The New York Central Railroad

A documentary on the importance of railroads in the United States

Brakeman Jack Foster is the hero of the story. A happily married father of two, his lack of caution while following his dangerous calling is a constant source of worry to his wife and to his close friend conductor Jim Stevens. Jim trying to point out the risks Jack is continually running tells him stories about what leads to a wreck, how the brakeman lost his leg, another man an eye, and how a third man was knocked from the roof of a boxcar when making a coupling. Lesson learned Jack becomes a model of caution and efficiency.

Travelogue sponsored by a railroad company serving New York City. Approaching the metropolis by rail, the film covers major tourist destinations such as Coney Island, Times Square, celebrated nightclubs, and Rockefeller Center, where NBC provides an experimental television demonstration.