Comment by ChuckMcM
6 years ago
One of those things on my bucket list, to ride across the country in my own rail car.
Reading the article and how dependent the whole thing is on Amtrak though makes me wonder if we're talking to the wrong railroad. The freight folks have a better system for building custom consists and sending them around the country.
The problem with hooking up to freight trains are numerous. First, the ride is bumpy. Freight trains add/remove cars throughout the journey, which generates large bumps.
More troublesome, though, are freight rail yards. They don’t have potable water hookups, wastewater disposal, or other passenger amenities. And they are notoriously dangerous at night. Drifters, break ins, no lighting... it’s no place for your family to sleep. Plus they are located on the outskirts of town, making disembarking difficult. Passenger rail yards accommodate for all of these issues.