All aboard! Mind-blowing facts about transportation. We find out what's up with those old-timey bikes with the humongous front wheel, airplane secrets, the Hindenburg, JK Rowling's minor error, and train facts that will make your brain go OOoOooOooOoO!
That was really hilarious to see the ride on that super vehicle. I wonder, how would he stop it and get down. Thanks for the post.
In this episode, you refer to the Hindenberg as a blimp. However, the term blimp refers specifically to a non-rigid lighter-than-air craft, that is, there is no internal framework supporting the balloon. The brand name Zeppelin has come in general usage to mean any rigid airship. The term Derigible refers to any airship that is "directable," or not tethered to the ground, and can refer to either a blimp or zeppelin.
Regarding the private train lines in Japan, those companies are also building housing estates and recreational facilities around the shopping malls along their lines, creating dormitory towns.
The Tokyu group are a great example of this.
Just listened to my first two shows...#26 & 27...and will definitely be going back to the earlier shows. Tripped the trivia trigger in my brain, that's for sure! One small note...in talking about train travel and time zones, you forgot to mention Sir Sanford Fleming and his work in the development of standard time,which he called "Cosmic Time."
In the fall of 2010 I rode the maglev train from Shanghai to the airport. This regular-running train routinely tops 430 km/hr (268 mph).