Industrial Baseline

Rail 0001 never made it to the Northern Line.

Arthur Pendelton won that argument, though Ernest had resisted for nearly twenty minutes in the middle of the inspection bay.

"A functional railway rail belongs in an active trackbed, Arthur," Ernest had argued, gesturing to the freshly stamped piece of steel resting on the cooling trestle.

"The first high-tensile steel railway rail manufactured in the history of this kingdom does not," Arthur countered, adjusting his spectacles.

"It passed every mechanical and dimensional test. It is perfectly usable."

"Which makes it a monumental historic artifact," Arthur replied cleanly. "Ernest, your holding company just spent enough capital on this basin works to charter a major provincial city."

"A medium-sized city," Ernest corrected.

"That does not weaken my point." Arthur gestured to the stamped web. "We keep this rail."