Fascinating R.R. article in the latest New Yorker

Nah, it ain't narrow gauge, but as so few articles appear on railroading in general publications, this one is of note. It is written by John Mc Phee, who is famous for well-written articles about unusual professions. Some of his other articles profiled archaeologists in Egypt and barge captains on Midwestern rivers. In this aricle he profiles railroading on the UP's Powder River coal operations . The amount of coal moved from this one region is staggering. Apparently the Clean Air Act from the 1980s made this relatively low-grade coal very desirable to power plants as it very low-sulfur. Apparently American railroads are the busiest they ever have been . The shortlines are almost gone, but mainline traffic in unit trains is at its maximum.
As we all know, trains ofen have a great deal of trouble getting over the road, having to stop and wait for the lines ahead to clear so the train can proceed. UP wags like to call the BNSF "the Land of Standing Trains" . BNSF crews say "UP" stands for "Unlimited Parking"! Mc Phee also mentions railfans,and their oddities that have historically confound railroad employees and officials. One tale tells of a fan who blinds crews with arrays for flash lighting for his night shots. Officials love to call law enforcement on these types, and with the fears over homeland security ,FBI officers have been known to confiscate film. Mc Phee noted that getting any help from railroad officials was impossible, till he contacted local railroaders for help.