Wired Up: The Future of Electrification on America's Freight Railroads

This article examines the history—and future—of electrification of railways in the U.S. American railways were the leader in electrification in 1939, according to the author, but switched to diesel after World War 11. Conrail was the last to make the switch, running on electricity until 1981. But with the spike in oil prices in 2008, interest in rail electrification has surged. The author reports that leaders of the major U.S. railways are seriously exploring electrification as a byproduct of new high-speed rail corridors. But the leadership that the U.S. once held is likely to go to Russia, China, or India, which are investing heavily in freight railroad electrification. The author explores what led the U.S. to abandon electricity in the first place.