Interesting Facts About Railways and Rail Transport
Trains have become more than a familiar mode of transportation for humanity. However, the world of carriages and railway tracks is far from simple. In this article, we will share some interesting facts about this mode of transportation, from historical to amusing.
Interesting Facts About Railways and Rail Transport
- In 1804, Englishman Richard Trevithick invented the first train with locomotive traction. There was even a passenger carriage, but it only brought smiles to the faces of spectators. No one dared to ride it.
- The era of passenger mainline trains began on September 15, 1830, when a train departed from Liverpool to Manchester, carrying not only brave passengers but also the world's first mail carriage.
- We are long accustomed to train travel, but just 200 years ago, a roaring, whistling steam engine speeding somewhere without the help of horses seemed nothing short of a devil's invention. In some countries, authorities had to put in significant effort to get people to use this marvel of transportation.
- At the beginning of the 20th century, France passed a law banning kissing at train stations. Long and sentimental farewells were causing constant delays in departures, so authorities resorted to such radical measures. Incidentally, the law is still in effect today.
- There was once a collision between entirely different types of transport: a train and a steamboat. Ohio Lake in the USA overflowed and flooded the railway tracks with a meter of water. The engineer decided to continue along the flooded track but collided with a steamboat. Clearly, neither life nor training had prepared these drivers for such a turn of events.
- The magical train that took Harry Potter to the Academy of Magic and Wizardry has a real-life counterpart. It is the Scottish Jacobite steam train, which connects Fort William with Mallaig. It has miraculously survived to this day, and after the movie, it became a popular tourist attraction. The train travels for two hours through the picturesque hills of the Highlands, over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, and along the coast—just like in the movie. The train runs from April to October twice a day.
- A journey on the legendary "La Trochita" train is not only an opportunity to see the incredible beauty of Argentine Patagonia but also a risk of becoming a "victim" of a robbery. This staged heist happens twice a year. Tourists do not know for sure if they will be on the special train. They can only hope to see bandits jumping from horses onto the speeding train and feel a powerful adrenaline rush. Although everyone understands it's a performance, it still gives the nerves a tickle.
- One section of the trans-Australian railway stretches 478 km in a straight line across the Nullarbor Plain. This is the world's longest railway line without a single turn.
- The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is the highest railway in the world. It runs through the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas. The highest point of the railway track is at an altitude of 5,072 meters. Train carriages are equipped with special seats with oxygen supply systems. Each passenger is provided with an oxygen mask in case of cabin depressurization. On this route, there are quite long stretches where there is simply no air to breathe.
- In the Thai province of Samut Songkhram, there is a market called "Maeklong" that has literally taken over the railway tracks. The market stalls are right on the tracks, and the railway tracks are not even visible under the feet of sellers and buyers. But as soon as the signal of an approaching train sounds, everyone quickly moves along with their goods and counters, clearing the track. The locals are used to it and pay no attention to the inconvenience, but for tourists, it is an incredible sight and a few interesting shots for their collection.
- In Alaska, there is a train called the "Hurricane Turn" that runs a 93-kilometer route. It does not stop according to a schedule at stations, but it can be stopped with a wave of a white cloth at any point along the route.
- "La Bestia" (the Beast in Spanish) is what residents of Central America call the freight trains traveling from Mexico to the USA. With the authorities' full indulgence, thousands of migrants from Honduras, Guatemala, and other poorest countries in the region cross the border daily on it, not in search of the notorious American dream, but simply acceptable living conditions. They ride on the roofs and narrow platforms between the cars for days without the possibility of sleeping and resting, often falling off and dying. Moreover, local bandits frequently attack the unfortunate and take away their last belongings.
- The delay of a Japanese train by just one minute is an unprecedented event that carries significant penalties for the drivers. This happens extremely rarely and leads to serious schedule disruptions due to the dense railway traffic. But if a delay does occur, passengers are apologized to and issued official papers to present to their employers in case of late arrival at work.
- A four-day voyage on the Japanese Suite Shiki-Shima train will cost several thousand dollars. This tourist train runs from Tokyo to Hokkaido. It offers maximum comfort for its passengers: the compartments resemble five-star hotel rooms, the panoramic windows of the carriages offer views of passing landscapes, and the unique interior design is worthy of the highest praise.
