Trains have a special berth in America’s story. The hammering of the so-called Last Spike at Promontory Summit, Utah, in 1869 reverberated around the nation, joining East and West as never before. Trains signified adventure and exploration as well as efficiency in commerce. Their lonely whistles pierced popular culture. They came in handy for black-hatted villains, too. Tying maidens to wagon trails just doesn’t carry the same perilous punch. Few can behold a rail car without a twinge of past romance or the tingle of anticipation. Where has it been? Where could it take us now? Perhaps it’s understandable to …