Yep, pound for pound, rail is the most efficient. On average, it takes about 2.7 to 3.5lbs. of drawbar pull to move 1 ton of train. The average road locomotive is rated at 4400HP, and has about 120,000lb. of drawbar pull. The railroad I work for has an average 9000 ton train, at 10,800ft. length. Aside from the arcane info, does this mean that you can move a locomotive down an old Roman wagon trail?
No, you got to put rail on them if you did!! However, as a RAILFAN (since the day of the New Haven going through my town with 100+ cars), I would love to see Railroad Mileage increase in the US (but without support of the Government).
My friend took over an Abandoned branch of the New Haven and he is successful with it. We shouldn't write off rail, yet!!