the novel lifted a curtain of ignorance about the east without being a mere retelling of hope's own travels. in an interview with the new york times, he says: "i love to shoot, but directing is all about telling stories," he says. the project's final station location in downtown white bear lake has generated controversy. it is one of the city's best-preserved federal buildings. the time of 2:24.36 was a new course record. twelve years later these features were completed, allowing for up to 33 trains per hour. 