The Chains

The Chains
Train	Snowpiercer
Car Information
Car No.	C0XXX-0XXX Possibly C0780-0781
Class	3rd Class
Section	Undetermined Section
Length	~65.0 meters
Height	Taller than 11.9 meters
Width	Wider than 8.8 meters
Previous Car	Battery Cars
Next Car	Battery Cars
General Information
Creator(s)	Melanie Cavill Joseph Wilford
Owner(s)	Wilford Industries
Function	Habitat, Social, Market

Girl: "Welcome to the Chains, tail man."

Layton: "'Chains'?"

Roche: "Yeah, it's a thing now. Young people mostly, living and screwing in groups. 'Chains.' Took some chopped up containers... got 'creative' with them. Bunch of freaks if you ask me."

―  Girl and Sam Roche introducing the Chains to Andre Layton in First, the Weather Changed

The Chains is an area of Third Class occupied by young people spanning 2 cars on Snowpiercer, consisting of Spring Street and The Market.

History

Background

As implied by Roche, the Chains weren't actually a standard living space for 3rd class, but moreover an artistic outreach. The 2 cars of the Chains, Spring Street and Market Street acted as a hub for residential and social & trading respectively.

Before the events of First, the Weather Changed, Sean Wise, a spy working for Mr. Wilford, and Erik Sotto met with Terence to score some Kronole. However, Sean was tortured to death by Erik and LJ Folger. Sean's room-mates Tino, Lee and Zarah Ferami reported him missing 24 hours before he was found dead.

Season 1

Andre Layton, a former homicide detective, was brought out of the tail to investigate Sean Wise's murder, meeting with Zarah, his ex-wife, for the first time in 4 years. Zarah remarks that someone she loves was murdered and doesn’t want to be falsely accused. The two argue about how they ended up on the train, with Zarah angry that she agreed to join him in his endeavor to get aboard Snowpiercer.

Bess Till takes Layton to see the person who found the body, whom he asks again about how he came to find the body. Tunnelman Jakes Carter explains that he was working routine maintenance when he found the body below the floor panel. Layton questions who had access to the sub-system and the checkpoints between each sector, however Till advises him not to answer whilst Layton remarks that he is trying to assess how far someone could move a body. Carter leaves and Till reveals that there are two hours until the autopsy.

Layton is led from Fight Night in the Nightcar into Terence's quarters on the 2nd floor of the Market, where he is given an audience with jim. Layton questions if Terence ever sold to Sean Wise, and Terence exclaims that he didn’t kill Sean, despite having sold to him. The two talk further and Terence reveals that the night Sean was killed, he tried to buy Kronole from him with a guy from First: early thirties, buzz cut, well maintained appearance. Layton holds up his ring and asks if he can bargain for one more small thing. Terence agrees and gives Layton an RFID chip in secret. Layton would later sneakily pass it over to Josie Wellstead while kissing.

Layton figures out that Erik must’ve held Sean Wise down whilst LJ castrated him herself. LJ is the true mastermind behind the murders while Erik was only the muscle. Erik meanwhiles hides in the old beekeepers storage crate in Spring Street (crate A17). At the same time, Jinju arrives in the Market from up-train and visits Anton in his garment shop to buy a gift for Till. Meanwhile, it does not take long for Till and Osweiller to find Erik in crate A17. Erik flees, heading up to the 2nd floor and jumping from balcony to balcony as he is chased by the 2 Brakemen. Erik is just barely able to lose them, heading into the Market. He puts up his hoodie to hide his identity as Till and Osweiller arrive in the same car, looking for Erik. Erik barges into Anton's garment shop and takes Jinju hostage, pointing the gun at Anton and telling both to be quiet. Meanwhile, Sam Roche and Commander Grey arrive with a group of Jackboots. Grey announces to the passengers the Market is being cleared. Anton tries to escape, but Erik knocks him out. He then takes Jinju hostage and tries to secretly escape, pointing the gun at a Jackboot standing by the door and telling them to get down, before telling Jinju to chip in. Both reluctantly agree, but Till spots Erik. Erik sees he has been spotted and shoots his gun in the air to scare the passengers before running with Jinju into the battery cars behind the Chains, the Brakemen and Jackboots going after them. After running into the sub-train, Erik was axed to death by Jackboots and Jinju was saved.

Third Class passengers listen and cheer when Melanie announces that Mr. Wilford would accept Third Class request to have one juror from each class for LJ's tribunal, which was later put on speaker and third class passengers were listening to it in the Market. Josie arrives at the market as instructed by Astrid. She arrives to speak with Terence and tells him that the Tail believes Layton has been suspended in the drawers. Terence questions why he would be put into the drawer if he solved the murder and that maybe he annoyed Wilford. Terence reveals that they will take a trip to the drawers the same day given the security is small due to the trial. Terence and Josie arrive at the Drawers where Josie begins looking for a list to indicate which drawer Layton is in but Terence leaves after stealing the medication, advising Josie not to get caught. Josie looks through the drawers for Layton, and eventually finds him but is discovered by Till and Osweiller. Till knocks out Osweiller after he attacks Josie and helps Josie take Layton to Zarah, and Josie begs Zarah to keep him hidden and safe. Zarah asks how Josie escaped the Tail, but Josie doesn’t answer, simply remarking that the Tail is trusting Zarah. Layton later begins experiencing similar side effects of Kronole withdrawal that Nikki did.

Layton is suffering from Kronole withdrawal, and is disoriented when he wakes. He asks Zarah how he got there, and Zarah reveals that Layton has been suspended within the drawers. When Zarah asks what Layton did to get put into the drawers, he is reluctant to answer and instead questions why Zarah didn’t leave him out of Sean’s murder investigation. Melanie takes a trip to the Market and is met with large scale riots and abusive language. Melanie reminds Third that work is their ticket aboard, but the Thirdies push back, remarking that they keep the train running — the worker is met with harsh violence from security. Melanie tells the Thirdies that if the stoppage goes ahead, ten Thirdies will be taken to the Tail in an exchange; the Thirdies are visibly worried by this remark. Josie arrives during the speech to take Layton away, telling Zarah that they cannot meet again. Believing that something could happen to him, Layton reveals that Wilford is an illusion and Cavill is the one behind the curtain. He swears Josie to secrecy, however, remarking that they should keep it in their arsenal until they figure out how to use the secret.

The Torretta Canyon Crisis shook the Chains as much as it shook the rest of the train (figuratively or literally). Melanie was able to fix the fault just in-time before the utility car right behind the Chains and save the train from doom. Arriving in the Market afterwards, Bennett gives a speech about the Eternal Engine, and Melanie talks with Audrey, telling her that her strike — and pseudo-revolution — failed. Audrey remarks that there will not always be a disaster to save Mr. Wilford, but she tells Audrey differently.

Melanie tosses Zarah’s chambers, revealing that she knows she aided Layton, and would like to know who helped him escape the drawers. Melanie, armed with the knowledge, heads to the Tail. Layton, Audrey, Bess and the others plan for the revolution. They plan to hit them on Third where they know the territory. Bess explains that she cannot presume to know which side the Breakman will choose, but nonetheless, Layton explains that there will be casualties. With all of Nolan’s men moving up train — just as Layton predicted after a staged act with Miles that leads LJ into the engine to find out Mr. Wilford is not on the train — the Tailies and Third enact their plan, heading to the tail to start the revolution.

Later, Layton, Bess, and the Tailies march forward where they are informed that the Jackboots and Brakemen have gotten wind of their plan and are forming in the Chains. Bess and Layton approach Roche and the Breakmen, asking them to step aside given the fight is not with them. Roche tells the Breakmen to hold the line, assuring them that the Tail is lying about Wilford. Despite this, Layton and Bess are able to convince Roche that they are telling the truth, and Roche orders the Brakemen to stand aside and allow the Tail to pass. The revolutionaries take 2 containers (1 behind a bar) to plan the rest of the revolution.

Pike and Layton meet again for the first time since Pike was suspended in the drawers. Pike asks to talk with Layton and, when he does, he reveals that Nolan plans to gas the whole train and does not care about the casualties. Layton is reluctant to believe him but has no choice when Pike reveals that he made a deal with Commander Grey in return for fresh food and clean clothes. If Layton accepts, the Tailies will return to the Tail but he will be executed; Pike gives him one hour to consider the deal put forth. Miss Audrey, Bess, and Layton discuss the deal put forward, and the three of them agree that there will be no surrender. Audrey pleads with Layton to talk with Zarah as it may be his last chance, but Layton is visibly conflicted.

Layton talks with Zarah, who questions what will become of their relationship and, more importantly, the train. Zarah expresses regret about the actions she took leading up to Josie’s death but expresses that she did what she had to do to keep “their” child-safe, a revelation that shocks Layton to his core. Layton leaves moments later bemused by the situation and conflicted in his response; it is clear the revelation changes Layton’s plans, and he removes the symbol of the rebellion (the scarf) from around his neck. When Till approaches, Layton tells her that it is over, much to Till’s dismay; Layton surrenders to Pike moments later and he heads up to First Class to inform Nolan Grey.

Later, Melanie sneaks into the ventilation shafts and exits into one of the Greenhouse cars to find she is surrounded by Layton’s people. She is taken to the Chains where she proposes that she help Layton take over the train. He is reluctant to believe her at first, but she explains that they can separate the cars containing the Jackboots, thereby wiping out their entire army in one move. Layton is reluctant to believe her, but Audrey and Till agree that they have no other option. Enacting their plan, Melanie radios Bennett on the comms backup and asks how far they are from Fremont Junction, as this is where they will separate the cars. Melanie takes Layton to the safety release, but tells him that they will need someone on the other side to release the other safety. Layton tells her that he can do it, but will need more help.

Melanie later cuts her hand to remove her access chip and hands it to Layton, citing that it will grant him access to the safety release and every door on the train. Layton assures her that if they survive the business between the two isn’t finished. They’re interrupted by Roche who questions if there is a possibility that the train won’t reconnect, Melanie admits that this is possible, but not likely.

After the successful revolution,

WIP

Season 2

WIP

Season 3

6 months after the separation of the Pirate Train, the Chains lost heat completely and 162 passengers remained evacuated.

• Pike had a secondary residence above one of the markets.
• Z-Wreck opened up a speakeasy in the Market at some point after the separation of the Pirate Train

WIP

Interior

The interior of the Chains is filled with re-purposed items, such as cargo containers (for separated rooms), wooden paletts laid vertically (for plant holders) and pipes (for light-ring holders and the stall table for the noodles stall). Many people have market stalls, small stores, and residences in the Chains.

Market Street

Also known as The Market, Market Street served as a hub for third class passengers to socialize, eat run businesses and trade. Signage indicate the Market also has a library.

Noodles Stall

A Noodles Stall was one of the businesses in the Market. An unnamed Proprietor (portrayed by Lillian Lim) alongside at least 2 other employees ran the stall. Beef noodle is one of the items on the menu. Tunnelman Jakes Carter was eating beef noodles here when he was interrogated by Layton and Till.

Barbershop & Tattoo Parlor

A barbershop was in the Market. LJ and Pike visited the barbershop after the revolution. The barbershop also served as a tattoo parlor.

Terence's Residence

Terence had a residence on the 2nd floor of the market which had many valuables on display.

Bars

There were numerous bars in the Market, one of which was used by the revolutionaries to plan the revolution. The same bar later became a Mexican Restaurant that Ruth and Pike visited.

Anton's Garment Shop

Anton ran a garment shop. It was visited by Jinju to buy a gift for Till.

Z-Wreck's Speakeasy

Z-Wreck opened up a speakeasy in the Market during the time of Wilford's Rolling Gulag

Lights' Repair Stall

After settling into the Chains with the other tailies, Lights opened up a repair stall.

Pike's pied-à-terre

After killing Terence, Pike claimed a container in the 2nd floor of the market for himself.

Spring Street

Spring Street served as a residential and possibly social hub for third class passengers. It's interior is almost identical to the Market with the exception of different decorations, a container where the noodles stall would be and everything being flipped the other way around.

Zarah, Tino and Lee's Residence

Sean Wise, Zarah, Tino and Lee lived in a 2-story container together.

Crate A17

Crate A17 was once used by beekeepers as storage after the bee colony collapsed. Erik later got the keys to the container stole a J-hook and "re-decorated" it for having private times with LJ. The container is filled with dead bees and beehives. Erik would use this container to hide from the Brakemen after he couldn't go back to First Class as the border was closed.

Pastor Logan's Boxing Container

Logan owned a container in the Chains for boxing purposes. He and Till boxed in the container.

Exterior

WIP

Appearances

Appearance	EP1	EP2	EP3	EP4	EP5	EP6	EP7	EP8	EP9	EP10
Season 1	✔			✔
Season 2
Season 3					✔
Season 4										✔
✔ = Appeared			Did Not Appear				F = Flashback
Note: Appearances for the interior of the car only.

Trivia

• Some containers are identified by serial codes like "crate 10A" and "crate 15A"
• There was only 1 set made for the Chains. While the Chains is only 2 cars, the CGI has shown at least 6 cars (varying amount) of the same type multiple times.
• The name itself refers to the people living in the Chains 'living and screwing in groups.'
• The Chains are similar to the Dordoy Bazaar.
• The name Spring Street could be an inside joke to the kronole and drug dealing/trading on the train. According to the Urban Dictionary, Spring Street could mean "any place known for violent behavior and/or drug dealings."
• If Sub-train signs are taken into account in Without Their Maker, the Chains cars would have the numbers C0780 (Spring Street) and C0781 (Market Street).
• LJ mentioned in First, the Weather Changed that she wants to "eat noodles in Third." This is a lie as she wants to go with Erik and spend private time together in crate A17.
• Some behind the scenes photographs show small residences that were never screen on screen.
• The bars re-use the barrel and piping props from the "industrial passageway" (bio security) car in the unaired pilot episode as brewery barrels.

Gallery

Market Street (Behind the Scenes)

Spring Street

Spring Street

Sean Wise, Zarah, Tino and Lee's residence in Spring Street

Market Street

Market Street

Market Street

Barbershop

Concept Art

Concept Art