In the annals of comic book history, there are a plethora of incredible vehicles. From the Fantasti-car, to Wonder Woman's Invisible Jet, to the X-Men's Blackbird jet, they have ranged in size and capability in all the elements, from air to sea to even space itself. But no other character has planned and prepared for every possible mode of transportation (although some are...less practical than others) more so than the Dark Knight himself: Batman. While the Batmobile is perhaps his most famous vehicle, DC Comics has recently reintroduced one of his wildest and ingenious vehicle designs, one that has precedent in a story over 65 years old.
In the recent issue of Batman #92, Batman has his hands full: he's taking on Deathstroke, while, simultaneously, the Riddler has used laser grids to transform the entirety of Gotham City into a giant crossword puzzle. Racing against time to not only sole as many clues as he can, Batman also has to navigate an increasingly-blockaded Gotham City in order to triangulate the Riddler's location. With the streets blocked off and time running out, what's the World's Greatest Detective to do? Plan far ahead of time and reveal his underground train system.
Hinted at during James Tynion IV's run on Detective Comics Rebirth (as inspired by Tim Drake, who suggested making use of the abandoned Gotham subway system), and followed up here with Tynion's tenure on Batman, the appearance of the train comes as a bit of a surprise to Deathstroke, who is taken along for a ride in it as Batman tracks down the source of Riddler's transmissions. The train is essentially a mobile Batcave: linked to the Bat-computer, and able to access any CCTV camera and computer in the entire, Batman has complete mobile access to every electronic resource. Most importantly, by utilizing the long-forgotten and abandoned Gotham subway system, Batman is able to bypass the Riddler's laser grid, and arrive underneath the Riddler's transmission location undetected, and subdue him with a tranquilizer...but not before solving the villain's crossword puzzle trap with considerable ease.
This is not the first time the Bat-Train has made an appearance, just one of it latest reappearances. One of the stories in the 1955 issue of Batman Vol 1 #95 is titled simply, "The Bat-Train". The plot of the story revolves around police departments throughout the country requesting Batman's appearance at lectures in various cities in order to discourage people from crime. To supplement their request, the host cities pool their resources and construct a railroad connecting each city, and outfit a steam locomotive to active as a mobile Batcave between travels through each city. The Dynamic Duo stop several crimes in between lectures, and eventually stop a gang from robbing the actual Batcave of several trophies, and uses their comeuppance as an example in another lecture.
The Bat-Train would be jokingly hinted at in Batman Vol. 2 #35, by Alfred, who says it might still exist...but it isn't until recently the locomotive has made its glorious return in action. Given the various vehicles Batman already employs at his disposal, a full-blown train makes about as much sense as, say, a Bat-Transformer , but at least here its size and relative impracticality is compensated with its abilities. More a mobile base than a maneuverable infiltration vehicle, the Bat-train is just one of a long line of tools at Batman's disposal. And since Batman's source of assistance has decreased a bit due to the recent death of Alfred, he'll need every and any help he can get...no matter how silly it might at first seem.
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