How Does a Train Move on a Railway Track?
Who Knew?! Six Surprising Things That Move By Rail
You just might be amazed at what items ride the rails to arrive at a location near you.
It's no surprise that many products travel by train, from everyday household items, like clothes and appliances, to commodities like grain and coal. But you just might be amazed at what other items ride the rails to arrive at a location near you. (Don't miss the video at the end!)
Automobiles
Who doesn't love that "new car" smell? Before your brand new car arrives on the sales lot and you go for a test drive, there's a good chance it has already been out for a spin – on the railroad, that is. According to the AAR, railroads move nearly 75% of the new cars and light trucks purchased in the U.S. and serve a majority of the 70-plus automobile manufacturing plants across North America. AutoFlex rail cars, developed by Union Pacific Railroad, are designed to safely and securely transport vehicles for damage-free delivery.
Beer
Take one down and pass it around… In 2017 the U.S. beer industry sold 207.4 million barrels of beer. That is equivalent to more than 2.9 billion cases of 24 twelve-ounce servings. And you guessed it, a lot of that beer was shipped in temperature-controlled rail cars and delivered to a store near you. Cheers!
Chocolate
It's official. We are chocoholics. On average, each American consumes 12 pounds of chocolate per year. A large amount of that chocolate actually travels by rail. Even in the hot summer months, chocolate riding on the rails stays at the perfect temperature thanks to temperature-controlled rail cars. Pretty darn sweet.
Christmas Trees
Approximately 20 million U.S. households planned to display a real Christmas tree during the 2017 holiday season. How do all of those trees get from a tree farm to a store near you? By rail, of course. In fact, one intermodal container can hold up to 750 Christmas trees, depending on tree size. With big deliveries like that, Santa just might trade in his sleigh for a train.
Military Tanks
Every year, thousands of rail cars of ammunition, Humvees, tanks and other types of military equipment travel cross-country between military bases or to ports for overseas deployment. For example, at Fort Riley's Army base near Manhattan, Kansas, in less than two days, four to five trains are built in advance to deploy an entire brigade of 600 or more rail cars. These trains are quite a sight to see and a true testament to the U.S. Army motto, "This We'll Defend."
Shrimp
Roasted, fried, grilled or sautéed, any way you cook it, Americans love their shrimp. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the average U.S. consumer eats four pounds of shrimp annually. More than 90 percent of seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, and shrimp is the leading fresh or frozen product in that category. To ensure shrimp stay cold during transport and arrive fresh upon delivery, it travels on refrigerated rail cars, which are satellite controlled to maintain the perfect temperature. Shrimpressive.
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Related Articles:
- What Can You Ship by Rail?
- How Rail Supports America's Food Production...and Helps Feed the World
- Rail 101 FAQs
VIDEO: Six Surprising Things That Move by Rail
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How Does a Train Move on a Railway Track?
Source: https://www.up.com/customers/track-record/tr181114-surprising_things.htm
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