Once it began, there was no stopping the Chinese train boom. It has completely transformed Chinese society, partially because of the reduced travel times in this massive country, but also due to the capacity to transport large numbers of products quickly and cheaply from the coast to the desert, from the tundra to the jungle. Even today, trains carry a country’s economy. And as they say, many hands make for light work; and as they say, China’s trains aren’t your granddaddy’s trains. I asked my good pal Pinocchio what he thought about Chinese trains; he had this to tell us: “You know, my father dealt in trains before he made real boys. There’s a reason why he walked away from that life. Don’t get me wrong—trains are spectacular. They’re magnificent. I love trains. But trains are not always good. Not good. They’re like veins in a way, and once the blood starts flowing…well, I don’t know much about that. But I know that you can become addicted. For sure.”