On advance of time

In Short

Set against the backdrop of the Toledo railway yards, this story follows the intersection of three lives: a proud, quick-witted woman named Elsie Macumber; her father, a veteran railroad engineer; and Sam Dobinski, a scorned hostler driven by spite. When a botched romantic overture spirals into a desperate attempt at murder, the narrative shifts from a domestic standoff to a high-stakes race against a fast-moving express train. It is a period piece of early twentieth-century American fiction that captures the grit of industrial labor and the anxieties of a changing world.

The Story

The narrative opens in the tension-filled atmosphere of the Toledo yards, where Elsie Macumber sharply rejects a marriage proposal from Sam Dobinski. Elsie, the daughter of a long-time Pennsy railroad engineer, dismisses Sam not because of his status as a hostler, but because she lacks any affection for him, famously declaring that she would rather be courted by the devil than marry a man she does not love. Embittered by her rejection and stung by her claims that he lacks bravery, Sam spirals into a drunken rage. He beats a fellow workman in the roundhouse, then retreats to his room to contemplate a violent revenge against the man he blames for his misery: Elsie’s father, Macumber.

The following morning, the Pittsburgh-Detroit Express is running behind schedule. Macumber, operating the express, receives an “advance of time” order, which grants him clear tracks and permission to push the train at maximum speed to make up for lost time. As the express hurtles toward Toledo through a dense, blinding morning fog, Sam executes his plan. He steals a free engine, drives it onto the main track, and manually disables the safety derailer, intending to cause a catastrophic collision that will end the life of the engineer he despises.

Patrick O’Hara, a young and exceptionally bashful brakeman working a freight train nearby, witnesses the engine moving onto the main track. Realizing the disaster about to unfold, O’Hara does not hesitate. He leaps from his own locomotive, sprints toward the drifting engine, and manages to scramble into the cab. Though inexperienced with the controls, he frantically works the throttle and sand pipes to gain traction and move the engine out of the path of the oncoming express.

The tension peaks as Macumber, watching the rails through the fog, suddenly spots the obstruction. He slams on the emergency brakes, the train screaming and shuddering as it nears the point of impact. Just as a collision seems inevitable, O’Hara’s engine picks up enough speed to pull clear of the express. The miracle is complete; the collision is averted, and both trains come to a halt. In the ensuing chaos, Sam Dobinski, suddenly sobered by the gravity of his failed crime, vanishes into the fog.

The story concludes in the quiet aftermath of the near-disaster. Patrick O’Hara, having been hailed as a hero, visits the Macumber home to see Elsie. Macumber, who recognizes O’Hara’s bravery but is exasperated by his bashfulness, finally takes matters into his own hands. He tells O’Hara that he has already used his influence with his daughter and encourages the young man to stop hesitating and finally ask for her hand.

How It Unfolds

A rejection on the rails Elsie Macumber stands her ground at the signal tower, repeatedly dismissing Sam Dobinski’s advances. She remains unmoved by his anger, citing his lack of courage and her own lack of love as the reasons for her refusal.

The descent into rage Sam lashes out at his peers, physically assaulting a coworker and descending into a drunken fury. He begins to view his professional position as a hostler as a weapon, deciding to use a locomotive to strike at Elsie’s father.

The morning of the express Macumber receives orders to make up time, leading to a high-speed run through the fog-bound Maumee valley. Unaware of the danger ahead, he relies on the green signals to clear his path toward Toledo.

The act of sabotage Sam carefully positions a freight engine and lifts the derailer to force a head-on collision. He believes the fog will provide enough cover for him to escape the consequences of his planned murder.

The race against time Patrick O’Hara spots the danger and executes a desperate, life-risking leap onto the sabotaged engine. He struggles to master the throttle, narrowly pulling the engine to safety as the express bears down on him.

The resolution at home The danger passes, and the would-be saboteur flees, never to be caught. Macumber, impressed by O’Hara’s heroism but annoyed by his romantic hesitation, pushes the young couple toward their inevitable union.

The People

Elsie Macumber is a sharp-tongued, independent woman who possesses a clear sense of her own worth. She refuses to settle for a man she does not love, even when that man is a peer within her close-knit railroad community. Her rejection of Sam is a catalyst for the book's violence, yet she remains a figure of stability, waiting for a man who is both brave and worthy of her.

Sam Dobinski is a volatile hostler defined by his deep-seated insecurities. He measures his value by his ability to win over women and his status among his peers; when those are denied him, he turns to dangerous, impulsive spite. He represents the corrosive nature of unchecked anger.

Macumber, the veteran engineer, is the embodiment of professional duty and paternal strength. He is a man of few words and firm habits, who takes great pride in his speed and his ability to master the tracks.

Patrick O’Hara serves as the foil to Sam. He is a giant of a man, physically brave enough to leap onto a moving engine, yet comically bashful in the presence of the woman he loves. He represents the quiet, unassuming courage that contrasts sharply with Sam’s performative and destructive bitterness.

In Its Own Voice

“I would marry the devil, or even a hostler if I was sure I loved him, but if I was dead sure I didn’t love him I wouldn’t marry the guardian angel of Saint Peter, if he was t’ ask me for me heart and hand, and offer me a crown of glory t’ boot.”

Elsie explains the depth of her refusal to Sam Dobinski.

“If the great big handsome ox weren’t such a bashful, blushin’ thing, I could have lined him up weeks ago.”

Elsie muses to herself about her secret desire for Patrick O’Hara.

“Patrick O’Hara, y’ are a big, strong man, and a devil of a brave one to do what y’ did t’other day, but ye are one hell of a coward when it comes to the wimmen.”

Macumber finally calls out the young man's timid behavior during a tense, albeit humorous, domestic meeting.

What It's Really About

The narrative explores the tension between individual agency and the rigid, mechanical nature of the railroad world. Through the "advance of time" order, the book highlights how human ambition and the pressure to perform at high speeds can create volatile environments where a single act of malice—like Sam’s—can have devastating consequences. Underlying the plot is the question of what defines true courage: is it the impulsive bravery of a man jumping onto a runaway engine, or the quiet, internal strength of a woman refusing to marry for anything less than genuine love? The story argues that while mechanical systems can be controlled by engineers, the human heart and the destructive impulses of the scorned remain unpredictable, even in a world governed by strict schedules.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the atmosphere of early 20th-century industrial America will find this a compelling, briskly paced read. It offers a rare window into the culture of the roundhouse, where the soot, the grease, and the specific jargon of the yard create an authentic sense of place. The dialogue is particularly striking, filled with a sharp, colloquial Irish-American lilt that brings the characters to life with immediate, warm vitality.

However, prospective readers should be prepared for the period attitudes embedded in the text. The dialogue reflects the prejudices of its time, particularly in its casual use of ethnic labels and stereotypes, which may feel jarring to a modern reader. Additionally, the plot is driven by a romantic dynamic that places the woman in the position of being "won" by the man, a narrative trope that dominates the ending. Despite these limitations, the book succeeds as a piece of classic railroad fiction. It feels like a genuine relic of a bygone era, capturing the suspense of a high-speed commute and the simple, enduring desire for a happy home. It is a story that balances the heavy, iron-clad reality of the tracks with the soft, persistent hope of a man holding a box of candy and the courage to finally speak his heart.