Portal:Trains/Did you know/Main page, 2018

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2018

... that an airplane carrying an emergency shipment of blood plasma for victims of the Lackawanna Limited wreck landed on a runway illuminated by automobile headlights?
... that King's Cross St Pancras is the busiest station on the London Underground?

... that the design of Gants Hill tube station concourse (pictured) was inspired by stations on the Moscow Metro?
... that India's Train 18 has no locomotive?
... that 75 years ago today, the first Holocaust train from Milan left Platform 21 of the Milano Centrale railway station for Auschwitz carrying 169 Jews, of whom only 5 survived the Holocaust?

... that the London Underground Victoria line (train pictured) was so named because it sounded "just right"?
... that the Colonial replaced a train that often could not fill a single passenger car?
... that the East Side Access railroad expansion in New York City has been estimated to cost about $3.5 billion per mile of new tunnel, seven times more than similar projects in other countries?
... that the Georgetown Car Barn, opened in 1897, operated as a terminal for cable cars for less than a year?

... that the Chalfont Viaduct (pictured in 2009) on the M25 motorway was famous for its graffiti slogan "Give Peas A Chance"?

... that the Bockenheimer Depot (pictured) in Frankfurt, built to house trams, is now a theatre which staged the German premiere of Olga Neuwirth's Lost Highway?
... that pieces of the original New York Penn Station have been found at a recycling center in the Bronx, underneath the New Jersey Meadowlands, and in other U.S. states?
... that the Queen and Prince Charles each travelled on London Underground trains from Green Park tube station when they carried out the official openings of the Victoria and Jubilee lines?

... that paper wheels (pictured) provided a quiet and smooth ride in Pullman dining and sleeping cars?
... that the Palembang Light Rail Transit, which opened last month, is the first operational light rail system in Indonesia?
... that Indian Railways runs loss-making trains on the Patna–Digha Ghat line to prevent encroachment?
... that the Wirral Model Engineering Society operates a raised railway track for fine scale models of full-size steam locomotives at Royden Park?
... that some railway surgeons opposed the introduction of first aid kits on trains, maintaining that only doctors should carry out this work?
... that the $4 billion World Trade Center Transportation Hub, built after the September 11 attacks, has been described as the world's most expensive train station?
... that Stanwood station was once served by the "Dinky", claimed by local residents to be the world's shortest steam railway?
... that the siting of a trolley station in front of the new courthouse in San Diego, California, was opposed by court officials and the county sheriff?
... that a Thameslink passenger likened the seats on the Class 700 trains to ironing boards?
... that the 63rd Street Line, a three-station subway line in New York City, was initially described as a "tunnel to nowhere" because it had no connections to other subway lines in the borough of Queens?
... that public art at South Tacoma station includes a granite railroad spike and a pair of 18-foot (5.5 m) arches shaped like train wheels?
... that days after the Kent train station opened, a robbery was foiled there by the station agent armed with an iron poker?
... that the Chicago Express Loop is a proposed underground high-speed rail rapid transit system that will connect Chicago's Loop with O'Hare International Airport?
... that locomotives completed a circuit on the Boston and Albany Railroad's Highland Branch?
... that the 2018 Osaka earthquake disrupted train services during the morning rush hour, forcing passengers to walk between the tracks?
... that a phallic sculpture at Lakewood station attracted controversy because the area around the station had once been home to sex businesses?
... that after a 1995 subway collision, speed limits were lowered across the New York City Subway system, contributing to widespread train delays?
... that the platform shelters at the modern Puyallup train station were built to resemble the city's former train depot?
... that some parts of the New York City Subway's signaling system have not been replaced in 80 years, causing over 11,000 train delays in the span of two months?
... that at the Reading Railroad Massacre in July 1877, rioters burnt two cabooses, seven freight cars, a watch house, and a bridge?
... that after attempts to close New York City's Franklin Avenue subway line failed for over 20 years, the MTA finally decided to renovate it in 1998?
... that the Auburn train station also serves as the venue for a seasonal farmers' market?

... that the Smith–Ninth Streets station (pictured) in New York City is the world's highest subway station?

... that Sumner station (pictured) was designed to resemble hop kilns, referencing the city's historical agriculture industry?
... that a citizens' group opposing Nashville's transit referendum submitted an op-ed to The Tennessean under a fake name?
... that a train graveyard in Uyuni, Bolivia, has become a tourist attraction?
... that although New York City's Second Avenue Subway was originally planned in 1920, the first stations did not open for another 97 years?
... that the former baggage room of Edmonds station is now used by a model railroad club?

Metro bus and light rail passing in the tunnel

... that Central Link trains share a tunnel with buses (pictured) in Downtown Seattle?
... that elevator operators at New York City's 181st Street station are known to play music in an attempt to cheer up commuters?
... that the Fulton Center transit complex is the first subway station in New York City to receive a certification for environmental sustainability?
... that the new east platform of Tukwila station in Tukwila, Washington, was built with additional width that was later removed for the installation of a third track?
... that it took almost five years to rebuild the South Ferry/Whitehall Street station in New York City, which was completely flooded three years after it opened?
... that Kennington tube station, opened in 1890, is a listed building and the only one from the world's first underground electric railway to retain its original appearance?
... that traffic on the London, Huron and Bruce Railway was so dominated by farm produce that it was nicknamed the "Butter and Egg Special"?
... that Citicorp chose to build a tower near the Court Square–23rd Street station in Queens because it was one subway stop away from the company's headquarters in Manhattan, across the East River?

Goat Canyon Trestle

... that the Goat Canyon Trestle (pictured) is the world's largest curved wooden trestle?
... that London Underground stations Paddington and Paddington are about 400 metres (1,300 ft) apart on foot, but over 20 kilometres (12 mi) apart by train?

... that Droxford railway station (pictured) served as Winston Churchill's base of operations during preparations for the Normandy landings?
... that the Yalu River Broken Bridge, which connected China and North Korea, was built by Japan and destroyed by the United States?
... that a modern bus station was built to resemble the former Brockton train station, designed by Bradford Gilbert?
... that the Clementi rail accident on the Singapore MRT was caused by a 50-litre (11 imp gal; 13 US gal) oil spill?
... that a light rail line in Seattle will become the first to use a floating bridge?
... that there is a conspiracy theory about the presence of an abandoned subway station in New York City east of Euclid Avenue?

The CPRR's Lilly Belle locomotive and caboose — The CPRR's *Lilly Belle* locomotive and caboose

... that the Carolwood Pacific Railroad was a ridable miniature railroad run by Walt Disney in his backyard (locomotive pictured)?
... that New York City's Broadway Junction station sees 100,000 daily riders, the vast majority using it to make transfers?
... that passengers traveling to the 1939 New York World's Fair via the World's Fair subway line paid the standard five-cent fare to board, but had to pay the fare again on arrival?
... that some 500,000 photographs and drawings are included in the collections of the Historical Model Railway Society?
... that Amtrak ran "toasters" on the Northeast Corridor for over thirty years?
... that the Grizzly Flats Railroad, owned by Disney animator Ward Kimball, was the first full-size backyard railroad in the United States?
... that Amtrak service at Tacoma Dome Station was halted on its inaugural day due to a train derailment?