Wikipedia:Main Page history/2015 October 13

the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit.

From today's featured article

The Hastings Line is a secondary railway line in Kent and East Sussex, England, linking Hastings with the main town of Tunbridge Wells, and from there into London via Tonbridge and Sevenoaks. Although the line primarily carries passengers, a gypsum mine served by the railway is a source of freight traffic. Passenger trains on the line are operated by Southeastern. The railway was built by the South Eastern Railway in the early 1850s across the difficult terrain of the High Weald. Supervision was lax, and contractors skimped on the lining of the tunnels, causing deficiencies that showed up after the railway had opened. Rectifications included a restricted loading gauge along the line, requiring the use of specially made rolling stock. Served by steam locomotives from the time of opening until the late 1950s, passenger services were then taken over by a fleet of diesel-electric multiple units built to the line’s loading gauge. Freight was handled by diesel locomotives, also built to fit the loading gauge. The diesel-electric units were in service until 1986, when the line was electrified and the most severely affected tunnels were singled. (Full article...)

Recently featured:

Did you know...

E. E. Holman design

... that E. E. Holman's gender was deliberately disguised to secure architectural contracts, like those for the National Park Seminary's Aloha Dormitory (pictured)?
... that the scaly-throated, the black-tailed, and the short-billed leaftosser flick aside dead leaves as they forage for small invertebrates?
... that Wendy Tan White, the CEO of Moonfruit, laid off her co-founder and future husband to save the company after the dot-com crash?
... that a letter by the Quaker minister Abiah Darby is used to determine the start of the Industrial Revolution?
... that Daniel 4 is the only chapter in the Book of Daniel that is in the form of a letter from King Nebuchadnezzar?
.... that chemist and science diplomat Nancy B. Jackson was the first implementer of the U.S. State Department's Chemical Security Engagement Program?
... that the film The Creeping Garden shows slime molds finding their way through a maze in search of food?
... that genetics researcher and MIT professor emeritus Mary-Lou Pardue once declined a PhD and convinced her department to give her a master's degree instead?

In the news

Alexander Lukashenko

Alexander Lukashenko (pictured) is re-elected President of Belarus for a fifth term.
At least 105 people are killed and more than 400 others injured in twin bombings at a peace rally in Ankara, Turkey.
The Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Svetlana Alexievich is awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Tomas Lindahl, Paul Modrich and Aziz Sancar are awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work in the field of DNA repair.

On this day...

October 13

Paddington Bear

54 – Claudius, the first Roman emperor to be born outside Italy, died mysteriously, most likely by poison administered by his wife Agrippina.
1307 – Agents of King Philip IV of France launched a dawn raid, simultaneously arresting many members of the Knights Templar, and subsequently torturing them into "admitting" heresy.
1885 – The Georgia Institute of Technology was established in Atlanta as part of Reconstruction plans to build an industrial economy in the post-Civil War Southern United States.
1911 – Prince Arthur, a son of Queen Victoria, became the first Governor General of Canada of royal descent as well as the first Prince of Great Britain and Ireland to hold that position.
1958 – The first book featuring the English children's literature character Paddington Bear (statue pictured), created by Michael Bond and Peggy Fortnum, was published.

More anniversaries:

Today's featured picture

Ada Lovelace (1815–1852) was an English mathematician and writer, chiefly known for her work on using Charles Babbage's planned mechanical general-purpose computer, the Analytical Engine. Her notes include what is recognised as the first algorithm intended to be carried out by a machine, and as such she is often regarded as the first computer programmer.

Painting: Alfred Edward Chalon

Recently featured:

Archive
More featured pictures...

Other areas of Wikipedia

Community portal – Bulletin board, projects, resources and activities covering a wide range of Wikipedia areas.
Help desk – Ask questions about using Wikipedia.
Local embassy – For Wikipedia-related communication in languages other than English.
Reference desk – Serving as virtual librarians, Wikipedia volunteers tackle your questions on a wide range of subjects.
Site news – Announcements, updates, articles and press releases on Wikipedia and the Wikimedia Foundation.
Village pump – For discussions about Wikipedia itself, including areas for technical issues and policies.