27: Passenger

Evelyn had thought the sweeping panorama of breathtaking mountain and ocean scenery visible through the huge sky-view picture windows of the train was astounding as they’d crossed the state towards Los Angeles.

Having made the trip many times in his life, Andrew had grown accustomed to—even numb and occasionally bored by— the incredible beauty of the transcontinental crossing in general, and California in particular. After the years’ long, expensive fight to get the joint venture between the Southern Pacific, Union Pacific and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe railroads off the ground, then six even longer years of mediating disputes and out-negotiating negotiators whenever one of the investors got themselves in a snit over some minute detail, the journey tended to leave him anxious more than awestruck.

It was refreshing to see Evelyn’s childlike wonder. And rewarding in an entirely new way to see her simple gratefulness for the bright sun toiling to warm them the day long in an expansive