Portal:Trains/Did you know/November 2006

November 2006

• ...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 the National Rail platforms at Blackfriars station in London extend onto the Blackfriars Railway Bridge over the River Thames?

• ...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
  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
  anthracite coal, which was expensive at the time, instead of wood
  ?

• ...that 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
  railroads
  that operated them?

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

• ...that the ornate
  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
  Russian Orthodox Architecture
  ?
• ...that the
  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
  German Colonial Government
  ?
• ...that
  tracks
  ?

• ...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
  Amsterdam Centraal station, opened in 1889, in the Netherlands
  ?

• ...that the KL City Air Terminal (
  Kuala Lumpur Sentral station in Malaysia
  ?

• ...that
  China, to Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region
  , is the world's highest railway station at 5,068 m (16,627 ft) in elevation?

• ...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
  ?