 Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous trails, fighting the many enemies of nature. This is the job of the guardian of the forest, Ranger Bill. Pouring rain, freezing cold, blistering heat, snow, floods, bears, rattlesnakes, mountain lions. Yes, all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done. Hello, boys and girls. This is Ranger Bill. Have you ever stopped for a railroad crossing when the gates were down and waited for the train to show up, and then all of a sudden along comes a hand car putt-putting away? It's rather a let down to what was expected, isn't it? But nevertheless, the little vehicle saved many hours when the sanctioned hands want to travel short distances. In our story today, the Rangers and I get involved with one of these contraptions that we've been talking about. They come in mighty handy, especially when you need them. No, I'm not going to tell you any more about this story. You'll just have to listen to the hand car race. This is the railroad dispatcher's office at Junction City, the nerve center of the railroad for quite an area round, even as far north as Canyon City. Wilson McFadden, who's been nicknamed Unk, and his staff of highly trained men, keep the trains rolling, and it's also their job to smell trouble and do everything possible to avoid it. Let's get a little inside view of Unk and his boys' hard at work. Hey, Unk, here's trouble. Let me see the teletype. Roy, get me the station agent at Naughty Pine. Here, I thought we were getting a nice spring rain, and now we find out it's storming cats and dogs at Naughty Pine. And don't tell me there's poodles of water all over the place, or I'll throw you out the window. Okay, I'll save the coin. Pick up the phone. All right, things up your way. Pretty nasty, dispatcher. We're getting cloudburst after cloudburst, and it looks like there's plenty left. Okay, thanks for keeping us informed. Goodbye. You think they'll have flash floods up there? I'd say there's a good possibility. I'll reroute the Fireball Express at Centerville. Put them on the southern route. It's too late. She's left Centerville. Ah, how about the freight route? No good, Jim. Stockman's special will just pull under the freight line. They'll be dropping cars at every rancher who's siding for the next day. And we don't have a bypass siding long enough to take the cattle train until they cut out about 40 cars. Roy, get me the engineer on the Fireball. Right on. Seattle Limited's pulling out in three minutes. Which route? Over the high country. You'll be two hours late. That's better than ending up in the bottom of a canyon. Send her over the mountain. Okay. Jim, tell Carl and Pierce to get an engine and caboose and run up to Canyon City. I want all those trestles watched. I'm gonna try and send the Fireball Express through on time and in one piece. Ready to be a guinea pig, Pierce? Yep. Ah, we can always jump if there's a washout. That's right. That's why I picked the oldest iron horse we got. We lose this in the canyon. It won't mean much. Right. Boyd hates to be in unks shoes if he misses on this one. That Fireball's got four hundred aboard. Well, he ain't missed yet, but I guess it's always the first time for everything. Like you say, I'd hate to be in his shoes if he makes a mistake. Ah, well, Unks been in his game a long time. I think he can smell a busted trestle a hundred miles away. I hope so. Well, I don't want Keith to aboard the caboose. We'll shove off. Right. Hold steam ahead and don't spare the horses. We're too far ahead of the Fireball. We gotta kill some time. Okay. What do you say we kill it back in the caboose with a coffee pot? Yeah, suits me fine. Let's go. And don't get wet on the way back. Run between the drops like a side winding. Have air, Keith. Can't see as a recognizer. I mean, neither. They look like a couple of wet hens coming in to get dried up. Should we throw them outside and see how dry they can stay, Carl? No, wait till we come to a canyon full of water. They'll get soaked better that way. How's the coffee, Arthur? Right tolerable. Help yourself. I will. Here, let me fill your cup with this varnish, Pierce. Don't drop any on the floor. It'll probably eat a hole right through the boards. Say, how long's it been since you fellas put new beams on the pods? What are you hollering about? They're only a day or two old. We always change them once a month, whether they need it or not. Sure, far be it from us to waste the company's money. Imagine, Otto, how much it would cost if we put fresh beans in every day. Why does a superintendent put fresh beans in your head if he takes it this stuff? But this is a kind of day when anything hot goes good. Say, Carl, how come you stopped here? Well, why, we're too far ahead of the fireball. This is Flash flood country up here, you know. Now I know why they always put you on the job of testing trestles. What do you mean? Well, we could go along testing trestles and be too far ahead of the express. And then if a flash flood occurred after we passed the trestle and before the fireball crossed it, man, what a mess that would be. You sure know your stuff, Carl. It's just that I'm such a mole, old codger, that I've lived long enough to learn all the tricks of the game. This is rugged country up here and many an inexperienced man's been caught short. If you don't believe me, talk to a ranger sometime. I can believe it. Every time we go over those trestles, I get the shivers. Yeah, it's a long way to the bottom. Yeah, sure is. One good flash flood carrying the right-sized boulders could powder a trestle and nothing flat. Well, we better get going. The old fireball will catch up to us for don't. We've got a straight run through Junction City. Yeah, we ought to be able to pick up five minutes. Hot to, man, we will and then some. Full throttle and we'll do 95. Judd, the signal's flashing on the radio telephone. I get it. It's probably the dispatcher of Junction City. I hope he doesn't give us a take it easy notice. We'll soon find out. Hello, Judd speaking. Judd, this is Onk. Hello, Onk. What's up? Is it raining down your way? No. We're under clouds, but no rain so far. Why? Make up as much extra time as you can. When you pull into Junction City, see me personally. I'll give you orders. Okay, but what's going on up there? There's a bad storm at Naughty Pine. Isn't a trestle buster, is it? I hope not. We'll know more about that by the time you get here. See you then. Okay. What's wrong, Judd? Storm at Naughty Pine. Must be a real humdinger. Wrong to make a special fuss over it. Yeah, and how? Pull all the stops, James. We're going to notch this speedometer close to 100. Push a lot. There's the cabin ahead, fellas. We'll put the horses on the lee side to give them some protection. That's a good idea. Even raincourts not helpful in this one. Whoa, Storm! Oh, boy! Boy, let's get inside the quick. Henry, you go in and start a fire. I'll pull your saddle and blanket. Yes, sir. On the double. Tundus not cut out to be a duck. There's about ready to quit. Yeah, but listen to the rain. Wow. There's plenty heavy downpour. Maybe more water than we need. Beginning to look that way, Grey Wolf. I hope the railroad boys are out testing trestles, testing cases of flash floods. Hey, we're not far from the main line track, are we? No. We'll almost reach out and touch it from the cabin window. This is a good night to be home. It sure is, honey. Ain't fit for man or beast outside. No, siri. There's nothing trouble with this, is there's nothing to do. Who said there ain't? I did. Why? You got your new testament with the angel? Certainly. I intend to get a lot of reading gun to see them. But it's still early. How about playing a game of Scrabble? That's a great idea. Who's got a Scrabble game with them? Henry, you know better than to ask a foolish question like that. Nobody carries Scrabble game in the back, Henry. I didn't think anybody would. We've got enough to carry as it is. Well, now I think the fella who wouldn't carry a Scrabble game might be a little touched in the head. Rod's touched, old driver. None of us has one in his knapsack. Well, now I don't allow us out. That's true, sonny. How do you know none of us has one? Well, you've got me on that one. I don't really know. I'm just assuming. Okay, Stumpy. You can get the Scrabble game out of your pack and we'll play. He's got one? There's your hand, sonny. Not get it out, but I don't think any of you fellas can spell. I suppose you want all the spelling bees when you were in school? Yep, I sure did. You want to challenge me? Sure I do. Get the game out. Well, that's so good, huh, Tom? Yeah, but no, we're getting to the higher-pressure's pierce. And not that the damage would be small if one of the lower-pressure's went out. How far down to the bottom of some of the canyon's ahead? Oh, three, four, five hundred feet. There's one way up ahead there. There's eight hundred feet deep. There's a ranger's cabin right close by. That's how I landmark the deep one. Eight hundred feet deep? Wow. Oh, we'd better look that one over carefully. Yeah, I'll give the passengers parachutes before the fireball crosses it. Why doesn't he give it more gas? We'll never make it up this great if you don't. Well, as long as you keep throwing coal in the firebox and we keep getting steam, we won't have a better trouble getting up this grade. Carl, why are you stalling? Something's on your mind and you're keeping it to yourself. Well, it's the big pressure, son. The one over Cougar Canyon. That thing's been up there since Hector was a pop. Shouldn't that be proof enough that it's sound? Perhaps it should, but I'm dragging my heels just the same. I don't want too much time to lag from the time we cross it until the fireball comes along. How are we going to get out of the way of that fast job? That is a short bypass site and about five miles of the site of the canyon. We'll pull off on it and stand until the express goes by. Remember, Pierce, 400 lives depend on us making sure that vessel will be there when the train gets to it. Yeah, I know. We're just a couple of guys plucking along in an old engine in a rainstorm. Not very many people know we're here. But if we goof this one up, the whole world will know about it. Scrabblehounds, let's call it a draw. It's getting late. Okay, bro. What do you say, stopper? I think so, dude. There must be something wrong with that engine. It should go on slowly. That's a trestle-testing crew, pal. How? Come again? I said that's a trestle-testing crew. Oh, oh, trestle testers. I thought you said wrestle testers. Henry, I think you have too much scrabble, Henry. You punch you from trying to think up and spell words. Wrestle testers. When did you get that one, pal? I just thunk it up. Well, let's have our devotions and turn in. We've got to be on our way up the trail, first thing in the morning. Big trestles right ahead. Who said it? We'll know in a short while if it's going to hold or not. So far, we're all right. I don't see much water in the bottom of the canyon. We shouldn't have any problem then? No, I guess not. The old trestle didn't even sway. I feel better now. So do I. That old fireball's going to be safe and sound as he snorts over this wood pile a mile a minute or better. We'd better head for the side and get out of the way. I sure wish we could go back and stay in the range of cabin. This cab leaves worse than a paper bag full of holes. We'll be able to go back to Junction City in a couple of hours. As soon as the fireball zips by, I'll put this old relic back on the main track and give her full throttle. Jumping? Yeah, you've been listening to that thunder and jumping with every crash. I don't like it. Why? It's only another squall I'm moving in. That's the whole idea. Another squall I mean more cloudbursts. And that means more water in tremendous quantities. What's the difference? The trestle's sound is a lot. We just tested it. You've had that thing in your mind for hours, Carl. How come? I told you how come. That's an old castle. It worries me. Aw, take it easy. We've done our job now. Let's relax until the express goes by. Then we can head for home. Sure. Don't worry about that pile of lumber. It'll stand. Well, I'm not so sure about that. We're going back down there and make sure. Aw, come on. Yes, I want to satisfy myself and everything's all right. Now we might get squabbered by the fireball. Yeah, go here. Now don't talk foolishly. We'll be back up here on the side in plenty of time. Let's go and that's final. Great Scott! Looks like a flash floods at the canyon. Look at the water. Man, alive all say there's water. Now I'm glad we listened to you, Carl. I wonder if the trestle footings are okay now. I don't know. We'll have to stay here and watch it for a while. Did you hear that? The trestle's weakened. How are we going to know if it'll hold the fireball? We'll back this old crate out onto it. How will we get across if it goes down? Who will pay by to stop the express? Well, if the trestle collapses, the rangers will hear the racket and they'll know something's wrong. I'll be glad to go across to the other side on foot and get help from the rangers, Captain. Well, there ain't time. You need up all the valuable time left just walking across the trestle. If we had listened to you, Carl, instead of arguing, we'd have time to get across. Well, let's not waste time being sorry. I'm going to release the break and let the rig roll back onto the trestle. You fellas stand clear now. Make sure you don't get taken along, Carl. Don't worry. I don't have any intention of going down with my ship. You fellas ready for lights out? Yep. I just finished the Gospel of John. Oh, what a wonderful book. I'm through. Send me about halfway through the show, Miss Solomon. You can put light out now, Bill. Okay. Here goes. Good night, fellas. What's that? What's happened? It's been a train wreck. Grab the boat lights. Let's go. Yeah, what's the word, Unk? Can we take off with the fireball? In this case, I'll have to say no news is good news. Now, trust the old testers. I haven't reported anything wrong. I haven't heard a word. If there are any out, they would have been back here by now to tell me. Well, I guess I'd better get the fireball rolling. Right. Keep your ears open for dynamite caps on the track, although the boys would put flares out if there's trouble. Well, keep awake, all right. We've got a full load and quite a few important people aboard. See you later, Unk. Okay. Keep your eye on the radio telephone light in case I have to call you in a hurry. Yes, sir. I'll do that. Al, give the fireball a green light. She's going out on schedule. Jumpin' catfish. The trestle's gone. And how it's gone. And so's an engine and a caboose. There's smage to bits down there. This putty pad. I wonder if crew on train, when it go down. That's hard to say. The word won't make any difference now. Between the crash and the explosion, they didn't have a chance of getting out alive. Hey! Turn your lights across the canyon. I hear voices. There. That train crew. Four men. How'd they ever get over there, safe and sound? What are they doing? Looks like they want us to go back. I've got it. They want us to go back down the track. The fireball express is due along here any time now. You must be joking, sonny. No, I'm not. I don't know how soon it's due, but it'll be along. Just as sure as I'm knee-high to a toadstool. We do something quick, Bill. There's got to be a section hand car along here someplace. Let's start back down the track on the double. Look for a little shed where they keep the hand car. On the double, men. I've worked, Carl. They're going down the track on the run. What a relief. I hope they get far enough. That fireball takes about two miles to stop when it's going full blast. It's a sharp upgrade to the trestle. That'll help. Yes, thank the good Lord for them rangers. They've averted a terrible tragedy. I can't see their lights anymore. I sure hope they make it in time. You know, fellas, we could be praying instead of talking. My heart gets pains when I think of that trainload of passengers. It's sure good to know that everything's all right up ahead, eh, Judd? Yes, sir. Those engines are powerful. Not enough to jump across canyons, though. That gives me the shivers just to think about them. You get jumping on us, sir. And the crew that tests these bridges is made up of old-time railroad men. They can smell a bad trestle on by-law. Oh, I'll be all right, Judd. Especially after we get across the Cougar Canyon Trestle. After that, we won't have a thing to worry about. There's a hand car shed. Oh, good, Bill. I'm glad we found one. Stumpy, stay out here on the track with your light. We'll get the hand car. All right. Stand back while I shoot the lock off. Okay. Now, swing those doors out. All right. Let's get it on the track. That's it. Lift it. Lift it. Lift it, fellas. And hit me. That's it. Okay. Right here. All right. Drop her. Drop the engine. Throw your light over here, pal. Yeah. How's that? That's fine. That must be wet. All right. Yeah. Don't run. Start it, honey. Sit tight. Till I give it one more whirl. Hey, Bill. That's Express coming now. Hold your light closer. I think this lever right here should be up instead of down. Bill, did you hear what I said? Yes, pal. I did. All right. Now we'll try it again. Over. Come on. Let her go. Bill is still going to cross the big trestle. Then you can relax, email boy. Yeah, I'll be glad to. Hey, what are those lights on the track? Lights. Hey, there's four of them. Those are men in the hand car. Four men. There are four men in the trestle testing crew. Don't get excited, son. We have plenty of time to stop. I know. I know, but you'll hit the hand car. Sure. I can't stop any sooner without hurting the passengers. The boys will have to jump. Not yet, pal. Just wait or we slow down. Still got a couple of seconds. And I think they see us, Bill. Shine your lights in the engineer's eyes for a second. You'll see us then. He can't stop me short. Get ready to jump. We have to bestow honor upon you. Honor for your acts of courage that exceeded all expectations. Bill Jefferson, we're putting a new streamliner on this railroad in six months and we're going to call it the Ranger in honor of you and your men. Thank you, Mr. President. We'll be pleased to accept this honor, providing the man who our employees of your railroad receive their share of praise and credit. The employees involved have already received bonus checks and promotions for their part. Tell me, Bill, what compelled you and your rangers to ride that hand car into the path of the Fireball Express? Surely you were aware that you could have been killed. Yes, sir. We were aware of that. But we weighed the value. Four against 400. There was only one decision to make. No alternatives. That's right, Mr. President. We lost the hand car, but we won the race. Almost lost more than the hand car, old-timer. Especially if we'd misjudged the speed of the express. Well, it's an old saying that all's well that ends well. In this case, it's true. See you next week for more adventures with...