THE LAST ZEPHYR

A thrilling release authored by C.B. Blackforest following passengers through a perilous journey of survival when the Yellowstone Caldera explodes trapping them in the famed Moffat Tunnel.

A portion of the proceeds benefit the Colorado Railroad Museum.

About The Author C.B. Blackforest

CB (Conductor Brad) is a real conductor currently working on passenger trains in Colorado. He has spent a career delighting people as they travel on fantastic journeys by rail through some of the most exciting parts of America. The Last Zephyr is really just a continuation of that passion.

Early in his passenger railroading career he worked in Washington State. On September 11th, 2001, CB was a conductor on the only train that left, and then returned, to the United States after a terrorist attack knocked down the twin towers in New York, and killed thousands. The Federal government asked Amtrak to run from Seattle to Vancouver B.C. Canada to pick up diplomates and others who’s planes had been diverted from U.S. airspace. CB was in the line-up to work that train.

On the trip back to the American mainland that evening, with a train full of weary and bewildered passengers, CB felt trapped. The world he had known until that morning was gone. What lay ahead was unknown and frightening. Bradley Fighting Vehicles and soldiers were stationed at grade crossings. Military jets screamed by overhead. A cold west wind drove dark waves into the shore along Chuckanut Drive. Everyone on the train felt trepidation – but also resolve. Resolve to weather the storm and press on together, regardless of what the future might hold. The Last Zephyr is a story designed to capture some of the energy and emotion of that fateful day and its aftermath.

CB created this story to also highlight some of the wonderful places and experiences found aboard, and along the route of his trains. For CB, geology in the west is a big portion of the fun. The ability to visit, touch, and experience the daunting power of our earth is what draws passengers to places like Rocky Mountain National Park, Glenwood Springs, and other destinations.

Now, at the twilight of his time as a professional railroader, CB shares stories, real and imagined, in conversation on trains and on the written page, that give color and excitement to the rails. In that sense, the ride with CB has only just begun. All Aboard!

Advance Praise

Buy The Last Zephyr

When a train full of passengers gets stuck deep inside Moffat Tunnel underneath Colorado's Continental Divide during a natural disaster, their first impulse is to free themselves by leaving the tunnel in order to get to safety. But wait – could it be that being inside the confines of a high mountain range is the very reason for their initial survival? Under the intrepid leadership of Conductor Nicholas Jay, the Zephyr crew and passengers devise a daring plan to reach what is left of civilization after a cataclysmic volcanic eruption in Yellowstone destroys everything within a five-state radius. This story of resilience and teamwork in the face of almost certain annihilation is for adventure lovers, train fans, and anyone else who believes that hope is instrumental in the struggle for human survival.

A portion of the proceeds benefit the Colorado Railroad Museum.

FAQs

  • Alder Press is a publishing company owned by Conductor Brad that focuses on stories surrounding railroading.

  • When a train full of passengers gets stuck deep inside Moffat Tunnel underneath Colorado's Continental Divide during a natural disaster, their first impulse is to free themselves by leaving the tunnel in order to get to safety. But wait – could it be that being inside the confines of a high mountain range is the very reason for their initial survival?

  • A portion of the proceeds go to the Colorado Railroad Museum.

  • Contact us below to let us know if you have a railroad story you’d like to be published!

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