Originally Posted by
moondog
This topic is borderline OMNI, but since it is theoretically possible for us to jump on freight trains and I want everyone to get proper post credit, I'm placing it here.
I've always wondered where the freight trains I see every day go. My hunch is that their routes are relatively boring.
Secondly, about once every two weeks, I get held up at a particular intersection in SE Portland for ~20 minutes because an enormous train passes by at around 10:10a. Since the road in question is fairly busy, I always wonder why the train company doesn't reschedule it to run at a less inconvenient time, and who I could possibly complain to about its shear existence.
General comments about freight trains also much appreciated. i.e. what exactly are they carrying? aren't trucks more practical? does FedEx use them?
One freight train can take hundreds of trucks off the road. If you think traffic is bad now, try it without trains. The railroads maintain all of their own track with little to no government subsidies. Whereas trucking companies get a pretty good deal using then road network. Trains are still profitable in these circumstances because they are very efficient.