I respect your opinion, I think that it's something that takes investment before economic activity is seen. Like many startups spending venture capital to build a network that doesn't turn a profit until it's scaled to a certain size, rail builds economies around it where it is. A lot of boom towns in the early 20th century were a result of a railway moving through the town. Hotels, restaurants, shops, etc were built by rail towns. It provides a physical conduit of currency and importantly freight moving around the country (but until I have sources up, this is my opinion).