Wyo Senator: Impossible To Replace Diesel Trains With Electric

For the politicians in California and some in Washington DC the idea of replacing all diesel locomotives with electric trains is something we need to do, and soon.

But in a recent hearing on Capital Hill in DC Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis only had to ask a few questions to point out that the idea is not practical, or feasible.

Before the Congressional Recess, Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) questioned witnesses on the timeline of creating electric train cards during a Senate Environment and Public Works hearing. (FORBS). 

In the video below you'll hear the term "Zero Emission" used for all electric trains.

At the same time, Senator Lummis is able to show that, in fact, there is no such thing as a zero-emission vehicle.

We will never be able to create a wind and solar power grid powerful enough to charge the electric trains we will need.

Add to that, everyone driving an electric car, then, all-electric homes.

The creation of wind and solar farms is a highly toxic process that also involves a large amount of mining and organic minerals like coal and petroleum.

Rather than asking politicians in states like California if we can ever go all-electric, it's better to ask those who are in the industry.

That's what Senator Lummis does during this hearing.

At one point the senator asks how long it would take to replace all of our diesel-powered trains with electric if we tried.

The answer is, if we pushed all of our time and effort into it, right now, it would take many decades at the very least.

Even then we don't have the power grid to charge those trains once we have created them.

While these hearings were going on the gentleman in the photo below is still riding the old rail cars as a modern-day Hobo.

Modern Hobo Jumps Railcars Through Wyoming

Hobo? Or Nomad? This gentleman considers himself a modern nomad.

When you think of hobos hitching rides on trains you might imagine a scene from The Great Depression.

Box car hopping was common back then.

Automobiles were new and not many people had them.

Most roads, even cross country, were dirt ruts and potholes.

Yet there are a few people who still hop rides on trains.

John E. Ringo has a YouTube page all about his train-hopping hobo/nomad life.

There are several videos of him passing through Wyoming.

In the video below he hops a train from Laurel Montana to Casper Wyoming

He even has a Patreon page so people can help him on his adventures.

On his Instagram page, he describes himself as a "Nomad & Naturalist.

I get the impression from these social media sites that he works when he needs to and travels as often as he can.

After a few day's stay in Casper, Wyoming about 2 years ago, he hopped on the first good ride he thought was worth it to Cheyenne.

You'll find that adventure in the video below.

At each stop, he explores the town and then finds a good place to bed down.

In a day or so he starts looking for an opportunity to sneak onto another rail car heading who knows where.

If you've ever wondered what the train trip from Casper to Cheyenne looks like, this is your chance to see it.

John has to be careful every step of the way.

What he's doing is considered trespassing.

He's been run off more than a few times and arrested on occasion.

After spending a few days in Cheyenne he looks and listens for the best chance to hitch a ride to Denver.

He carries a small handheld radio with him that allows him to listen to the rail workers.

This helps him give them the slip as he looks for a way to climb into a car.

Most of the cars he jumps are not box cars.

Trains today are a bit different than the trains of the great depression.

John often rides exposed to the elements.

But by now he knows what he's doing.

He knows when to move and when not to.

I'm sure he'll visit Wyoming again.