How did Trains change the world?

Summary

Who Smarted? – “How did Trains change the world?”

Release Date: May 4, 2026
Host: Adam Tex Davis
Featured Voices: Steam Engine Steve, Diesel Dottie, Sammy Subway, Maggie Maglev

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Episode Overview

In this energetic, humor-filled episode, Who Smarted? takes listeners on an engaging journey through the history of trains—from the earliest wooden tracks to sleek, modern maglev trains that "fly" without wheels. The host and a cast of witty, personified train characters deliver fascinating facts on how trains revolutionized travel, reshaped societies, and continue to speed into the future. Perfect for young listeners, the episode mixes trivia, storytelling, and funny banter, making the learning experience both memorable and fun.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trains Across History: From Ancient Tracks to the Age of Steam

• Early Tracks
  • Tracks and rails date back to ancient civilizations (England, Greece, Italy, China) for moving heavy carts more easily.
  • Wooden trackways were precursors to modern railroads.
  • By 1700s Europe, rails and wheels were made of iron, but early train cars were still horse-drawn.
• Steam Engine Invention
  • The first self-moving train ran in Great Britain in 1804, using steam powered by heated water.
  • Quote:
    • "The first locomotive that used water in the form of steam to power its engine appeared in Great Britain in 1804." – Host (03:50)
• First Train Rides
  • Initially, trains hauled coal; carrying people was a novelty—passengers were afraid vibrations would make them unconscious or that they'd be unable to breathe at 'high' speeds.
  • Early trains maxed out at about 10 mph, much slower than today.
  • Funny moment:
    • “Lots of people can run faster than 10 miles per hour. Why were passengers so worried?” – Host (05:43)

2. How Steam Engines Work

• Fires heat water in the boiler, steam pressure pushes pistons which turn the wheels.
• Track structure: parallel steel rails, supported by “ties”/“sleepers,” sitting on gravel beds for stability.

3. Diesel Trains and American Railways

• Diesel trains, arriving in the early 1900s, burn thick diesel fuel to power generators and motors.
• Advantages: More power, less pollution, cheaper maintenance than steam engines.
• Impact in the U.S.:
  • Helped connect east and west, making coast-to-coast trips weeks shorter after the Transcontinental Railroad.
  • “Suddenly, a trip from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast went from taking months to taking less than a week.” – Host (09:28)
• Shift from world leader in trains to current U.S. reliance on cars and planes.
• Global Note:
  • China now carries the most train passengers and leads in high-tech rail innovation.

4. Electric and Subway Trains: Urban Transportation Gets Cleaner

• Electric trains use motors powered by electricity from overhead wires or a “third rail.”
• Subways offer fast, quiet, and clean city transit, relying on remote power stations.
• Quote:
  • “Compared to diesel and steam trains, electric ones are faster, quieter, and more reliable. And cleaner.” – Sammy Subway (12:14)
• High-speed “bullet trains” in Japan reach 185 mph.

5. Maglev (Magnetic Levitation) Trains: The Future of Rails

• Maglev trains in Asia float above the tracks using powerful magnets, eliminating friction.
• Fastest: Shanghai maglev at 286 mph (460 km/h); new Chinese designs could reach 373 mph (600 km/h).
• Environmentally friendly: minimal noise, very little maintenance, almost no air pollution.
• Quote:
  • “Maglev is short for magnetic levitation. Using magnet forces, I actually float above the tracks, eliminating friction that slows trains down.” – Maggie Maglev (17:48)
• No maglevs currently in the U.S., mainly due to the need for entirely new infrastructure.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On train sounds and history:
  • “That’s one small choo choo for man—and one giant chugga chugga for mankind.” – Subway Train, Sammy (02:06)
• On steam train fears:
  • “They thought the train vibrations would shake them unconscious, or they’d be unable to breathe while traveling at such high speeds.” – Steam Engine Steve (05:02)
• On diesel trains and pollution:
  • “Just think how much yucky stuff those steam trains spewed into the air we breathe…” – Diesel Dottie (09:04)
• On electric trains:
  • “Remote power stations give us juice, AKA electricity, through overhead cables or an extra rail known as the third rail. Don’t get too close to it though, or else, pow!” – Sammy Subway (11:41)
• On maglev speeds:
  • “I can go 286 miles or 460 kilometers per hour. China is building track for a new train that can go 373 miles or 600 kilometers per hour!” – Maggie Maglev (18:34)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:17] - Introduction to train sounds and global train facts
• [03:50] - Invention of steam locomotive and early train technology
• [04:25] - Meet “Steve Engine Steve,” who explains steam trains
• [05:37] - Early fears and slower speeds dispelled
• [06:22] - Steam engine mechanics explained
• [08:19] - Switch to Diesel Dottie and diesel engine innovations
• [09:28] - Trains’ impact on American development and the Transcontinental Railroad
• [11:05] - Meet Sammy Subway: how subways and electric trains work
• [12:38] - Beyond electric: Introduction to maglev trains
• [17:48] - Maggie Maglev explains magnetic levitation
• [18:34] - Record speeds and maglev’s global reach

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Tone & Style

The episode is enthusiastic, comical, and loaded with puns—engaging for children yet informative for listeners of all ages. Characters have distinct, humorous personalities, and the host frequently breaks the fourth wall ("smarty pants") to invite listener participation.

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Summary

In “How did Trains change the world?,” Who Smarted? delivers a lively and accessible history of trains, detailing how each leap in technology—from wooden tracks to floating maglevs—transformed society, connected continents, and shaped the way people and goods move around the world. With cleverly written dialogue, relatable analogies, and an array of comical characters, this episode is a smart ride through history and science that makes every “smarty pants” want to climb aboard.

Transcript

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

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[Maglev Train (Maggie)]

Psst.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Hey smarty pants. Recognize these sounds? Why, of course. It's your mom trying to feed you vegetables when you were three. Open wide.

[Diesel Train (Dottie Diesel)]

Here comes the train.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Choo choo. Just kidding. Those are the sounds of an actual train. And whether it's a freight train or a people train, trains have been around for more than 200 years. Have you ever ridden on a train? Maybe it was to visit another town or city or state, or maybe you rode a subway underground. Whether it's a long ride or a quick trip, riding the rails sure is something special. Did you know that there are more than 1.3 million km of train tracks covering the planet? That's more than enough track to travel to the moon and back, and then back to the moon again. That's one small choo choo for man

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

and one giant chugga chugga for mankind.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Any guess which country has the most train tracks? Why, it's the United States, one of the first countries to get into the train craze. All aboard. But how do trains work? How fast can they go? And where can you ride a train that flies? All aboard. For another whiff of history and science, on who smarted? Who's smarted?

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

Who's smart? Is it you?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Is it me?

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

Is it science or history?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Listen up everyone.

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

We make smarting lots of fun. But who's smart?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

And hey smarty pants, have you ever seen or played with model or toy trains? Some train sets even have little towns and trees and people and railroad crossings. Clearly, trains and Railroads have fascinated people for a long, long time, way before the first locomotive. Rails themselves go back to ancient times. Early people discovered it's easier to move heavy carts if they're on tracks, instead of pushing them down muddy or uneven roads. Some of these ancient trackways, mostly made of wood, can still be found in places like England, Greece, Italy, and China. By the 1700s, tracks covered much of the world, especially Europe, where iron rails and wheels replaced wooden ones. But cars on those rails were usually pulled by horses. Smarty pants, do you know what inventors used to create the first self moving train? Was it A, electricity, B, water, or C, hot sauce? If you guessed B, you're correct. The first locomotive that used water in the form of steam to power its engine appeared in Great Britain in 1804. And look, here comes a steam locomotive right now.

[Steam Engine (Steve Engine Steve)]

Why, hello there.

[Maglev Train (Maggie)]

Whoa.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

A talking train. Wait, are you Tom?

[Steam Engine (Steve Engine Steve)]

No, no, no. Don't say that name. I'm not him. I'm a completely legally acceptable knockoff. My name's Steve Engine Steve, hop aboard and I'll tell you whatever you want to know about trains.

[Diesel Train (Dottie Diesel)]

Ooh.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

What do you think, smarty pants? Should we climb aboard this talking steam engine and learn about trains? Yeah, yeah. I know this couldn't actually happen, but just go with it. Okay, Steve, we're in. So, Steve, when did people first start riding trains?

[Steam Engine (Steve Engine Steve)]

Back when the steam engine was first invented, trains were primarily used for hauling coal, a substance found deep underground that was used to make power and heat. When engineers added passenger cars, people were nervous about riding them. They thought the train vibrations would shake them unconscious, or they'd be unable to breathe while traveling at such high speeds.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Wow. How fast did those trains go? As fast as a horse, an ostrich, a cheetah. Smarty pants. What's your guess?

[Steam Engine (Steve Engine Steve)]

Not quite. The first train zipped down the tracks at a whopping 10 miles per hour.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Did you say 10? 10 miles per hour?

[Steam Engine (Steve Engine Steve)]

Actually, it was a little less than that.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Lots of people can run faster than 10 miles per hour. Why were passengers so worried?

[Steam Engine (Steve Engine Steve)]

Ah, you know, new things sometimes make people nervous. But they got over it. And as steam locomotives became more popular, by the 1850s, they were moving much faster, too. 50 miles per hour or more around the speed people drive on a highway.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

That's better. So how does a steam locomotive work?

[Steam Engine (Steve Engine Steve)]

It's quite brilliant, actually. You get a good fire burning in the firebox, which is right off the cab. Basically, the command center of the locomotive. That fire heats water in a nearby boiler to create steam. The Steam travels into cylinders on the train and moves rods called pistons which turn the wheels. The wheels travel on rails currently made of steel, a metal that can be easily shaped to handle curves. The rails were bolted to wooden or concrete supports called ties or sleepers, and are set parallel to each other a little less than five feet apart, creating the classic train track look. The tracks rest on loose gravel or stones, which keep them in place and help the train move swiftly to its destination.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

And what's our destination today?

[Steam Engine (Steve Engine Steve)]

Depends. How much coal did you bring?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

I didn't bring any coal.

[Steam Engine (Steve Engine Steve)]

Wood?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

No wood.

[Steam Engine (Steve Engine Steve)]

Oil?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

I have a banana.

[Steam Engine (Steve Engine Steve)]

Got any water?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Yes, I have my Houston water bottle, which incidentally is totally available at the

[Steam Engine (Steve Engine Steve)]

whosmarted merch [e-mail] yeah, despite the shameless plug, that's not gonna be enough. Steam engines need a good supply of water. And to heat that water, you need to burn a lot of coal, wood, or oil. We're not exactly the most environmentally friendly trains. Sorry, trusty narrator. I'm gonna have to let you off at this station.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

How do I get back?

[Steam Engine (Steve Engine Steve)]

There's a train across the platform. Bye now.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Oh, okay. Bye. Come on, smarty pants. I see another train.

[Diesel Train (Dottie Diesel)]

Hey, you need a ride?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Yes, I definitely do.

[Diesel Train (Dottie Diesel)]

Hop on. The name's Dottie. Diesel. Dottie.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Oh, hi, Dottie. Tell me, what makes a diesel engine different than a steam engine?

[Diesel Train (Dottie Diesel)]

First of all, I don't need no stinking wood or coal or oil to get me going. I run off of diesel fuel, which is like gasoline, but thicker. My engine burns that fuel to power a generator that creates electricity. That electricity gets my motor going, which turn my wheels, usually with more power than a steam locomotive. US Diesels are also cheaper to maintain and create less pollution than steam engines.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Go duddy.

[Diesel Train (Dottie Diesel)]

Yeah. Just think how much yucky stuff those steam trains spewed into the air we breathe. In the 1800s, they were going practically everywhere in the United States. Trains help connect cities and create more communities out west. Especially after the completion of of the transcontinental railroad in the 1870s. Suddenly, a trip from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast went from taking months to taking less than a week.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Whoa.

[Diesel Train (Dottie Diesel)]

The USA was once a world leader in rail transportation, but it's not anymore. Most people use planes and cars to travel long distances today, smarty pants, which

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

country now has the largest number of train passengers? Is it A, China, B, Germany, or C, India? If you said A China, you're right.

[Diesel Train (Dottie Diesel)]

Oh, and they got some high tech trains over there too. Real be, but diesel trains, like Me. We've been chugging around since the early 1900s. And we don't just carry passengers. A lot of us are freight trains that carry coal, foods, supplies, and other things to many communities. Something steam trains used to do. That is until US diesels and another type of train made steam engines practically obsolete.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Oh, yeah? What other kind of train is that?

[Diesel Train (Dottie Diesel)]

You'll find out here. Thanks for riding with me.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Oh, thanks, Dottie. Hmm. I don't know about that train over there. Hmm? I don't know about that train over there. It's got flames shooting out of it and bats flying all around. Uh, hello? All aboard. Yeah, that train seems too crazy for me. I'm gonna try another one.

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

You're looking to go uptown? Downtown? Midtown? Crosstown?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Downtown's good.

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

Okay, follow me. I'll take yas where you want to go?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Down these stairs?

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

Yep, there's a whole world underground. Here we are. Hey, let the passengers off first.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Oops, sorry.

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

Now get in. Stay and clear the closing doors. Please welcome. The name's Sammy Subway.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Hey, Sammy, you're my third talking train today.

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

What do you want, a cookie?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

According to Diesel, Dottie, you and her rule the rails these days.

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

That's right. A subway's an electric train. And people in cities ride them all the time. We use electric motors like diesel trains, but unlike them, we don't get our power from fuel or from burning stuff. Instead, remote power stations give us juice, AKA electricity through overhead cables or an extra rail known as the third rail. Don't get too close to it though, or else, pow. It'll zap you. Bada bing, bada boom, bing bong. Compared to diesel and steam trains, electric ones are faster, quieter, and more reliable. And cleaner.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Why is the floor all sticky?

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

I can't help but if people spill stuff.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

What'd they say?

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

Or that nobody fixes my PA system. This is just trains of the future.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

You mean there's something beyond electric?

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

Oh, yeah. U.S. electric trains may be your subways, commuter rails, and high speed bullet trains like the ones in Japan that can go 185 miles per hour. But if you want a train that really flies, see my friend across the platform. See ya.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Hmm. A train that flies. Hello.

[Maglev Train (Maggie)]

Welcome. Would you like a ride?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Ooh, a robot voice and a sleek looking train. Smarty pants. Let's ride the rails of the future together. Right after this quick break. Attention, smarty parents. Do you run your family off Sticky notes, random texts, and crossed fingers? Then you need the Skylight calendar. It's a digital calendar that syncs with Google, Apple, Outlook and more, becoming the central information hub for your family now. I love using the Tasks feature on who Smarted. It means no more wait, what am I supposed to be doing? And for smarty pants, checking off their tasks makes it fun and rewarding to do chores like brushing teeth and homework. Skylight also simplifies grocery lists, meal planning, and never ending pickups and drop offs. Skylight is so confident you'll love their calendar that they offer 100% money back, no questions asked for four full months. Families are better when they're working together. Right now, Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch calendars by going to myskylight.com smarted go to myskylight.com smartED for $30 off your 15 inch calendar. That is my S K-Y-L-I G-H-T.com smarted. You know what I love? TaskRabbit when we moved our whosmarted office, how did we find our mover TaskRabbit When I've got errands piling up and zero time to run them? TaskRabbit Ikea furniture assembly that's about to drive me mental. I Call me a tasker. I've been blown away by how helpful and awesome they are every single time. TaskRabbit connects you with skilled taskers in your area for moving furniture, assembly, home repairs, mounting a tv, yard work, you name it. You can search based on cost, skill set, availability and past client reviews and these taskers have put in the reps over 3.4 million pieces of furniture assembled. 700,000 home repairs. 1 1/2 million moves and counting. I love TaskRabbit smarty pants and you will too. When life happens. Your to do list grows. Get ahead of it now and get $15 off your first [e-mail] or on the TaskRabbit app. Using promo code Smarted Taskers book up fast, especially for same day tasks. So book trusted home help today. That's $15 off your first task using promo code smarted with the TaskRabbit app [e-mail]

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[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Attention all non mouth breathers. This is a code red. I repeat, this is a code red. So listen very carefully. What I'm about to say will turn your world upside down. I'm transmitting to you from Hawkins, Indiana to deliver this urgent message. Something survived in the winter of 85. So get ready for an all new animated adventure from the creators of Stranger Things. Bundle up and join 11 Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, Max and all your most beloved characters as they uncover new mysteries, new monsters and their greatest adventure yet. You've seen them fight Demogorgon, you've seen them fight Vecna. But you've never seen anything like this. Return to Hawkins for a whole new dimension of the Stranger Things universe in this epic animated series. Friends don't lie, so believe the hype. Stranger things tales from 85 only on netflix. Over and out. Now back to who's smarted. I'm with my new friend. Sorry, I didn't catch your name.

[Maglev Train (Maggie)]

I'm Maggie. A maglev high speed train. I don't have any wheels.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

No wheels? Then how do you move? Is it with A, rockets, B, propellers, or C magnets? Oh, the answer is C. Magnets.

[Maglev Train (Maggie)]

Correct. Maglev is short for magnetic levitation. Using magnet forces. I actually float above the tracks, eliminating friction that slows trains down.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

In other words, maglev trains can truly fly at speeds that were once unthinkable.

[Maglev Train (Maggie)]

Where would you like to go?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

I don't know. Paris, London, Moscow, Brazil, South Africa.

[Maglev Train (Maggie)]

How about Shanghai, China?

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Oh, I've always wanted to go to Australia.

[Maglev Train (Maggie)]

Shanghai it is. Thanks for riding the Shanghai high speed maglev train serving Shanghai.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Ah, yes. There are only six maglev train systems in the world, all in Asia. And only the Shanghai one is high speed.

[Maglev Train (Maggie)]

I can go 286 miles or 460 kilometers per hour. China is building track for a new train that can go 373 miles or 600 kilometers per hour.

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

Wow.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

That's over twice as fast as a bullet train. At that speed, you'd be able to cross the United States in less than eight hours.

[Subway Train (Sammy Subway)]

Whoa.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Sadly, there are no maglev trains in the USA yet. The problem with these trains is that they require entirely new tracks. So everything would need to be built from scratch.

[Maglev Train (Maggie)]

Yes, but maglevs make little noise and don't require much maintenance. We also create little or no air pollution. We're helping the planet.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

I'll say. Which is why China is expanding its network with plans for more high speed maglev trains in other countries like Japan and Germany. Maybe someday you'll be able to take one of those home.

[Maglev Train (Maggie)]

Welcome to Shanghai.

[Host (Adam Tex Davis)]

Oh, well, I guess I could use a vacation a full speed ahead. Shout out to Hyatt, Hope and Miles in Naperville, Illinois. Thanks for smarting with us morning, day and night. It's great to hear that you keep on learning new things every single day. That is some next level smarting right there. This episode Trains was written by Dave Beaudry and voiced by Chris Okawa. Jenna Choo Choo Hoban, Max Kamasky and Jerry Colbert. Technical direction and sound design by Josh Hahn. Who's Smarted Is recorded and mixed at the Relic Room Studios. Our associate producer is Max Kamasky. The theme song is by Brian Caboose Suarez with lyrics written and performed by Adam Tex Davis. Who Smarted was created and produced by Adam Tex Davis and Jerry Colbert. This has been an Atomic Entertainment production. Hey there, smarty pants, Smarty parents and smarty families. I've got some exciting news to share. And best of all, it's all because of you. Thanks to all of you listening, laughing and smarting with us, WhoSmarted is now over 1 million downloads a month. If that sounds like a lot, that's because it is. I couldn't be happier to share this news with you, our smarty fans. But that's not all. I want to celebrate this moment with you by offering 50% off a WhoSmarted plus subscription for the next week. A yearly subscription to WhoSmarted plus is half off the regular price. You'll get a year of bonus smarting and ad free listening for only $19.99. Doing some quick math, that's only $1.66 a month. Look, I can't even get a slice of decent pizza for that. To help support Whosmarted and get weekly subscriber only episodes and ad free listening for 50% off, go to WhoSmarted.com click Subscribe to WhoSmarted plus, choose the annual plan and enter promo code SMART20. That's WhoSmarted.com. click subscribe to WhoSmarted Plus, choose the annual plan and enter promo code Smart20. Thank you so much for being part of our smarty family and smarting with us once again, that's whosmarted. Com. Subscribe to WhoSmarted plus, choose the annual plan and use promo code SMART20 for 50% off. But hurry, this offer expires soon.