How do ya'll feel about nuclear power?

[jamesqf]

I think you missed the point, which is that rail cars have very low rolling friction. I sure don't think it's possible to push an empty semi trailer on level ground, though it's much lighter than a railroad car.

[Christ]

Then why not state the actual point in the post instead of dancing around it with over-verbose descriptions?

Or: You could have just said "The rolling resistance of a rail car is less than that of even an empty semi-trailer."

Joking: That's because the Semi-trailer has a jack stand on it.

Believe me, if I missed the point (I didn't, actually, but easily could have.) several other people reading WILL miss it. (Go ahead, take inference from that, if you must.)

I actually did understand what you were saying though. Arguments and debates aside, it would take a substantial weight differential before metal rolling on metal would surpass rubber rolling on asphaltic concrete for rolling resistance.

Evidence of this fact comes when a simple trailer gets a flat tire, and the sidewalls are soft to begin with, such is the case (normally) with utility trailers (for lawn tractors). The trailer doesn't weigh more than 300 lbs, usually, and has two tires. One goes flat, it's just over 150 lbs on that one tire, *bias caused by yaw condition* yet you have to nearly exhaust yourself to get the trailer moving, whereas with fully inflated tires, you can move the whole 300 lbs and then some without a second breath.

Thinking in those terms, unless a rail car somehow managed to get a "flat" (see: locking up the brakes for some dummy drunk in his car, parked on the rails) it would continue to have less rolling resistance than even an unloaded 3-ton trailer (yeah, 6,000 lbs sounds right...)

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Christ

Then why not state the actual point in the post instead of dancing around it with over-verbose descriptions?

"Over-verbose description"? Come on, it was one sentence, and only a single comma. Not even a single semicolon :-)

Over-verbose or not, I think it said what I wanted to say, and would have gotten the point across quite well to most people. Who'd take a dull factual statement over the visceral thought of pushing a railroad car? Not your average creative writing teacher, I bet!

Joking: That's because the Semi-trailer has a jack stand on it.

Not if it's the second trailer of a pair, and so is mounted on a dolly :-)