99% Invisible Train Set: Track Three
6 snips
May 23, 2023 
Kurt Kolstad, a train aficionado and co-author of "The 99% Invisible City," dives into the enchanting and whimsical world of trains. He reflects on heartfelt childhood memories of 'Shining Time Station' and its darker themes. The conversation unveils the luxurious side of train travel with private cars and discusses slip coaches and their operational quirks. Kurt also shares humorous anecdotes about train mishaps and takes listeners on a nostalgic tour of the New York Transit Museum, including the ongoing saga of the infamous Can Opener Bridge.
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Thomas's Dark Side
- Kurt Kolstad loved watching Shining Time Station as a child, captivated by Thomas the Tank Engine.
- Later, he discovered a darker side to the show's origins, rooted in the creator's conservative worldview.
Henry's Punishment
- In "The Sad Story of Henry," Henry the engine takes shelter in a tunnel to protect his new paint job from rain.
- As punishment, he is bricked alive inside the tunnel.
Explosive Train Warnings
- Trains, being massive and fast, require ample warning time to stop.
- Explosives, called detonators or torpedoes, are used as audible warnings on train tracks.
