Helen is operator at Bells. Jerry McGuire, engineer on the local freight, and Tom Thornton, his fireman, are both rivals for the hand of the girl. Jerry is preferred and Tom tries to get Jerry to take to liquor again, a habit that he has overcome. Tom is unsuccessful. Jerry and his bride return from their honeymoon and Tom persuades Jerry to take a drink or two to celebrate the event. Jerry does so. Both are called for the local that day, and Tom has a bottle of whiskey handy which he gives Jerry. Jerry takes a drink and does not observe the signals of the train crew as he backs down onto his train. The engine hits the head end of the train and knocks in the end of a box car. The trainmaster appears, smells whiskey on Jerry and also finds the bottle on him. He is temporarily suspended and later on is discharged for being under the influence of liquor when handling his engine. Jerry mixes with a bunch of bad eggs, and in a quarrel over a game of cards he hits a man. The man goes down, the gang disappears, and when the police arrive Jerry is arrested and sent up for five years. Jerry's time is up and he leaves the penitentiary. His wife refuses to have anything to do with him, and he manages to get a job with the section gang. Tom is running the local, and is still after Helen, who refuses to give him an answer. Jerry works hard in an effort to gain his wife back again. Helen's daughter. Pearl, is the pet of the train crews and she is often in the cabs of the engines which stop for orders. One day the local stops to unload an automobile consigned to the station and Pearl climbs into the cab. The train crew go over the right of way and get a watermelon or two from a patch. In the meantime, Pearl has boarded the cab of the engine and pulled open the throttle. The train starts away. Jerry is in the office with Helen and they come out to find out why the crew are pulling out without orders. The crew rush in. Helen sees the automobile and she and Jerry make a wild dash for it. Boarding the machine they set in pursuit of the train, and getting alongside, Helen leaps to a car in the center of the train, while Jerry dashes on ahead in the machine and manages to reach the passing track ahead in time to throw the switch and turn the freight on the siding as the opposing passenger dashes by. The passenger pulls up and the crew come back for explanations. The superintendent on the train overhears the story and tells Jerry to take the train back. They board the engine and set back for the depot, where Jerry and his family make a fresh start.