[Incorrigible]

Too much business is the better problem to have.

[Incorrigible]

Ping to the ghost of Willie Green!

[xcamel]

I'm on the D&H (CP) line and we get between 250-300 cars a year on our siding - It's the main line between Albany NY, and Montreal CA. - I don't think I've ever seen as many really long trains, as heavily loaded, as in the last 6 months.

[capt. norm]

Ever since I was a kid and used to watch these things come puffing through town:

I have been fascinated with the railroads.

[Tammy8]

Union Pacific is busy laying new track through our area, they are adding a high speed track parallel to the old and refurbishing the old track and replacing bridges. I am happy to see the improvements and the increase in rail traffic. I think if the railroad can take up the slack we can get some of the trucks off the freeway, or at least not add more. I have nothing against trucks, but when there are a lot of them it gets scary on the road with them.

[capt. norm]

My favorite "choo-choo":

This train makes tourist passenger trips across the Des Moines River at Boone, Iowa every day from Memorial Day through October 31. They also run "dinner trips".......nice!

[who_would_fardels_bear]

The welfare state we currently suffer under has a perverse effect on what we have left of a free market:

If one industry is given tax incentives or government handouts, then other competing industries need them as well in order to compete.

This causes normally free-market-loving companies to compete through lobbying efforts for the largest amount of government goodies.

Leading in the end to an even larger welfare state and less competition overall.

[engrpat]

Sure glad I retired a few years ago. Out of that madness of not knowing when you were going to work, where and when you would be home. It is a young mans game, not for the older folks.

[Carry_Okie]

Instead of subsidizing the railroads, the correct answer is to make the trucking industry pay the full cost of the wear and tear they inflict upon roads and bridges.

[FranklinsTower]

.

[Democratshavenobrains]

Does anyone think we are going to go back to railroads if the oil sheikhs keep raising prices every few months? At least we don't have to worry about outlaws on horses riding up to rob us every so often.

[M. Espinola]

Empire State Express, Peekskill, NY, December, 1941

[traviskicks]

It has also brought to a head the need for improved rail infrastructure in the United States and perhaps a public-private partnership when it comes to paying for it.
----

It is self evident that if private industry cannot supply the infastructure than there is no need for it.

[Cementjungle]

I guess this is another "Bush's Fault" deal