What was like to ride the Transcontinental Railroad?
Velvet cushions and gilt-framed mirrors. Feasts of antelope, trout, berries and Champagne. In 1869, a New York Times reporter experienced the ultimate in luxury—and he did so not in the parlor of a Gilded Age magnate, but on a train headed from Omaha, Nebraska to San Francisco, California. Just a few years before, the author would have had to rely on a bumpy stagecoach or a covered wagon to tackle a journey that took months. Now, he was gliding along the rails, passing by the varied scenery of the American West while dining, sleeping and relaxing. [history.com]
Pro-wrestlers battle on Japan scenic train in bid to help region rebound
A pro-wrestling tournament featuring muscled participants in a pugilistic show was held recently on a JR Tadami Line train crossing Niigata and Fukushima Prefectures. Passengers raised their voices in surprise and awe as they watched five Niigata-affiliated pro-wrestlers battle. Wrestlers exchanged a series of chops, and demonstrated high-level techniques such as dynamic body presses which involve wrestlers leaping over seats. The event was part of efforts to support people living along the line which has been partly closed since heavy rain damage almost a decade ago. [mainichi.jp]
A tall whale tail sculpture saved a train from falling off a 32-foot platform — what a catch!
A whale of a tale, indeed! Almost two decades ago, Dutch architect Maarten Struijs installed two whale tail sculptures in a park at the end of a track at De Akkers metro station in Spijkenisse (near Rotterdam) to make up for the green space being lost by the tram tracks, according to CNN. He never expected his artwork to serve any other purpose — until it saved a runaway train from falling off of a 32-foot platform on Monday. The Dutch train “shot through” past the buffers, the train’s operator RET said on its site, but noted that no passengers were on board and the driver emerged unharmed. [travelandleisure.com]
Meet the Japanese rail robots that carry your bags and serve food
Train travel sucks most of the time, unless you’re in the hyper-clean, futuristic world of Japan where everything is about 10 times cooler. So, naturally, Japan’s making the experience even better with robots. The robots are rolling out in Tokyo’s Takanawa Gateway Station, located between the Shinagawa and Tamachi JR lines. The , which were trialed for a week in June this year, will be rolled out on a full-time basis from 2024. [kotaku.com.au]
