My excursion to the McDonalds Railroad got me thinking about rail cars.  As it turns out, passenger rail cars went through several heavyweight and lightweight stages depending on whether smooth ride (comfort) or fuel efficiency (speed) were in vogue.  This is sort of the transportation equivalent of the yo-yo dieter.  In any case, here’s the current stats:

Rail Car Length: 60-70 ft.
Weight Empty: 30 tons
Weight Full: Up to 140 tons

Conclusion: Empty or full, a rail car weighs more than me.