Portal:Trains/Did you know/November 2006

Diagram of Meyer articulation

...that in the Meyer design for steam locomotive articulation developed in France in the 19th century, all the locomotive's axles are mounted on bogies placed directly under the boiler, much like a modern diesel or electric locomotive?

...that although the 200 Series Shinkansen trains in Japan were built to resemble the earlier 0 Series Shinkansen trains, the 200 Series were lighter and more powerful and therefore better suited to mountainous lines?
...that the Baldwin RF-16 was essentially an improved DR-4-4-15 but was only available in the "Sharknose" body style?

...that the Poma 2000, a cable-driven people mover opened in 1989 in Laon, France, replaced a former rack rail tram that originally opened in 1899?

...that English locomotive designer James Holden (1837-1925) believed employers should spontaneously look after their men and followed through by erecting the first hostel for enginemen arriving in London with late trains from the provinces, and by providing commodious side-window cabs?

...that although it did not connect to its original planned endpoint in Mecca, the Hejaz railway completed construction in 1908 between Damascus and Medina with no outstanding debt and many miles of track below sea level?

...that the first 6-2-0 steam locomotive built in the United States was designed in the 1840s to burn anthracite coal, which was expensive at the time, instead of wood?

...that the Beijing Subway became the first subway system in the People's Republic of China when it opened on October 1, 1969?

...that of the six stations built in Swansea, Wales, by five different railway companies, only High Street railway station, remains today?

...that drumheads were lighted signs, usually circular, placed on the rear of passenger trains to identify the trains or the railroads that operated them?

...that Pennsylvania Railroad's T1 class duplex locomotives were prone to wheelslip not only when starting a train, but also at speed?

...that the ornate Cemetery Station No. 1 in Sydney, which opened on April 1, 1867 as Haslem's Creek Cemetery station, was dismantled, moved and reassembled as All Saints Church in Canberra after the station's closure in 1948?
... that while the "Beeching Axe" is commonly remembered as a program to rationalise Britain's unprofitable branch line railway network, it also resulted in the closure of mainline infrastructure including the Great Central Main Line and Glasgow's St Enoch railway station?
... that Zoloti Vorota station of the Kiev Metro is the only station in the world that is decorated in the style of the Russian Orthodox Architecture?
...that the DR-4-4-15 diesel-electric locomotive, built by Baldwin Locomotive Works from 1947 to 1950, was available in two body styles (nicknamed "Sharknose" and "Babyface" by railfans), but both styles had the same model number?

...that on a duplex locomotive, the driving wheels were divided into two sets in a rigid frame in order to reduce hammer blow?

...that the first railway in present day Namibia, now operated by TransNamib, connected Swakopmund and Windhoek in 1902 under the direction of the German Colonial Government?
...that The Salamanca, the world's first commercially successful steam locomotive, was a rack and pinion locomotive where a cog wheel on the left side of the locomotive engaged a single rack located outside the tracks?

Detail of a SCOA-P wheel

...that the SCOA-P steam locomotive driving wheel was developed in Australia as a lightweight alternative to spoked or boxpok drivers that would allow easier access for locomotive maintenance?

...that with part of its track along the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, the Santa Cruz, Big Trees and Pacific Railway in California is one of very few railroads in North America with extensive operating trackage down the middle of city streets?

...that the Peachliner became the first people mover system in Japan to cease operations when it was closed on September 30, 2006, due to low ridership?

...that the Vale of Rheidol Railway in Wales, the last steam line to be operated as part of the nationalised British Railways network, developed its potential as a heritage railway by carrying passengers from its opening in 1902?

...that the main facade of Tokyo Station in Japan was patterned after Amsterdam Centraal station, opened in 1889, in the Netherlands?

...that the KL City Air Terminal (IATA code XKL), which is the terminal station for the KLIA Ekspres high speed rail service, is located within Kuala Lumpur Sentral station in Malaysia?

...that Tanggula railway station on the newly completed Qingzang railway connecting Xining, China, to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, is the world's highest railway station at 5,068 m (16,627 ft) in elevation?

The Grand Hall in KC Union Station

...that at 850,000 square feet (79,000 m²) with a Grand Hall ceiling 95 feet (29 m) high, Kansas City Union Station in Missouri, is the third largest union station in the United States?