I would like to inspect the fuel tanker and see if there is anything that might pose a hazard or anything unusual about it.

Strangely, it appears that someone has attempted to let the fuel out of the tanker (and the ground smells of fuel). There is an open drainage plug; but something is lodged in it from the inside - perhaps an old piece of metal that got stuck inside. Fortunately, it stopped all of the fuel from draining out, but based on the fuel gauge, the tanker is now at three quarters full.

Is it rust my rawesome canine senses or do you ruys also smell rertilizer? Smells runny tho, not quite rike Jeb's regular rertilizer... I rink the smell's most concentrated around here...

* starts sniffing around and disappears somewhere behind the wagon

Well, isn't that interesting... Let's do a quick head count now so that we know who is and isn't potentially screwing with the Emerald Express. Because another murder will occur if anyone touches my train...

Well no need to waste time, I say we take this thing down the line to the croc.

The group sets off for the fuel tanker not far from old Jeb's farm. A few even get to ride on the hand car along the way (but not Austin ).

( )

*Wakes up* Huh? Whe-Where is everybody gone? Hello? Oh darn, looks like I'm on watch duty.

'Least I feel better now, still got some aches and pains from that boiler explosion but not nearly as bad today.

Pete has proposed a plan. Would anyone else like to follow along?

Yes please.

Wakes up later than the rest, gets dressed and runs after the handcar Hold up guys The Bulldogs a comin.

Is there anyway we can determine what this metal object is blocking the drainage of the fuel tank? Could it be a Johnson Rod?

I'm still here, and I didn't mess with the tanker or commit a murder, I assure you. What a shame that this lovely young lady was killed... Though I still believe that herself and Miss Thornton were the same person. Here's a theory- Jennifer was being held captive during the time that "Elizabeth Thornton" sent out letters to all of us passengers, which were actually pleas of help. Jennifer knew that the train would be passing through Willoughby, and I think that she somehow sabotaged the train so that it would stop in Willoughby so that we could rescue her. She could have an accomplice on-board that sabotaged the train (so that us passengers could help save Jennifer/ Elizabeth). It is also obvious that she knew that we were coming from the various "X" clues around town.

Assuming that someone purposely stopped the train, that leaves a few possibilities. Brakes, Max, and Steve all visited the tender/ engine at some point supposedly to check on the train's functionality. But there was also a passenger who wanted to visit the tender/ engine. My memory is not that great, but wasn't it Bulldog?

I'm not blaming anyone here, but I think that this could be the story. Unfortunately, as noble as stopping the train to save a life was, it appears that we are too late. So, could any of the town residents tell us train passengers why you were holding Jennifer captive in the first place? There is also reason to believe that one of you murdered her, not long ago.

Oh, and I'd like to see if I can pull out that metal thing in the semi, taking a rock or the cap, or even my hand to stop the gas from flowing out.

Can we try the switch combo soon?

Oh, and I'd like to see if I can pull out that metal thing in the semi, taking a rock or the cap, or even my hand to stop the gas from flowing out.

So you blame us townfolk on poor Jennifer's murder, then ask of us? You should re-think that, mister!

I will help you with my semi, but you'd better get y'all act straight, y'all son of a bun!

Hmph!

Why do I sound like Oprah??? - That's the real mystery here...

Assuming that someone purposely stopped the train, that leaves a few possibilities. Brakes, Max, and Steve all visited the tender/ engine at some point supposedly to check on the train's functionality. But there was also a passenger who wanted to visit the tender/ engine. My memory is not that great, but wasn't it Bulldog?

That was correct, when "dynamic movement" is still valid back then.

Here's a theory- Jennifer was being held captive during the time that "Elizabeth Thornton" sent out letters to all of us passengers, which were actually pleas of help. Jennifer knew that the train would be passing through Willoughby, and I think that she somehow sabotaged the train so that it would stop in Willoughby so that we could rescue her. She could have an accomplice on-board that sabotaged the train (so that us passengers could help save Jennifer/ Elizabeth). It is also obvious that she knew that we were coming from the various "X" clues around town.

Nice theory, Mr. Butcher, but if Jennifer was stuck in this town like the rest of us are now, how did she send those mails? We all saw the postal office, and nothing has passed through there for quite a while, right?

So my theory is that Jennifer is not Mrs. Thornton, but someone she wants to get rescued from here. That's why Mrs. Thornton sent us those invitations and made someone sabotage the train when it passed this town.

I think now it's up to us to find out who killed that poor woman - Jennifer, we presume - and find a way out of this hellhole. No offense, town freaks.

Its true i did ask to have a look up at the engine to see what the Crew get up to as well as have a look at an impressive vehicle, but I wouldn't know the first thing about stopping a Loco. I cant even find a Johnson rod!

All the passengers, Emerald crew, and townies are gathered at the fuel tanker.

It is very difficult to tell what the object is within the fuel tanker. It does look like a rusty plate of some kind (definately not a Johnson Rod). It would be difficult to get the object out of the tanker without letting the fuel out. It would have to come out of the top hatch as it will not fit through the drainage hole.

Upon further inspection of the grounds near the tanker, you do find a few pieces of straw (or) hay.

NOTE: if you'd like to move the tanker, I need to know how you plan to do so (specifically). Lorraine's truck is just about out of fuel.

It does look like a rusty plate of some kind (definately not a Johnson Rod). It would be difficult to get the object out of the tanker without letting the fuel out. It would have to come out of the top hatch as it will not fit through the drainage hole.

Upon further inspection of the grounds near the tanker, you do find a few pieces of straw (or) hay.

AHA! Do you know what this means? The scarecrow shoved the tin man into the fuel tanker, probably because he was blackmailing him over the accidental murder of Dorothy, who we found on the coal car!

I'm a genius.

Ok... now I just don't know. To be blunt, I propose that Eleanor and I shoot as many of the local bumpkins as we can, the rest of you borrow rocks from Arin to stone the last few left, and then we aren't likely to have any more of these little incidents in the night.

Straw. Hay! The farm! It was probably someone from the farm. Let's shoot them first.

Nice theory, Mr. Butcher, but if Jennifer was stuck in this town like the rest of us are now, how did she send those mails? We all saw the postal office, and nothing has passed through there for quite a while, right?

Remember that Jennifer escaped the jail at some point. She could have sent the letters then, with or without using the post-office. If she did, though, George could be lying about the twelve letters. Then again... I'm sure he wouldn't have sent them if he knew that they were from Jennifer.

So my theory is that Jennifer is not Mrs. Thornton, but someone she wants to get rescued from here. That's why Mrs. Thornton sent us those invitations and made someone sabotage the train when it passed this town.

This is also a good possibility. Grease suggested that the woman in the picture in Jennifer's locket could be Elizabeth Thornton, a blood relative to Jennifer. This seems pretty likely to me.

I agree with you, Grease, that the hay suggests that it was one of the people at the farm sabotaged the tanker. That leaves five (six, counting Scruffy) possibilities; Herman, Austin, Jeb, Jethro, and Bulldog... and I think I know who might have done it.

She could have sent the letters then, with or without using the post-office.

But how? If no-one has been able to leave this place in years, that means nobody has been able to deliver any mail either.

I'm almost positive that Jennifer was trying to leave this place, and that Mrs. Thornton wanted us to help her achieve that. Now it's too late for poor Jennifer, but we can at least solve whatever is wrong in this screwed-up village.

Ok people, whats the best way to move this tanker then? We need action dammit!

HAY! Im watching you Jim, I don't like all your insinuations about me and my friends being the ones who are sabotaging things left, right and center. Just because there is hay lying around doesn't mean much too me, we are rural after all

But how? If no-one has been able to leave this place in years, that means nobody has been able to deliver any mail either.

I suppose you're right, which would make your (and Grease's) theory correct- that Jennifer had outside help.

I'm almost positive that Jennifer was trying to leave this place, and that Mrs. Thornton wanted us to help her achieve that. Now it's too late for poor Jennifer, but we can at least solve whatever is wrong in this screwed-up village.

Agreed. It appears that someone doesn't want us to leave.

HAY! Im watching you Jim, I don't like all your insinuations about me and my friends being the ones who are sabotaging things left, right and center. Just because there is hay lying around doesn't mean much too me, we are rural after all

All I'm saying is that it is most likely that one of the people who visited the farm tried to empty the tanker. Where else would hay be? But while we're at it, let's say, just for the purpose of seeing the possibilities, that you did attempt to empty the tanker. Why would you do that? Maybe you are working for Miss Thornton, and don't want us to leave for whatever reason? Maybe you wanted help bringing the evildoers of this town to justice, or maybe you just wanted to save Jennifer.

For whatever reason of doing these things, you seem to have the most evidence against you, suggesting that you emptied the tanker, and/ or stopped the train, and/ or are working with/ for Elizabeth. I wouldn't be ready to fully accuse you, but right now you are the largest suspect for committing these actions.

And I'll just throw this out there that if the photo of the female in the locket is Miss Thornton, maybe the photo of the male is her husband, and he might be the one (Bulldog or not) who is here among us.

Ok people, whats the best way to move this tanker then? We need action dammit!

And that action is...

And that action is...

We obviously don't want to waste any fuel by emptying it out.

Will somebody be able to stick their arm in there and fish around? Or will we need a mechanical implement of some kind? You can probably tell I'm no train expert...

Why's it gotta be farm folk? Anyone could've thrown hay on the ground to draw suspicion; wouldn't be the first time in a game - of life. We all keep thinking of Lorraine's truck, but the old fart and me got a tractor at the farm. It's got fuel as far as I know and I'm sure one of us could use it to pull the tractor wherever you need it to. But before we do this, are we gonna go and check the "danger tracks"? That logging train might still be there, and it might be a steamer!

Slow megablocks city folk. Leave it to this ol' hillbilly to fix things!

I say we leave the tanker and go try that switch combination, and test it out with the hand car or Croc. If we don't come across it on the way, we can go back to the "danger" tracks.

*Austin becomes Major Steve Austin and manages to run all the way to the tanker*

I agree with you, Grease, that the hay suggests that it was one of the people at the farm sabotaged the tanker. That leaves five (six, counting Scruffy) possibilities; Herman, Austin, Jeb, Jethro, and Bulldog... and I think I know who might have done it.

I would vouch fer all of 'em if I could, but unfortunately I weren't there when ta others arrived, they left me behind ta run remember? Made me a might bit angry, but I'm over it now.

That said, instead of pointin' the guilty finger I'm in favour of movin' this here vehicle. I'll gladly fish my arm around for this mysterious metal thing but I very much doubt that will do any good.

How's about we braid this straw together inta some sort of rope ta yank it out! Huh? Anybody?

That's one for going to the "danger tracks", one for returning to the switch tower, and one for moving the tanker (perhaps with a tractor)?

Anyone want to 2nd a proposed plan?

But how? If no-one has been able to leave this place in years, that means nobody has been able to deliver any mail either.

I'm almost positive that Jennifer was trying to leave this place, and that Mrs. Thornton wanted us to help her achieve that. Now it's too late for poor Jennifer, but we can at least solve whatever is wrong in this screwed-up village.

More importantly, something that everyone keeps forgetting, is that Ms. Thortan, according to the town records, has been dead for 30 years.

As for course of action, I think we should head down the "Danger" tracks.

As for course of action, I think we should head down the "Danger" tracks.

Danger tracks for me, too.

Sorry guys, but I've had enough danger.

I'm for going to the switches.

~A.S.