Convinced that he will never learn railroading in the Detroit offices of the mighty Transcontinental system, headed by his father, Gordon Harrington, Gordon Harrington Jr takes to the road. He soon comes to be known as "Whispering Smith" because he lowers his voice when he becomes excited. After weeks or hard railroading work, he becomes track walker for the antiquated Blake line, and is attracted to its general manager, Nan Roberts. Rebstock, a representative of Transcontinental attempts to buy Nan's farm when he learns that it contains tungsten ore. He is trying to work the deal through J. Wesley Hunt, who is also romancing Nan. "Smith" investigates and soon discovers the truth behind the offer with the aid of his two old cronies, Bill Prouty and Cal Stone. He makes it impossible for Nan to close the deal, but Hunt takes her to Detroit where he hopes to close the deal. Quickly securing an option on the Blake line, "Smith" takes a Transcon engine and races it through the signals to Detroit.