But no one is watching the clock on our excursion. In fact, the later the better. It just means more time to enjoy the onboard experience. But there’s no freight this time, and the two dozen foamers in the Pony Express want to know exactly why we’ve stopped. They pull out their Radioshack scanners – standard foamer equipment along with mini-DV cams, high-res digital cameras and California Regional Timetables, the foamer bible that details every stretch of track, mile post by mile post – and listen intently as the engineers and conductors talk to each other.

Apparently, one of the infrared sensors embedded in the track has detected a defect in one of the axles. This is exciting stuff. Which axle? Which car? What kind of defect? The foamers discuss this with the labored intensity of a group of physicians conferring over a particularly tricky case. Opinions are proffered; arguments presented. Two foamers climb over the railing in front of the cargo door and walk the line looking for the problem. The others keep to their scanners. Long, deliciously tense moments go by.

Then we hear on the scanner that the problem has been identified: It turns out to be an air hose that somehow got disconnected. Several of the foamers congratulate each other for having figured this out before the Amtrak conductors did.

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