Train Dreams

Robert Grainier was born in 1886, either in Utah or Canada, and arrived as an orphan in Fry, Idaho, in 1893. He was adopted by a local family and witnessed the mass deportation of Chinese families from the town. In his early teens, he quit school and began working in fishing and various local jobs.

While working around town, Grainier found a dying man named William Coswell Haley. He offered him water from his boot before leaving him to die alone, highlighting his early experiences with hardship and compassion.

At age 31, Grainier married Gladys Olding, marking a significant personal milestone in his life. This union would later be challenged by the hardships he faced in the following years.

In summer 1917, a Chinese laborer is accused of stealing from the Spokane International Railway stores. Grainier and white laborers attempt to throw him over a bridge, but he escapes, leading Grainier to harbor feelings of suspicion and curse.

By 1920, Grainier moves to northwestern Washington to help repair the Robinson Gorge Bridge and work for the Simpson Company. He befriends Arn Peeples, an old man who digs tunnels with dynamite and later dies in a tragic accident.

In summer 1920, a massive wildfire devastates the valley. Grainier's cabin is destroyed, and his wife and daughter vanish, causing him profound grief. He later believes he sees his wife's spirit and longs for her presence.

By spring 1921, Grainier returns to Idaho, rebuilds his cabin, and takes in a red dog, which later has puppies. He continues working and living in the area, establishing his solitary life amid ongoing hardships.

Around 1925, Grainier hears stories of a wolf-girl and sees visions of his wife Gladys, who tells him she died after falling on rocks. He visualizes her unknotted bodice as she drowns, deepening his connection to the past.

Grainier travels to Spokane on the Great Northern Railway, riding a plane for the first time and reconnecting with old friend Eddie Sauer. He continues living in his cabin, battling arthritis and rheumatism while maintaining his routine.

One night, Grainier sees a wolf-girl outside his cabin, believing her to be Kate. She growls at him but allows him to splint her broken leg. She sleeps in his cabin but escapes at dawn, leaving him with an unresolved sense of connection.

Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, Grainier witnesses various events like the building of a highway, seeing the World's Fattest Man, Elvis Presley's private train, and flying in a biplane. These experiences reflect his reflections on a changing world.

Robert Grainier passes away in his sleep in November 1968. He is found the following spring, ending a life marked by solitude, hardship, and poignant memories of love and loss.

Reflecting back to 1935, Grainier recalls attending a sideshow to see a 'wolf-boy.' Despite the audience's laughter, he is shocked by the boy's roar, symbolizing his ongoing connection to the wild and misunderstood.

The narrative ends with the phrase 'And that time was gone forever,' emphasizing the transient nature of life, memories, and the inexorable passage of time that has left Grainier with a lifetime of stories and unresolved longing.