How Much Do You Know About Trains?

The earliest trains were powered by steam. Later, steam engines were replaced by diesel and electric engines.

Tracks allow trains to travel faster than if the train ran on the road. This was even true for carriages before trains were invented.

Thomas Newcomen's engines were originally built for removing water from coal mines. Inventors would later improve his design for the railroad.

Trains have been around since ancient times. Early examples used tracks carved into the ground so they could be pulled by animals without going off track.

Steam engines are powered by heated water that produces stream. The water is heated by burning coal or wood.

Toy trains have become huge collectibles. One of the largest toy manufacturers is Lionel, a private company founded in New York.

This train was named after the Battle of Salamanca. In the battle, the combined forces of England, Spain and Portugal defeated the French Empire.

In a rack railway, pinions rotate along racks with grooves in each. Each time the pinion catches a new groove in the rack, the train moves forward.

Siemens' locomotive looked like a child's toy when it was presented in 1879. The operator sat at the front while the locomotive carried three carriages behind it.

Amtrak is one of the few locomotives to still use electricity today. This is mainly due to cost and efficiency.

In Sweden, ore trains traveling down from the mountains produce more electricity than they use. This electricity then powers nearby towns.

Dogs in Moscow will board trains and take them into the city to search for food. Then, they take the trains back to wherever they are from.

During the Civil War, Northern troops destroyed train tracks across the South. This kept Southern armies from resupplying their soldiers and was a major reason for their defeat.

The term "horsepower" was used as a marketing tool by James Wyatt. It was supposed to describe how many horses the engine could replace.

A train conductor has many responsibilities other than operating the train. In fact, they are in charge of overseeing just about every aspect of the train from passenger safety to crew responsibilities.

Pullman developed this idea after a horrible trip on a train where he was bunched together with passengers. His trains became popular after they were used for transporting Abraham Lincoln's body after he was assassinated.

The Eurostar stretches across much of Europe. The channel tunnel opened in 1994, as part of the Eurostar network.

Some of the earliest trains traveled less than 10 mph. Today, trains are much, much faster than that.

The Japanese bullet trains are some of the fastest trains in the world. They have reached over 300 mph.

Opened in 1863, the Metropolitan Railway was the first underground railway in the world. Using gas-lit carriages, it ran until 1933.

Freight trains are one of the most common ways of transporting good. They are extremely efficient because of the amount of material they can carry, but there are limitations because trains can only travel along their tracks.

Because they move through public streets, trams are much slower than regular trains. People often board and exit these trains every few blocks.

Over the years, luxury trains have become very popular tourist attractions. They allow passengers to see the environment while touring the country.

As cities overflowed with residents, people looked to move outside the city. Luckily, trains developed around this time, which allowed quicker access to the city from suburbs that began to pop up outside of cities.

Magnetic trains use magnets to levitate off the ground, which cuts out friction with the track. Once the friction is gone, another magnet pushes the train down the track.

Monorails are typically elevated tracks in the city. This allows them to operate overhead instead of taking up road space.

The first bullet train opened in Japan in October, 1964. This was right before the Olympics, which took place in Tokyo that same year.

This route runs from Moscow to Pyongyang. The entire distance is 10,267 km.

The journey from Portugal to Vietnam take around 12 days. It takes you through Northern Europe into Russia and down through China.

The Hogwarts Express Train runs 84 miles throughout Scotland. The real name of this steam train is the Jacobite.

A guard was much more important in the early days of trains. This was because train robbers were common, particularly in the American West.

Many trains allow the driver to override a stoppage that they don't believe is necessary. Of course, for people who falsely pull the communication cord, fines and punishments have been put in place.

Thomas the Tank Engine is a famous fictional train. He was part of a book collection called The Railway Series, which later became a television show.

Many passenger trains have seats that can be converted into beds. This provides tourists with the ability to tour the country without booking hotels.

Railroad photography has become very popular over the years. However, most people don't know that they are trespassing when they get on the tracks.