stackyFACTSBurning literally tons of coal generates a terrifying amount of residue. Old steam engines would simply grate the burning embers and hot ash downward, dropping it directly into an ashpan over the ties as they trundled along. It was a spectacularly dirty process that left a trail of soot across entire continents.
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Early American locomotive promoters in 1830 decided to prove the superiority of steam technology by racing their famous Tom Thumb train against a literal…
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Before standardization ruined the fun, trains were basically rolling mansions. Early broad-gauge tracks allowed for absurdly wide carriages that felt more…
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James A Garfield was desperately rushed to the New Jersey shore after being shot by an assassin in eighteen eighty-one, requiring engineers to frantically…
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Before we had modern travel anxiety, Victorians had 'railway spine.' Passengers claimed the mere vibration of early train carriages shattered their nervous…
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Trust humans to choose the dumbest possible color for public safety. In the early days of railways, a red light meant stop, green meant caution, and a bright…
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Mourning in the 1800s was intensely dramatic. Following his assassination, an opulent private locomotive was stripped down, painted completely black, and…
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