Ever see the commercial about the train and how little fuel it uses to haul lots of cargo? Well living by the U of M I get caught by the train on way too many times. And too often it is so long they have to stop and disconnect to have a second engine move the remaining cars to a second track in the rail yard. It keeps traffic held up for as much as 15 minutes at Southern and Highland. I've timed it on numerous occasions. No telling how many hours I have waited on that damned train over the last 40 plus years. Or too many classes were missed because students got caught by the train. But the real problem is how much gas has been wasted by millions upon millions of cars waiting on trains across the nation?

The train has made many a person late but I never thought about the gas waste.

I raced it more than once.

(12-08-2015 08:41 PM)snowtiger Wrote:  The train has made many a person late but I never thought about the gas waste.

I raced it more than once.

But you live for danger.

They are gonna have a walk over. I saw the plans. Very cool.

But there's no answer for cars. That freight train concept is so throwback.

Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage.

(12-08-2015 08:09 PM)SayWhat? Wrote:  Ever see the commercial about the train and how little fuel it uses to haul lots of cargo? Well living by the U of M I get caught by the train on way too many times. And too often it is so long they have to stop and disconnect to have a second engine move the remaining cars to a second track in the rail yard. It keeps traffic held up for as much as 15 minutes at Southern and Highland. I've timed it on numerous occasions. No telling how many hours I have waited on that damned train over the last 40 plus years. Or too many classes were missed because students got caught by the train. But the real problem is how much gas has been wasted by millions upon millions of cars waiting on trains across the nation?

Find a safe space

I know it's probably to expensive and will never happen but I always thought it would be cool for the city to dig a trench for the trains, much like L.A. did(forget the name), and have a bike and running path above it.

(12-08-2015 10:51 PM)shere khan Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 08:09 PM)SayWhat? Wrote:  Ever see the commercial about the train and how little fuel it uses to haul lots of cargo? Well living by the U of M I get caught by the train on way too many times. And too often it is so long they have to stop and disconnect to have a second engine move the remaining cars to a second track in the rail yard. It keeps traffic held up for as much as 15 minutes at Southern and Highland. I've timed it on numerous occasions. No telling how many hours I have waited on that damned train over the last 40 plus years. Or too many classes were missed because students got caught by the train. But the real problem is how much gas has been wasted by millions upon millions of cars waiting on trains across the nation?

Find a safe space

What does this mean?

(12-08-2015 08:09 PM)SayWhat? Wrote:  Ever see the commercial about the train and how little fuel it uses to haul lots of cargo? Well living by the U of M I get caught by the train on way too many times. And too often it is so long they have to stop and disconnect to have a second engine move the remaining cars to a second track in the rail yard. It keeps traffic held up for as much as 15 minutes at Southern and Highland. I've timed it on numerous occasions. No telling how many hours I have waited on that damned train over the last 40 plus years. Or too many classes were missed because students got caught by the train. But the real problem is how much gas has been wasted by millions upon millions of cars waiting on trains across the nation?

You have been going to college for 40 years?

Wouldn't it be cool if you could just take the freakin train to campus?

(12-09-2015 07:26 AM)memp600 Wrote:  I know it's probably to expensive and will never happen but I always thought it would be cool for the city to dig a trench for the trains, much like L.A. did(forget the name), and have a bike and running path above it.

There was actually a joint project by the City of Memphis and TDOT to look at just that back in the 80's. Would have lowered the tracks starting at Semmes and getting back to current grade at Goodlett. Had a lot of issues. Would have taken out all those oak trees along Walker. That is one of the busiest tracks in the area with 14-15 trains a day (at that time). NOrfolk Southern was not in a cooperative mood. The cost kept creeping up every time a new estimate was done.

I kind of remember a tunnel under the train if you go all the way down Spottswood...? Is that a street there...it just came back to me.

Spottswood is the first street south of Southern. There was a 3 Little Pigs BBQ at Spottswood and Highland across from St. Dominic school and church. It is now St. Ann's.

(12-08-2015 08:53 PM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 08:41 PM)snowtiger Wrote:  The train has made many a person late but I never thought about the gas waste.

I raced it more than once.

But you live for danger.

Yeah, she runs down to the football field and runs cougars off with a broom occasionally.

A bridge was built at Ridgeway and I don't think there is another one until you get all the way down to Boston near the Fairgrounds.

A few years ago there was an article in the CA about a study looking at another bridge in East Memphis. If I recall correctly, there were looking at Mt. Moriah and Perkins to determine the best possible location.

(12-09-2015 04:48 PM)SayWhat? Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 08:53 PM)TigerBill Wrote:  

(12-08-2015 08:41 PM)snowtiger Wrote:  The train has made many a person late but I never thought about the gas waste.

I raced it more than once.

But you live for danger.

Yeah, she runs down to the football field and runs cougars off with a broom occasionally.

Cougar ain't born would mess with her.

(12-09-2015 04:44 PM)SayWhat? Wrote:  Spottswood is the first street south of Southern. There was a 3 Little Pigs BBQ at Spottswood and Highland across from St. Dominic school and church. It is now St. Ann's.

Uh, that would be St. Anne's. St Ann's is in Bartlett, the one on Highland has an "E" for Excellence on the end. LOL, proud alum, that is what they taught us.....

(12-11-2015 03:41 PM)Chi-Town Wrote:  

(12-09-2015 04:44 PM)SayWhat? Wrote:  Spottswood is the first street south of Southern. There was a 3 Little Pigs BBQ at Spottswood and Highland across from St. Dominic school and church. It is now St. Ann's.

Uh, that would be St. Anne's. St Ann's is in Bartlett, the one on Highland has an "E" for Excellence on the end. LOL, proud alum, that is what they taught us.....

I was at Sacred Heart, and then Catholic High. At Sacred Heart we did not call ourselves alums, we used the term survivors. The nun who taught 8th grade relied on heavy duty corporal punishment. My hands still sting from that architect's ruler she used.

That train got us quiet a few free pizzas in college when Dominos had that thirty minute guarantee. Just had to time the order right.

(12-12-2015 11:37 AM)georgiatiger Wrote:  That train got us quiet a few free pizzas in college when Dominos had that thirty minute guarantee. Just had to time the order right.

Yep. Same with delivery from Garabaldi's. Me and my buddy's ate free at least once a week.