Editing Melanie Cavill (section)

===Departure from the train===
Melanie later accepts that she will be the one to lead the data collection mission at the observatory. After formulating a plan, however, Melanie alerts [[Big Alice]]'s engine that Snowpiercer does not have enough reserves to make it through the Rocky Mountains but, with aid from Big Alice's boosters and cutting power to First and Second class, Snowpiercer will make it through the mountains. 

Mr. Wilford agrees to the plan, and Melanie is forced to sit in ''Snowpiercer's'' Engine and listen to Alex's terror whilst she drives the trains over the mountains. Melanie assures Alex that she is an engineer and will be successful if she puts her mind to it and 'feels the train'. Alex is successfully able to navigate the Rocky Mountains without much difficulty following Melanie's advice.

With ''Snowpiercer'' and ''Big Alice'' over the mountain, Melanie prepares to depart. She tells Layton that they must not measure the success of the mission with her return, but rather with the data she collects; the two exchange a bittersweet goodbye shortly after. As Melanie crosses the border between ''Big Alice'' and ''Snowpiercer'', she is bid farewell by those aboard, with [[Ruth Wardell|Ruth]] wishing her luck and remarking that they will see her again.

Aboard Big Alice, Melanie talks with [[Alexandra Cavill|Alex]] one final time before departure. Alex is saddened by the fact that Melanie is leaving her once again, but Melanie assures her that they must do what is right for everyone and not each other. With this, Melanie says goodbye to Alex and jumps from Big Alice into the snow.<ref name="ago">''[[A Great Odyssey]]''</ref>

A few days later, Snowpiercer launches their first weather balloon. After a tense moment, Melanie makes contact with it, proving that she had survived her trip to the research station.<ref>''[[A Single Trade]]''</ref> However, they eventually lose contact with Melanie, creating fear that she has perished.<ref>''[[Keep Hope Alive]]''</ref>