139,800,000 Chairs
Every railroad tie in the world is supported by two chairs. Yes, they are called chairs because the rail sits in the chair and is support by two legs or flanges. For the United States there are approximately 233,000 miles of railroads with an average of 300 ties per miles times 2 chairs per tie.
This train is a tie re-setter. (See below for a full photo.) It moves down along the track and re-sets up to 40 ties per minute to level them and correct settling.
Disclaimer, this train was parked and was being worked on. I did not go on or go near the tracks.
Learn More About Chairs Here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_fastening_system#Chairs
See the Amazing Machine in Action:
http://www.plasseramerican.com/en/machines-systems/tamping-grm3000t.html
Training videos in case you are looking for a new job:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMQsN2oPSakvTSfSdU-gVntaP7xBTiaYy
Assignment
A chair is a mere inanimate object that one sits on...but is it really just that? A chair is also one of a poltergeist's favourite objects to fling around. A chair is often the 'ladder' of small children to reach something they shouldn't. Chairs give us a place to sit next to the table and support us as we work from our desks. This week's real challenge is how you are going to photograph a seemingly simple object such as a chair. You can focus on the unique design of an artisanal chair, highlight just a specific part of a chair, surprise us with a chair in an unusual setting or tell us a story that has a chair as the main character. You are more than welcome to show us people, animals or things sitting on the chair or using it in some way but remember that the chair is the main focus of this challenge.