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<h1>Unhappy Engine Noises</h1>
<!--
I started writing this to prepend to the chapter. Not sure where I was
going with this so I'll just leave it in here, commented out.
<p>
<span class="quote speech">What are the odds it's just gonna
work?</span><br />
Michelle's eyes wander around the driver's cabin.<br />
<span class="quote speech">Batteries are dead so it's not gonna
start. Will it run? No idea.</span><br />
Jack pulls a key out of his pocket and inserts it into a key switch on
the control panel. He turns the key and – as expected –
nothing happens.
<span class="quote speech">Guess we'll need to find a power source
then.</span>
</p>
<p>
The two roam around the hall, looking for a generator or anything that
could be abused as one. Michelle makes her way to an area with
workbenches and all sorts of tools. Jack looks at the crates and boxes on
the closest one of the huge shelves.
</p>
<p>
<span class="quote speech">I ... uhh... found one. No idea how we're
gonna get to it though.</span><br />
Jack stands in front of the shelf, looking at a large crate that's
about 2m above him.<br />
<span class="quote speech">Please let that not be the only option.</span>
</p>
-->
<p>
Michelle pokes her head out from underneath the train.<br />
<span class="quote speech">I think that's it.</span><br/>
She puts a large piece of leftover hose aside and crawls out.<br >
<span class="quote speech">That was quick – nice job.</span><br />
Jack walks over to the compartment holding the batteries, takes the
cables off the terminals, and hooks them up to his makeshift power
supply. Then, he starts the generator and climbs into the train.
Michelle follows him and they go to the driver's cabin. Jack turns
a key switch and parts of the dashboard light up. Then, he pushes the
engine start button. While holding it, he points to the fuel pressure
gauge and, slightly raising his voice to talk over the noise of the
engine turning over, he says:<br />
<span class="quote speech">That's progress already.</span><br />
The needle on the gauge slowly creeps to the right.<br />
<span class="quote speech">Too slow though</span>, he adds after a
moment.<br />
He holds the button for a while, the engine keeps turning over,
but it doesn't seem to fire even once.
</p>
<p>
Michelle suggests they take a look at the fuel injection. Jack turns
the key switch off again and they go to the middle of the railcar.
The floor panels above the engine bay are already missing, they had
removed them earlier to replace the bits of rotting hose in the fuel
line. Jack grabs the manual from one of the seats and starts flipping
through the pages while Michelle jumps out and stops the generator.
He begins to undo <span class="comment">knowledge gap here: How
does that work? What do you undo to fix a gunked-up fuel injection?
Also, do/did diesel engines have a carb?</span>
</p>
<p>
After <span class="comment">cleaning out gunk and doing some makeshift
fix</span>, they try again.
The engine attempts to start a few times but it still doesn't run.
Michelle notices the fuel pressure is back down to zero so they pull
the line out to see what's going on. Michelle waits next to
the train, holding the end of the fuel line over a bucket while Jack
returns to the driver's cabin.
<span class="comment">suggestions for improvements welcome</span>
</p>
<p>
He presses the button for a few seconds, then he leans out of the window
looking at Michelle and the bucket. She looks up at him and says:<br />
<span class="quote speech">Barely a few drips. But there's pressure
on the other side of the fuel filter.</span><br />
<span class="quote speech">So we need a new one?</span>
</p>
<p>
He walks over to the closest door and jumps out. Michelle begins
undoing the clamps holding the fuel line to the filter while Jack
starts searching all drawers and boxes in the vicinity for a
replacement. One side of the filter comes loose and Michelle starts
with the other side.
</p>
<p>
<span class="quote speech">Not the right one but I found this.</span>
<br />
Jack holds up a small box he found in a drawer. He opens it while walking
back to Michelle and pulls out a fuel filter that is significantly larger
than the one pulled from the train.<br />
<span class="comment">The hose fits inside the filter so they install it
by putting a bigger hose around both.</span>
</p>
<p>
Michelle climbs back inside, Jack starts the generator again and follows
her. They go to the driver's cabin.<br />
<span class="quote speech">Ready?</span> She has her fingers on the
engine start button.<br />
<span class="quote speech">Go for it.</span><br />
It takes a while but the engine eventually sputters to life. Michelle
lets go of the button and it keeps running.
</p>
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