Before the names of Ships · Trains · etc.
The article the is often used before the names of ships and shipping companies:
e.g.
The Queen Elizabeth II (The QE2)  The Titanic  The Mutsu  
The Cunard Line   The Nihon Yusen   The Stena Line

It is also used before the names of trains which run certain routes:
e.g.
The Bullet Train (The Shinkansen)  The Orient Express
The Golden Arrow   The Blue Train    The Trans-Siberian Express

If the locomotive (or other proper noun) is referred to use a:
e.g.
This is a D51 steam locomotive.
That is a Harley-Davidson Sportster.

However, if the loco (or other proper noun) is being referred to as representative of its class, use the:
e.g.
The D51 was the most famous steam locomotive used by JNR.
The Harley-Davidson is the most famous American motorcycle of all time.

Railway lines take the:
e.g.
The Yamanote Line   The Piccadilly Line   The Midosuji line  The Tokaido line

Railway companies usually take the if they are privately owned:
e.g.
The Baltimore and Ohio  The Atchikinson, Topeka and Santa Fe

but usually have no article if they are government owned:
e.g.
Amtrak   JR

Some airlines give names to aeroplanes flying certain routes. These names are usually preceded by the:
e.g.
The China Clipper
The People's Express

If the type of aircraft is referred to use a:
e.g.
I flew on a Concorde / a Fokker Friendship / an Airbus

However, if the aircraft is being referred to as representative of its class, then we use the:
e.g.
The Hellcat and the Mitsubishi Zero were famous fighter aircraft used in the Pacific war.

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Before the names of Bridges · Tunnels
Most bridges and tunnels take the before their names:
e.g.

The Golden Gate Bridge / The Brooklyn Bridge

The Akashi Straits Bridge / The Humber Bridge

The Tyne Bridge  / The Sydney Harbour Bridge

The Lincoln Tunnel  / The Holland Tunnel

The Seikan Tunnel  /  The Channel Tunnel

Exceptions:
London Bridge / Tower Bridge  /  Lambeth Bridge / Waterloo Bridge
Southwark Bridge etc.

These bridges all cross the River Thames in London.

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Before the names of Hotels · Buildings
The article the is used before the names of most hotels:
e.g.
The Waldorf Astoria   The Ritz
The Osaka Hilton   The New Otani

However if we are talking about one hotel in an inexpensive chain then we can use a:
e.g.
'Is there a Holiday Inn in this town?'

The names of most large buildings are preceded by the:
e.g.
The Empire State Building   The Eiffel Tower
The World Trade Center  The Sears Tower

However, many British buildings have the word House in their names. In these cases, no article is required:
e.g.
Government House  Trafalgar House   Victoria House  Australia House

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Before the names of newspapers etc.
The article the is used in the titles of most newspapers:
e.g.
The Times  The New York Times   The Japan Times

The Asahi Evening News   The Wall Street Journal

The International Herald Tribune    The Guardian

However, most magazine titles do not have an article in their titles:
e.g.
Time   Newsweek   Wired   National Geographic

exception:  The Economist

Some important religious books use the in their titles:
e.g.
The Bible   The Koran   The Talmud   The Tibetan Book of the Dead
The Masora  The Book of Mormon    The Macintosh Bible ;-)

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Before the names of Historical Periods
Most historical periods are preceded by the article the:
e.g.
The Renaissance   The Dark Ages    The Edo period

The Reign of Terror   The Age of Warring States

The Meiji Era    The Victorian Period

Most time periods relating to art or music also begin with the:
e.g. (Art)
The Nara Period    The Kamakura Period    The Baroque Period

(Music)
The Gothic Period  The Classical Period   The Romantic Period

However, the periods that end in ism do not take an article:
e.g.
Dadaism   Neoclassicism   Cubism

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