It’s no secret there’s no love lost between the trucking
industry and the railroad. Being a truck driver, it’s obvious which side I’m on
in this grand debate over which mode of transportation is better, safer, more
reliable, etc. The railroad types are continually telling me that trains are
the safest, most reliable, far more efficient than trucks, better for the
environment, and do not cause traffic problems like major backups or accidents.
Um, yeah, sure. I suppose that’s why I’m currently sitting
here on a two-lane highway, at a dead stop! Actually, the reason I’m sitting
here, as I have been for the last six hours, is because on the other side of
the river, where the freeway is, and where I normally drive, there is a huge
fire, which has produced at least one explosion, and has closed the freeway as
well as caused an entire town to be evacuated.
What is on fire? Well, a lot of things, trees, wooden
bridges, and maybe even a few buildings. Oh yeah, and an oil tanker. A train
oil tanker. That’s literally adding fuel to the fire! Not only is the train
burning but it has derailed as well, taking out a lot of track, bridges, and
other structures.
So, here I am, along with what looks like about a million
other people who made the mistake of wanting to go somewhere on this Friday
afternoon, at a standstill due to the massive traffic jam—thanks to the train.
It’s taken me six hours to get here, and “here” is exactly twenty miles from
where I started this detour.
So, tell me again, dear railroad people, how trains are
better, safer, and more reliable. And as for being environmentally friendly, I
doubt the fish are convinced of that at this point—not after swimming in
burning oil-laced water and then being doused with flame retardant.
I do have to give the railroad credit though. They are on
the ball. It only took them a matter of a few hours to bring in all the
necessary equipment and supplies to repair the tracks and bridges. They’re
ready to fix things and get the trains rolling again—well, as soon as the fire
gets put out. There are thousands of railroad ties, loads of rock, and rails,
along with bulldozers, backhoes, and a various assortment of other heavy
equipment. All the needed supplies and equipment is lined up down the nearby
exits and on ramps and down both sides of the freeway. Yep, the freeway. On
TRUCKS! They had it TRUCKED in. But then, how else were they going to get it on
site? The railroad is sort of, well, gone. The trucks are still running though!
~
Bruce
A. Borders is the author of more than a dozen books, including: Inside Room 913, Over My Dead Body, The Journey,
Miscarriage Of Justice, The Lana Denae Mysteries, and The Wynn Garrett Series. Available in ebook at www.amazon.com/Bruce-A.-Borders/e/B006SOLWQS
and
paperback on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Books-a-Million. Bruce A. Borders
is a proud member of Rave Reviews Book Club.
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