Portal:Trains/Did you know/August 2020

August 2020

A closed entrance to the 45th Street station during the 2005 strike

• ...that New York Supreme Court Justice Theodore T. Jones ruled that the Transport Workers Union was in contempt of two court injunctions for staging the 2005 New York City transit strike that halted subway and bus service, ordering it not to strike and imposing a US$1 million per day fine against the union?

A train at the Alewife station platforms in November 2019

• ...that the site for Alewife station, away from residential areas on a former brickyard in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was chosen to minimize disruptive land takings?

A section of the Circle Line platforms at Aldgate station in 2008

• ...that Aldgate tube station construction was complicated as it is located on the site of a plague pit which contains an estimated 1,000 bodies?

The main entrance to Aizu-Wakamatsu Station in 2006

• ...that most trains of the Aizu Railway Aizu Line, which officially terminates at Nishi-Wakamatsu, continue on to Aizu-Wakamatsu Station using JR East tracks?

An MTR Airport Express train in 2005

• ...that Hong Kong MTR's Airport Express uses specially designed rolling stock intended to provide levels of comfort similar to that found on an airliner?

N463, the locomotive involved in the 2003 accident, pictured in 2007 after returning to service

• ...that quick and coordinated actions between Metrol controllers and drivers to clear a train from the path of a runaway train, although it later collided with another train at Spencer Street station, had prevented one collision by as close as one second?

An Alstom AGV in test runs in 2008

• ...that Alstom developed permanent-magnet synchronous motors for the AGV prototypes that produced a continuous power rating of 760 kW?

Publicity photo of the Golden Gate train circa 1938

• ...that Santa Fe Railway's Golden Gate passenger train was involved in what was believed to be the first collision in the United States between a modern streamlined train and an automobile when it was struck by a car in January 1939?

Agenoria shown in preservation at the National Railway Museum in 2010

• ...that Agenoria, built in 1829, only the second locomotive built by Foster, Rastrick and Company, was probably the first locomotive to use mechanical lubrication for its axles?

Aftermath of the 2002 derailment

• ...that the 2002 derailment of a Norfolk Southern Railway freight train in Tennessee was witnessed by a signal maintainer who was on site to inspect the spring switch that caused the derailment?

Admiralty station platform in 2017

• ...that the Chinese name for Hong Kong MTR's Admiralty station, Gāmjūng, translates to 'Golden Bell', which refers to a gold-coloured bell that was used for timekeeping at Wellington Barracks?

Side view of Adler in the 1850s

• ...that although Adler was the first steam locomotive successfully used commercially in Germany, earlier designs had been in private use in Germany as early as 1816?

The new Adelaide station during construction in 1927

• ...that initial plan for the 1920s rebuild of Adelaide railway station included provisions for extra platforms to serve standard gauge Commonwealth Railways trains?

The aftermath of the 1999 derailment

• ...that the first emergency call after the 1999 Wuppertal Schwebebahn accident was initially met with laughter from the dispatcher as it was considered inconceivable for a Schwebebahn train to fall off the overhead track?

The tracks and platforms at Acton Central station in 2008

• ...that Acton Central railway station, a location where trains to and from London change power supply between overhead line and third rail, was named for closure in the 1963 Beeching Report?

View of Abercynon railway station in 2011

• ...that in April 2012, the British Royal Train, operating on the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II tour, had to stop at Abercynon railway station due to the tight curves on the line, with the Royals continuing their journey by road?

The tracks at Abbey Road DLR station in 2011

• ...that Abbey Road is nowhere near Abbey Road?

Track on the Aar Valley Line using steel sleepers in 2011

• ...that the track of the Aar Valley Railway is in large part supported by steel sleepers rather than the more commonly used concrete or wood?

The tracks and trainshed of Aachen Hauptbahnhof at night in October 2013

• ...that the original site of Aachen Hauptbahnhof, from 1841 until the current station opened in 1905, was located outside of the city walls?

[[File:|none|100px|Wrecked trains of the 1996 NJ Transit collision in Secaucus, NJ]]

• ...that the 1996 Secaucus train collision was NJ Transit's deadliest accident to date and was the first in which NJ Transit passengers and crew died?

A crowd with police in Brisbane during the 1948 Queensland railway strike

• ...that in an attempt to preventing picketing and end the 1948 Queensland railway strike, the Queensland Parliament passed an act which gave police extraordinary powers to arrest without warrant and enter any home without cause?

Reward poster for information regarding the 1939 derailment

• ...that despite a manhunt, reward offers, and years of investigation by Southern Pacific Railroad, the case of sabotage causing the City of San Francisco's 1939 derailment remains unsolved?