February 2013

A 255 series Shiosai at Chōshi station in 2010

• ...that the Shiosai service was introduced in 1975, following the completion of electrification of the Sōbu Main Line in October 1974, to replace five of the seven daily diesel-powered Inubō (犬吠) express services that operated between Shinjuku/Ryōgoku and Chōshi, and fully replaced all Inubō services in 1982?

The tracks and station building at Shin-Ōsaka Station in 2008

• ...that Shin-Ōsaka Station in Yodogawa-ku, Osaka, Japan, which serves as the western terminus of the Tōkaidō Shinkansen and the eastern terminus of the Sanyō Shinkansen, was built in 1964 to avoid the engineering difficulties of running Shinkansen lines into the center of the city?

Route map of the Shin'etsu Main Line as of 2008

• ...that when the Nagano Shinkansen line opened in 1997, JR East split the Shin'etsu Main Line into sections, one part connecting Niigata Station in Niigata Prefecture to Shinonoi Station in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, a second section from Shinonoi to Karuizawa transferred to the Shinano Railway, a third abandoned section between Karuizawa and Yokokawa, and a fourth section from Yokokawa to Takasaki?

A train on the Shimabara line at Shirahama beach in 2008

• ...that the Shimabara Railway Line along the coast of Shimabara Peninsula, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, is popular among train enthusiasts partly because it uses older diesel-powered KiHa 20 series trains which were developed in the mid-1950s?

A train at Changsin station on Seoul Subway Line 6 in 2008

• ...that Seoul Metropolitan Subway's Line 6 was designed such that when a train arrives at Eungam Station, the terminus of the line, it runs through what is commonly known as the "Eungam Loop", a one-way operation loop of five stations, then the train arrives at Eungam again, from which it continues to Bonghwasan Station, the other line terminus?

A train passes the Sealdah station sign board in 2008

• ...that Sealdah station in Kolkata, India, handles 1.5 million passengers arriving or departing in 704 trains daily (including EMU locals), many of which use the Sealdah–Ranaghat line as it is the main line out of that station?

A train on the Sanyo Electric Railway Main Line at Sumaura-Koen Station in 2006

• ...that the Sanyo Electric Railway Main Line, which connects Nishidai and Sanyo Himeji stations in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, runs parallel to JR West's San'yō Main Line and competes with the JR line for its entire route?

Amtrak's San Francisco Zephyr in 1975

• ...that when Amtrak began operations in 1971, Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad declined to participate, which meant Amtrak could not operate the California Zephyr over its original route so instead Amtrak created the San Francisco Zephyr and a connection in Ogden (but not Denver) with the D&RGW's Rio Grande Zephyr for passengers traveling to Salt Lake City?

A sail bogey train on the Herne Bay pier in the 19th century

• ...that sail bogeys, wind-driven vehicles that run along railway tracks, were sometimes used to push short trains instead of having locomotives pull them from the early days of railroad history until as late as the 1950s?

James Ross in 1901

• ...that in addition to serving as the president of North American Railway Contracting Company, which oversaw construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the Canadian Rockies, James Ross oversaw the electrification of street railways in Canada, England, Mexico and Brazil, and also served as president of the Dominion Bridge Company?

Route map of the Rikuu West Line as of 2008

• ...that JR East trains operating on the Rikuu West Line, which connects Shinjō and Amarume stations in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan, continue on to Sakata Station even though it is not officially a part of the Rikuu West Line?

Dean Richmond depicted at an unknown date

• ...that in 1861, as United States President-Elect Abraham Lincoln made his way to Washington, D.C., the engine that pulled the train was The Dean Richmond, named in honor of Dean Richmond, the first vice president of New York Central Railroad, who accompanied the Lincoln family as the train passed Syracuse, New York?

The platforms and tracks of Ranchi Junction station in November 2011

• ...that Ranchi Junction, one of four major train stations in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India, along with Hatia, Tatisilwai and Namkon stations, also serves as the South Eastern Railway zone's Ranchi division headquarters?

A railway stamp from Queensland Government Railways, Australia

• ...that a wide variety of railway stamps have been issued by different countries and by private and state railways as a means for shippers to pay the cost of the conveyance of a letter or parcel by rail?

An SD40T-2 locomotive owned by R.J. Corman Railroad Group in 2008

• ...that in addition to operating rail lines in seven states, R.J. Corman Railroad Group has offered services to the rail industry including construction and maintenance, derailment services and cleanup across the United States, distribution centers, and train loading facilities, and with its 2009 acquisition of Railpower Technologies, locomotive construction and rebuilding?

A cutaway view of a locomotive boiler and steam dome showing the regulator

• ...that priming (also called foaming in North America) is a condition in the boiler of a steam engine in which water is carried over into the steam delivery, which is harmful to the valves and pistons, as lubrication is washed away, and can be dangerous as any water collecting in the cylinders is not compressible and if trapped may fracture the cylinder head or piston?

Erie Lackawanna's Phoebe Snow circa 1964

• ...that after the Erie Lackawanna Railway merger in 1960, the Phoebe Snow passenger train continued to run between Hoboken, New Jersey, and Buffalo, New York, but since the signature Tavern-Lounge cars with the Phoebe Snow drumheads were so closely identified with the train, when these cars were taken off the train and placed into storage shortly after the merger, many observers were led believe that the train had been discontinued?

Trains at Punta Raisi station on Palermo's commuter service

• ...that the Palermo metropolitan railway service in Italy was originally inaugurated with six stations in 1990 a month before the beginning of Italia 90, but has since been extended to cover 39.1 kilometres (24.3 mi) of right-of-way and now connects 16 stations as a daily commuter rail system operated by Trenitalia?

Orekhovo station platforms in 2009

• ...that Orekhovo station, on Moscow Metro's Zamoskvoretskaya Line in Russia, opened on 30 December 1984 as part of an extension but was closed the very next day because of flooding, and finally reopened in February 1985?

A preserved 3000 series train in 2007

• ...that when the Odakyu Electric Railway's 3000 series SE trains were introduced in Japan in 1957, a trial run of the equipment reached 145 kilometres per hour (90 mph), setting a world speed record for narrow gauge trains and gave impetus for the design of the first Shinkansen, the 0 Series?

A Northstar train arriving at Coon Rapids Riverdale station in 2009

• ...that the double-track main line over which the Northstar Line commuter rail service operates between Northtown Yard in Minneapolis and Coon Creek Junction in Coon Rapids is the busiest rail corridor in the Twin Cities metropolitan area?

The facade of Nishinomiya station shortly after its name change in 2007

• ...that on March 18, 2007, in coordination with the beginning of passenger service at Sakura Shukugawa Station, at the request of the city, the "ノ" was removed from JR West's Nishinomiya Station name and the station was renamed 西宮駅 while the "ノ" in the name of JR Sannomiya Station was retained?

A three car Class 80 train trailed by 8085 leaves Derriaghy in 2004

• ...that Northern Ireland Railways' Class 80 diesel electric multiple unit trains, in service from 1974 to 2012, were affectionately nicknamed 'Thumpers' by rail enthusiasts due to the thumping noise their engines produced?