April 26

The SS Ideal X set sail from New Jersey to Houston, carrying 58 wooden containers of cargo. This experiment in containerization demonstrated dramatic efficiency gains over traditional break-bulk shipping. The vessel, converted from a T2 tanker, showcased how standardized containers could streamline loading and unloading. Malcolm McLean, the ship's owner, had pioneered the concept to reduce port costs and transit times. The success of this voyage spurred rapid adoption of container standards worldwide. Ports and railways adapted their infrastructure to handle containerized freight. Over the next decade, global trade volumes expanded exponentially as shipping costs plummeted. The container revolution reshaped manufacturing supply chains and enabled globalization. Today, container ships carry over 90% of non-bulk goods across oceans, a legacy of the Ideal X's journey.

Inaugurated in 1890, the Royal Blue was North America's first mainline passenger train to use electric locomotives. By 1958, improvements in diesel technology and changing travel preferences reduced the service's viability. The final journey saw vintage electric engines departing from Union Station in Washington and arriving at Jersey City Terminal. Passengers and rail enthusiasts gathered to bid farewell to the train's distinctive blue-and-gold livery. The ceremony included speeches by Baltimore and Ohio officials reflecting on the line's storied history. Despite its closure, the Royal Blue influenced future electrification projects and commuter services. Remnants of its equipment were preserved in museums and railroad collections. The train's legacy lives on through historical societies and model railroads. Its retirement symbolized the broader decline of traditional rail travel and the rise of modern transportation.