Coal+Train+I+DD

Devika Dadhe

"Coal Train- I"

The article "Coal Train-I" is the first part of the article about coal trains. In this article McPhee has written about coal trains, their engineers (or drivers), their conductors and their lives, the mechanics and the contents of coal trains and coal train observers.

McPhee starts off by telling the reader about his journey with Paul Fitzpatrick, the conductor, and Scott Davis, the engineer of the CTSBT. As always, to understand them and their lives, McPhee travels with them and finds out about every single detail that he wants the reader to know about. For example- did you know that a train's engineer has to operate not only the complex machinery in the lead unit of the train but also look at the "sweep of weeds in the ditches, for the legible motions in trees, and, if the weather is dry, for the speed of the moving dust" to keep an eye out for the winds that could possibly hinder the train's speed? An average reader would have no idea that winds could affect a train's movement. He learns all this from Paul and Scott on their journey from Kansas to Nebraska.

McPhee doesn't just stick to the train, the engineer and the conductor but also expands his curiosity and thirst for knowledge by learning about train watchers. Yes, they do exactly what their name says- they watch trains. He studies the routine of a train watcher named Dick Eisfeller.

When claiming this article I asked myself at least thrice why in the world I was choosing to read an article on coal trains but now that I've read it I don't regret it one bit. McPhee as always has managed to capture the essence of coal trains and interest and captivate the reader.