Bill, Similar issues in the US... In the late 1800's in granger states like Iowa, no farmer's field was more than 1/2 mile from a railroad track. At harvest time, you put your grain into a boxcar they dropped on that track for you. That's how it got to market. That was our transportation system before cars/trucks/roads.
Regards, Bob S. Pat White said: > > There certainly was a "romance of steam" that didn't > happen with the diesel > > locomotives, but they are far more practical for many > reasons, including not > > needing to stop for water several times per trip. > > Funny thing about that. Around my part of the world, the > big issue is the demise of small town Saskatchewan. > Apparently, the rural life is something to preserve. > What they seem to forget is that the reason there is a > town every 8-12 miles is because that is how often a grain > hauling steam locomotive needed to stop to refill with > water and coal, and that is about half of how far a horse > drawn grain hauler could travel in a day. > > William Robb
