The Runaway Train of Barstow

WOOOOOOOOOO WOOOO WOOOO!!!!! The common Train Horn is heard from miles away, in the little country town. Every Monday morning, Robert wakes up early, by 0500. Out of his routine for Robert, but every Monday, he pulls it off before school. After waking up, getting dressed for school, and scarfing his breakfast down, little Robert races through the woods as fast as his 10 year old feet can move! “Young man, slow down” his mother cries as he races out the screen door, nearly knocking his mother over!

“Sorry Mom, I’m gonna miss …..” as his words faded into mumbling jumbo as he faded into the distant woods!

“Don’t you be late for school YOUNG MAN!” She cries back at him as he disappears. His voice is heard back, but he’s too distant, too faint, to make out what he’s said!

Rustling leaves, smell of fresh pine, crackling branches under his feet, and soft branches from the forests’ rich pine trees, smacking him across his face as he continues to race through the woods! “I gotta make that train” he thought to himself. Half mile to go, 10 minutes remain, he steams forward, sweating profusely, “I just wanna see that train!” he says, gasping for any ounce of breath his exhausted lungs can take. Afraid he left too late, reminiscing on the lost sock he could not find this morning, he’s pushing himself harder than he normally does, “If Scarf would just leave my socks alone, this wouldn’t be a problem, that darn cat!” he thinks to self, as he nears the spot.

Robert, a 10 year old country school boy, walks almost a mile through the woods every school morning to catch the school bus by 0630, to get to school, except Mondays. His mother, a homebody, cooks, cleans, and cares for Robert and his sisters, while their dad works long hours. She knows Robert’s routine! She knows he just wants to see the train. He enjoys it so much, works so hard to motivate himself to make it to the bridge on time. She appreciates it, knowing without that motivation, getting him to wake up on Monday mornings would be an unnerving, relentless and stressful chore. She appreciates how he gets his room cleaned, every Sun night, before bed. She loves how he always insists on turning in early, so he can wake up early. She knows how well he does Monday mornings will set his tone all week. The rest of the week, he sleeps til 0530, a little later. Then he’s fed, dressed, and out the door by 0610, in order to catch his school bus at the end of their drive, along Country Village Road. It's a decent walk through the 5 acre ranch in the woods. There's just something about that train!!

At 5 foot 7 inches tall, with “chicken legs” close to 3 feet long, still struggling to reach that 100 lb mark, according to his doctor. Robert is a tall, skinny boy, compared to some of his classmates. According to the other kids at school, he doesn’t have much to offer them. He’s picked on often, singled out by the others, and struggles to find any friends with them. One thing for sure though, they have a hard time catching him in an open field. They never understood why. How is this kid so fast, they often wonder? As Robert is getting close to the spot, he hears it in the distance… clickity clickity clank, clickity clickity clank… sounding about as fast as ever, as it’s getting louder and louder, coming closer and closer! He sees the bridge ahead, feels so close he almost touches it, moving so fast, he doesn’t even know if he’ll stop before the bridge! Hearing the wheels approaching, he knows it’s upon him! Pushing his last ounce of energy passing the final tree, he reaches out with a fist in the air!! He just wants the train to blow the horn for him! Suddenly he felt hit foot collide on something, and Robert stumbled and rolled into the dusty ground merely feet from the tracks and bridge! As the Steam Locomotive barreled past him, He reached high in the air trying to sit up, pulling his fist back down at least once… “Did he see me?” He desperately thought!?

WOOOOOOOO WOOOO WOOOO clickity clankety clickity clank WOOOOOOOO WOOOO WOOOO! “YESSSSS!!” He screamed with joy and agony! “He saw me!! He saw me and he blew the horn!! Wooooooooo Wooooooooo,” he continued to scream at the train as it passed merely feet away, trying to imitate the horn! He was drowned out by the loud train racing past him, as he suddenly collapsed on the ground, passed out! He had himself a gash on the side of his head, which caused him to pass out due to the adrenaline rush and the concussion. A little over an hour later, as a light sprinkle came down, he finally came to! After stumbling on a rock, one he thought he stepped high enough over while running, his attention was on that approaching locomotive, and he stumbled onto the ground, smashing his face on another rock nearby! He looked down at his watch, “0730” it read, but had a very eerie glow before fading back to normal color! “That was awkward,” he thought out loud. “Oh man I’m in pain!” He slowly climbed to his feet, aching all over, but his face, and upper right cheek was dripping blood. “Must have been the sun,” he concluded.

Grimacing in more pain, Robert made it to the Highway crossing the tracks, ““Oh that’s not good, he thought!” He obviously knew he missed the bus, but he wasn’t sure what was worse! Getting knocked out by a rock, damaging his new watch he just got from his father on his birthday two months prior, or missing his school bus! As he stood there, wondering how he was going to try and make it to school somehow, Bloop Bloop Blooooop! A Sheriff squad car pulls up!

“THERE YOU ARE YOUNG MAN!” Sheriff Derek Phelps hollered! “School, your mother and I worried… Oh shit! What happened to you son??” The Sheriff insisted on an answer. Sheriff Derek Phelps knew he’d find his son here, after getting a call he was missing.

Robert pointed, wanting to answer, but wasn’t sure how to explain himself initially! With the Sheriff's car stopped just beyond the tracks, strobe lights flashing above, “come on, get in! Watch for traffic! Do you want the hospital, or just take you to school?” Sheriff asked.

“School dad! Thanks!” he mumbled in pain! Everything was hurting, from his face, head, left leg and whole upper body, he was aching all over. Felt like he was literally in a train wreck!

“Let me guess, you ran for the Train again, and this time it didn’t work out so well for you?” Sheriff asked as he was driving away with Robert in the front seat!

“Yes dad! Something like that!” Robert Hesitated! “Actually” trying to perk up, “It WAS awwe…”

“Really? Why’s th…?”

“I was blazing past all the trees! I knew I was late! Dam Scarf…” Robert began racing through his words! Thoughts screaming through his head like the train screamed past him.

“Dam what son?” Sheriff interrupted!

“Sorry. Scarf took my sock again, like he does all the time! Took me forever to find it! But I finally got out the door…”

“I know, ma said you ABOUT ran her over! Said you didn’t even say goodbye!?”

“I know! I just wanted to catch that train! I was sure he’d see me this time! I wanted to get him to blow his horn! I was moving so fast, I didn’t think I could move so fast!”

“You make sure you apologize to your mother tonight! First thing!? You hear!?” The Sheriff insisted, interrupting!

“Yes dad!” As they pulled up to the school yard, the Sheriff stopped the car, turned lights off, “But dad, before I go dad, I just wanted to tell you how awesome it was…” Robert wanted to explain his experience! “All I remember…”

“I’m sure it was son! One day you’ll be a great train conductor, I’m sure of it! Right now, you need to get yours in there and get to class! Go see the infirmary first, get you cleaned up!

Sheriff Phelps explained! “Oh… I see you damaged that watch I just got you? What are we gonna do about that?”

“But dad…”

“Go son, don’t be late! Get it!”

“Yes dad!” Limping, dragging one foot! Robert hobbled away from “Sheriff dad’s” car. Holding a napkin to his face, keeping pressure on the small bleeding wound. Usually he gets to school, and you hear 100’s plus kids playing, chaos and excitement, screaming, and taunts, and stern teachers yelling at all the children across the multi acre 5 acre school yard. There were some kids out playing, as most but the Kindergartens have gone inside. Why do they get extra play time, he scoffed to himself! “Owe” he said. Somehow expressing certain facials makes it hurt even more! “I won’t do that” he thought as he reached the front door to the admin’s office, he couldn’t open it because of the aching pain he was in. Luckily someone opened it for him.

“Robert, you here… Oh my! What happened to you?!” Carol, the office and attendance lady at the front desk said, as she opened the door for agonizing Robert.

“I fell! Passed out! Hurt myself!” He explained, stumbling in the door over the step!

“You look like a train wreck!”

“Yea! Something like that!” he responded, proceeding to the infirmary office.

This was Robert’s life for many years! His mother, a homebody, keeps the house in order for him and his sisters. His father has been a Sheriff before Robert came to be. The 5 lived in a country home, on a five acre ranch in the woods, surrounded by trees for most of the front half of their property. His father, “Sherriff Dad” he likes to call him, has an “off limits” shed. He doesn’t know what’s in there, but he knows dad does lots of work inside. He’s seen it from the outside a time or two, with all sorts of tools hanging around. He has seen axes, hammers, saws, grinders, and possibly hundreds more he hasn’t a clue for. Plenty of time, he’s heard loud saws, grinders, hammering of objects coming from inside. There's been a time or two, he’s even heard “Sheriff Dad” firing off his service pistol, as if target practicing, from inside the shed.

Gorgeous green lush ranch property, with a large field in the back of the house, with few horses they maintain, only five in total. There has been a time or two all five gone horseback riding together, doesn’t seem to happen often enough! On the back of the property, the horses have maybe an acre or so of a corral, and they trot around it freely. The rest seems to be a wide open field, where he and his sisters, often cousins and neighborhood friends would all run around playing games in the field, between the trees that surround them. Along the front end of the property, about 500 ft or so from the house, sort of off to the right, the main road passes by, called Country Village Rd. However, going to the left, almost a mile through the trees, the thickest of the trees on their property, you come to the RR crossing, which borders part of their property as the tracks pass by. There is a spot just before the train reaches the bridge, where the forest opens up, a small field, large rocks, and fallen tree logs, and parts of hollow logs made as nature’s slide, that resembles a playground, made by the forest. Even a rope tied and laced through a wooden board, made up a swing hanging from one of the Oaks. This is where Robert and his sisters would often play, and occasionally see a train pass through. Robert always dreamed of riding a train. Always wondered what it’d be like to ride aboard. Even fantasized what life would be like, to drive, or “engineer” a train!

WOOO WOOO WOOO WOOO WOOO WOOO

That familiar horn sounded as Robert remembered! Glossy eyes trying to open, he can feel the constant vibrations and clanking sounds! Feeling well rested, he suddenly felt dazed and confused. Obviously he can tell he’s on a train! “What train?” He wondered, as his back aching, trying to sit up! “That back pain, I don’t remember having that!” he thought to himself! As he opened his eyes more, he saw the countryside, of gorgeous Oak trees spotting the country mountainside, racing by the window! Confusion grows, as he looks down, his watch that he’s worn as long as he can recall, a mysterious glow faded away from the face of the watch. As rare as it’s been since he’s seen that, “Where have I seen that?” he wondered! As his confusion grew, “AND where the Hell am I?” Robert asked himself, out loud. Realizing no one was with him, in what appeared to be a private VIP room, he was obviously on a train! Suddenly recalling the loud horn from the train “What’s with the horn, it’s not supposed to sound like…. Oh ****!” Robert explicitly said to himself. Just than, 3 sudden knocks of the door to his suite as it opens with urgency!

“Chief Robert, you're needed…” a lady’s voice was heard, as a gorgeous, dark hair, dark skinned lady, subtly intruded inside, “Oh, so sorry to interrupt sir, your attention is needed now!” she claimed with urgency, trying to peek away! Robert just realized, he was only wearing a pair of sleeping shorts, and a robe, and more confused than ever!

“WAIT!” Robert demanded, “What the hell is going on?!” He demanded with urgency!

As confused as Robert was, “What?! You were sleeping, Conductor. We’re getting urgent messages, and our…” Cora explained.

“Wait, what? Who?!” Robert, once again interrupted, confusion continues to grow!

Dead air for a brief moment as Cora, one of the Engineer Assistants on board one of the SouthWest Chiefs, a passenger service between Chicago and Los Angeles, as she tries to process what’s happening. “.... Sir, you are the Chief Conductor, Robert Phelps of the Southwest Chief 405, are you not?” She finally asked, insistently, and reassuringly.

“I am!!” he responded without thought, “I am?!” he thought to himself!

As she was fixing to further explain, she sees a phone receiver on the bed near him, wire unplugged. “Sir, it’s no WONDER they can’t get you! Your phone is off the hook!!” she claimed, as she entered his room. She insistently grabbed the cord, and plugged it into the wall, then hanging up the receiver as it instantly RANG a loud bell!

As she picks up the receiver, she hands it to the Conductor “Chief, it’s FOR YOU!”

“He-hello!? Chief Conduc….” Robert spoke subtly and confused, into the receiver.

Male voice, southern accent “Sir, It’s Jason on the front end! We’ve been slowly climbing speed now for ten or so minutes. We’ve been trying to page you! Augmented brakes are at full, no luck locking down!” Jason, a 20 year veteran engineer, speaking with a southern but professional voice, claimed through the receiver.

“Jason, have you contacted the Rear end?”

“Sir, of course I have. You know I’ve been doing this for a long time! There is no resp...!”

“Jason, I don’t know what I know right now. So bear with me a moment…”

“CHIEF! We're less than 2 hours from Barstow sir. We're climbing 40 plus, our speed has been increasing now by 5 every 10 or so minutes. We have been trying to…”

“Alright! Then I'm assuming you’ve attempted visual signals? Flags and lights?”

“Yes sir! No visual response, no reduction in…”

“Keep the Augmented speed as low as you can, reduce throttle to lowest speed, apply the Emergencies at 20%! DO not go higher, you will overheat and burn…”

“Burnout the Brakes, I know! Sir, do we alert Control?... or the Passengers?” Jason asking, attempting to calm the two down!

Finally dressed as Robert was conversing with Jason by phone, still holding the receiver to his ear, having a blank stare in his face! As he was standing in the middle of his room, the Conductor was unsure how to answer that. Still trying to process what was happening at this moment, he last remembered… He’s not sure what he last remembered! Running for a TRAIN before going to school?? “Sir” he heard through the receiver, before finally responding, “Activate the seatbelt signs, but nothing further. Do not alert control. I’ll be up there soon, but I’m going to stop at the back end and check on our rear! DO NOT push the Emergencies over 20, you hear?” he declared as he opened the door, he began walking out of his VIP room, he was pulled back in holding the phone, and realized the cord is simply not long enough.

Cora was still standing outside waiting for his further instructions. He was fixing to lay the receiver on the couch when he noticed she was intently staring at him, pointing at the receiver hang up. “Right!” He responded, knowing she didn’t have to say anything. He hung up the receiver, and asked “Are you always this way?”

“What? Trying to keep order around here? Yes!” Cora responded as he exited his room, and turned right. “Are you always this way, sir?” She asked, hinting a tease!

“Hah!” Robert laughed as the two continued down the hall. “What way?” He asked!

“Having Amnesia!? The way you were back there almost had me…”

“Hey now, it was nothing like Amnesia! For the record, I just simply woke up from a wild dream, into this chaos taking place!” He explained! “Don’t forget, I am your boss!” He teased back.

“Right, Chief!” She responded back with an emphasis on Chief!

“Why do you call me that again?” He questioned with curiosity!

After not responding for a moment, now confused herself, “Where are we going, sir?” She asked.

“I have Jason on the front end trying to reduce speeds with throttle and augmented speeds, keeping the Emergency brakes under 20 for now. As I told Jason, I'm going to stop by the back end, and check on…” Rober began to explain, but paused, “Who do we have on the back end?” he asked.

“Bobby Cussar. I’ve been told Mr Cussar is from…” she was explaining, before he interrupted!

“Bob The Bullhorn Cussar?” Robert responded with shock! “Bob and I go way back! We knew each other in school. You were gonna name my hometown, back in the good ol days, back in…”

Robert was interrupted by a loud bang, or a loud pop, and shaking of the train!

“We’ve gained speed sir! Whatever that was, couldn’t be good!” She suddenly explained after their conversation was cut short by the subtle shake and what sounded like a loud thump!

“I know! I think we lost breaks, at least on one of our cars! We need to hustle!”

Just than, a woman in her 60’s approached, asking if everything was okay, with concern in her voice!

“Cora, make sure all car supervisors are upto speed, and make sure they know all the safety protocols. I need to hustle, how many cars!? The lights have been on, and not everyone is seated. Get on the horn, and make a calm but stern announcement!” He insisted, giving orders to Cora. “Mam, please have a seat!” he claimed to the passenger, as he proceeded past her and picked up his hustle.

“Mam. Please have a seat here, and buckle in your seatbelt, we're going through rough terrain!” Cora explained, as she reached for the receiver on the wall near the corner of the car.

“CHIEF,” Cora hollered over the crowd toward Robert, who was already at the other end of the car they were in while walking. As he looked back quickly “EIGHTEEN CARS!! YOU HAVE 6 TO GO!” Cora screamed, holding 6, and then pointing beyond him, to make sure he could hear!

Eighteen cars? How did I ever end up here? So many thoughts racing through Robert's head! Conductor? 18 car Passenger train, fixing to pass back through my home town? I have no recollection of my life sense that day! That day, he thought! What was so significant about that day?! He continued to race through his thoughts, as he was racing through the train, passing each passenger abruptly, and apologizing!

“Excuse me!” “Sorry!” “Conductor, coming through!” “Excuse me, make a hole!” “Sorry, coming through!” “Car Super? Everyone needs to be in their seats, with belts on!” “Conductor, coming through!” “Seatbelt lights on everyone!” “Excuse me, coming through!” “Hello, sorry,” “Sorry, can't explain!” “Coming through, make a hole!” As continued to pass multiple passengers, passing every car, quickly glancing at most seats, seeing lights on.

Passing through the Club Car, he stopped by the bar for a moment, as they were still pouring drinks! “Conductor here! Secure the bar down! Level 1, everyone is ordered to their seats, and seat belts! That’s you too, please. Thanks!” Conductor Robert Urgently explained! “And thanks, don’t mind if I do!” GULP! Slams shot glass down! “That was damn good!”

“HEY! That was mine!” a male declared, sitting at the bar!

“My bad, we’ll cover it for you, get to your seat, and buckle in! AND BARTENDER, Secure this bar! Everything!” Robert exclaimed again!

“Yes sir!” Miguel, behind the counter, responded. Miguel on his first tour after his training, worked many years as a Bartender for various bars in and around the Chicago area before getting this gig! At 6’3”, about 230, and able to bench 300 lbs, he loves the chance to serve food and beverages at a Bar! He met Robert once, years ago, in Chicago! Miguel, at 30 years old, feels he can handle himself in most situations, and is worried about what he just saw with the Conductor passing by!

He quickly made another shot of Stellum Black Bourbon in a fresh shot glass, and handed it to the elder gentlemen, “Here Shawn, it’s on the house!” He claimed.

“Thanks! What was that all about?!” Shawn asked, concerned.

“I don’t know honestly, I’m securing this bar as he insisted, and taking a seat! You should too! Take that to your seat, enjoy it there! He is the Conductor, that’s the boss of the train! So if he’s concerned, so am I!” Miguel quickly explained!

Shawn stood up, grabbed his computer bag, and returned to his seat! It did feel like we were going a little fast!

Up on the front of the train, Jason Phillip, the head Engineer, a former US Marine before he started with US Trakways, served for 10 years after dropping out of HS! He always said the Marines were his HS, and has been in tough situations, is calm as ever at the helm of this Alco Century 420. Still pulling upto 6 rapid pulls of the horn, he knows the outskirts of Barstow are only 10 or so miles out!

“Jason,” Cora calls out, as she enters the back of the control room. “Any luck? He should have reached the back end by now!” She insisted!

“No. 50! We’re at 50 mph, I can’t get the speeds down!” Jason explained back.

RING RING RING!

“Jason. Engineer. Front end SW Chief 4 Oh…”

“Jason. Robert here, I’m on the back end. It’s not good! I mean, Bullhorn is not looking good!”

“What? What happened? He need medical…” Jason began to ask!

“No, He’s gone! I’ll explain it later!” Robert demanded with urgency! “This train is too if we don’t act! We hit the 50 MM?”

“Yea, few min ago! S*** ma… “

“JASON FOCUS! What’s your speed now?” Robert sounded frustrated!

“52!”

“I haven’t caught up to you yet, I’m reading 48 back here! Be ready for my que, and on command, you throw the engine!”

“WHAT? What is…”

“On que, you’ll know, I want you to shut it down completely, than full Emergency brakes! I need to prepare everyone else!” CLICK! The receiver went dead!

“Oh shit!” Jason thought, turning his cap around! Grabbing his seatbelt!

“What?” Cora asked desperately!!

“I’m going to throw this engine here in a few! It’s gonna get ugly! Buckle yourself!” Jason explained, just as the PA started cracking over head!

Meanwhile, moments before turning on the PA, Robert alone in the back end, switched over the phone to Central! “Central This 4 Oh 5!” He waited a moment! “Central This… “ Robert trying again…

“Central go!”

“Central! This SW 405! Action 1 Emergency! This is Chief! I repeat Action 1 Emergency! Rear End medically deceased! We cross 50 into Barstow, 50 Plus! Emergency stop Now! Runaway Train! I repeat! Runaway Train! Over!!” He switched off the phone before they could respond back!

Now turning local PA on! “All hands this is your Conductor speaking! Staff prepare for action one emergency procedure! All hands secure yourselves immediately! Lean forward, Heads forward, secured between your knees!” As Conductor Robert explained over PA, Jason listened intently! “ALL HANDS! BRACE FOR IMPACT ON 3! 2! ONE!” And Jason pulled the emergency power switch while Robert simultaneously threw the Emergency Brakes from the Rear end! Jason then threw the emergency brakes from the front end! Multiple scared voices and screams from multiple cars of the train!

The train at 54 mph according to the front end, 40 miles from the central town of Barstow, violently shook, and vibrated violently, as the diesel power engine in the locomotive shut down! All caster wheels across all cars suddenly sparking violently! Steam, smoke and sparks seen coming from the Locomotive diesel engine compartment! Train violently shook more intently as cars began to sandwich together! One after the other derailing, coming off tracks like an accordion squishing together! One car going left, as the next going right, sides of each slamming against each other! Terrified screams heard throughout the train! The rear end car, shaking violently, Robert holding on, the rear tips over, dragging in succession the next 3 cars ahead to tip over as everything slows down! Hanging on for dear life, Robert’s rear end car sliding on its right side, Robert was thrown out of his seat, tumbling and rolling back and forth and tumbling some more!

For Jason and Cora, it seemed like forever for the train to come to a stop! They were both banged up, but the engine had not tipped over. They were unaware of how bad the rest of the train was at the moment, but they had their own problems to contend with! “Cora, You ok?” Jason asked, moaning, pinned between a panel, a box, and his seat! Suddenly he smelled what he thought was smoke! “CORA?”

“FIRE FIRE F…” Cora suddenly screamed, terrified!

Many years have passed now, since Robert fell on that eventful day, one he’ll never forget! When he finally got the train to blow the horn for him! He still remembers the exciting race through the woods. Still remembers misjudging that rock he stumbled over! Still remembers the aching sacrifice he took to his face. He never knew than, til years later how late it was in the morning, but turns out he was knocked out for an hour. He still believes it was all worth it, when the train blew its horn for him. He’s come back here every year since then, reminiscing about that day! Something so odd about that day, he still can’t figure it out!

Now at 22 years old, laying there on the makeshift picnic table “Sheriff Dad '' made for them, he’s been out for almost an hour! Alliyah, his older sister by less than two years, has been on the swing hanging below the tall Oak in the back of the Family’s ranch. Not doing much, been slowly swinging like she always used to when the three grew up here! At 5’11” about a Buck-25, she doesn’t seem to weigh too much for the swing. Wondering if the train will ever pass, as she continues to swing, an acorn nearly misses her head! A second one pegged her just right!

“Knock it off Savannah! He’s resting! Leave him alone! You hit me again with those nuts, I’ll come up there and beat you til your purple!”

Savannah, their younger sister, and Robert’s Irish twin, still finds ways to climb trees as she’s always been “Daddy’s lil monkey” growing up, as he used to call her! “Why? Gonna make me?” Savannah teased! “Is he ever gonna wake up?” She laughs! She always was the antagonizer!

Just then he mumbled something in his sleep! “What Robert?” Both girls responded vaguely, as they realized he was dreaming, still asleep! “Robert….” Alliyah said softly! In the distance, they heard what sounded like a Train Horn! “That train will likely wake him!” Alliyah stated, “Leave him alone!” She insisted, eyeballing Savannah up high! Just then, she thrust a nut towards him from her vantage point, trying to hit him, but Alliyah and her athleticism saw it coming, and managed to bat it away! “SAVA….”

He rolls over, mumbling again, sounding a bit more clear, ““All hands #^&*(*&% Conductor …….! St%^* prepare 4 ^%(On one …..gency pro*&^e!” He continued to mumble, as it seemed he was frightened in his slumber!

“Robert!” Alliyah spoke with a stern, gentle voice!

“All*&l@.. secure your#4(*s ………! Lean 4w&*...., Heads 4…., $6#(&^ between …… k^%3es!” he continued, with a complete lack of understanding, but some of his words were heard! His sisters were both increasingly concerned!

WOOOOOOOO WOOOO WOOOO!!!! WOOOOOOOO WOOOO WOOOO!!!

“ROBERT!!” Both girls screamed, as Alliyah was gently shaking him, trying to yell over the passing train!!

Suddenly he screams… “ALL HANDS! BRACE FOR IMPACT ON 3! 2! ONE!”

“ROBEEEERT!!” Both girls screamed as the train cleared the passing, suddenly Robert rolled over again, as the girls were trying to gently shake him awake! He flopped off the table top onto the bench, and continued onto the ground, as he woke up during the fall, and he jolted to life, jumping up from the ground…

“I HAVE TO STOP THE RUNAWAY TRAIN!!” Robert screams in complete paranoia!! “I HAVE TO STOP ….”

“ROBERT… “ Both girls screamed back, “you were having a nightmare!!”

Realizing he’s awake now, he repeats more calmly, telling both his sisters, “No, no… It was real! I have to stop the Runaway Train!!” He claimed, with a sheer ghostly look upon his face!