Ranger Bill xx-xx-xx (197) The Runaway Railroad
"Ranger Bill" is a classic Christian radio program from the 1950s, produced by Moody Radio.
The show features over 200 episodes and stars Miron Canaday as Ranger Bill, a forest ranger in the fictional town of Knotty Pine, located in the Rocky Mountains. Alongside his friends Stumpy Jenkins and Grey Wolf, Ranger Bill tackles various adventures and moral dilemmas, often with a strong Christian message.
The show remains a beloved piece of old-time radio history and is still enjoyed by many fans today.
Listen to our radio station Old Time Radio https://link.radioking.com/otradio
Listen to other Shows at My Classic Radio https://www.myclassicradio.net/
Entertainment Radio | Broadcasting Classic Radio Shows | Patreon
Remember that times have changed, and some shows might not reflect the standards of today’s politically correct society. The shows do not necessarily reflect the views, standards, or beliefs of Entertainment Radio
The show features over 200 episodes and stars Miron Canaday as Ranger Bill, a forest ranger in the fictional town of Knotty Pine, located in the Rocky Mountains. Alongside his friends Stumpy Jenkins and Grey Wolf, Ranger Bill tackles various adventures and moral dilemmas, often with a strong Christian message.
The show remains a beloved piece of old-time radio history and is still enjoyed by many fans today.
Listen to our radio station Old Time Radio https://link.radioking.com/otradio
Listen to other Shows at My Classic Radio https://www.myclassicradio.net/
Entertainment Radio | Broadcasting Classic Radio Shows | Patreon
Remember that times have changed, and some shows might not reflect the standards of today’s politically correct society. The shows do not necessarily reflect the views, standards, or beliefs of Entertainment Radio
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FunTranscript
00:00Ranger Bill, warrior of the woodland, struggling against extreme odds, traveling dangerous
00:22trails showing rare courage in the face of disaster, in the air, on horseback, or in
00:41a screaming squad car. Ranger Bill, his mind alert, a ready smile, unswerving, loyal to his
00:59mission. And all this in exchange for the satisfaction and pride of a job well done.
01:12Hello there boys and girls, this is Ranger Bill. That's the sound you may never have heard before,
01:26one of the most mournful, lonesome, and yet friendly sounds in the whole world. It's a
01:33locomotive whistle, the old-fashioned kind that was part of a coal-burning steam engine. There
01:39are a few in active service here and there, but for the most part they've been replaced by modern
01:44electric or diesel engines. There was always something exciting and romantic about those old
01:51locomotives, huffing and puffing, blowing off steam, then whistling for the crossings. Did
01:57you know that the locomotive had more to do with the expansion of our country than any other one
02:02thing? Well it did, opening up new territory as fast as the tracks were laid. Today I'm going
02:09to tell you a strange tale about one of the last of those old locomotives. I call it The Runaway Railroad.
02:18Well, there it is. We've climbed uphill and downdale for ten days to get here, and now all there is to
02:39see is a bunch of old fallen-down shacks and shanties. This is a ghost town, ragweed, end of
02:45the line. Who lives there? Nobody, nobody except you and me, and we just moved in. You just moved
02:52in, I'm moving out. You planning to walk back where we came from? It's a long way. Walk? I forgot that.
03:00Yeah, you old-time railroad boomers hate to walk. Stick around with me and you'll ride back in style.
03:06Huh? How do you figure? Told you I had a surprise for you. Come along. There's a sign that says
03:15Hotel and another General Store, and there's one that says Barbershop, but nobody around
03:24anywheres. Makes me uneasy. Forget it. A couple of hard-bitten railroaders like us aren't spooked
03:31by a ghost town. Now wait till I smash this old rusty padlock. Hey, what's in here? This is the
03:38only big building in the whole town. You'll see. There, now help me open up these big doors.
03:46Why, it's a... It's a railroad, that's what it is. A locomotive, a coal tender, a combination
04:01baggage car, and day coach. All that's left of the old Rimrock, Rawhide, and Ragweed Railroad.
04:07Yeah, the old R, R, and R. I've heard about it all my life, and I've been a railroader for 40
04:15years. The three R's was what they called it. The railroad without a single mile of level track.
04:22Right. That rolling stock must be 60 years old. Wrong, 76 years old. Well, now that we've had a
04:32good look at this here railroad train, what are we gonna do about it? We're going to take it.
04:51Come all you ramblers, if you want to hear the story about a brave engineer. Casey Jones was
05:03the rambler's name on a six-eight wheeler. He won, he failed. Henry, you don't sing good,
05:11but you sure sing loud. Then let's have another verse. Sure. Think you can remember the tune?
05:17The caller called Casey at half past four. He kissed his wife at the station door. He mounted
05:24to the cabin with his orders in his hand, and took his farewell journey to the promised land. Oh,
05:30Casey Jones and his ensemble. Casey. Boy, I'm all out of breath. No wonder, you sure were hollering.
05:41I had to holler to drown out that music. Boy, I sure do like that song though. You know, I've never
05:48seen a locomotive or a railroad like the one Casey drove. Ain't many left, if any. I know. Boy, I sure
05:56would like to ride on one. Boy, smoke billowing out of the stack and steam hissing, those big
06:01driving wheels pounding along. Them days is gone. Yeah, I suppose. All we can do is read about them
06:09in books. That ain't the same as seeing them or riding them. Of course, the ladies in their white
06:14summer dresses used to get powerful discombobulated. Cinders, you know. The old D, L, and W had a poem
06:22about it. See Phoebe Snow all set to go upon a trip to Buffalo. All dressed in white, she is a sight
06:30upon the road of anthracite. Good for Phoebe. Say, what became of all those old locomotives,
06:39Stumpy? Oh, sold for scrap iron, I reckon. Well, I guess I'll never get a chance to ride on one.
06:46Ain't likely. Them real old stackers is gone. If I ever could find one, though, it'd be worth plenty.
06:52Sure, plenty.
07:05You off your rocker, an old locomotive like this ain't worth a nickel.
07:09On the contrary, Boomer, I never made more sense in my life. We're going to steal this locomotive.
07:14Why? And by the way, how? Why? Because if we can get this train just as she is down out of these
07:22mountains and near the mainline tracks of any modern railroad, I can sell it for plenty. Sell it
07:29to another crazy man? John Farmer, that's me. John Farmer keeps his eyes and ears open.
07:35I know two or three multi-millionaires that collect these things. Fact! If we get this rig
07:42down to the mainline, I'll just let those gentlemen know it's there and I can name my
07:46own price and sell to the highest bidder. But who owns the railroad? I suppose the mining company.
07:53This was a lead mining town, that's why they built the railroad. 37 miles of track, all mountain
08:00grading. We're about four miles higher than Rimrock, which is the town at the other end of
08:05the line, where it joins with the big railroads. But the company owns it. Ah, they've forgotten
08:10about it. Now look, we're both railroaders. We'll tinker with this locomotive, get her to running,
08:17take a look at the track, and zoom down the mountain slick as a whistle.
08:33Your morning mail, Bill. Only one letter. Oh, thanks, Ravel.
08:38New York postmark. Probably some tourist complaining because the bears in the
08:42national park area aren't as big as the ones he expected.
08:48Oh, that's a funny one. Funny how? This letter, it's from some man back east.
08:54The letterhead looks as though he was a big railroad executive. He says,
08:59I understand there will shortly be an antique locomotive up for sale in your territory.
09:04As a collector, I would appreciate having an opportunity to present a bid.
09:08Would be glad to wire you five thousand dollars on option if...
09:13Maybe joke. No, I don't think so. I've heard of this man. He does buy old trains as collector's
09:20items. But we don't have any old locomotives lying around loose, do we? All diesel now.
09:26Iron horse gone for good. Sure. I'll drop him a line, tell him he must be mistaken.
09:32You remember old three R's? Yeah, that tooted his last toot about 1910, I guess.
09:38The lead mines were finished. It was finished. Quite a railroad in his day, though. Steepest
09:43gradient of any line in this country. Ah, need good break. I'll say. On railroad,
09:48maybe what rich man want. Oh, the old three R's either been junked or scrapped,
09:54for just plain rusted away to dust long before this.
10:10I can't believe it. Hardly a speck of rust on it. It's this dry mountain air. No moisture,
10:15no humidity. We'll have this stacker moving in a couple of days.
10:19Well, as long as the beans and bacon hold out, I suppose we're okay. Hand me that spanner.
10:26Right.
10:30Boiler don't seem to leak none. How much steam you got on?
10:33Full head. Even left the storage bin full of coal. Hock full of them, was it not?
10:39Yeah. Only one thing worries me, though. Oh, what's that?
10:44Them rails. How do we know they're still there and not rusted out?
10:49I walked the whole 37 miles of track before I teamed up with you.
10:54I carried a butterfly net, let on I was a naturalist.
10:58Those tracks are quite adequate. A little wobbly here and there, but they'll hold.
11:03I thought you hired me as a fireman. I did.
11:06This is a two-man job. I can't take this traveling foundry down those mountains all by myself.
11:11I need you to do a coal and help with the breaking. You scared, Boomer?
11:16No, I ain't scared of any stretch of track that was ever built.
11:20It's just that, well, I don't like this stealing idea.
11:23I told you.
11:25I know what you told me. A boomer wanders around and does any kind of a job there is on a railroad,
11:30but, well, stealing...
11:32Hand me that Stillson wrench.
11:34Here.
11:35You just shovel that coal next week and let me do the worrying.
11:39When you cook supper tonight, be sure to use dry wood.
11:41Dry wood, you understand? I don't want any smoke.
11:58My grandfather tell me his father tell him,
12:01when Iron Horse first come, so many buffalo, sometime train have to stop.
12:06And buffalo go by.
12:08Maybe buffalo were bigger then.
12:09Oh, buffalo same size, but many more.
12:13Well, boy, the engineer must have had a dangerous job.
12:16That's right, Henry. Sometimes Indians shoot arrow at locomotive.
12:19Try to stop train with arrow.
12:20But the trains kept going.
12:23Say, Gray Wolf, are there any old trains still running around here, I mean?
12:28No, all gone.
12:30Last old train around here called Three R's.
12:34Three R's? Read and write and arithmetic?
12:37No, Rimrock, Rawhide and Ragweed.
12:42Train run from mining town of Ragweed, way up in mountains,
12:46down through town of Rawhide to town of Rimrock,
12:48where railroad stop and join big railroad.
12:52All winding track, all steep grade.
12:54Oh, it must have been fun to write on that.
12:58You write, Henry.
12:58But you said that the Three R's isn't in existence anymore.
13:02All finish.
13:03Well, where did they keep the train when they weren't using it?
13:07Railroad yards up at Rawhide, I think.
13:09Do you suppose that it's still there?
13:12Ah, mining company on railroad tracks, town, mine, everything.
13:17Mine were out, company go up a new mine someplace else.
13:22Ragweed only goes town now. Nobody lives there.
13:25How far is it from here?
13:27Well, maybe one day, two day hike across mountain, all uphill.
13:32I'm just the same. I think I'll ask Bill if he'll let me hike over there.
13:37I'd at least like to see an old train like that.
13:40All you find is rusty tracks.
13:42Probably.
13:43But if there is a locomotive there, I ought to be able to find it.
13:59You got the grease cups all packed?
14:01Sure.
14:02It's like in another day or so, we'll be ready to roll.
14:05You got a nice head of steam up.
14:06I can see you kept busy while I was gone.
14:09Nothing else to do.
14:11I got those letters mailed.
14:12Those rich gents.
14:14Airmail specials.
14:15They'll be waiting for us at Rimrock.
14:17We can make a deal and be on our way before anybody knows what's up.
14:21Um, anybody get suspicious when you walk into Rawhide?
14:25No, I took that butterfly net along.
14:27They think I'm just another goofy naturalist.
14:30I, um, I did one thing while you was gone.
14:35What?
14:37Well, it seemed like to me if we was going to run this train,
14:41we might as well run it right.
14:42So I, I fixed the whistle.
14:46No harm in that.
14:48We might want to shoo a stray cow off the track.
14:50Yeah, I want to hear it.
14:52Go ahead.
15:00Sure, you can go, Henry.
15:16You're old enough to take care of yourself in the mountains.
15:19Follow the trails, read your map frequently.
15:22And if you strike cross country, use your compass.
15:24I will.
15:25It's good weather now.
15:26A little dry, but pleasant days and cool nights.
15:30Be sure and put out your campfire thoroughly.
15:33Okay.
15:33Don't eat any berries.
15:34You can't identify as edible.
15:36And be sure and allow yourself plenty of rest every night.
15:39Oh, I will.
15:39Don't be disappointed if you don't find any old locomotivator, as Stumpy calls it.
15:45And, uh, we'll expect you back in about five days.
15:48Oh, one other thing, Henry, uh, have a good time.
15:51I will.
16:03Now explain to me again how them there brakes work.
16:06It'll make me feel better going down them there hills.
16:09Nothing but curves and switchbacks and bends and turns and every inch of it downgrade.
16:15Well, you see these big curved pieces of metal?
16:18Uh-huh.
16:19And those are the brake shoes.
16:21And when we want to slow down, we just turn those iron wheels up at the sides of the cab.
16:26And that gradually tightens these shoes.
16:28And there's your brakes.
16:30Works wonderful.
16:31You mean they did work wonderful the last time this here engine was used.
16:34But there must be...
16:35It's a kid.
16:36Yeah.
16:37Hello, young man.
16:38What do you want?
16:40Well, uh, I heard that, uh, maybe there just might be an old locomotive up here.
16:45Well, since I happen to be interested in old locomotives, I hiked up to see for myself.
16:50Well, uh, go ahead and take a look.
16:52Thanks.
16:53I was sure hoping I'd see a locomotive.
16:56Everybody kept saying I wouldn't.
16:58This sure is an old-timer, isn't it?
17:01Yeah, she's what's called an old stacker.
17:04How long ago was she built?
17:06Oh, maybe 75, 80 years ago.
17:09Mind if I climb up in the cab?
17:12No, no, go ahead.
17:13Thanks.
17:14What are we gonna do?
17:15It's me.
17:16What'd that kid have to come up here for?
17:18I don't suppose he's spied?
17:19Him? No, he's too innocent.
17:22Why, this is awful interesting.
17:25What are you, uh, what are you doing?
17:27Getting this thing ready for a museum?
17:29How are you gonna get it down from here?
17:30Hey, look, uh, kid, uh, what'd you come up here for?
17:34Just to look for a locomotive.
17:35That the only reason you came?
17:37Why, sure, I...
17:39Who came with you?
17:40Nobody.
17:41I came alone.
17:42Your folks know where you are?
17:44Why, sure.
17:45My guardian said it was all right for me to come.
17:47Who's he?
17:48Forest Ranger.
17:49The Ranger?
17:50The law.
17:52Well, I guess you men are busy working on that engine, so I'll...
17:56Well, I'll just go on back home.
17:58Go home and tell the Ranger we're fixing to steal this here train.
18:02Boomer, boomer.
18:03So long.
18:03I ought to be getting back.
18:04Catch him, don't let him get away.
18:09Gotcha.
18:10Try to run away.
18:11What are you gonna do with me?
18:13Well, one thing we're not going to do is to let you go home and spill the beans.
18:17Boomer here, let the cat out of the bag.
18:19No, we don't dare let you get away.
18:21You take off his shoes, he won't go far.
18:23In fact, we can use you to do some cooking.
18:26I hear another letter from same man wrote before.
18:44Big railroad man.
18:46See, name here on corner of envelope.
18:48Oh, sure.
18:49You're the one with a good memory, Graywolf.
18:52I answered that first letter, told him I didn't know of any locomotive for sale.
18:57Now, let's see what he has to say this time.
19:00Beg to differ.
19:02I've received letter with definite offer of antique locomotive.
19:06Please investigate.
19:08See if offer is genuine.
19:10Locomotive to be on display at railroad siding near town of Rimrock.
19:15Graywolf, he says there's to be a locomotive on sale tomorrow over at Rimrock.
19:20We'd better take a ride over there.
19:22Certainly sounds crazy, but it might be worth looking the situation over.
19:26Now, I've got to keep a level head and try to figure a way out of all this.
19:40I can't get my shoes, that's for sure.
19:43You know, I've got to get word to Bill somehow.
19:47Well, let's see.
19:49Those two men are over at the shop, not paying attention to me.
19:52That's good.
19:54Here I am in the cook house cooking their beans and bacon.
19:59Hey, that fire gives me an idea.
20:02The still day or up high here.
20:06I need some green branches, the kind that make a lot of smoke when they burn.
20:11Yeah, plenty on these bushes right outside the window here.
20:19Now, I'll just stuff them in the stone.
20:24Yeah.
20:26There.
20:27Now, I'll use a damper to stop and release the smoke.
20:31See if I can send a smoke signal for help.
20:34So if I can only remember what Graywolf taught me.
20:39Let me see.
20:42One small puff.
20:44Another small puff.
20:46And then...
20:53North, northwest, north, northwest.
21:01You've been standing on this porch for five days now.
21:05Every chance you get, stare north, northwest, north, northwest.
21:10What ails you, Graywolf?
21:12Henry go that way on hike.
21:14Should come back from same way.
21:16I watch Henry do back today.
21:18He'll make it.
21:19I watch just the same.
21:21He never got lost yet.
21:23He'd do back today.
21:25Should be here now.
21:26Maybe start to go fishing.
21:28Maybe just skylarking.
21:30Henry, do back today.
21:31Yeah, sure.
21:34Well, I got a mighty pretty day for a hike.
21:37Not one single solitary cloud in the sky in area one.
21:41Nope, not a cloud in the sky.
21:44Except for them teeny-weeny little ones way, way up there by the top of that mountain.
21:50You see them, Graywolf?
21:51Straight over northwest.
21:54Hey, what you got an arm for?
21:57They're not clouds.
21:58That's smoke signal.
21:59It say in danger, need help.
22:07I hope somebody sees these signals.
22:10I've been setting them for over an hour now.
22:12So that's what you're up to?
22:14Trying to send some sort of message, huh?
22:16Well, I don't think anyone would see it, but I've got to play it safe.
22:20I was going to give you back your shoes just before we took off in the locomotive.
22:25But now that you've pulled this trick, there's only one thing I can do.
22:30What's that?
22:30Take you with us.
22:41Ready, Boomer?
22:42Right.
22:42I will be as soon as I tie this boy to this pipe.
22:47Yeah, all right.
22:48You ready with the brake wheel?
22:49Yeah, all right.
22:50Here we go, down the mountain.
23:01Ah, runs like a breeze.
23:03We'll be going downhill in another minute.
23:07Hey, boss, back there.
23:08Three men on horseback.
23:10They're yelling at us.
23:11Graywolf is stopping.
23:12Bill!
23:12Hey, Bill!
23:13I'll fix them.
23:16A locomotive cannot run a horse any day.
23:19We'll be down the hill and gone before they can get started.
23:22Here we go.
23:39Two minutes too late.
23:41We're not beaten yet.
23:42Henry's on that train, remember?
23:44Looked like he tied there.
23:45Yeah.
23:46What we do now, Bill?
23:47Well, we can't chase a train along the tracks on horses,
23:50but there's one thing we can do.
23:51What's that?
23:52This train has to wind around and around to get down the mountain.
23:55But on horses, we can go straight down.
23:57And that's what we'll do to get ahead of the train.
24:00Yes, sir!
24:00Let's get going!
24:14How's the cold?
24:15Plenty.
24:15Water and steam?
24:16Okay.
24:17Good.
24:19That posse.
24:20Yeah, those friends of yours, they must be 20 miles behind us by now.
24:33They haven't gotten this far yet.
24:35See, the rust on those old tracks is undisturbed.
24:38Now throw some brush on that pile, Stumpy.
24:40No brush pile on tracks, no stop train.
24:42Of course not.
24:43We don't dare wreck a real barrier.
24:45We can't run the risk of wrecking the train.
24:47A brush pile is to serve as a warning,
24:48to let these men know that we mean business and want that train stopped.
24:52Here she comes!
24:54Wave your hats.
24:55See if it'll make them come to their senses and stop this train.
25:10Now watch!
25:12Straight down the mountain this time, all the way.
25:14Down to Rimlock.
25:15We can beat that train there by 10 minutes.
25:17Yes, sirree!
25:18Ride them, cowboy!
25:19Let's get!
25:34Oh, well, boy, we sure made fools out of your pals.
25:37They look mighty silly waving their hats there beside the track,
25:40trying to scare us with their little brush pile.
25:44Boss, she's picking up a lot of speed.
25:46Oh, the grade gets steeper and steeper from here on.
25:50She's going fast.
25:51Okay, let's turn those brake wheels.
25:53All right.
25:54Now turn your wheel.
25:55I am, I am.
25:57Turn it harder.
25:58She's not slowing down.
26:00I'm turning it as hard as I can.
26:03Well, turn it harder.
26:04Boss, I can't.
26:09But, boss, the brakes, they're smashed.
26:11No, we ain't got no brakes.
26:13We ain't got no brakes.
26:26We made that curve.
26:28We'll never make the next one, boss.
26:30Not at this speed.
26:30Shut up.
26:32I'm gonna jump.
26:32At this speed, you're crazy.
26:35Here comes another curve.
26:36Oh, I can't look.
26:42Yeah, well, we made that one.
26:44We'll never make the next one.
26:46Here it comes.
27:02Hey, ain't you driving?
27:03Nothing to drive with no brakes.
27:05What can I do?
27:06You could pray.
27:08I don't know how.
27:10Pray for me, kid.
27:11Me, too.
27:12You know what, Jesus?
27:14If it be your will, guide this train safe down the mountain.
27:17Keep it from being wrecked.
27:19These men have done wrong.
27:21I think they're willing to pay the penalty for that, boss.
27:23Amen.
27:24I say amen, too.
27:25So, if it be thy will, Lord, save us all.
27:27Amen.
27:29You can see the town down there, far below.
27:32Yeah.
27:32I'm going to blow the whistle.
27:35What good will I do?
27:36Well, I can at least blow the alarm.
27:37People can get out of our way.
27:39Yeah.
27:42We're going faster than ever now.
27:44Yeah, we're going faster than ever.
27:46Blow the whistle.
27:48It's coming on to the main line!
28:13Get off the track!
28:15Get back, everybody!
28:16Get off the track!
28:17Look out!
28:18Here she comes!
28:19Please!
28:28Henry!
28:30Glad to see you, boy.
28:32I thank the Lord I do see you alive and well.
28:35Oh, the Lord brought us down that mountain.
28:37He sure did.
28:39Hey, where are we?
28:40Out on the main line.
28:42When we saw how you were tearing down that mountain,
28:44we realized your brakes were gone,
28:46and I wired both ways and had the track clear down the main line.
28:50Set the switch, and you had a clear track to coast on until you came to a stop.
28:55You, Ranger Bill?
28:56Yes, I am.
28:58Well, my partner and I here, we want you to take us to the sheriff.
29:03I guess we have something to tell him.
29:16And that's that, boys and girls.
29:18Only God's hand could have brought that runaway train safely down the mountain
29:22after the brakes were smashed.
29:24John Farmer and Boomer learned a lesson they'll never forget.
29:28And Henry, well, Henry managed to get his locomotive ride after all,
29:33even though it didn't turn out the way he quite expected.
29:36Well, see you next week for more adventure with...
29:40Ranger Bill!