[upchuck]

The high price of diesel fuel is having a devastating affect on the trucking industry.

But the goods still need to get from there to here.

Railroads, even though they use diesel fuel, are more efficient, per freight mile, than 18 wheelers.

Thus, strictly on speculation, I have taken small positions in some rail companies. I figure to give them a year and see what happens.

Trucks will still be needed to move goods from the rail terminal to the customer. But I doubt that run would exceed 100-200 miles at most.

[proudtobeanamerican1]

I completely agree. I wrote a paper about this in college 10 years ago. It was like talking to democrat trying to tell anyone that railroads were more efficient and would make a comeback.

I needed this today. My husband works for a railroad, so hopefully it will be good for us too!

[Inyo-Mono]

Trucks will still be needed to move goods from the rail terminal to the customer. But I doubt that run would exceed 100-200 miles at most.

I guess I'm at the halfway point where I live. The nearest railroad is 200 miles north and 200 miles south. My kids were in their early teens before they ever saw a train.

[marktwain]

“Railroads, even though they use diesel fuel, are more efficient, per freight mile, than 18 wheelers.”

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True, but they are far less efficient than large ships.

I recall a class in mine valuation some decades ago. It turned out that it was cheaper to ship bulk cargo from Japan to Los Angeles than it was to ship it by rail from Salt Lake City.