Thirty Years Behind the Throttle

After three decades of working on America's busiest commuter railroad, a fourth-generation Locomotive Engineer comes clean. This cohesive collection of short-stories unfolds as the 21st century begins. The Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) is in motion every hour of every day, transporting one of the most diverse cast of characters in the world. For those in the Transportation Department, rotating shifts and odd days off are part of the job, only seniority dictates options.

As society changes, the company shifts priorities. Billions are allocated to new technology and massive capitol projects. Managers who try to hold the line are replaced by those who toe the line. Profitable divisions and dual-mode locomotives aren't the only things cursed by political influence. The work environment dramatically changes as more females enter the field. When trained by men from the previous century, making the transition isn't easy. Will a twisted sense of humor be enough to deal with escalating ridiculousness and disappointment?

• Exclusive to this hardcover edition is Neither Snow nor Gloom of Night. A novella (short story of a long tour of duty) about Montauk, a once-in-a-lifetime blizzard, the releasement of trapped souls, and a broken off-switch.