简介：In1876,JohnnyJameson(DanDailey),a"drummer"(travelingsalesman),istheonlypassengerontheinauguralrunoftheTomahawkandWesternRailroad'snarrowgaugetrainthroughtheColoradoRockies.Duringtheride,theconductortellsJohnnythatcertainpeople,stagecoachoperatorsforexample,wouldliketoseetherailroad'sfranchisefail.Soonafterwards,Dakota(RoryCalhoun),TrancasandGila,whoworkforColonelDawson,theareastagelineoperator,causeagiantbouldertofalldirectlyinthepathofthetrain.EngineerTerenceSweeny(WalterBrennan)managestostopthetrainintime,andheandthecrewthendisembarktomovetherock. JohnnydecidestowalktothetownofEpitaphandhitchesaridewithTrancasandGila.Atthesheriff'soffice,whenJohnnytriestoreportthetrain'sdelaytodeputyChuckityJones(CharlesKemper),heisknockedoutbyTrancas.U.S.MarshalKitDodge,meanwhile,isintheroomnextdoorgettingreadytowelcomethetrainwithhelpfromhistomboyish,knife-wieldinggranddaughterKit(AnneBaxter).AstheyleaveforthedepottheyaresurprisedbyTrancasandGila.ThemarshalshootsTrancasbutiswoundedbyGila.JohnnycomesroundandKitsuspectsthathemayalsobeoneofthegang.DespiteChuckityinterveningonhisbehalfsheordershimtoleavetownbeforesunset. KitisdeputizedasaU.S.Marshalbyhergrandfather,whonowcannottravelbecauseofhiswound.SheandanIndiancompanionnamedPawnee(ChiefYowlachie)areassignedtoescortthetraintoTomahawk.ColonelDawsonordersDakotatojointhepossethatisescortingthetrainandalsoanIndianscout,BlackWolf,tostirupthelocalArapahos.Othergangmembersplottoblowuptheengineduringanightstop. OnlyafterhehasboughthisticketoutoftowndoesSweenylearnthatthereisnotracklaidforthenextfortymiles.Heisinformedbylocalrailwayentrepreneur,Bishop,thattherailswerelostatseaenroutefromEngland.BishopexplainsthatasthetrainmustreachTomahawktofulfilltherequirementsofthefranchisecontract,hehasarrangedfortheenginecartobehauledbyateamofmules.AnotherconditionisthatthetrainmustreachTomahawkbyarapidlyapproachingdeadlinewithatleastonepayingpassenger.KitisnotpleasedtodiscoverthatthepassengerassignedtohercareisSweeny.Johnny,nowreluctanttotravelonthetrain,isropedalongsidethecabasthelocomotive,minusitspassengercar,setsoffpulledbythemulesandaccompaniedbyassortedwagons.ChineselaundrymanLongTime(VictorSenYung)joinsthegroupwithmuchdelayedlaundryforTomahawk,togetherwithMadameAdelaide(ConnieGilchrist)andherdancinggirls,Annie,Ruby,Clara(MarilynMonroe)andJulie.Amusicianwithpionolaaccompaniesthem. Asplanned,Dawson'smenBat,CharleyandFargoshowupatanightstopclaimingtobetelegraphmenwhoaretheretorepairlinescutbytheArapahosandKitgivesthempermissiontobunkinthecamp.GraduallyKitsoftensherattitudetowardsJohnny.Whenallareasleep,BatandCharleyleavewhileFargotossessticksofdynamiteundertheengine.Johnny,sleepingalongsidethetrain,smellsthelitfuseandalertstheothers.KitthencutsthefusewithashotanddisablesFargobutbeforehecantalkDakotakillshim. Sometimelater,afewmilesbeyondwherethetrackrestarts,BatandCharleyareplacingdynamitechargesonatrestlebridge.Johhny,KitandPawneearescoutingaheadandstopatthebridge.BatandCharleyconsidershootingthembutarethenthemselvesattackedandkilledbyIndiansandthedynamiteissetoffprematurely.Kit,JohnnyandPawneearechasedbacktothetrainwhichisthenattackedbythewarparty.JohnnyidentifiestheArapahochief,CrookedKnife,havingpreviouslyworkedwithhiminatravellingwesternshow.Afterthewarpartyisdrivenoff,Johnnyvolunteerstotalkpeacewithhim.HehaslearnedthatLongTimeiscarryingaloadoffireworksanddevelopsaplan.HeiswelcomedbyCrookedKnife,whoagreestoallowthetrainsafepassage.However,someofthebravesdistrustJohnnyandaskhimtoproduceasignthatheis"bigmedicine."Johnnysetsoffarocket,signalingKitandDakotatosetofftherestofthefireworksonanearbyhill,andtheIndiansareimpressed.Astherailwaybridgeisnowout,Kitintendstotakethethirty-three-tonlocomotiveoveramountainbydismantlingitandcarryingitinsections.Dawson,meanwhile,thinkshehasbeendouble-crossedandshootsBlackWolf.Hethenroundsuphismenforafinalshowdown. AfterKitdiscoversthatDakotahassabotagedavitalwatertower,Dakotajumpsaboardthetrain,slugsJohnnyandatgunpointmakesthefiremanstarttheenginerollingandtakesoffathighspeeddownthetracks.KitjumpsintothecabinbutisknockedoutbyDakota.JohnnyrevivesandwhileheandDakotafightontopofthecabin,KitcomesroundandthrowsherknifeatDakota,causinghimtofallintoaravine.Dawsonandhisgangthenambushthetrainbutcannotcatchupwithit.However,theymanagetoshootuptheboilerandthetrainslowstoahaltwithinsightofTomahawk.Aposse,headedbyMarshallDodge,ridesoutfromthetownand,togetherwiththeAraphoe,subdueDawson'sgang.DawsonfleesbutispursuedbyPawneewhothrowsatomahawkathimwhichhitshomeoffcamera.Asthetrainhasstoppedjustshortofitsgoal,JohnnytalksthemayorofTomahawkintoextendingthetownlimits,therebyfulfillingtherequirementsofthefranchise.Hedoesso,withsecondstospare.BynowKithasfalleninlovewithJohnnybuthesayshecannotbewithherashecouldnotgiveuphistravellinglife.Shegrabsherknifeandthreatenstocripplehimtostophiswanderingways.InthenextsceneitbecomesapparentthatJohnnyisnowworkingasatrainconductor.Asthetrainsetsoffhequicklylimpsafterit,wavingtohiswife,Kit,andtheirfiveyoungdaughters...…