Among the crew, only the one brakeman, and the second locomotive's fireman, survived. Her father was a railroad brakeman and a devoutly religious man. Engineer Hill and Brakeman Waterbury, who were in the helper locomotives, received minor injuries. Neal worked at various jobs, finally becoming a brakeman for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Since the brakeman had uncoupled most of the cars, the engineer left them. The investigation that followed alleged that the conductor and brakeman were both asleep. The conductor, head-end brakeman, and two residents were killed in the wreck. George was a brakeman and telegraph operator who also happened to be a singer. Later that night, Dempsey and Jeff watch as another train hopper kills the brakeman. Those ghosts are named by The Engineer, The Brakeman, The Lavender Lady, and The Bully. The train never reaches the depot and Martin, now the brakeman, finally finds happiness. Kerouac followed, and briefly worked as a brakeman. Landis applied for a job as a brakeman, but was laughingly dismissed as too small. The crew has a pilot, a brakeman, and pushers. Among his other popular nicknames are "The Singing Brakeman" and "The Blue Yodeler".