Chapter 13 The Legendary Air Brake Trial

The date was August 1st, 880 in the continental calendar. The beginning of the month is a make-or-break day for the two young visionary maverick duos who dreamed of creating an industrial empire using their modern knowledge by introducing modern concepts that are lucrative in the market.

The first technology they introduced is an air brake system designed to prevent any more steam locomotive accidents causing hundreds of deaths.

In the railway junction of Columbus, Poul was staring at the majestic steam locomotive puffing steam out of the smokebox and growling softly like a predator taking its afternoon nap.

It was the first train retrofitted with an air brake and a locomotive draft gear. There were no passengers inside as it was reserved for the potential investors and customers of the Axelsen & Nielsen Air Brake Company.

A young man approached Poul from behind and spoke. "Sir Poul."

"Hmm?" Poul leaned backward, offering him his ears in order to hear the voice better.

"The train will be arriving in three minutes," the young man informed him, referring to a train filled with the wealthy and powerful men of Avalonia.

"Good, we'll wait here," Poul said.

As per the agreement of the two founders, Poul would be the one to meet Mister Morgan and the railroad company owners while Jonathan will stay at the factory, managing things while he is away.

The air brake trial or demonstration was quite simple. Once Mister Morgan and the railroad company owners arrive at the junction, they'll board the train fitted with air brakes and locomotive draft gear, and then take a three-hour journey to Steubenville, Ohio.

Moments later, Poul can now hear the whistling sound of the incoming steam locomotive, its speed slowly decreasing as four brakemen jump from one car to another, turning the wheel that activated the hand brakes until the last car. Poul flinched from watching the brakeman do their job, imagining what could happen if the brakeman fell off the car. No wonder a brakeman had the most dangerous job in history, accounting for 5,000 deaths per year.

Not to mention the fact that they have to stay there from the top of the cars all day long, in the blazing heat of summer and in the freezing cold of winter.

After a jerky process of stopping the train, Poul cracked his knuckles and put on his black barrette and black gloves.

"It's showtime," Poul said walking over to the train to greet the passengers who were currently exiting the carriages.

They were all wearing spiffy outfits, telling whoever saw them that they were rich and loaded.

Poul greeted them with a smile, pushing his glasses up with his couple of fingers, and bowing at them courteously.

"Oh, there you are Poul," a familiar voice rang out from amongst the crowd.

Poul promptly lifted his head up and saw Mister Morgan walking over to him with his wife and daughter.

"Mister Morgan!" Poul extended his hand, offering a handshake. "It's been three months since we last saw each other."

"Indeed it is," Morgan grabbed his hand and shook it.

The behavior Morgan was displaying was different from the one he showed when they first met each other at the station.

"You must be Misis Morgan, a pleasure to see you again," Poul greeted with a smile, shaking her hand.

"To see the man who saved my daughter's life, how can I ever forget you," Amelie Morgan replied happily. "Oh, here's my daughter, Fiona, introduce yourself to Mister Poul."

Poul's gaze flickered to their daughter. Their eyes locked and Poul is sensing something odd from the way Fiona is looking at him. It was like she was in awe, wide-eyed, cheeks blushing, and mouth ajar.

"Fiona?" Amelie called, snapping Fiona out of her trance.

Fiona fiddled with her fingers before introducing herself by lifting the side of her dress, curtsying.

"Uhm…ehh…How do you do? I'm Fiona Morgan..!" she bashfully said.

"May I?" Poul asked for permission from her mother, and she gave him a prompting nod.

Poul got down to his one knee, leveling himself at her height, and placed his hands on his chest formally and began.

"Nice to meet you, Miss Fiona. I am Poul Nielsen," he said with a dazzling smile.

"Ahh..." Fiona brought up her hands to her mouth and mumbled. "My...sweet...prince."

Sir Morgan clicked his tongue after noticing his daughter getting lovestruck at Poul and suddenly grabbed Fiona by the arm, pulling her away from Poul.

"Okay, that's enough. Let me introduce you to my friends," sir Morgan said.

Poul rose to his feet and faced another group of people, greeting them politely.

"These are Adam Wandervilt and Moses Corning. They are the owners of the New York Central Station," Sir Morgan said, introducing Adam and Moses who both wore an expensive-looking three-piece black suit and were holding a cane.

Both of them are old-looking men, probably above seventy or eighty.

Poul extended his arms to offer a handshake but both of them only stared at it, with no intention of shaking it. Instead, Wandervilt spoke.

"If I understand you, young fellow, you propose to stop a railroad train with wind? That's probably the most nonsense thing I have heard in my entire life. But be grateful boy, as I entertain myself to see this demonstration."

Poul simply disregarded his comments nonchalantly as he put down his hand. It seemed they really have no intention to speak.

"Well, if you see it, Mister Wandervilt, you are going to change your mind."

Wandervilt scoffed and moved on.

Sir Morgan introduced another group.

"Representative of the Union Pacific Railroad, Sir Potter Huntington. From the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, Sir Jefferson Garrett. From the Pennsylvania Railroad, Sir Vaughan Merrick…"

Morgan continued introducing the industrial magnates to Poul. It was the biggest honor for him and a great opportunity. He must definitely not fail in this pitch, or else their company's reputation and their dignity will be ruined beyond saving.

It took him fifteen minutes of greeting and introducing himself to the railroad company owners and the moment it was concluded, Poul escorted them to another train.

The crowds entered the steam locomotive retrofitted with an air brake and locomotive draft gear. Once everyone was inside, Poul hopped in and signaled the train to start moving.

And the locomotive started moving, slowly increasing speed as they started their three-hour journey.

The railroad company owners and financiers were in the first car while their families, friends, and colleagues were in the second to the last cars.

The first cabin was filled with smoke produced by their cigars and Poul couldn't help but bear with it.

Along the way, Poul started pitching the product.

"With our air brake, the train can now be stopped faster with a pull of a lever. You don't have to hire a brakeman who jumps from one car to another just to manually apply brakes to each train. Also, may I ask for your opinion about the trip so far?"

"Yes, It's boring!" Wandervilt said and everyone broke into laughter.

"I do," Merrick raised his hand. "The ride has been kind of smooth so far."

Their laughter slowly whittled down as it turned into a mumbling.

"It was also because of another device that we invented. The name of the device is called locomotive draft gear. A device that cushions the pull, push, and stopping force of the train. Now, let's get into the statistics…"

Just as he practiced with Jonathan, Poul eloquently reported the data he gathered from the government and how much they can save from purchasing their product. The question that they raised was similar to Jonathan, so Poul easily answered it.

One hour passed, and as Poul was discussing with the potential customers and investors, the train driver saw a carriage pulled by two horses. The horses panicked from the roaring metal beast. The horses jerked and the wheel of the wagon got stuck on the rails. The horse fell and the wagon overturned. The train driver applied the air brake for the first time since their departure. The wheels of the train skidded on the track, producing sparks and sending up smoke from under the axles.

The wagon driver who sprained his ankle in the middle of the tracks closed his eyes, accepting his fate. He knew that there was no way for a train to stop in time.

Five seconds turned into ten seconds, and yet nothing happened to him. He opened his eyes slowly and saw the train stopped, four feet away from the tip of the cowcatcher.

Meanwhile, inside the cabin.

"What the hell was that? Poul?" Morgan raised his voice as the financiers and railroad company owners staggered up to their feet.

"I don't know, I'm going to look at it," Poul wore his glasses and stepped outside the cabin.

Everyone followed him, curious as to what just happened. Everything happened too fast for them. Poul was just explaining stuff to them until they felt a pushing force that propelled everyone forward. They were moving at around 25 miles per hour and they stopped in just three to four seconds.

Poul ran towards the front. "What the hell just happened?" he demanded.

"Uhm…sir, there was a wagon on the way and so I applied the brakes," the train driver explained.

"What..?" Poul turned to his right and saw the culprit. Four feet away from the cowcatcher.

The locals around the area gathered at the crossroad, chattering to one another as they witnessed something unexpected.

The financiers and the company workers, along with their families and friends saw it too.

Seconds later, the locals erupted into cheers.

"Did you see that?!"

"The train stopped in just four seconds! Unbelievable."

And the cheering went on.

Poul's eyes brimmed with joy, his smile reaching the ends of his ears. He turned around and saw their fascinated faces.

"Well, I hope you all brought your checkbooks," Poul giddily said.