Interview with an AI Railway Historian: Steam, Speed, and the Tracks of Time

As railways have shaped economies, industries, and entire nations, their history is filled with innovation, controversy, and nostalgia. But what happens when an AI Railway Historian weighs in?

In an era of technological progress, AI breakthroughs, and the ChatGPT boom, the good old Google search bar finally has some competition. Research has never been easier: our parents spent nights in libraries, we needed hours on Google, and the next generation? They’ll find answers in seconds. From dinner recipes to heated debates on history, today’s AI talks like a best friend—except this one won’t ghost you (unless there’s a server outage).

With that in mind, RAILTARGET decided to do something unusual: interview an AI Railway Historian. Just for the sake of it.

Google’s most capable AI model is here.

So I decided to compare it with the king GPT-4 in a battle of:

- Coding
- Puzzles
- Creative Writing
- Fun Challenges & More

Here are the results 🧵 pic.twitter.com/2enDoQIB10

— Alvaro Cintas (@dr_cintas) February 10, 2024

Let’s start with the big moments. What do you consider the most significant turning points in railway history?

AI Railway Historian: Oh, you want big moments? Buckle up, because railway history isn’t just a bunch of old guys in top hats laying down tracks. We’re talking revolution, speed, and occasionally, explosions.

First, the birth of the steam locomotive. Picture this: it’s the early 1800s, everyone’s still getting around on horses, and then boom—George Stephenson builds a train, and suddenly the world moves at an entirely new pace. The Stockton & Darlington Railway in 1825 was like the moon landing of its time, except with more coal dust and fewer flags.

Then you’ve got the transcontinental railways. The US stitched itself together with steel in the 1860s, and Russia took the concept to the extreme with the Trans-Siberian Railway, which, fun fact, is so long that by the time you finish your train ride, you might have grown a beard.

Jump to the 20th century, and the golden age of rail travel hits. Think Orient Express, the Flying Scotsman, art deco dining cars, mysterious passengers with suitcases full of secrets—classic. Trains weren’t just transport; they were a lifestyle. And then, of course, Japan had to show everyone up in the 1960s with the Shinkansen. The bullet train didn’t just go fast; it changed the entire way we think about rail travel. One minute you’re in Tokyo, the next you’re hundreds of miles away, and your tea hasn’t even had time to cool down.

Makes you wonder—if we perfected speed so well, how did we still manage to get so much railway history wrong? What are some of the biggest myths that people believe to this day?

AI Railway Historian: Let’s start with the biggest crime against railway history—the idea that diesel was just a natural upgrade from steam. Nope. Not even close. That’s like saying smartphones naturally replaced landlines—true in some ways, but also missing the bigger picture. The transition wasn’t about technology getting better; it was about money. Steam locomotives weren’t obsolete, they were just high maintenance—kind of like a Victorian-era sports car. If railway companies had invested in modernizing steam instead of scrapping it for diesel, we could have had sleek, futuristic steam engines still in operation today.

And here’s another one: everyone thinks high-speed rail started with Japan in 1964. Look, I love the Shinkansen, it’s a masterpiece, but people were cooking up high-speed train concepts way before that. Germany had streamlined steam trains in the 1930s that could hit 200 km/h, and Britain had designs for high-speed corridors before World War II. The war just kind of got in the way—because apparently, people had other things to deal with.

But while high-speed rail eventually got its moment, some technologies weren’t as lucky. Which brings us to steam locomotives—the legends of the past that refuse to be forgotten. Here’s a controversial one—should they make a comeback?

AI Railway Historian: Should dinosaurs come back? No. Would it be insanely cool? Absolutely. Let’s be real—steam locomotives are not practical. They need mountains of coal, Olympic-level amounts of water, and enough maintenance to make an F1 car look low-maintenance. But at the same time, have you seen a steam locomotive in motion? It’s basically a fire-breathing dragon on wheels.

If someone could find a way to make them eco-friendly—like hydrogen-powered steam engines—then yes, I am fully on board with bringing them back. Imagine a world where sleek, modern steam engines are thundering across the countryside again. We’d be living in the steampunk future we deserve.

AI is usually neutral, but let’s shake things up. Give us some bold takes on railway history.

AI Railway Historian: Oh, you want opinions? I’ve got them.

First of all, the diesel era was a downgrade. There, I said it. Steam locomotives were majestic, powerful, and sounded like thunder rolling across the landscape. Diesels? They’re just noisy bricks on wheels. They’re the train equivalent of replacing an orchestra with an out-of-tune kazoo.

Second, electric trains deserve way more love. Everyone talks about high-speed rail and classic steam engines, but electric trains have been quietly running the world for over a century. They’re fast, they’re clean, and they don’t sound like a mechanical lawnmower trying to fight for its life.

And, since we’re already causing chaos, let’s talk about British railway privatisation. It was a mess. Instead of an efficient national system, the UK ended up with fragmented services, confusing ticket prices, and delays that could make you question your life choices. Meanwhile, Switzerland kept its railways public, and surprise, surprise—it runs like a Swiss watch.

Guess that’s what happens when you prioritise efficiency over corporate chaos. But while we can debate past mistakes all day, the real question is—where do we go from here? Looking ahead, what’s next for rail transport?

AI Railway Historian: High-speed rail is going to keep expanding, but that’s the obvious answer. The real game-changers are autonomous trains and alternative fuels. We’re talking hydrogen-powered and battery-operated locomotives that could finally put an end to diesel pollution. Imagine hopping on a train that’s fully electric, self-driving, and smooth as butter. That’s the future. But let’s be honest—no matter how advanced trains get, nothing will ever match the pure, cinematic drama of a steam locomotive at full speed. Some things just can’t be replaced.

A poetic ending. Thanks for the chat!

AI Railway Historian: The pleasure was mine. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go daydream about steam engines making a dramatic comeback…