Portal:Trains/Did you know/July 2005

A rollsign on the MBTA

...that rollsigns, which are mechanical displays used to indicate the destination of a train, have largely been replaced with digital displays on modern subways and streetcars?
...that the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway became one of Canada's first shortlines to be acquired from a Class I railroad when RailTex purchased the railroad in October 1993?

An H-24-66 owned by Canadian Pacific

...that upon its introduction in 1953, the 2,400 hp (1.8 MW) H-24-66 Train Master, manufactured by Fairbanks Morse and Canadian Locomotive Company, was the most powerful single-engined diesel locomotive available?

Swiss Federal Railways logo on one of the railroad's passenger cars

...that 2,298 km (1,819 mi) out of 3,069 km (1,907 mi), just over 95%, of the Swiss Federal Railways standard-gauge track is electrified?
...that W. Averell Harriman (1891-1986), son of E. H. Harriman and himself an executive with Union Pacific Railroad and Illinois Central Railroad, worked with United States President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, and was present at the meetings that formed the Atlantic Charter?

Aerial view of the Graniteville accident's aftermath

...that Norfolk Southern estimated that the Graniteville train disaster of January 6, 2005, would cost the railroad between US$30 and $40 million, not including any court-imposed fines or penalties?

A pantograph

...that pantographs are now the dominant form of current collection for modern electric trains, because while they are more expensive and fragile than a third rail system, they also allow for higher voltages?

A Connex train in Melbourne, Australia

...that in addition to operating passenger train services in much of Europe, Connex Group also operates in Australia, Colombia, Israel, Lebanon and New Zealand?

Timothy Hackworth

...that Timothy Hackworth (1786-1850) built the first steam locomotive to operate in Russia and one of the first to operate in Canada?

Restroom facilities aboard a passenger car

...that chemical retention tanks have largely replaced the "hole in the floor" type of passenger train human waste disposal systems on modern passenger cars?
...that the national rail carrier of Ireland changed its name from Irish Rail to Iarnród Éireann as part of an effort to counter defacement of the company's "IR" logo by the IRA?

An electric multiple unit pulling into Tile Hill station on the West Coast Main Line in Coventry, England.

...that due to differences among European railway electrification systems, multisystem locomotives that can operate under several different voltages and current types are common?
...that a clearance car is used to check the clearances around the tracks and ensure that trains conforming to the railroad's standard loading gauge or dynamic envelope will not encounter any obstruction?
...that České dráhy, the national rail system in the Czech Republic, is that nation's largest employer?

Santa Fe Railroad number 5000, a 2-10-4

...that the 2-10-4 type of steam locomotive was developed to combine the best properties of the 2-10-2 and 2-8-4 into one design?

2 foot (610mm) Narrow-gauge tracks at the Leighton Buzzard Railway in Bedfordshire, England

...that narrow-gauge railroads were often used in mining, logging, construction, tunnelling, quarrying, and the conveying of agricultural products?

A turntable at the Orange Empire Railway Museum

...that a railroad turntable is used to turn rolling stock that is designed for operation in one direction, such as steam locomotives or observation cars?
...that Desiro trainsets manufactured by Siemens are used in passenger train service in Austria, Germany, Romania, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Slovenia, Greece, Malaysia, Bulgaria and Hungary?

Frank J. Sprague

...that Frank J. Sprague is credited with the invention of the trolley pole for streetcar systems using overhead wire?

A PRR K4s in revenue service

...that the PRR K4s class of 4-6-2 steam locomotives hauled the majority of the Pennsylvania Railroad's passenger trains from the locomotives' construction starting in 1914 until they were replaced by diesel locomotives in the 1950?

A transporter wagon under a standard-gauge car

...that a transporter wagon can be used to carry standard-gauge rolling stock over narrow-gauge tracks?
...that vignettes of the American southwest and Native American peoples were common in advertising for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway?
...that the KTM Komuter service of Keretapi Tanah Melayu carries commuters to and from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia?

Closeup of the flanged wheels (retracted) on a HiRail truck

...that a HiRail truck is an ordinary highway truck with retractable flanged wheels for running on rail tracks?
...that the Key System ran on tracks on the lower deck of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge from the bridge's opening in 1936 until the Key System closed in 1957?

Tama Toshi Monorail

...that the Tama Toshi Monorail Line operates over a 16 km (10 mi) route through Tachikawa, Japan?

Alfred Belpaire

...that Belgian mechanical engineer Alfred Belpaire is credited with the invention of the Belpaire firebox?

A restored baggage car

...that since baggage cars are normally hauled at the front of passenger trains, they are often classified as "head-end equipment"?

Eugene V. Debs, as seen in 1912

...that American railroad labor leader Eugene V. Debs was the candidate for President of the United States for the Social Democratic Party in 1900 and then for the Socialist Party of America in 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1920?