For nearly 100 years, travel by train dominated the transportation industry. In many countries, trains are still an important part of passenger travel, though many things have changed. Discover these five facts about the history of train travel.

Trains hold a history of snobbery

If you’ve ever wondered where the first-class-versus-economy seating on airplanes comes from, you can blame it on trains. From the Victorian period to the middle of the 20th century, traveling first class was a way for wealthy people to avoid contact with the lower class. Today, many train lines have ditched class segregation to make room for the rise in economy travelers.

Passenger trains had toilets

Ever wonder how all those people traveling by train used the bathroom? Well, by the time people were making long-distance journeys, trains started including hopper toilets. It’s nothing fancy—whatever goes into a hopper toilet empties out on the tracks. Today, modern trains usually have a waste receptacle tank that holds all the waste.

Private compartments had sinks

If you were traveling on a long-distance carriage, you could get an entire compartment to yourself. These compartments were like tiny hotel rooms, complete with a sink and miniature vanity. Like the toilets of the era, these sinks emptied out onto the tracks.

Trains are the reason for time zones

Before the 1800s, time zones weren’t a thing. But once rail travel had taken over the world, people needed to have an accurate way of telling time. The invention of different time zones helped train companies communicate more efficiently with each other, thus making railway travel more reliable.

Entertainment was scarce

Just like traveling by plane today, people had to find ways to entertain themselves during train travel. They would bring books to read and boxes of photos to look at. They could also socialize with the other passengers in the lounge car, where they might be able to grab a drink at the bar.

Studying the history of train travel is helpful if you love old-fashioned travel or you’re looking to understand the different types of model train cars.