I wonder about the railroads. What they could have been here, in the United States.
Here is a question for everyone. If things had been different all along with the railroads, would you ride the train?
The thing of it is. I’ve heard many people, historians in particular, say that America was greatly hurt when the government went to bed with the auto industry and played a part in snuffing out our railroads.
Today, around the world, so many other countries have wonderfully robust railway systems that benefit their existence greatly.
But not us here in the good old USA.
I say that the blame on the whole auto industry thing might be right. It played a significant role in the decline and transformation of the U.S. railway system, particularly in the 20th century.
For one thing, the rise of the automobile, especially after World War II, changed how people traveled. Cars provided greater personal freedom, sure. They allowed people to travel at their own pace, directly to their destinations, and without being dependent on railway schedules. And they really advertised this. Of course, they did. They wanted to succeed.
This shift reduced the demand for passenger trains, especially for shorter distances.
And, of course, the government helped the auto industry greatly. The construction of the Interstate Highway System, initiated by the Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956, made automobile travel even more convenient and efficient. With faster, well-maintained roads connecting cities and towns, the need for rail travel diminished, especially for goods that could be transported by trucks.
Not only that but there were also a lot of government subsidies. The U.S. government heavily invested in highway infrastructure, which benefited the auto and trucking industries. These investments in roads and highways made railroads less competitive, as rail companies received less government support in comparison, particularly for passenger services.
And there were several “big” incidents much earlier that hurt the railroads. Like in 1917. That is when the U.S. government took over control of the nation’s railroads on December 26, 1917. It was eight months after the United States entered World War I. And. On behalf of the Allies, President Woodrow Wilson announced the nationalization of a large majority of the country’s railroads under the Federal Possession and Control Act.
There’s a lot more to it. But the railroads were hurting after this.
I could list thing after thing that caused their decline.
But as I was writing this, I thought about my own life, and where I live. I tried to picture myself using the rail system as if it had been built up strongly in the United States.
Perhaps there would be a station, maybe a mile or two from my house. I’d have to be prepared enough to work my day around the trains’ schedules. And because of the station’s distance, I would have to drive there and park my car in the lot. Then I’d have to wait for the train. I’d ride into Eaton, or maybe even Dayton, and run my errands. Grocery shopping? A doctor’s appointment. A visit to the pharmacy? A workout? And then, I would have to lug whatever I purchased onto the train and ride back to the station. I’d have to carry all my bags of groceries and other items to the car and finally drive home, unpacking it all one more time once I got there.
As I ran this scenario through my mind, I decided I wouldn’t like this one bit. On the other hand, if we had all grown up doing this without question, without an alternative method of transportation, it would be second nature.
I don’t know.
Would you go to these great lengths to ride the train?
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“The train is a small universe, a miniature version of life itself.” – Paul Theroux
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“Trains are the most civilized way to travel.” – Keith Waterhouse
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“Trains are the veins of a country’s soul, connecting people, places, and experiences.” – Thomas Cohen
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The big train that couldn’t. Because they wouldn’t.
