Identify the part of speech of "was" in the sentence "The train was late to the station."

In the sentence "The train was late to the station," "was" functions as a verb. It serves as a linking verb that connects the subject "The train" to the adjective "late," which describes the state of the train. Linking verbs like "was" do not show action but instead serve to link the subject of the sentence to additional information about that subject. This makes "was" essential in conveying the intended meaning, indicating that the train experienced a particular condition (being late). Other choices such as noun, adjective, and preposition do not fit the role of "was," as they pertain to different functions within a sentence. Thus, identifying "was" as a verb is the correct choice.