Lumbering giants of transportation
Across the United States trains are used to transport people both locally and long-distance, as well as transport freight nationwide. Since their emergence as a transportation game-changer in the 19th century, trains have largely been replaced by airplanes, cars and busses for trans-continental transportation. Nonetheless, train accidents like derailments and collisions have been responsible for over 200 deaths and more than 7,500 injuries in the United States in the past 20 years (Bureau of Transportation Statistics).