE THE TICKET.
LET'S SEE
HOW GOOD A SHOT YOU ARE.
BRUCE HAS ONLY 30 MINUTES
TO MAKE THE AREA SAFE
BEFORE DANNY AND ANIMAL'S
FREIGHT TRAIN ARRIVES.
GIVE HER HELL, BRUCE.
LET'S MAKE IT LOOK LIKE
SUMMERTIME.
THAT'S A TOUGH ONE.
YEAH.
IT'S FAIRLY THICK ICE.
YEAH, I THINK YOU'VE GOT YOUR
WORK CUT OUT FOR YOU ON THAT ONE.
ONE MORE GOOD ONE.
I'M GOING TO TRY TO JUST
CUT A LITTLE LINE ACROSS IT.
****
THING IS PRETTY SOLID.
IT MIGHT BE TOO THICK.
WE'VE GOT TRAINS COMING.
WE NEED TO GET THOSE DOWN.
IN THE KENAI MOUNTAINS...
COUPLE MORE LOOKS LIKE
IT'LL GET IT.
...BRUCE IS BATTLING
TO SHOOT DOWN
A DEADLY 20-FOOT-LONG ICICLE
AND MAKE THE TRACKS SAFE
BEFORE DANNY AND ANIMAL'S
FREIGHT TRAIN ARRIVES.
I THINK
I'M HITTING THE RIGHT SPOT.
I THINK
YOU MIGHT GET IT ON THIS ONE.
THE TRAIN'S GETTING CLOSER.
THERE SHE GOES.
GOOD SHOOTING, BRUCE.
THE TRACK
IS NOW COMPLETELY BLOCKED
WITH HUGE CHUNKS OF ICE.
****
Gough: THAT'S A BIG CHUNK.
THAT'S MASSIVE.
YEAH.
THE HARD PART OF THIS
IS TO GET THE ICE REMOVED
FROM THE DITCH LINE,
CLEAR THE TRACKS UP,
BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO
GET THIS TRAIN THROUGH.
120 MILES NORTH,
BUD HAS CAUGHT UP
WITH THE PASSENGER TRAIN.
HE NEEDS TO GET AHEAD
TO GET ONBOARD AT TALKEETNA.
CUT OFF FROM ROADS,
THE TRAIN IS THE ONLY WAY
TO REACH
HIS PARENT'S REMOTE HOMESTEAD
TO DELIVER HIS MOM'S MEDICATION.
THERE'S NO WAY
TO GET TO MOM RIGHT NOW,
EXCEPT FOR BY RAILROAD.
WE'RE RACING THE TRAIN
TO GET THAT STUFF UP TO HER.
WE SHOULD GET THERE
IN THE NICK OF TIME.
AT THE LOVEL'S
HOMESTEAD IN SHERMAN,
MARY AND CLYDE ARE WAITING
FOR BUD TO ARRIVE.
THEY'RE PROUD OF THE HOME
THEY'VE BUILT HERE, ALL BY HAND,
AND DON'T LIKE TO
RELY ON ANYONE.
YOU CAN'T PLAN WHAT DAY
YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE AN EMERGENCY.
AN EMERGENCY JUST HAPPENS.
OOP!
TRIP OVER MY OWN FEET NOW.
YEAH.
ARE YOU GOING TO
GO GET WATER?
YEAH.
YOU GOING TO TAKE THE PUMP,
TOO?
I'VE GOT TO REMEMBER
WHERE THE HECK IT IS.
I THINK IT'S OUT HERE.
I THINK SO.
I DON'T THINK
MANY OF THE YOUNGER GENERATION
COULD LIVE OUT HERE.
I'M USED TO IT.
THIS IS MY WORKSHOP HERE,
MY TOOLS, NAILS,
AND HANGING STUFF EVERYWHERE.
THE WIFE AND KIDS AND I
BUILT THIS.
USED TO BE FOR COAL YEARS AGO.
WE HAD COAL IN HERE.
QUITE A BIT OF STORAGE.
BEHIND YOU HERE IS MY SAWMILL
AND THE OUTHOUSE.
THIS IS OUR SHOWER HOUSE HERE.
AND AS YOU CAN SEE,
IT'S CLOSED FOR THE WINTER.
LITTLE BIT TOO CHILLY.
AND THEN MY WOODSHED HERE
AND THE MAIN HOUSE.
TOO MANY PEOPLE TODAY
DEPEND ON SOMEBODY ELSE
TO DO SOMETHING FOR THEM.
IF YOU LIVE OUT HERE,
YOU CAN'T DO THAT
BECAUSE THERE'S NOBODY TO DO IT
BUT YOU.
DOWN SOUTH,
IN THE KENAI MOUNTAINS...
...AS DANNY AND ANIMAL'S
FREIGHT TRAIN
APPROACHES THE FIRST
OF FIVE TUNNELS,
BRUCE AND HIS CREW
ARE STILL CLEARING THE ICE
FROM THE TRACK AHEAD.
HE IS DOING REALLY GOOD.
DID YOU HEAR ANYTHING
ON THAT TRAIN YET?
WE'RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.
YEAH, LET'S GET THIS THING
IN THE HOLE.
RIGHT NOW, WE'VE DONE OUR JOB.
OUR NEXT BIG THING
IS JUST GET OFF THE TRACKS
AND GET THIS FREIGHT MOVED.
THE MOMENT OF TRUTH.
YEAH.
LET'S SEE WHAT WE GET HERE.
IT'S A CRAPSHOOT.
YOU TAKE YOUR CHANCES.
THAT'S ALL YOU CAN DO.
VIBRATIONS FROM THE TRAIN
COULD LOOSEN THE ICICLES
ABOVE THEIR HEADS.
SEE ALL THAT ICE?
****
TO REDUCE THE RISK
OF AN ICICLE HIT,
THEY SLOW DOWN
TO LESS THAN 10 MILES AN HOUR.
I GET WAY MORE CONCERNED
WITH THIS ****
THAN WHAT'S INSIDE THEM TUNNELS.
****
THAT STUFF THERE,
GREAT BIG ICICLES.
IT'S A LITTLE UNNERVING
SOMETIMES
TRAVELING UNDERNEATH THAT.
SOME OF THAT ICE UP THERE IS 30,
40 FEET LONG, FIVE FEET THICK.
I'D SAY SOME OF THAT
COULD BE EASILY 20 TONS.
EASILY.
IT COULD BREAK LOOSE,
CUT THROUGH THIS CAB LIKE
A KNIFE GOING THROUGH BUTTER.
WATER SEEPING THROUGH
HOLES IN THE TUNNEL'S WALLS
FREEZES SOLID,
CREATING EVEN MORE ICICLES.
I'VE ACTUALLY HAD ICE COME DOWN
AND TEAR THE MIRRORS
OFF A LOCOMOTIVE.
LOOK AT THAT ICE CHUNK.
YIKES.
I SEE THE LIGHT.
YEAH.
JOB WELL DONE.
WE ARE NORTH OF TUNNEL.
Thank you very much.
10-80 out.
150 MILES NORTH,
JUST OUTSIDE TALKEETNA,
BUD LOVEL IS STILL TRYING
TO CATCH UP
WITH THE PASSENGER TRAIN.
SOUNDS LIKE THE TRAIN'S
ALREADY UP ON THE HILL.
I'M GOING TO HAVE TO HURRY TO
GET THESE PILLS UP THE TRACKS.
IF HE MISSES IT,
HIS MOTHER, MARY,
WON'T GET HER MEDICATION.
THE NEXT TRAIN
ISN'T FOR ANOTHER WEEK.
ALL ABOARD!
IN THE NICK OF TIME.
MR. HARRY,
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU, SIR.
HOW YOU DOING?
EXCELLENT.
ALL RIGHT.
GOING UP TO THE CABIN TONIGHT?
YEAH, I'VE GOT TO TAKE SOME MEDS
UP TO MOM.
SHE FORGOT SOME MEDS, SO...
A TICKET FOR YOU.
AWESOME. THANK YOU, SIR.
AND YOU CAN LOAD UP.
ALL RIGHT.
20 MILES UP THE TRACK,
NEAR CURRY...
...ROADMASTER HUGH EVANS,
TOGETHER WITH BROTHERS
ANTHONY AND MIKE HOADLEY,
ARE CARRYING OUT
A TRACK INSPECTION IN CONVOY.
THEY'RE ON THE LOOKOUT
FOR ANY PROBLEMS ON THE LINE
THAT COULD STOP
THE PASSENGER TRAIN.
I LOVE MY JOB.
SOMETIMES I GET CALLED OUT
TO GO CHECK OUT ROUGH TRACK
OR GET CALLED OUT
TO HELP WITH A MOOSE
OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT,
SO I SPEND A LOT OF TIME
OUT HERE.
YEAH, I DON'T GET MUCH SLEEP.
THE TRACK CREWS ARE CRITICAL
TO KEEPING THE TRAINS ROLLING
DURING THE WINTER.
LAST YEAR, THE RAILROAD SPENT
$36 MILLION REPAIRING THE LINES.
I'D HATE TO BE OUT HERE
RISKING MY LIFE
ONLY TO, I GUESS, BE THANKED
BY LOSING MY JOB.
THEY'RE LOOKING TO MAKE A CUT
IN THE WORKFORCE,
SO I JUST HOPE
THAT I'VE BEEN HERE LONG ENOUGH
TO NOT BE ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE
THAT GETS CUT.
****
WHAT HAVE WE GOT UP HERE?
I'M STOPPING. OVER.
THE NORTHBOUND
PASSENGER TRAIN CARRYING BUD
IS ONLY 40 MINUTES AWAY
FROM HUGH.
WELL,
WE'VE GOT AN ELECTRIC SWITCH,
AND THINGS DON'T LOOK RIGHT,
SO I'M GOING TO GET OUT, TAKE
A LOOK WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.
IF THE SWITCH IS
BROKEN, THE TRAIN CAN'T PASS,
AND BUD WON'T BE ABLE TO DELIVER
THE MUCH-NEEDED MEDICINE
TO HIS MOTHER.
HOLY ****
THIS IS WHAT DERAILS TRAINS
RIGHT HERE.
JUST OUTSIDE TALKEETNA,
BUD IS HEADING NORTH TO SHERMAN
TO DELIVER HIS MOTHER'S
BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATION,
UNAWARE THAT TRACK PROBLEMS
LIE AHEAD.
HARRY, HOW ARE WE DOING
ON TRAIN TIME HERE TODAY?
WE ARE ON TIME.
WE'RE RIGHT ON THE MONEY.
IN SHERMAN,
84-YEAR-OLD CLYDE LOVEL
HAS BEEN OUT GATHERING WATER
FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS.
SO I GOT ABOUT 50 POUNDS
IN EACH ONE OF THESE.
TAKES A LOT OF STAMINA.
I'M USED TO IT.
I HAD A HEART ATTACK
TWO YEARS AGO.
THERE.
MY KIDS ALL FUSS NOW
TO GET OUT OF HERE.
"WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DIE?"
CAN'T LIVE FOR SOMEONE ELSE.
YOU'VE GOT TO LIVE YOUR OWN.
THAT'S THE WAY LIFE IS.
HIS WIFE, MARY, IS WORRIED.
CLYDE?
CLYDE, WHERE ARE YOU?
CLYDE HAD A HEART ATTACK
NOT TOO LONG AGO.
IF HE'S DELAYED FOR ANY REASON,
I ALWAYS WORRY.
CLYDE, WHERE ARE YOU?
WHEN YOU'RE A PARENT
AND YOU HAVE KIDS,
YOU KNOW,
YOU WORRY ABOUT YOUR KIDS.
AND NOW, US KIDS
ARE WORRIED ABOUT OUR PARENTS.
THEY COULD FALL,
AND THAT COULD BE IT.
SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THAT
COULD KILL THEM.
LOTS OF FUN.
CLYDE!
I THINK
MARY WORRIES A LOT ABOUT US,
PARTICULARLY WHEN WE'VE SAID
WE'D BE BACK AT A CERTAIN TIME,
AND MAYBE WE GET ENJOYING
WHAT WE WERE DOING,
OR WE JUST GET BUSY AND FORGET.
THERE HE IS.
I THINK A COUPLE TIMES,
SHE ACTUALLY CAME OUT ON SNOWSHOES
AND READ US THE RIOT ACT.
THERE YOU ARE.
LUNCH IS READY.
COME ON.
CAN I GO TO BED NOW?
30 MILES SOUTH, AT CURRY...
HOLY ****
THIS IS WHAT DERAILS TRAINS
RIGHT HERE.
THE POINT'S GAPPED.
THIS IS AN ELECTRIC SWITCH,
AND THINGS ARE NOT RIGHT.
...HUGH'S CREW MUST
FIX THIS FAULTY SWITCH FAST,
OR IT WILL WRECK BUD'S CHANCES
OF GETTING
TO HIS PARENT'S HOMESTEAD.
HOLY ****
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT I SAID.
THAT'S **** UP.
I KNOW.
THE SWITCH IS GETTING
OUT OF **** CONTROL.
THANK GOD WE'RE HERE TO FIX IT
NOW.
A GAPPED POINT
WILL PUT A TRAIN ON THE GROUND.
WE CAN'T DRIVE OVER IT
UNTIL WE GET IT FIXED.
BACK IN 2004,
ENGINEERS INSTALLED
A $62 MILLION
HEATED TRACK SWITCHING SYSTEM
TO MOVE TRAINS BETWEEN LINES.
BUT THE HEATING ON THIS SWITCH
HAS BROKEN.
ICE IS BLOCKING THE TRACK FROM
CONNECTING TO THE MAIN LINE,
LEAVING A TWO-INCH GAP
THAT WILL DERAIL THE TRAIN.
I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD
AND CHECK THE HEAT SENSOR
TO SEE IF I CAN GET THE HEATER
TO KICK ON.
OKAY, SOUNDS GOOD.
YOU GOT YOUR KEYS?
NOT KICKING ON.
NOTHING?
YES.
DOWN IN THE KENAI MOUNTAINS...
...DANNY AND ANIMAL'S
FREIGHT TRAIN
IS HEADING TOWARDS
BRUCE'S TRACK CREW,
WHO ARE IN POSITION TO CHECK
THAT THEIR LOCOMOTIVES AND
$10 MILLION LOAD OF OIL PIPES
HAVE NOT BEEN DAMAGED
BY FALLING ICE.
I SEE THE PIPE.
THEY'RE GOING TO
CHECK OUR TRAIN OUT FOR US.
HOPEFULLY
EVERYTHING LOOKS GOOD.
ROLL BY LOOKED GOOD.
12-49 TO DAN FORSMAN.
OVER.
YES, SIR.
DAN, YOUR ROLL BY LOOKED GOOD
ON BOTH SIDES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP.
YOU GUYS HAVE A SAFE DAY.
THANKS, DAN.
HAVE A GOOD TRIP. BRUCE OUT.
IT'S NICE TO HAVE SOMEBODY
LOOK AT OUR TRAIN.
OBVIOUSLY, WE CAN'T SEE IT ALL.
SO IT'S KIND OF NICE
FOR THEM TO BE OUT THERE
AND BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE
EVERYTHING'S LOOKING GOOD.
MOOSE. MOOSE!
**** MOOSE!
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
IT'S 3:00 P.M.
DANNY AND ANIMAL ARE ON THE
LAST STAGE OF THEIR MISSION...
HAULING $10 MILLION WORTH OF
DRILL PIPE NORTH TO ANCHORAGE
FOR A NEW CUSTOMER.
MOOSE. MOOSE!
**** MOOSE!
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.
RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.!
SEE, IT'LL GO
RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU HERE.
WE GOT LUCKY THERE.
GOOD JOB, RASCHAD,
SLOWING HER DOWN.
SAVED THE LIFE
OF THAT THING.
IT WAS
A HEALTHY-LOOKING SPECIMEN.
THAT WAS A BIG MOOSE.
IF IT WENT DOWN AND WENT UNDER,
WE'D HAVE TO STOP,
PULL IT OUT.
IT'D PROBABLY BE GROUND UP
ON THE TRACTION MOTORS,
UNDERNEATH THESE MOTORS,
WHICH COULD LEAD TO BIG DELAYS
AND LOTS OF UNPLEASANT WORK.
IT'S KIND OF GORY SOMETIMES.
I MEAN,
WE'VE HAD TO GO UNDERNEATH,
AND YOU'VE GOT TO ACTUALLY
GO GET THEM OUT
FROM UNDERNEATH YOUR TRAIN.
IT'S NOT A VERY PLEASANT THING
TO DO.
I PULLED MOOSE
WHERE THE SHANK
CAME OUT OF HIS SOCKET,
AND I WENT OVER
THE SIDE OF THE BANK
AND WENT DOWN WITH THING
IN MY ARMS,
SPEWING NASTY
ALL OVER ME AND IT,
AND THE BOYS THAT WERE THERE
TO HELP
WERE LAUGHING QUITE HARD
ABOUT IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW **** HAPPENS,
AND THEN YOU JUST GOT TO
DEAL WITH IT.
BUD IS HEADING NORTH TO
SHERMAN ON THE PASSENGER TRAIN,
CARRYING URGENT MEDICATION
FOR HIS MOM.
AWESOME.
ON THE TRACK AHEAD...
I'M GOING TO START
DIGGING IT OUT.
...ROADMASTER HUGH EVANS
AND HIS CREW
ARE CLEARING ICE FROM A FAULTY
SWITCH AS FAST AS THEY CAN.
HOPEFULLY
THE SWITCH AIN'T BROKE.
MIKE CAN'T CLOSE THE SWITCH
TO CONNECT THE TRACK
TO THE MAIN LINE.
THE ICE
IS STILL JAMMING IT OPEN.
SOMETHING'S HOLDING IT UP.
****
LET ME SEE THAT.
****
THERE IT GOES.
GOOD POINT.
IT WORKS GOOD NOW.
I'VE GOT A GOOD POINT.
WITH THE SWITCH MADE SAFE,
HUGH AND HIS CREW
MOVE OUT OF THE WAY
TO ALLOW THE PASSENGER TRAIN
THROUGH.
ALL RIGHT. GOOD JOB.
WE'RE KEEPING THIS STATE
RUNNING.
YOU'VE GOT TO WANT TO BE HERE.
I GUESS THE GOOD STUFF
OUTWEIGHS THE BAD.
AND SOME OF THE PEOPLE
YOU WORK WITH,
I MEAN,
IT'S GREAT TO WORK WITH THEM.
A GOOD WORKING DAY IS GOING OUT,
MY PEOPLE GOING HOME SAFELY
AT THE END OF THE DAY.
WHEN THEY LEAVE HERE
WITH ALL THEIR FINGERS AND TOES,
I'M HAPPY.
AFTER TWO AND A HALF HOURS,
BUD FINALLY MAKES IT
TO HIS FAMILY'S HOMESTEAD.
SO THIS IS ALL MY YARD
FOR ABOUT 100 SQUARE MILES.
LIKE THEIR FOREFATHERS,
ALASKANS ARE STILL ABLE
TO STAKE A CLAIM FOR LAND
IN AMERICA'S LARGEST STATE.
AND THAT WILL DO, 4-3-2-8.
BUT NOT EVERYONE
HAS THE RAILROAD
TRAVELING THROUGH
THEIR FRONT YARD.
COME ON DOWN, MR. BUD.
ALL RIGHT.
WELL, THANK YOU, HARRY.
TAKE CARE.
ALL RIGHTY.
MR. LOVEL...
HE RIDES ALL THE TIME.
HIS FAMILY GREW UP THERE.
I DO ADMIRE HIM.
I KNOW I WOULDN'T DO IT
BECAUSE I LIKE
MY FLUSHING TOILETS
AND HOT SHOWERS,
AND ALL OF THAT OTHER STUFF
THAT THEY DON'T HAVE OUT THERE.
HEY, MOM!
WHAT WE DO UNDERSTAND OUT HERE
IS THAT THERE ARE RISKS.
HEY, MOM.
MOM HAD A STROKE OUT HERE, AND
THAT WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT.
MOM!
YOU UP THERE?
AND WE FULL KNOW
THAT ONE DAY WE MAY GET THE CALL
THAT DAD IS NOT COMING BACK
FROM OUT CUTTING A TREE DOWN.
YOU KNOW, YOU JUST DEAL WITH IT
DAY BY DAY.
HEY, MOM!
YEAH, IS THAT YOU, BUD?
YEAH.
I'M SO GLAD YOU CAME.
I GOT THE PILLS FOR YOU, MOM.
ALL RIGHT.
JUST MADE IT TO THE TRAIN
IN TIME TO GET ON.
THANK YOU, HONEY.
YEAH.
CAREFUL COMING DOWN THERE.
YEAH.
WELL, I'M GLAD I GOT HERE.
YEAH.
I WAS PRETTY SCARED.
I THOUGHT WE WERE
GOING TO BE IN TROUBLE THERE,
BUT IT WAS ALL GOOD.
GET YOU SOME OF THOSE
IN THERE.
I'M REALLY, REALLY GLAD
THAT BUD CAME
AND WENT TO ALL THE TROUBLE
TO PICK THESE UP FOR ME.
I'M A HAPPY CAMPER.
150 MILES SOUTH,
JUST OUTSIDE ANCHORAGE,
DANNY AND ANIMAL ARE ON SCHEDULE
WITH THEIR HOT FREIGHT
OF DRILL PIPE.
THESE ARE VERY HOT LOADS,
SO THIS IS A HUGE THING FOR US.
WE SHOULD MAKE TOWN JUST BY THE
HAIR OF OUR CHINNY-CHIN-CHIN.
****
WHAT HAPPENED?
DON'T KNOW EXACTLY
WHAT'S WHAT.
WE'RE GOING TO GET OFF
AND TAKE A LOOK.
3:30 P.M.
DANNY AND ANIMAL ARE SEVEN MILES
FROM THE TRAIN YARD IN ANCHORAGE
WITH THEIR 2,000 TONS
OF DRILL PIPE.
****
WHAT HAPPENED?
WE'VE GOT A DEFECT.
DEFECT DETECTOR
JUST TRIPPED A DEFECT.
DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT'S WHAT,
SO WE'RE GOING TO GET OFF
AND TAKE A LOOK.
WOW. A WHEEL.
CHECK THE ALARM.
GOT HOT WHEELS.
ON A MISSION, BOYS.
THE ALASKA RAILROAD HAS
SPECIAL DETECTORS ON THE TRACKS.
THEY MONITOR PASSING TRAINS
FOR PROBLEMS,
FROM UNBALANCED LOADS
TO HOT WHEELS,
TRIGGERING AN ALARM
IN THE LOCOMOTIVE
IF THEY PICK UP A DEFECT.
YEAH, I CAN SMELL IT.
IT'S **** HOT ENOUGH
TO **** OVER HERE.
THOSE BRAKE SHOES
ARE HOTTER THAN HELL.
THE BRAKE PADS ON ONE
OF THE CARS HAVE LOCKED ON
AND STUCK TO THE WHEELS,
CAUSING THEM TO OVERHEAT
TO 440 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT.
I'LL TRY TO WORK IT HERE, AND
THEN HOPEFULLY IT'LL BE OKAY.
****
OKAY. THERE WE GO.
SOME REASON, THE AIR WAS HANGING
UP ON THE CAR A LITTLE BIT,
CAUSING THE BRAKES TO STICK.
ANIMAL HAS EASED THE BRAKE SHOES
OFF THE WHEELS,
BUT THE AIR-BRAKE SYSTEM
ON THIS CAR
IS STILL NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
THERE'S A RISK
THE BRAKES COULD LOCK BACK ON
ONCE THE TRAIN GETS MOVING.
HEY, ANIMAL?
LET'S CUT THE **** AIR
OUT OF IT.
YEAH.
HELLO, 40-16.
THESE SHOES, THEY ARE HOT.
BEARINGS ARE NOT.
THE AIR WILL BE CUT OUT
OF THE 12-6-2-7.
You can cut the air out.
WE'RE GOING TO CUT THE AIR
OUT OF THIS CAR
TO MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE
FOR THE BRAKES TO APPLY.
THEY'RE CLOSE ENOUGH
TO ANCHORAGE
TO DISENGAGE THE BRAKE SYSTEM
ON THIS ONE CAR.
ANIMAL!
AIR'S CUT OUT. YOU'RE CLEAR?
YOU'RE FINISHED
WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING?
YEAH,
IT'S ALL RELEASED.
WE CUT THE CAR OUT
SO NO AIR COULD
GO THROUGH THE BRAKE SYSTEM
ON THAT CAR ANYMORE
AND TOOK CARE OF THAT PROBLEM.
ONCE IT GETS TO ANCHORAGE,
IT'S GOING TO ORDERED
AND BE FIXED.
WE GOT IT TAKEN CARE OF.
READY AHEAD
WHEN YOU'RE READY.
AFTER SEVEN HOURS,
DANNY AND ANIMAL FINALLY MAKE IT
WITH THE DRILL PIPES
TO ANCHORAGE.
4,012, ANCHORAGE YARD,
ON CHANNEL FIVE.
WE'VE MADE IT TO TOWN.
A COUPLE MINUTES TO SPARE.
PULLING INTO THE YARD NOW.
PIPE'S VERY, VERY HOT.
THE MAIN THING IS
WE GOT THE TRAIN HERE.
CUSTOMER WILL BE HAPPY.
YES, I THINK SO.
BLIND-DOG LUCK ONCE AGAIN.
NEVER UNDERESTIMATE
THE POWER OF THE PIPE.
EVERYBODY CONCERNED WITH THIS
NEW BUSINESS WILL BE SMILING.
ALL IN ALL, A JOB WELL DONE, AND
EVERYTHING LOOKS REALLY GOOD.
ANYTHING THAT HAS TO DO
WITH THE OIL INDUSTRY
IS REAL IMPORTANT
TO THIS RAILROAD.
IT'S ALL GOOD REVENUE.
IF WE GET THE MONIES FROM THAT,
MORE PEOPLE HAVE WORK.
THIS SHOULD PROVE TO BE
VERY VALUABLE TO THIS RAILROAD.
IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME.
YEAH.
OUT OF HERE, WE ARE.
YES, WE ARE.
IT'S BEEN A GOOD DAY
FOR DANNY AND ANIMAL.
****
BUT HUGH'S DAY ENDS
WITH BAD NEWS.
AFTER MORE THAN 20 YEARS
WORKING ON THE ALASKA RAILROAD,
HE'S JUST HEARD THAT HE IS ONE
OF 29 WORKERS BEING LAID OFF.
**** ****
IT'S PART OF THE RAILROAD'S
BID TO CUT COSTS BY $4.5 MILLION.
****
HAVING HUGH GET REMOVED,
IT SHOCKED ALL OF US.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S...
HE'S THE LAST ROADMASTER I WOULD
HAVE EXPECTED TO GET CUT.
I'M SURE
HE'S NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT.
I WOULDN'T BE.
AT HOME,
HUGH'S BREAKING THE NEWS
TO HIS WIFE, LAUREN.
WE STILL HAVEN'T EVEN
TOLD MY DAUGHTER,
BECAUSE WHAT AM I GOING TO SAY?
YOU KNOW, "SORRY YOU WANT TO
GO TO COLLEGE,
BUT I DON'T KNOW
IF YOU CAN NOW"?
I DON'T... I DON'T KNOW
WHAT TO TELL HER,
BUT I'VE GOT TO TELL HER
BEFORE SOMEBODY ELSE DOES.
YOU'RE TOLD
YOUR JOB IS ABOLISHED,
AND YOU'VE PUT IN 24 YEARS
OF BLOOD, SWEAT, AND TEARS
OUT HERE, YOU KNOW,
MAKING THE RAILROAD
A BETTER PLACE TO RUN TRAINS ON,
YOU KNOW,
TO SUPPORT THE PEOPLE IN ALASKA,
AND YOU'RE TOLD
YOUR JOB IS NO LONGER.
MY FIRST REACTION
WAS TO BE PISSED.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
WHY BE ANGRY?
I'VE GOT TO MOVE ON.
HIS FUTURE ISN'T LINED OUT
ANYMORE.
HE'S HAVING A HARD TIME.
BUT HE'S GOT A BUNCH OF IRONS
IN THE FIRE.
SHOOT. IT'S ALL RIGHT.
IT'LL BE GOOD. IT'LL BE FINE.