Portal:Trains/Did you know/April 2006

David Macpherson

...that the Macpherson Trestle designed by David Macpherson for what would become Mount Lowe Railway in Southern California spanned a deep granite chasm along 500 feet (152.4 m) of track on a 62% grade?

Steam locomotive W.G. Bagnall 0-4-4T, used in former Sha Tau Kok Branch Line, KCR

...that the locomotive used on Hong Kong's Sha Tau Kok Railway was sold for service in the Philippines before it was returned for display in a Hong Kong museum?

Carrollton Viaduct

...that the Carrollton Viaduct, the first stone masonry railway viaduct in the United States, completed in 1829, is still in service today with CSX?

Karlsruhe Stadtbahn on the heavy-rail mainline

...that the Karlsruhe model is a train operating scheme that originated in Karlsruhe, Germany, where traditionally light rail trams share the same tracks as heavy rail freight and passenger trains?

An NSB BM70 in June 2001

...that some early morning passenger train departures using NSB BM70 trains in Norway feature "quiet" sections on the train where mobile phones and loud conversations are banned?

The remaining structure of London Necropolis railway station

UP 9000, a 4-12-2 locomotive

Memorial for the victims of the Tangiwai disaster

...that after the Tangiwai disaster in New Zealand on December 24, 1953, a lahar warning system was installed to alert train control to high river flows?

SNCC runs the first train to Kindu in 2004

...that in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Société Nationale des Chemins de Fer du Congo has been working to restore service over sections of the railway that were destroyed in the nation's civil war?

BR Class 357, no. 357036 at Southend Central

...that in 2005, Network Rail named c2c the most punctual rail service in Britain, with 95.3% punctuality?
...that construction of the Overseas Railroad, the Florida East Coast Railway's extension to Key West, was almost cancelled due to five hurricanes?
...that the Universidad de Chile station on the Santiago Metro has a giant mural created by Mario Toral that depicts the history of Chile?
...that three rotating stop sign level crossing signals manufactured by Griswold Signal Company remain in active use in the Western United States?
...that the Kiev Metro, which opened in 1960 with five stations, was the first metro system built in the Ukraine?

Night Riviera in Penzance

...that First Great Western's Night Riviera passenger train pulled the last Motorail services on British railways in 2005?
...that out of Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad's 320 miles (515 km) of track, 266 miles (428 km) are in classification yards and sidings?

SEPTA PCC car truck

...that some modern track brake systems use arrays of magnets held against the rails to help stop a tram?

Thomas Viaduct, aerial view

...that the Thomas Viaduct, completed in 1835 across the Patapsco River in Maryland and still in use today, was at the time the largest railroad bridge in the United States?

FASTECH 360-S at Sendai station

...that the FASTECH 360 prototype Shinkansen stock designed by East Japan Railway Company features flaps for emergency air braking?

Plaça Catalunya station on the Barcelona Metro

...that the first underground section of the Barcelona Metro in Spain, a line that is now part of the system's Line 3, was built in 1924?
...that while most of South Africa's railways are built to Cape gauge, 1067 mm (3 ft 6 in), Gautrain will be built to standard gauge, 1435 mm (4 ft 8½ in)?

Princeton Station in 2003

...that on May 3, 1963, four Princeton University students held up a train on the Princeton Branch in New Jersey and "abducted" four girls in an incident that became known as the Great Dinky Robbery?

Doctor Yellow train

...that the Doctor Yellow test trains used on Japan's Shinkansen routes monitor the condition of the track and overhead wire while traveling at speeds up to 270 km/h (168 mph)?

Grassed track

...that "grassed track" is a term to describe tramway track that have been laid into grass turf surfaces?

Bollman Bridge with Savage Mill tower in background

...that the Bollman Truss Railroad Bridge at Savage, Maryland, is the sole surviving example of a bridge type that combines features of suspension and truss bridges that was patented in 1852?

Jordanhill railway station sign

...that if Glasgow has a successful bid for the 2014 Commonwealth Games, Jordanhill railway station will be among those rebuilt, through a £300 million transport legacy plan?
...that Pennsylvania Railroad's (PRR) Broadway Limited passenger train was the only pre-World War II passenger train to be completely re-equipped by PRR before the war?