Characters and Setting
What was the name of the cat that came along with Jimmy and his dad to the M&K?
Amos
What is W.P. expanding the brick shop for?
The diesel
What does Mike, Jimmy's brother, think about diesels?
He thinks they are unrealistic.
Where did the train explosion come from?
What did they first suspect the explosion came from?
The nearby cement plant
What does Mary Etta (Jimmy's mom) think about Jimmy going to the railroad that day?
She thinks Jimmy shouldn't skip school to go with his dad to work.
What is a furlough?
a temporary, unpaid leave of absence, usually due to budget cuts or a lack of work (similar to a layoff)
What was the name of the train Jimmy's brother Bill was supposed to be on?
The 7049 (extra points if you included it going to Tunnelton)
When did Bill drop out of school to work on the railroad?
1938
What did Mike say towards W.P. that surprised Jimmy?
He cussed towards his dad.
What is a train trestle?
A bridge for trains to travel on across a river.
Fill in the blank: The ______'s in the Cannon blood.
railroad
Who was the engineer that died in the train explosion?
David Fisher
Where does Jimmy's dad have his watch calibrated every week?
Watson's Store
What does Jimmy's brother Bill think about being a fireman?
He thinks it is boring.
What does the B&O railroad stand for?
Baltimore and Ohio railroad
What age is Jimmy's dad turning in this chapter?
66
Who was the train's fireman that died in the train explosion?
Willie Garrison
How high did the boiler explode into the air? (Hint: lower than 60, higher than 20)
About 40 feet in the air
Why does Jimmy want to be a machinist and not an engineer?
Machinists fix the engines' problems, but they don't have to try and stop the trains, unlike engineers.
What is the job of a fireman on a steam train?
They keep the fire and boiler steam on the train going.
Fill in the blank: "A hundred and ______ men work on this railroad, and a hundred of them are going to lose their jobs within the next __ months." (pg. 121)
fifty, nine