why do the railroads leave groups of cars say 8 or so on side tracks for long periods of time?

Answer 1

The side tracks are called "Sidings", and are used to store cars that are waiting to be delivered to an industry, or sometimes the cars are in need of repair and are not safe to move so they are set out in the siding track until they are fixed. Sometimes one train will set out a cut of cars that are to be picked up by another passing train for delivery.

Answer 2

Normally railroads do this to store cars until they are again needed. Other times companies will actually purchase siding space to store rail cars which they own. In any event, if the former is the case and the car is not owned by the railroad companies, the car owner is charged demurrage fees every day that the car is not in the "pool" (i.e., over the road, being hauled within a train).

Answer 3

It may be a junction, where the sit up cars to be hauled later, rearranged, loaded, unloaded etc. We have one of these in Durham, and it sucks when they are hooking and unhooking the cars because the train just sits there on the crossing or plays with your mind my slowly moving back and fourth. Just when it looks like it's on it's way, it stops and backs up again. (Ant this is the only way to get to the other side of town for a few miles)

Answer 4

Because that is what sidings are for... Car storage, loading and unloading...

They need some place to store them....

Answer 5

sometimes its coz of the big long trains that go through

Answer 6

because if they ever need it for any reaon its there for them