The Glories Of Rail

United Streetcar, a subsidiary of Oregon Iron Works, was supposed to manufacture five new Portland streetcars and have them in service in 2012. None was ready.

They were initially supposed to build six, but after it became clear that they're completely inept when it comes to building 19th-century transportation vehicles, Portland cut the order to five cars - but at the same price as they'd agreed to pay for six. Hey, it's just taxpayer money. "United Streetcar" also inked deals to build cars for Tucson, Arizona and Washington, D.C. And who knows? It's entirely possible that Tucson and D.C. will eventually get the cars. Perhaps in, say, 2050.

Read the full essay at MaxRedline