Synopsis

A long iron ore train passes across a vast marshland in Lapland. The steam locomotive needs some lubrication, so the train makes a short stop at a small station out in the wilderness. When the train is going to continue its journey, the brake-controller Kvist says that he is not going with them, but intends to stay here. When the train has left, the stationmaster asks him way he stays here, where there is nothing. Because it's beautiful here, Kvist replies. The stationmaster cannot understand this, and criticizes Kvist for running away from his work, and thereby destroying his future possibilities within the company. Kvist continues by foot along the track, singing and dancing. Three kilometers further on is a railway minder's cottage. The railway minder lends him a lining bar, but is suspicious of what Kvist is going to do with it, and follows him at some distance. Kvist climbs a hill. He puts the lining bar under a very large boulder at the top, and makes it tumble down the hillside. The railway minder shouts that he is mad. Kvist returns to the station, where he waits for another ore train.