DAVENPORT, Iowa — Editor's Note: A previous version of this story said the train was crossing "Gain Street." This information is inaccurate as the train crossed Gaines Street. It has been corrected.

So, last year, I took part in a running race against a train. A friend, Dan, who organises outdoor adventure races, was scoping out a course for a new event called Steaming to the Coast [external link ...