Breaking Bad 5.05 "Dead Freight" 8/12/12

[What_the]

@Tarwater

Also, on the subject of the train stopping so that the methlyamine tanker is at the perfect location:

They didn’t touch on it in the show, but government regulation requires that tankers like that be a certain number of cars away from the engine. The production crew discusses this in the podcast, and how they spoke with a former train engineer to get the particulars straight. I agree that they could’ve made it explicit in the show, that Lydia could’ve told them, maybe, but it didn’t really take away from my enjoyment of the episode.

Sorry if this got explained further in subsequent posts…I’ve read some but can’t go thru them all.

Was it in fact or is there any reason to think that it was a short train designed to be just long enough to have a tanker of methalamyne at or near the end?

Also re the blacked out area… how remote is it and how much time did they have to go there, explore it, buy tanks, hire a big piece of equipment and prep it for an upcoming train?

[Bytegeist]

@What_the

Also re the blacked out area… how remote is it and how much time did they have to go there, explore it, buy tanks, hire a big piece of equipment and prep it for an upcoming train?

If I recall correctly, Lydia pointed to the “dark territory” on a map, and the spot was somewhere in north-eastern New Mexico. Probably a few hours’ drive from Albuquerque then.

We don’t know how much time they took to prepare for the heist, but Lydia said that the same kind of delivery train came through every Wednesday. So they would have had plenty of opportunities in the near future. The time pressure would have come from their need to get the money flowing again.

I get the impression that they robbed the very next train, after the idea was proposed, but that’s just an impression. Maybe they took a few weeks.

[Ionizer]

@voltaire

Nitpick: I think he said something more like "… his last name is up to you. "

Correct. Rewatching now, and its “By the way, you’re visiting a therapist from Rio Rancho. Peter - last name… is up to you”.

Thanks.

[unwashed_brain]

@Joey_P

That can be fanwanked by saying one of them came up with new seals, gave her the numbers and she changed the database OR she knows that Madrigal checks for the seals but doesn’t really look at the numbers all that closely.

Mainly addressing the second possibility here…

I worked as an assistant a manager at a sporting goods store many moons ago (1992-95). We’d receive weekly shipments of sporting goods that were locked and sealed with numbered metal bands. I had to verify the seal was intact and the numbers matched what was expected before I could accept the shipment. If anything was tampered with or didn’t match, I was instructed to turn the truck away and immediately report it. My job was on the line for this.

That was sporting goods nearly two decades ago. I’m positive whomever accepts train shipments of chemicals pays close attention to the numbers on the seals.

Undisclosed, but they must’ve paid that guy off (loose end), or Lydia was able to discover the seal numbers and have duplicates made.

[Washoe]

Also, although it doesn’t explicitly show it, it sort of looks like Todd just flung the tag aside after he cut it off. You just see his hand move out of the frame without him pocketing it, and immediately picking up the driver drill. Bet he tossed it on the tracks without thinking.

[TBG]

@Acsenray

She wasn’t innocent? Whom did she murder?

Murder is the only way to cease being innocent?

@FoieGrasIsEvil

I was surprised by the mechanic’s assessment of the Aztec in the episode where Walt ended up selling it to him for $50, calling it “solid”. From what I can tell, the Aztec is a POS in every regard. Especially in the looks department.

I’ve always called them “Ugteks” because they such damn ugly cars. Of course, this was before the Honda Elements or various Scions started showing up.