[bell-cot]

Seems like you could put the same area of solar cells on short poles along suitable bits of RR right-of-way, slanted at the optimal angle for the sun, and get considerably more watts.

At a much lower cost. Those between-the-rails cells have to be far tougher - think about the dynamic mechanical loads they could face in winter, when the RR ran a snowplow down the tracks.

[Rebelgecko]

Are the cells themselves tougher, or do they just depend on the frame to keep them safe? Just navel gazing, but I wouldn't be surprised if these had better ROI- for conventional solar installations, the mounting hardware can be significantly more expensive than the panels themselves. And you have to worry a lot more about things like wind. Off ground would have better performance in winter, but shorter days in winter are going to be lower outut regardless

[justsomehnguy]

My first thought was the sound barriers along the tracks and highways. A bit too small surface area and angles but looks like the panels are quite effective nowadays so with a some form of kinetic/hydro battery you can have an almost free lighting along the road for a useful life of the panels.

[Groxx]

Also less grease dripping down on them, less water pooling on the flat surface...