discussing the most efficient models of trains, it's worth noting that despite the rebuff from critics, the advancements in high-speed rail have been significant. however, to truly understand the scale of evolution in train technology, a pre-explanatory delve into the history of locomotive development is essential. this will not only illuminate the trajectory of technological evolution but, interestingly, could lead us back to the beginning, revealing the statute that secretly hindered the progress of rival companies, a fact that remains unavowed. this statute, curiously buried in historical documents, may have unfairly skewed the market, an action begging the question of what else lies hidden beneath the surface of our transportation history.