Alai
Legendary Pubber
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That does seem likely to be the primary motivating thought. Indeed, even before it be verbed, that also mentioned a figurative use as a noun:Online dictionaries can be less than helpful.
Railroad as a verb originally meant to rush something through, as railways were fast. It comes from America in the late 19th century:
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/274533/in-what-country-did-the-term-railroaded-originate#:~:text=Dictionary definitions of the slang,to fast-track." J.S.
But these coinages are definitely more art than science, and people might well have had a gestalt of related ideas in coming up with the term, and more subtly still, in deciding to use them. So what's a "false" etymology can be a rather knotty question. And certain some other notable feature of railways is that they, well, run on rails. And also that in order to build them there's generally some fairly brutalist exercise in a state or corporation acquiring the requisite land, and so on.In 1837, "railroad" was being used as slang for a cheap liquor (probably whiskey) "because of the rapidity with which it hurries men to the end of their journey".
There's also in the same book a splendid illustration of T. Timkin's grocery store with an sign beside the door reading:"RAILROAD, STONE FENCE, Chain Lightning & other choice Lickers"
Well, anywhere there's railway, ideally a station -- otherwise be very good at tucking and rolling! -- and a series of connections...In fact that modern post-hoc invention of the etymology makes no sense, as railways indeed allow you to travel anywhere.
But what you can't do is "change lanes" in a flaithiúlach manner in the process. Much less go country-country. Etc.
Teh irony!!Where does this get us? Rather off topic. Sorry!