Rocky Mountain Test Track is a Secondary Track System in TNT's Snowpiercer (TV Series).
History
Little is known about when the track is created. Rocky Mountain Test Track is located in the USA, runs directly from west to east, allowing trains to pass through without taking a detour to the south.
If travels from east to west, the track goes straight for approximately thousand kilometers, then it would reach the Berthoud Curve, going up the Rocky Mountains, near Breslauer Weather Station then connects back to the main line.
Throughout the Series
Melanie suspected that Big Alice uses Rocky Mountain Test Track to catch up with Snowpiercer at Chicago on the eve of their 19th revolution.[1] Alex would later confirmed it.[2]
Later when Melanie had to create a climate model at Breslauer Weather Station. Snowpiercer/Big Alice would travels along the track to get Melanie as close as possible to the station, allowing her to leave with a snow sled to get to the station. Alex confirmed that the track is sound. Although the problem is that Snowpiercer needs to slow down when reaching the Berthoud Curve, since Snowpiercer doesn't have much energy left as they drained almost all when escaping from Big Alice. Wilford suggested that Big Alice could push Snowpiercer to be able to get up to the mountain.[2]
Snowpiercer was supposed to travel throughout the world releasing Weather Balloons in specific spots, enabling Melanie to gather the information and manipulate her climate model. After a month, she would be picked up by the train.[2] However, Wilford would instruct the engineers to carry on on the main line and leave Melanie to perish after seizing complete command of Snowpiercer and ousting Layton.[3] Nevertheless, Layton, Bennett, Javier, Ruth, and Alex would manage to divert Wilford and get the train to the Rocky Mountain Test Track. Wilford, on the other hand, saw and stopped Javier from Big Alice. Only Bennett is slowing Snowpiercer down while Wilford is speeding up Big Alice is not slow enough to get Melanie aboard. Melanie was left track side.[4]
Shortly after the creation of the Pirate Train, leaving Wilford's Rolling Gulag behind. The group traveled back to Rocky Mountain Test Track to get Melanie, only to find her goodbye notes at Breslauer Weather Station.[4]
However Melanie traveled to a shed and got a Track scaler going.
Memorable Quotes
| “ | And uh… You took a shortcut? Yeah… You came over the old Rocky Mountain test track, didn’t you? | ” |
| — Melanie figuring out how Big Alice catches up to Snowpiercer in The Time of Two Engines. | ||
- Bennett: "This is the old Rocky Mountain Test Track."
- Javi: "Aka Neckbreaker"
- Wilford: "But I assure you it’s much more dangerous than it sounds."
- Melanie: "This high point here is as close as we can get to the station."
- Alexandra: "No, Snowpiercer is the problem. We just came over Neckbreaker, that track is sound. But because Snowpiercer has to slow for the Berthoud Curve, we won’t have enough speed to get up that mountain."
- Wilford: "But once we’re through the curve, Big Alice can activate our booster. It can give us just enough torque to take us over."
- Melanie: "That’s correct."
- ― Snowpiercer & Big Alice’s engineers discussing Melanie’s journey to Breslauer Weather Station in A Great Odyssey.
| “ | Well, we have a thousand kilometers of dead-straight track before the Rockies. Let’s see what two engines can do. | ” |
| — Melanie in A Great Odyssey. | ||
- Melanie: "Hey, Rocky Mountain Test Track."
- Alexandra: "Neckbreaker."
- Melanie: "Not this time, though."
- Alexandra: "When Snowpiercer gets to the Berthoud Curve, Big Alice will be all the way back here. Firepower and strength will get Snowpiercer through this crazy verticle. Then at the highest peak you have to get out and take the sled all the way back to the station."
- ― Melanie saw Alex’s map in her bunk in A Great Odyssey.
| “ | You don’t think Wilford’s gonna notice you made that turn? […] It’s test track. It’s rough. He’s gonna feel it. | ” |
| — Sykes after Bennett made the turn in Into the White. | ||