"Coyote Special"

In 1905 Scotty made headlines with a publicity stunt, the "Coyote Special." His record-breaking time for the train trip from Los Angeles to Chicago was 44 hours and 54 minutes. The Santa Fe Railroad supported the stunt by clearing the route for the train, and providing quick crew and locomotive changes.

Scotty led people to believe he funded the trip with gold from his Death Valley mine. The funds actually came from Death Valley mining promoter and investor E. Burdon Gaylord. It was a scheme to raise the value of his Big Bell Mine. Scotty seems to have benefitted more than Gaylord or the Santa Fe Railroad. It strengthened his budding business relationships with Chicago engineer Albert Johnson.