The story is built around the rivalry of two railroads, and the record run that is to decide the awarding of large mail contracts. Helen learns of the rival road's plot to delay the mail train and speeds on electric car which is derailed, almost costing Helen her life. The plotters send a wild engine down the track towards the mail train. Helen boards a small hand car from which she leaps to the speeding runaway. The mail train is almost upon her, so she reverses the engine and speeds the other way. Momentarily, the distance between the two engines is growing smaller, and collision seems certain when Helen's signal is seen by a switchman and her engine takes a flying switch a second before the mail train roars by.