Adventures of Detective Black And Blue 32xxxx xx Put off The Train

Summary

Podcast Summary

Podcast: Harold's Old Time Radio
Episode: Adventures of Detective Black And Blue: "Put off The Train"
Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Harolds Old Time Radio

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Episode Overview

This episode transports listeners to the golden era of radio drama, following Detectives Black and Blue as they find themselves stranded at a remote Canadian train station in the dead of night, only to become embroiled in a harrowing train robbery. The comedic exchanges of Black and Blue mix with mounting tension as a gang of bandits targets a mail train, culminating in a classic old-time radio cliffhanger.

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Key Discussion Points and Story Beats

1. Stranded in the Canadian Wilderness

• The story opens with Detectives Black and Blue, accompanied by Chief Black Feather (off-stage), mistakenly disembarking the Winnipeg Flyer at the isolated Clear Lake station at 3 a.m.
  • "There she goes. Just two red lights disappearing down the track." — Detective Black (02:14)
• Blue laments their misfortune, and the pair exchange banter about the cold and desolate night.
  • "Gee, what a lonesome place. I bet you could hear frogs singing out there if it was summertime. But I don't suppose it ever gets summertime here." — Detective Black (03:12)

2. Seeking Help from the Station Agent

• They enter the station's warmth and consult the only local authority, the station agent.
  • "Excuse me, mister." — Detective Blue (03:47)
  • The Agent confirms they boarded the wrong train and are far from their intended destination, Eagle River.
  • The next train doesn’t arrive for hours:
    • "Well, you'll have five hours here. You can sleep on the benches there if you want to." — Station Agent (04:36)
  • No hotels or amenities are available:
    • "Hotel? There ain't nothing or nobody but me." — Station Agent (04:49)

3. Hope for Rescue: The Vancouver Mail

• The Agent devises a plan to help them save time by arranging for the delayed Vancouver Mail train (Number Seven) to pick them up.
  • "If I can catch him on the wire before they pull out of Cloverdale Junction, they might stop here and pick you up. I'll see if I can make it." — Station Agent (04:58)
• The Agent successfully secures the stop:
  • "Well, boys, you're in luck. Number seven will stop here just long enough for you to get on board." — Station Agent (07:12)

4. Insight Into the Golden Age of Train Travel

• The Station Agent explains the importance of the Vancouver Mail, a train that races across the continent carrying mail bound for Asia.
  • "She carries mail for the Orient. You know, China and Japan... they gotta make connections with the steamers at Vancouver." — Station Agent (07:56)

5. Sudden Danger: Bandit Hold-Up

• Just as Black and Blue prepare to board, a gang led by the Bandit Leader bursts in, initiating a dramatic stickup.
  • "Get back in there." — Bandit Leader (08:34)
• The robbers take control, holding the detectives and station agent at gunpoint:
  • "Yeah it is a hold up. Not a moving picture either. And don't make no mistake because I might make a mistake with this gun and you'll be drinking your coffee in the morning, sitting on a cloud." — Bandit Leader (08:44)
• Station Agent displays stoic nonchalance:
  • "I've been held up before." — Station Agent (09:27)
• The bandits plan to use Black and Blue as human shields:
  • "Take these two sappy looking guys outside with you. Make them stand alongside of the mail car. And if there's any shooting starts you can use them for screams." — Bandit Leader (10:41)
• Blue and Black protest, but are forced to comply.
  • "Oh say Mr. Bandit, that ain't fair. We ain't robbers. We might get shot." — Detective Blue (10:53)

6. A Classic Cliffhanger

• The episode builds to a climax as the Vancouver Mail approaches the station, with bandits, detectives, and the unwitting station agent all in peril outside on the platform.
• "On your toes boys. Here she comes. Outside everybody. Hey you, station agent. Come on out of there. If there's any shooting from the mail cars, we'll let them plug you too. Come on boys. This is going to be sweet pickles." — Bandit Leader (11:11)

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Standout Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Gee, what a lonesome place. I bet you could hear frogs singing out there if it was summertime." — Detective Black (03:12)
• "Hotel? There ain't nothing or nobody but me." — Station Agent (04:49)
• "She carries mail for the Orient. You know, China and Japan and all them places..." — Station Agent (07:56)
• "Yeah, it is a hold up. Not a moving picture either. And don't make no mistake because I might make a mistake with this gun and you'll be drinking your coffee in the morning, sitting on a cloud." — Bandit Leader (08:44)
• "I've been held up before." — Station Agent (09:27)
• "Take these two sappy looking guys outside with you. Make them stand alongside of the mail car. And if there's any shooting starts you can use them for screams." — Bandit Leader (10:41)
• "Oh say Mr. Bandit, that ain't fair. We ain't robbers. We might get shot." — Detective Blue (10:53)

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Notable Segments with Timestamps

• Stranded in the Night – 02:14–03:30
• Discovering Their Mistake, Seeking Help – 03:44–04:49
• Arranging Rescue with the Vancouver Mail – 04:58–07:18
• Bandits' Hold-Up – 08:34–11:24
• Cliffhanger as the Train Arrives – 11:24–14:01

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Conclusion

This episode masterfully combines comedic banter with suspenseful action, skillfully recreating the ambiance of golden age radio drama. The isolated Canadian setting, the confusion of travel mishaps, the resourceful station agent, and the sudden eruption of a dangerous hold-up keep listeners engaged. The episode ends at a white-knuckle moment—Black, Blue, and the agent face the oncoming train and a gang of armed bandits, leaving the resolution for the next installment.

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Transcript

[Station Agent]

The adventures of detectives black and blue.

[Detective Blue]

It's.

[Station Agent]

Detectives Black and Blue in company with Chief Black Feather of the Canadian Police, plan to leave for Canada to aid the Canadian police in the capture of a mysterious scar faced Indian known as the Ghost. But the two detectives take the wrong train. The present scene is at Clear Lake, a lonely flag station over the border in Canada. Black and Blue have just been put off. The Winnipeg Flyer. The time is 3 o' clock in the morning.

The adventures of detectives black and blue.

[Detective Black]

There she goes. Just two red lights disappearing down the track.

[Detective Blue]

Yeah, and here we are. Just two. Well, what are we anyway?

[Bandit Leader]

Yeah, and where are we?

[Detective Black]

A fine railroad this is. Put us off way out here in the country. In the middle of the night too.

[Detective Blue]

Yeah, and boy, you can tell you're in Canada all right. Listen to that wind howling.

[Detective Black]

We should ought to bring suit against the Canadian Pacific.

[Detective Blue]

Oh, they can't help it if the wind is blowing.

[Detective Black]

Oh, but they put us off the train.

[Detective Blue]

Well, I don't know, Black. They ain't to blame for us getting on the wrong train, I guess.

[Detective Black]

And not a light in sight. I don't suppose there's even any houses around here.

[Detective Blue]

Well, there's a light down there on the platform. Right under that big green signal up in the air there. Gee, maybe there's a operator or somebody around. Let's go and see.

[Detective Black]

Well, you'll have to help me carry some of this stuff.

[Detective Blue]

All right, go ahead. I'll take the snowshoe.

[Detective Black]

Gee, what a lonesome place. I bet you could hear frogs singing out there if it was summertime. But I don't suppose it ever gets summertime here.

[Detective Blue]

Yeah, there's some fella in there. I can see him through the bay window. Push open a door.

[Detective Black]

Gee, it's warm in here. That's one thing. Shut the door, Blue. Shut it.

[Detective Blue]

Well, I'll tell you, Black, I think the first thing is to ask the operator or station agent how we can get out of here.

[Detective Black]

Go ahead, talk to him through that little window.

[Detective Blue]

Excuse me, mister.

[Station Agent]

Hello. You're the two that got off number one, ain't you?

[Detective Blue]

Yes, we are. And we're kind of up against it too. You see, we got on the wrong train at Duluth. It was the wrong train, you see.

[Station Agent]

What's your destination?

[Detective Blue]

Why, we was going to Eagle River, Canada. That's the first place we was going.

[Station Agent]

Let me see your ticket, will you? Sure.

[Detective Blue]

Here they are, both of them.

[Station Agent]

Yeah. Well, you're a long way off from where you two want to go. You see, the Train you was on goes to Winnipeg. The train you should have got on goes through North Dakota via Portel. That way.

[Detective Black]

Yeah, and the worst of it is a friend of ours is on the other train too.

[Station Agent]

That's too bad.

[Detective Blue]

Well, the conductor told us we could catch a train here tomorrow morning sometime. That'd take us back to Thief River Falls. And then we could catch some other train that goes to Eagle river.

[Station Agent]

Yeah, number four comes through here in the morning at 8:17. That's about so. Let's see, it's 3:15 now. Well, you'll have five hours here. You can sleep on the benches there if you want to.

[Detective Black]

Ain't they no hotel here?

[Station Agent]

Hotel There ain't nothing or nobody but me.

[Detective Blue]

Gee, we'll be a whole day late now getting into Eagle River.

[Station Agent]

Say, wait a minute. I got an idea I might save you some time. Number seven, the Vancouver Mail. She was due out of here at 253but they got laid out a little on account of the hot fox at Reema. Now, you just wait. If I can catch him on the wire before they pull out of Cloverdale Junction, they might stop here and pick you up. I'll see if I can make it.

[Detective Black]

Gee, Blue, if he can get this train to stop and pick us up, that'll help some anyway.

[Detective Blue]

Oh, it's a tough break that we got on the wrong train. Not sure. No telling where Chief Blackfeather is now.

[Detective Black]

We know where he is all right, but what good does that do us? He's on the Canadian Pacific Limited going away from us 60 miles an hour.

[Detective Blue]

Say, I tell you what we could do, Black. Maybe we can send a message to him on the other train.

[Detective Black]

Yeah, we might do that when the agent fella gets through telegraphing. Let's ask him.

[Station Agent]

Here's Cloverdale now, boys, wait just a minute. I'll see what he says.

Well, boys, you're in luck. Number seven will stop here just long enough for you to get on board. Better get out in the platform so you won't delay them. They're late now.

[Detective Blue]

Gee, mister, that's sure fine. Will we buy our tickets from you?

[Station Agent]

No, you'll have to buy them from the conductor on the train. I don't have any tickets here at night. The day man keeps them locked up. Number seven is the Vancouver Mail and she generally goes through here like a shot out of a gun.

[Detective Black]

Well, say, where do we go on this train?

[Station Agent]

Why, she'll take you right into Eagle River. But they go a different way than the way you was going they're due in there tomorrow night sometime.

[Detective Blue]

Well, we, we, we just can't thank you enough, mister.

[Station Agent]

Oh, that's all right. Of course, I'd have been glad to have you stay here the rest of the night with me because it gets kind of lonesome unless I have train orders for freight trains that take the siding here or something like that.

[Detective Blue]

This Vancouver Mail, she's a fast one, huh?

[Station Agent]

I'll say she is. She carries mail for the Orient. You know, China and Japan and all them places they hit them up because they gotta make connections with the steamers at Vancouver.

[Detective Black]

Gosh, I didn't know people was writing letters to China by the trainload.

[Station Agent]

Oh, yes, she carries registered mail and a lot of valuable express.

[Detective Blue]

Do you think we should ought to get out on the platform now?

[Station Agent]

Well, you might just as well get your baggage out there already. The first Pullmano will be about 100ft from the station here and you can carry your stuff down there and then you'll be all set. She pulls in, they don't like to stop long.

[Detective Blue]

Well, we'll do that. Here, you hold the door open, Black, and I'll take part of this stuff.

[Bandit Leader]

Get back in there.

[Detective Black]

Oh, geez.

[Detective Blue]

Oh, robbers.

[Bandit Leader]

Stick them up. Come on in, boys. Keep these two fellas covered. Hey, you in the office there.

[Station Agent]

Stick up your hands, huh?

[Bandit Leader]

Yeah, it is a hold up. Not a moving picture either. And don't make no mistake because I might make a mistake with this gun and you'll be drinking your coffee in the morning, setting on a cloud.

[Station Agent]

Well, I ain't craving no bullets. Don't worry about me moving. I only carry about $50 here, not.

[Bandit Leader]

Out for chicken feed. What time was the Vancouver mail due through here? 2:53, ain't she?

[Station Agent]

Yes, she is, but she's late tonight.

[Bandit Leader]

Where is she now?

[Station Agent]

She pulled out of Cloverdale just a few minutes ago. I was just talking to the operator.

[Bandit Leader]

Yeah, where's Cloverdale?

[Station Agent]

It's the next station, Easter. Here.

[Bandit Leader]

Well, keep away from that telegraph key. Now listen, you got that board set for clear, haven't you?

[Station Agent]

Yes, it is.

[Bandit Leader]

Yeah, I know it. It shows green outside. Well, you throw it a red, you understand?

[Station Agent]

Well, I can do it, but it ain't necessary.

[Bandit Leader]

What do you mean? Don't pull no funny stuff with me now.

[Station Agent]

I told you, you don't need to worry about me, mister. I've been held up before.

[Bandit Leader]

Yeah, and this ain't the first mail train we've held up. And you wouldn't be the first station agent I've Drilled either.

[Station Agent]

Get that? Yes, sir. But number seven's going to stop here anyway to pick up these two passengers. She don't usually stop. Hey you.

[Bandit Leader]

You set standing there? It's you I'm talking to.

[Detective Black]

Yes, sir.

[Station Agent]

Is that so?

[Bandit Leader]

What he said. Are you waiting to get on that train?

[Detective Black]

Yes, sir.

[Detective Blue]

Yeah, mister, the operator, he just told him to stop.

[Detective Black]

Gee mister, can't you let us hide out back at the station somewhere? We don't want to be in no hold up because they might be shooting and et cetera. You suppose you could let us go just as a favor?

[Detective Blue]

Shut up.

[Detective Black]

Yes, sir.

[Station Agent]

Hey you two.

[Bandit Leader]

Charlie and Jim, you two guys go on past the depot a little ways about where the engine will stop. Cover the engineer and fireman. You two other fellas line up ready for the mail car. Me and Slim will take care of the conductors and the other trainmen. When she stops, let go with your rods alongside of the train and scare daylights out of all of them. Shoot em up. Nothing like noise to scare passengers.

[Detective Black]

Say mister, what do you want? Could I take my hand down for a minute to scratch my nose?

[Bandit Leader]

Shut up or I'll scratch it with a bullet out of this. 45.

[Detective Black]

Yes sir. My nose is tickling pretty bad, sir. Blue, this is terrible.

[Detective Blue]

Shut up, Black.

[Bandit Leader]

Hey Slim, here's an idea. Take these two sappy looking guys outside with you. Make them stand alongside of the mail car. And if there's any shooting starts you can use them for screams. Just jump behind them.

[Detective Blue]

Oh say Mr. Bandit, that ain't fair. We ain't robbers. We might get shot. You might, huh?

[Bandit Leader]

Well what's more, you probably will. How do you like that? On your toes boys. Here she comes. Outside everybody. Hey you, station agent. Come on out of there. If there's any shooting from the mail cars, we'll let them plug you too. Come on boys. This is going to be sweet pickles. Oh, Mr. Robber, do we have to go? I don't want to go out there. No Doc.

[Detective Blue]

Ouch.

[Station Agent]

Don't kick me no more.

[Detective Blue]

I'll go.

[Station Agent]

I'll go.

[Bandit Leader]

On your toes. Now make it snappy guys.

[Detective Blue]

Here she is.

It's.

It.