Quote:
Originally Posted by piece-itpete
The US freight railroad system is part of the backbone of US transport. Over 142K miles of track (yes I looked that up  ).
Here in a greater metropolitan area, I'm never much more than a couple of miles from tracks. My 6 mile commute takes me over or under 3 sets.
Pete |
I remember visiting a friend in Muncie a few years back. No rail station that I know of, but freight trains came through. You'd hear the two tone siren as they slowed down to go through the town so one day, having heard about giant US freight trains I went out early to see for myself. Four power units on the front pulling over 200 wagons, all double bogie, each wagon about the same length as a UK passenger coach. I don't know the exact number as the engines having passed the town limits were speeding up and I lost count. Incredible sight though. Not just sight; despite concrete sleepers the ground shook as the train came through.