Portal:Trains/Did you know/January 2020

A tram at St. Olavs Gate in 2006

...that the controversy over operating trams in Trondheim, Norway, started after the 1956 Dalsenget fire and continued through the 1990 takeover by AS Gråkallbanen, costing two mayors their jobs?

A TRE train of RDCs at Dallas Union Station in 2009

...that Trinity Railway Express began operations with trains leased from Amtrak and the Connecticut Department of Transportation until the Budd Rail Diesel Cars they had purchased for the service were delivered?

Isaac R. Trimble during the American Civil War

...that after being responsible for building and running several Maryland-area railroads in the 1850s, Isaac R. Trimble led a contingent of Maryland state militia to burn the railroad bridges around Baltimore at the onset of the American Civil War?

Portrait of Richard Trevithick in 1816

...that to counter criticism of his high-pressure boiler designs following an explosion in 1802, Richard Trevithick incorporated safety valves and fusible plugs into future designs?

A Metrolink train crosses Trestles Bridge in February 2015

...that since the San Mateo Creek Bridge, commonly known as Trestles Bridge, in northern San Diego County, California, is the namesake of the nearby famed Trestles surfing site, the new concrete supports are etched with letters spelling "Trestles"?

A Tren Urbano train at Rio Piedras Station in 2010

The former Tawsfynydd Camp station platform in 2007

...that since Trawsfynydd Camp railway station served only the Trawsfynydd Artillery range, and all traffic was by booked special trains exclusively for military personnel, the station had no need of ticket offices or waiting rooms?

The main shed at Travel Town Museum in 2017

...that the location of Travel Town Museum in California was formerly used as a prisoner-of-war camp during World War II?

Amtrak UAC TurboTrain at Transpo '72

...that the Wall Street Journal called Transpo '72 "the biggest show the government has put on since World War II"?

Class 185 unit 108 in new TransPennine Express livery on day 1 of the new franchise, April 1, 2016

...that TransPennine Express trains run between York, Leeds and Manchester Airport at least every three hours every night of the week?

A pair of southbound Melbourne trams embark passengers in Swanston Street just north of Little Collins Street in May 2012

...that the Melbourne, Moscow and Saint Petersburg tram and light rail transit systems are currently considered to be the three largest in the world?

A pair of Zürich Tram 2000 Be 4/6 vehicles in August 2005

...that the name Tram 2000 derives from the numbering series applied to these trams, but also reflects the fleet modernisation their introduction heralded in 1976?

Closeup of a train whistle mounted on a British Rail Class 483

...that the history of train whistles dates to 1832, when the Leicester and Swannington Railway commissioned a local musical instrument builder to provide a steam-powered whistle, then known as a "steam trumpet"?

The former tracks with walking path installed in Train Track Park

...that unlike most rail trails, Train Track Park in Jerusalem, Israel, incorporates the original Jaffa–Jerusalem railway tracks installed in 1892?

A Heathrow Express train at Paddington station in May 2016

...that Eurostar and Heathrow Express are not considered train operating companies under the collective National Rail brand?

Cover of a promotional brochure for GM's Train of Tomorrow

...that Ralph Budd was one of the first people to see the sketches of the Train of Tomorrow's Astra-Dome cars, and was inspired by them to create the first modern dome car for the Burlington in 1945, two years before the Train of Tomorrow was unveiled?

A locomotive at Train Mountain in 2011

...that in the 2004 Guinness World Records, Train Mountain is recognized as the "Longest Miniature Hobby Railroad" with 69,900 feet (13.24 mi; 21.3 km) of 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) gauge mainline track and 133,250 feet (25.237 mi; 40.61 km) of total track?

FRA track geometry car number T-3 at Oakland in August 1981

...that each of the three track geometry cars operated by the U.S. Federal Railroad Administration travels approximately 30,000 miles (48,280 km) and finds approximately 10,000 defects every year, which are then fixed by the railroads?