1931 The Grand Punk Railroad: Express/Prologue VIII: The Rail Tracer

Synopsis
In the conductors' compartment of the Flying Pussyfoot, the Young Conductor relates the legend of the Rail Tracer to his older colleague. The Older Conductor interrupts the Young Conductor's story to perform the scheduled light signalling, and then recounts his own story about a group of 'ghosts' called Lemures. The story, which involves these 'ghosts' taking a train hostage to negotiate for the release of their master, culminates with the Older Conductor aiming a gun at his junior's head.

The Young Conductor knocks the gun from his hand and catches it, turning the muzzle on his would-be murderer. The Older Conductor begs the Young Conductor - Claire Stanfield - for his life, but Claire is unmoved. Before Claire pulls the trigger, he declares that the conductor's sacrifice will awaken the Rail Tracer.

After the Older Conductor is killed, another 'conductor' enters the compartment and spots the corpse. Only two conductors were scheduled to work on the Flying Pussyfoot, so Claire aims the gun at him; however, the man remains unusually calm despite the threat to his life. Concluding that the 'usual methods' will not work, Claire drops the gun and exits via the exterior door.

The false conductor follows him through the door, and Claire grabs his ankles and pulls him under the train. He proceeds to interrogate the imposter while holding him nearly perpendicular to the rails.

The imposters identifies himself as Dune, formerly of the Russo Family and currently affiliated with Ladd Russo's White Suits. Under the duress of torture, Dune reveals that he killed Tony at Chicago's Union Station in order to obtain his special uniform, and confesses Ladd's plans for the train.

Furious over Tony's death, Claire reveals himself to be the legendary assassin Vino and presses Dune's face against the fast-moving ground. He flings Dune's faceless corpse back into the compartment; after painting red stripes under his eyes with Dune's blood, he embraces the role of the Rail Tracer.

Characters in Order of Appearance

 * Claire Stanfield (The Young Conductor; Vino; the Rail Tracer)
 * The Older Conductor/Lemur Conductor
 * Dune