# Popof — The Special Correspondent character guide

> Popof in The Special Correspondent by Jules Verne.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Neither Popof

**First appearance:** 0000-i

## Snapshot

The train's unflappable conductor, a veteran of the Grand Transasiatic who guards its secrets with the same calm he brings to every crisis.

## Who they are

Popof oversees the passengers and the mysterious sealed van with professional discretion, answering Bombarnac's questions only as far as duty allows. He knows more than he says about the van's contents and the dangers along the Gobi line, yet his steady competence keeps the journey running even as rumors of bandits spread. He is the quiet hinge between the travelers' curiosity and the railway company's carefully kept secrets.

## Relationships

### [Faruskiar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/faruskiar)

_professional_

Popof, the train conductor, works under Faruskiar's authority on the railway.

### [Major Noltitz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/major_noltitz)

_professional_

Major Noltitz and Popof share a working relationship on the Transasiatic Railway.

### [Faruskiar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/faruskiar)

_professional_

Popof, the train conductor, works under Faruskiar's authority on the railway.

### [Major Noltitz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/major_noltitz)

_professional_

Major Noltitz and Popof share a working relationship on the Transasiatic Railway.

### [Major Noltitz](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/major_noltitz)

_professional_

Major Noltitz and Popof share a working relationship on the Transasiatic Railway.

## In the story

### [Uzun Ada and the Grand Transasiatic](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/v)

The head guard of the train, a bearded Russian with ten years of service on the Transcaspian line; Claudius intends to talk with him.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/vi)

Guard of the luggage van; his compartment is near the mysterious case; not in his seat during the evening.

### [Kizil Arvat and the Transcaspian Railway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/vii)

Train conductor; appears briefly after the train hits a dromedary.

### [Chapter VIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/viii)

Reveals that the mysterious van contains the body of a dead mandarin being taken to Peking.

### [Merv and the Desert Crossing](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/x)

Reveals the name of the mandarin's corpse as Yen Lou to Claudius.

### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xiii)

The train attendant who exchanges a few words with Bombarnac before retiring.

### [XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xv)

Busy at Kokhan station; later involved in the discussion about the broken coupling.

### [The Aftermath of the Attack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xxi)

Unscathed; oversees the repair work and gives departure signals.

### [XXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/chapters/xxiv)

Train employee; asleep during the crisis but later awakens after the explosion.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters/popof
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_special_correspondent_se/characters