The Hurricane Express (2005, DVD)

John Wayne is on a railroad instead of a horse. His father, the engineer on "The Hurricane Express," the fastest train in the country, is killed in a train wreck. In fact, there are several wrecks and accidents and John Wayne is determined to find out who is responsible. The person responsible, "The Wrecker," is a master of disguises and the plot revolves around stopping him and finding out his identity.
One interesting twist in this serial, at the start of each episode, there isn't a written summary of the preceeding action like we usually see in serials. Instead, an announcer gives a verbal narrative of the previous episode.
We have car chases, train wrecks, airplanes shot down, motorcycle chases and plenty of fights. John Wayne keeps the action going. There is enough action and suspense to last the whole 12 episodes.
Unfortunately, like many of the serial films that have survived to this time, the picture quality is not the best. As serials go, this isn't bad. But it is just average. If you are a John Wayne fan and like to see him in one of his early films that isn't a western (made in 1935), here is your chance.