Current Date: 12 Apr, 2026
{{entry.title}}

This whale tail sculpture saved a train that went off the rails

A train in the Netherlands failed to stop in time and broke through the emergency barrier. It's being held up by the statue of a whale's tail.

A Dutch train that had overrun the track was prevented from falling to the ground below by an enormous sculpture depicting two whale tails. “Saved by the Whale’s Tail,” is the appropriately named sculpture, and the incident happened at the De Akkers metro station in Spijkenisse, which is close to Rotterdam.

Designed by architect Maarten Struijs, the sculpture in silver is composed of reinforced polyester and was placed at the station in 2002. The train, which is a part of the Rotterdam Metro network, shot through the automatic buffers at the end of the track just after midnight, according to the train’s operator RET. It landed on one of the whale tails, saving it from plummeting 32 feet to the ground.

This whale tail sculpture saved a train that went off the rails 1
The curious scene is attracting fascinated locals © Niels Wenstedt/BSR Agency/Getty Images

Two metro routes, C from Capelle aan den IJssel and D from Rotterdam, terminate at De Akkers. No passengers were on board when the accident occurred. After the train came to a stop, the driver was able to get off without getting hurt. The sensitive removal procedure is made more difficult by the fact that the problematic track is directly above water and that big cranes cannot operate in the area. According to a local safety board spokesman, “We are trying to decide how we can bring the train down in a careful and controlled manner,” which was broadcaster NOS.

This whale tail sculpture saved a train that went off the rails 2
The silver sculpture was installed at the station in 2002 © Niels Wenstedt/BSR Agency/Getty Images

Locals are drawn to the odd scene as authorities figure out how to best remove the train from its unusual perch, but they are cautioned to keep their distance because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Similar Stories
Couple reunites after 60 years apart

Couple reunites after 60 years apart

A Russian couple were reunited after being separated for 60 years. They were married for 3 days when the husband left to join the Red Army. They were unable to find each other until 60 years later when they randomly visited their hometown on the same day.

A subway in Chongqing passes through a building (images)

A subway in Chongqing passes through a building (images)

A train has been constructed through an apartment complex in Chongqing, China. The 19-story residential structure is not only passed by the light rail passenger train, but it also serves as a transit stop. Apartment residents can simply get a ride from the sixth to eighth levels.

Who invented the three-point seat belt?

Who invented the three-point seat belt?

While employed by Volvo in 1959, Swidish engineer Nils Bohlin created the three-point safety belt. Volvo first had the design patented, but soon as they discovered its importance as a new safety measure, they made the patent open to everyone. Millions of lives were genuinely spared by Volvo’s gift to the world.

A U.S. Submarine Collides with a Japanese Fishing Ship in 2001

A U.S. Submarine Collides with a Japanese Fishing Ship in 2001

In 1998, 14-year-old Michael Crowe was charged with the murder of his sister. The police started targeting him after he seemed “distant and preoccupied” when his sister’s body was discovered, and during interrogation, police coercion led him to make a false confession. He was later declared factually innocent and the family won a lawsuit of $7.25 million in 2011.

24-year-old burglar beaten by retired boxer victim

24-year-old burglar beaten by retired boxer victim

A 24-year-old knife-wielding burglar attempted to get into the home of a 72-year-old senior in Oxford, England, in 2009, but was left battered, bruised, and pinned to the ground. Frank Corti, the elderly, turned out to be a former boxing champion.

The WWII Parachute Wedding Dress

The WWII Parachute Wedding Dress

Major Claude Hensinger jumped out of a B-29 bomber during World War II when the engine caught fire. He was saved by his parachute. Later, he requested that his fiancée Ruth make him a gown out of the same parachute. The dress is now on display at the Smithsonian Institute.

Why Is the N Lowercase in 7-Eleven?

Why Is the N Lowercase in 7-Eleven?

7-ELEVEN is thought to have a lowercase "n" in its logo because the company president's wife believed that a logo with all caps would seem harsh, while a lowercase "n" would make it more graceful.

The world’s longest flight spent more than two months in the air

The world’s longest flight spent more than two months in the air

Roberts Timm and Jim Cook, two pilots, flew an aircraft for more than two months without landing in 1958. Matching the speed of a truck moving down the road to refuel. A mattress for sleeping, a small steel sink for personal hygiene, the removal of most interior fittings to reduce weight, and a basic autopilot were among the improvements.

Mystery of 300-year-old mummified mermaid is being probed

Mystery of 300-year-old mummified mermaid is being probed

There is a 300-year-old mummified mermaid with 30 centimetres tall and features a human-like head, two hands with what appear to be fingernails, and its lower body that look like a fish tail. The “mermaid mummy” is being probed by Japanese scientists in an attempt to unravel the mystery of its existence.