It’s the Holiday Season, and lots of people (me included) have been enjoying activities associated with trains. You know—model trains, Santa Claus specials entertaining the kids and/or benefitting the less-fortunate. Watching The Polar Express movie. It’s a tradition in this industry. (NJ Transit now has a full-size version of model locomotives to be released next year). It’s fun. It’s heartwarming. It makes sense, right? Early yesterday, what to my wondering eyes should appear but an email, without eight tiny reindeer. The subject matter at first glance looked like it was about a new children’s book on trains. The email with a link to the book came from the American Chemistry Council. Gee whiz, how nice of them to do this! Too bad my twin boys are 24. I could have read this to them at bedtime, with The Polar Express book. But hey, maybe my neighbor’s little daughters will enjoy it! Then I did a double-take: “The Little Engine That Couldn’t”? I read the press release. What the …. Holy Christmas, Batman! This can’t be real, even in Washington D.C., where even the most bizarre things are possible. “Good morning,” the email said to my bright shiny face (by now displaying an “I’m cringing” expression). “Pasted below is a news release from the Rail Customer Coalition announcing the release of a new book called ‘The Little Engine That Couldn’t.’ Fit for any level of familiarity with freight rail issues, the book employs a creative and engaging way to explain the growing challenges of shipping by rail and the need for policy reforms. The book will make its official debut at a reception tonight in the House Rayburn foyer. It will also be delivered to Congressional offices. A hard copy of the book is on its way to you. In the meantime, please let me know if you have any questions. And stop by if you can join us tonight.” Sure, man! I’m going to jump on the first Acela out of Metropark and hightail it down to Capitol Hill—just so I can ask those in attendance, “You’re joking, right?” So here, for your entertainment, is the press release: Must Read: New Book Spells Out Need for Freight Rail Reform To Policymakers WASHINGTON, D.C. – (December 12, 2023) The Rail Customer Coalition (RCC) today announced the release of “The Little Engine That Couldn’t,” a book fit for all ages, which aims to shed light on the pressing need for U.S. freight rail reform. In the shadow of inflation and product shortages driven by transportation-related supply chain problems, this book spotlights some of the challenges faced by freight rail customers. “The Little Engine That Couldn’t” tells the tale of a determined little locomotive that, despite its unwavering spirit, struggles to deliver cargo on time while rail customers – including farmers and manufacturers – are hit with higher rates, fees, product embargoes and fewer options for reliable service. The story weaves together a growing list of freight rail problems to help policymakers understand how these problems weaken the supply chain and harm U.S. manufacturers, farmers, energy producers, and consumers. The book captures the problems that have been detailed during many hearings held by Congress and the Surface Transportation Board (STB) over the past several years. It also comes on the heels of a major breakdown of the freight rail network that disrupted production and the supply of goods across the country. Through this book, the RCC hopes to make it easier to understand why rail problems must be addressed by adopting long-overdue policy changes. The book will be shared with policymakers, including Congress and the STB, to underscore the need to adopt commonsense reforms, such as: Increasing Rail-to-Rail Competition: Removing regulatory barriers to competitive rail service by updating the STB’s reciprocal switching rules. Fighting Monopoly Pricing: Developing an economic model that measures how much more rail shippers pay when they lack competitive transportation options. Passing the Reliable Rail Service Act: Clarifying the railroads’ common carrier obligation to provide service in line with customer needs. A kid’s book with cutesy pictures? What are these people thinking (or not)? That Marty Oberman, Patrick Fuchs, Robert Primus, Karen Hedlund and Michelle Schultz are waiting with bated breath to get their hands on this piece of literary lunacy and share it with the STB staff? That this is all the average member of the House Rail Subcommittee or Senate Commerce Committee can grasp? C’mon folks, they’re not as dimwitted or uninformed as you’re implying. Don’t you think that a putrid publicity stunt like this just might insult them, even a tad? Railway Age Capitol Hill Contributing Editor Frank Wilner, who has seen more than his share of Washington wonkiness, says: “It would seem that members of the Rail Customer Coalition, frustrated that they have achieved neither their legislative objectives nor desired relief from the STB, have followed, with publication of this equivalent of a grade-school Dick and Jane picture book, the advice of Carl Sandburg: ‘If the facts are against you, argue the law. If the law is against you, argue the facts. If the law and the facts are against you, pound the table and yell like hell.’ A better course than publicly impugning the intelligence of lawmakers and members of the STB would be to improve the substance and quality of their arguments.” A Class I staffer points out, “Some pretty significant facts and context are mysteriously missing.” That’s an understatement! I wonder what the AAR or ASLRRA thinks of this? My inquiring mind wants to know. For further entertainment, you can download a copy of the book and watch a cartoon in your spare time at this link. When I get my copy, I’m donating it to The Museum of Ridiculously Interesting Things, or to Monty Python’s Flying Circus Ministry of Silly Walks. Now, I think I’ll go watch a few episodes of Thomas the Tank Engine. The post ‘Fit for All Ages’ (and IQs)? appeared first on Railway Age. Continue reading...
