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From a railfan's standpoint, I hope it never gets this far. BUT... Some day, what if ALL traffic that went by both road and rail was shipped on RoadRailers, or their equivalent? That is, a single common container with integral rubber tires, and a set of freight car trucks just lined up waiting in the intermodal yard. The key here is that ANY and ALL freight meant to go by road and rail could be shipped entirely by this means. Whatever other commodities that couldn't be adapted to RoadRailers (i.e., coal) could be shipped entirely by unit trains. Any freight that doesn't fit into the scheme either way may be retained, where still deemed necessary or profitable. Furthermore, a highly standardized set of locomotives could be developed (possibly running off fuel cells?), with just a few flexible classes - a high and low horsepower six-axle unit, and maybe their four-axle equivalents, and a standard switcher. Maybe, eight types of locomotive, at most, all using a very standardized set of parts. And passenger service? Non-commuter service (which still proves uniquely useful, and profitable) could be retained, but all other passenger service could be entirely dispensed with. Let the airlines have it, all it's going to do is get in the way of the much more profitable freight trains. I know they're headed in this direction already, but what if someday they reached this perfect synthesis of operation? Any input?
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