Railroad Stories #12: The Silver Switch Key

Railroad Stories #12: The Silver Switch Key was published by Bold Venture Press in late 2023. I've enjoyed the publisher's efforts on producing these compilation volumes containing vintage stories from the railroad pulps. The lead novel in this book is The Silver Switch Key, a serial that was originally published over a five-month period in the 1931 issues of Railroad Man's Magazine. It was authored by Wilson Wells, a writer that contributed five short stories to the magazine in 1931 along with the novel serial.

Protagonist Bob Martin is employed by Gila County as sheriff. But it's a job that Martin doesn't particularly enjoy or want. When the book begins Martin has been in the lawman role for four months watching fruit trains climb the two-percent grade out of town daily. The partial reason for Martin's dejection is that he was born a railroad man. For 15 years Martin rode the rails as an accomplished and experienced railroader. However, Martin was fired by the railroad committee after liquor was found in his possession. This event is the key element to the novel – Martin's ultimate redemption from being framed by a criminal.

Through a conversation with his friend Frank, Martin explains that he was in love with Janet, the daughter of the railroad's vice president. But, a wealthy land baron named  Thomas had his eyes on Janet in a way to politically attach himself to the lucrative railroad. By making a play for Janet while simultaneously framing and disgracing Martin, Thomas set himself up as Janet's fiance.

Martin receives word that Janet, Thomas, and his family are arriving in town on a private car. But, Janet sends word to Martin that she desperately needs to meet him on the train. Once the narrative gets steamrolling a murder mystery is unveiled involving a railroad detective and the passengers on the private car. With Martin's help, Janet hopes to learn more about Thomas and his family and who is killing who. It is Martin's chance to not only redeem himself by exposing Thomas as a criminal but also a new lease on life to reacquire his former lover and job.

I'm not sure how prolific Wells was as an author but he certainly had a talent for writing an interesting murder mystery. This long train ride is ripe with scandal, intrigue, and enough suspicion to fill an ocean. Martin's good-guy persona isn't overdone and the fact that his redemption is central to the story was a clever addition. I really enjoyed riding the rails with all of the characters and the frenzied race to uncover the secrets behind the prized silver switch key was well worth the price of admission. Recommended. Get a copy of it HERE.