Trains evoke all kinds of nostalgic memories of trips through Europe and Alfred Hitchcock movies, but as America supposedly suits up for the era of high-speed rail (great idea, but you’ll forgive us for doubting that it will ever actually happen), it’s probably about time we got our train knowledge in order.

mental_floss has the perfect listicle to this end, recounting the stories that powered 10 Famous Trains. Our favorite is the nifty-looking Zephyr (at right), which still operates between Chicago and California (though in a considerably less cool form). All this talk of trains did make us notice one glaring omission from mental_floss’s listicle, included after the jump.

The Polar Express

Obviously! Right?