Thailand’s Maeklong Railway Market – a truly bizarre concept
Everyone who’s ever visited Bangkok has remarked that the Maeklong Railway Market is a must-see. As its name suggests, this market is set-up along the railway tracks and has been that way for years. Apparently, the traders refused to relocate even after a railway track was built down the length of it. As a consequence, the market is now sitting along an active railway track where traders continue to conduct their businesses like it was the most normal thing to do. [freemalaysiatoday.com]
Where did “Amtrak Joe” – Joe Biden’s Nickname – Come From?
Former Vice President Joe Biden had gone by a number of nicknames before being named Democratic 2020 nominee for president, but the one that he’s probably most known for is “Amtrak Joe.” It’s been his primary mode of transportation to his work as a politician in Washington, D.C. and back home to Delaware, where he and his current wife reside. Over time, as Amtrak has become an indelible part of his life and work, he’s became a huge proponent of trains. So how did Joe become “Amtrak Joe,” and why is it so significant to understanding who he is? [marieclaire.com]
Japanese train station doubles as a wine vineyard
If you didn’t know that Shiojiri City in Nagano Prefecture, Japan had a booming wine industry before arriving, you would certainly become aware as soon as you set foot off of the train, with the platforms of the city central train station being the unlikely location of a vineyard. The Shiojiri Station vineyard has been growing Merlot and Niagara wine varieties since 1988, when the grape wines were first planted on the platforms in order to promote wine in the local area. Of the wines that are produced in the city, Kikigahara Merlot is the best known and has a high reputation amongst wine connoisseurs in Japan. [japantoday.com]
What’s the history of Phoenix Union Station? And will rail service ever return?
Phoenix is the largest metropolitan city in the U.S. without passenger-rail service, but that wasn’t always the case. In 1923, Phoenix Union Station opened. And in 1926, a transcontinental line was completed, meaning someone could take the train anywhere in the country. Amtrak stopped using Phoenix Union Station in 1996. This podcast looks at what caused the decline in ridership, as well as future plans that could revive rail service to the historic building. [azcentral.com]
