You may well be right.

But "serious and deadly" health effects of diesel locomotive exhaust from "countless trains running up and down the tracks", currently has all California's NYMBYs in an big uproar (notice the sarcasm). It is becoming the new NYMBY rallying cry. Political moves are already afoot in both Northern and Southern California, to totally ban the diesel locomotive.

Oakland's harbor recently tried to mandate draconian new smog controls on diesel trucks serving the port. That is, until they found out there would be no more trucks at all, as the truckers flat didn't have the money.

And as UP recently found out, you can't even site an inter-modal yard out in the deserts of Arizona or new Mexico, because the diseasel exhaust "will ruin the pristine environment" out there.

But whatever, my main ax to grind here - my main hope, is that we do find viable alternatives of any sort, to internal combustion engines running about - mostly because I am a technology nut.

But also, I am moved by our desperate need to quit buying energy from unstable parts of the world - some even avowed enemies no less.

Anyhow, even if it takes all of Thomas Edison's 97% perspiration and all his 3% inspiration; and years of effort besides; can we not hope that those kinks you mention can somehow be worked out, with some new technology or other.

I say - more power to 'em (pun intended). At least I would try to look forward in that way as much I could muster.

OPB