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

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 ft 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?


 * ... 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?


 * ... that the Goat Canyon Trestle (pictured) is the world's largest curved wooden trestle?
 * ... that London Underground stations Paddington and Paddington are about 400 m apart on foot, but over 20 km 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 L 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?


 * ... 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?