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Nope, a freight train probably couldn't move more than a few feet on one gallon. Their ridiculous claim of one ton, one gal, 436 mi is based on the factual 436 ton-miles per gallon figure, which requires that you have tens of thousands of tons of freight all going from one point on the rail network to another.
Trains have an advantage over trucks (which are in the 100-200tmpg range) due in part to the very low coefficient of rolling resistance of steel wheels on steel rails. The aerodynamics of trains is also interesting in that each train car is drafting the one in front of it.
Anyway, trains have a lot going for them, but moving one ton of freight 436 miles is something they are terrible at. For that particular task, your best bet is a small pickup truck, or maybe a Jetta or a Prius with a trailer.
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