I’ve been fascinated with the railroad for as long as I can remember. When I was young, a cold Sunday afternoon was often spent hanging out with my parents in the family room, where they would watch an old movie that happened to be on television. Back then, there were no videos (VHS, DVD, or any other kind), satellite TV, or streaming. We didn’t even have computers, and our telephones were actually attached to the wall.
One movie stood out. It was called This Property is Condemned, starring Natalie Wood and Robert Redford. The story was narrated by a young girl, Willie, played by Mary Badham—Scout Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird.
The setting is a small Mississippi railroad town in the 1930s. It was a tragic, dramatic movie that left me feeling sad and empty inside. I don’t remember much, except at the end, Willie finishes the narration as she walks along abandoned tracks.
I didn’t grow up around the railroad unless you consider BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) a train. Since moving to Tennessee, trains have been as common as fireflies. And that sad, empty feeling comes back every time I hear the wail of its whistle in the middle of the night. I think it’s because of that old movie. It’s amazing how something so insignificant can cling to our psyche, isn’t it?
As it happens, one of the first people we befriended here in Tennessee was Kenny who spent his entire career working for the railroad—and he loved it. He would regale us with his stories, making it seem like every day was an adventure.
A few years ago, I was writing a short story as a preorder gift for Shadow Dancing and decided to do a prequel starring Bekah’s parents—how they met and married in the ’70s. The first thing I did was search for some catastrophic occurrence that took place in Tennessee at the time so I could weave it into the story to add an element of drama.
That’s when I learned of the Waverly derailment, which tragically killed 16 people and injured another 43 on February 24, 1978. I texted Kenny, and he knew details I couldn’t find on the Internet.
I was so fascinated with this tidbit of information and going back more than fifty years to research the period, I spent hours jotting down notes for a piddly 5,000-word short story. It’s one reason I don’t write historical fiction—I’d lose myself in the research and never get to writing.
When it came time to begin this newest series, I decided the railroad would be the perfect backdrop. I shot Kenny questions via text, interviewed (and recorded him), and still feel as if I know next to nothing. This series isn’t about the railroad, it’s just one component of it. But still, it’s important to get my facts straight, don’t you think?
Next month, I will be releasing the first book in the Norfolk Southern Series. The book is titled Train-Wrecked Hearts. I just received the book cover from designer Hannah Linder, and although I’d love to share it with you, I can’t. Not yet. My newsletter subscribers need to see it first.
Over the next few weeks, in my blog post, I’m going to share some railroad history with you. Maybe you’re an expert—if so, you’ll keep me honest. If not, I hope when I’m done, you’ll be as fascinated with trains as I am.
