Portal:Trains/Did you know/Main page, 2021

2021 edit

... that despite its name, the Branford Steam Railroad has not used steam locomotives since 1960?
... that the first train headlight was simply a bonfire on a train car pushed in front of a locomotive?
... that the Boston, Barre and Gardner Railroad never actually reached Boston or Barre?
... that to reflect the neighbourhood's heritage as a songbird-watching community, Singapore's Mayflower MRT station is decorated with 22 bird sculptures?
... that a branch line of the New Haven and Northampton Railroad was so difficult to build, the area was nicknamed "Satan's Kingdom"?
... that the Nashua, Acton and Boston Railroad was also known as the "Red Line" because it was consistently unprofitable?
... that the railway network in Lithuania will have its first high-speed line by 2026?
... that Singapore's Upper Thomson MRT station is decorated with 88 animal figures, most of which are crab-eating macaques?
... that the platform shelters in the redevelopment concept design for Bayswater railway station, Perth, were criticised for looking like a trestle table?
... that the first railroad in New England was powered by horses?
... that the Railroad and Bank Building was built with six miles (9.7 km) of pneumatic tubes used to send items anywhere within the building in under ten seconds?
... that the tunnel boring machines that dug the London's new Northern line extension were named after the first British astronaut Helen Sharman, and British aviation pioneer Amy Johnson?
... that Winchester Highlands station was used for church meetings in the 1880s?
... that Singapore's Nicoll Highway MRT station had to be relocated as a result of a 2004 tunnel collapse near the station?
... that you could travel with stuffed animals on the Asahiyama Zoo KiHa 183 series train service?

Leschenault Lady

... that the Leschenault Lady (pictured), which is believed to be the oldest operational Australian-built steam locomotive, is returning to steam today (22 August) after a lengthy overhaul?
... that the Sanford station was often confused with the Stamford station?
... that an artwork featured at Singapore's Marina South Pier MRT station was commissioned for the country's 50th year of independence?
... that the two elliptical roofs of Singapore's Expo MRT station reflect sunlight into the station while cooling it?
... that the design of Suffolk Downs station was inspired by medieval fortified churches?

72nd Street station original entrance

... that the original entrance to New York City's 72nd Street station (pictured) was once called "a miserable monstrosity as to architecture" and recommended for demolition?

Carlisle & Finch No. 42 Trolley and Trailer

... that Carlisle & Finch used carbon-arc technology in both toy trains (example pictured) and military searchlights?
... that writer Mark Twain frequently used Cooper station to meet with a friend?

A train of the Aoimori Railway arriving at Kominato Station

... that trees keep the trains (pictured) running at Kominato Station?
... that Silver Hill station may have been named for rumors of Captain Kidd's treasure – or just a stand of trees?
... that some of the proposed routes for the current effort to build a Uinta Basin Rail line are based on routes surveyed more than 100 years ago?
... that the Astor Place station was flooded by a subterranean river after firefighters extinguished a blaze at a building above it?
... that Hastings station had neither platforms nor shelter for waiting passengers?
... that in one of Singapore's largest drainage diversions, a canal had to be redirected into steel pipes while constructing Chinatown MRT station?

Siuro railway station

... that the Siuro railway station (pictured), located in the Finnish town of Nokia, was proclaimed a nationally significant built cultural environment by the Finnish Heritage Agency?
... that the first Route 128 station was built in just one week?

Kangasala railway station

... that the now-closed Kangasala railway station (pictured) in Finland was designed in the National Romantic style, unlike many contemporaneous buildings?

Bridge at Aix repaired with a German railway-gun carriage

... that in support of Allied logistics in the Southern France campaign, engineers repaired a bridge (pictured) using the carriage of a German railway gun?
... that Primrose Hill Tunnel was the first railway tunnel to be built in London?
... that Singapore's Punggol station is the longest station on the North East line, at 320 m (1,050 ft)?
... that the architect of Singapore's Stadium MRT station rotated the original plan on its side after being forced to revise the station's design?

Statue of Sir Nigel Gresley

... that the decision not to include a duck with the statue of Sir Nigel Gresley (pictured) led to "possibly the most acrimonious argument in the long, pedantic history of the railway hobbyist"?
... that 6,800 Columbia University students and faculty signed a petition to remove an entrance to the 116th Street–Columbia University station?
... that contractors digging New York City's Joralemon Street Tunnel found the remains of a ship?
... that U.S. senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan proposed an expansion of New York Penn Station as a homage to the original station, where he had once shined shoes?
... that the IRT Powerhouse was intended to be the largest power generating station on earth when it was built in the 1900s?