America’s Railroads that You Probably Do Not Know

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While people are not as enamored about trains anymore, there used to be a time when every kid in America wanted to be an engineer. To their minds, there was nothing better than driving that massive coal-powered machine and releasing the valve to make the train go “choo, choo!”

It is not an exaggeration to say that the railroad track was the backbone of the country’s economy. The train was built first before the communities, which became towns, then major cities.

The fading love affair between America and trains is unfortunate, considering that the whole industry is, in fact, very interesting.

For those who loved trains as a kid, the facts mentioned below will hopefully rekindle your interest. For others, it would not hurt to try a train ride and take a trip back in time. As you might see from the railway diagrams, the routes did not change much. Only the cabs have become more comfortable today to make your journey more enjoyable.

Here are a few facts you may be interested in:

You can buy railway diagrams — Did you know that there is a significant number of enthusiasts out there who will buy a copy of the original diagrams and plans of the trains today? Although it is a niche industry, hobbyists will lap up any new blueprint that surfaces and they are willing to pay good money for it.

The US has the longest network — The total rail network of the United States stretches more than 250,000 kilometers. However, only about 35,000 of it can be taken by passengers, and the rest is for cargo.

Amtrak is the largest train operator — Amtrak services 500 stations in 46 states. In 2018, there were 31.7 million passengers who rode their cabs. Every day, there are almost 87,000 people who take Amtrak, so the company employs more than 20,000 people to ensure that everything goes smoothly. The operator covers 34,000 kilometers of tracks.

The width of a track is four feet and 8.5 inches — It can also go up to four feet, 9.5 inches for trains that go more than 97 kilometers per hour.

The longest train ride — The California Zephyr is the longest train ride you can take. You start from Chicago and end up in San Francisco. Along the way, you will pass by the Rocky Mountains, Reno, Sacramento, and finally stop in Emeryville. The trip takes two days, but if you have to be accurate, you will log 51 hours and 20 minutes for the one-way journey.

The shortest trip — The Grand Canyon Railway is technically not owned by the federal government. However, the 8.5-hour journey is still worth it (the trip is around 4.5 hours, but you will have a 4-hour stopover). The track opened in 1901.

Oldest track — The oldest track still operating today is the Strasburg Rail Road, which can be found in Lancaster County, PA. It opened in 1832 but has now become a tourist ride that takes you on a 45-minute tour.

The first train was slow — The first locomotive in 1830 was so slow that it could not even beat a racehorse. The train used Cooper’s engine, designed by Peter Cooper, who then called it Tom Thumb. But the engine did not perform well when it was challenged to a race by a horsecar (a horse-drawn train). 

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