On the great Western Pacific Railroad, Helen, the spunky daughter of a supervisor, begins a romance with John, an engineer with a troubled past. After a jealous rival accuses John of criminal negligence, Helen's father forbids her to see him. The lovers elope, but a shocking revelation threatens to tear them apart.
Helen Holmes rose to stardom playing independent and adventurous heroines. Director McGowan and Holmes fell in love while working on the serial, The Hazards of Helen, and were married. Webs of Steel features ample footage of steam trains, with two thrilling chase sequences. Star Helen Holmes performed her own stunts; one involving a runaway train speeding toward a child trapped on a trestle.