Held for Orders: Being Stories of Railroad Life: Classic Book Guide and Free Edition
Held for Orders: Being Stories of Railroad Life: author and translator credits, catalogue synopsis, subjects and links to the Gutenberg reading formats.

Held for Orders: Being Stories of Railroad Life is catalogued by Project Gutenberg with author credits for Spearman, Frank H. (Frank Hamilton) (1859–1937).
Catalogue synopsis
Project Gutenberg supplies this automated synopsis of the opening text:
"Held for Orders: Being Stories of Railroad Life" by Frank H. Spearman is a collection of short stories written in the late 19th century. The narrative revolves around the lives of railroad workers, depicting their experiences, challenges, and camaraderie in the burgeoning days of America's railroads. Central to the opening story is the character Callahan, a switchman dealing with the tumultuous environment of the Benkleton depot, troubled by the dangers posed by local cowboys and the impending arrival of a new yard master named Shockley. The opening of the book introduces us to Callahan as he navigates his responsibilities while grappling with the threat of violence from nearby cattlemen, highlighting the intricate and often perilous world of railroad operations. He reflects on the arrival of Shockley, who has a mysterious and potentially dangerous past. As the tensions rise within the yard, particularly concerning the safety of his workers, the narrative hints at themes of loyalty, bravery, and the complexities of life on the railroad—setting the stage for a tale that combines danger with human resilience amidst the backdrop of a rapidly industrializing America.
Book and edition facts
- Title: Held for Orders: Being Stories of Railroad Life
- Author credits: Spearman, Frank H. (Frank Hamilton) (1859–1937)
- Catalogue language: English
Catalogue subjects
- Fiction
- Railroad stories
- Short stories, American
Gutenberg collections
- Category: American Literature
- Category: Short Stories
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View the complete Gutenberg catalogue record. Project Gutenberg identifies this edition as public domain in the United States; that designation does not establish its copyright status in every country.
Source notes
Catalogue metadata is public domain and is supplied through Gutendex, which imports Gutenberg's machine-readable catalogue. The automated synopsis is source-supplied, not an independently verified review. Author dates above describe the credited people; no ebook release date is presented as the book's original publication date.


