Unexpected Elements Two-hundred years of trains
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Sep 26, 2025 Jessamine Abel, a Professor of Asian Studies and the author of Dream Super Express, joins to delve into the fascinating evolution of Japan's bullet trains. She discusses how the Shinkansen revolutionized rail travel, addressing industrial challenges and safety innovations. Abel elaborates on the cultural pride surrounding these trains and unique customs, like buying bento at stations. Additionally, the podcast explores Mumbai's efficient lunch delivery system, showcasing how trains keep cities connected in extraordinary ways.
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Steam Trains Sparked A Transport Revolution
- George Stephenson's Locomotion No.1 carried 450 passengers over 42 km at about 24 km/h and sparked rapid railway expansion.
- That early speed and capacity transformed travel, trade and the scale of human movement globally.
Railways Fueled Empire And Extraction
- Railways often served extractive and imperial purposes rather than connecting local communities.
- Trains enabled colonial resource flows and settler expansion, embedding political and social change.
Inside A Steam Locomotive Cab
- Neil Cooper describes the inner cab of a Baldwin steam locomotive and how pistons and steam create the chuffing rhythm.
- He explains cut-off adjustment reduces steam use as speed builds, making the engine more efficient.
