Railway General Knowledge.

[A Challenge]

There is 1 (maybe 2, I don't think so though), in Newport IoW.

 

[Calthrop]

There is 1 (maybe 2, I don't think so though), in Newport IoW.

One, or two -- borderline thing, maybe? -- squabbling between the IOW Central, and Freshwater, Yarmouth & Newport companies, caused the FY&N to have its small separate station, for a shortish while.

And how about Newport (East Riding, Yorkshire) -- some half-dozen stops out of Hull on the Hull & Barnsley line; and in Ireland, Newport on the Westport -- Achill branch (line abandoned 1937)?

Plus -- if "double-barrelled" station names ("Newport", plus another word) were to be reckoned admissible; there's Newport Pagnell, terminus of the branch from Wolverton; and East Newport and West Newport, between Dundee and Tayport.

 

[DerekC]

Yes, sorry. I couldn't remember what local authority area Newport (Mon) is now in. Gwent, I think.

You have got all the ones on my list - since it was a joint effort maybe best to make it open floor?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

There's a couple missing from the list, I think.

A very early station was Newport Courtybella, which was the first, temporary, terminus for the Monmouthshire Railway and Canal Company's Western Valley line between 1850 and 1852.

Newport, Yorkshire had a station by that name between 1885 and 1923, when it was renamed Wallingfen; it closed in 1959.

I'm not sure about Newport Teeside, as I can't seem to find any trace of it. Does anyone know any more?

Finally, the City of Newport is a council area on it's own now, as the County of Gwent no longer exists - although people do still use it from time to time. Monmouthshire still exists as a council area, but doesn't cover the Newport area.

That's my twopennyworth .... but I'm happy to make this an open floor!

 

[Calthrop]

Newport, Yorkshire had a station by that name between 1885 and 1923, when it was renamed Wallingfen; it closed in 1959.

Mentioned in my post as Newport (East Riding, Yorkshire), on the Hull & Barnsley; per Wiki, renamed Wallingfen w.e.f 1 / 7 / 1923, by the new LNER, to try to avoid confusion with the umpteen other Newports.

I'm not sure about Newport Teeside, as I can't seem to find any trace of it. Does anyone know any more?

Shown by the Ian Alan Pre-Grouping Atlas & Gazetteer, and Jowett's Railway Atlas -- both endeavouring to show the situation as approx. on the eve of Grouping -- as on the NER line from Middlesbrough south-westward towards Eaglescliffe: one station north-east from Thornaby.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Mentioned in my post as Newport (East Riding, Yorkshire), on the Hull & Barnsley; per Wiki, renamed Wallingfen w.e.f 1 / 7 / 1923, by the new LNER, to try to avoid confusion with the umpteen other Newports.

Shown by the Ian Alan Pre-Grouping Atlas & Gazetteer, and Jowett's Railway Atlas -- both endeavouring to show the situation as approx. on the eve of Grouping -- as on the NER line from Middlesbrough south-westward towards Eaglescliffe: one station north-east from Thornaby.

Ah, I missed the former, and thanks for the latter.

Here's a couple of anniversaries which will fall in October for you to identify, please.

What was officially launched on 4th October 1976?

What was the winner on 8th Oct 1829?

 

[Cowley]

I'll go for the obvious.

1) The introduction of the production HST?
2) The Rocket. At the Rainhill trials?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

I'll go for the obvious.

1) The introduction of the production HST?
2) The Rocket. At the Rainhill trials?

And the obvious is right .... your Trials event, sir!

 

[Cowley]

Excellent.
Ok next question:

What was the last BR train to head south on the Mid Hants railway from Alton before the line was severed after closure?

 

[DerekC]

The last service train was (I think) Hampshire units 1121 and 1125 forming the 20:02 from Alton to Winchester on 4th February 1973. However there might have been specials or freights after that.

 

[Cowley]

The last service train was (I think) Hampshire units 1121 and 1125 forming the 20:02 from Alton to Winchester on 4th February 1973. However there might have been specials or freights after that.

Pretty sure you're right about the above (1125 of course is preserved on the line nowadays). However this one off train surprisingly ran quite some time after that. Feel free to Google this as it's not a commonly known fact, there is at least one photo in existence though which I'll post upon the nearest answer.

However there may have been specials or freights after that.

getting quite warm there Derek and I know that you know this area quite well...

 

[DerekC]

The best I can do is from a Southern Counties Railway Society newsletter: "The last train over the line was a BR special from Eastleigh to Alton and return on Sunday 4th February, formed of a Class 33 diesel and 8-TC" - I don't know any more than that. Now if you wanted details of the last trains in the Meon Valley ....

 

[Cowley]

The best I can do is from a Southern Counties Railway Society newsletter: "The last train over the line was a BR special from Eastleigh to Alton and return on Sunday 4th February, formed of a Class 33 diesel and 8-TC" - I don't know any more than that. Now if you wanted details of the last trains in the Meon Valley ....

No not that one I'm afraid, this happened later than that. I suggest we all sleep on it.




Night.

 

[theageofthetra]

Are we talking about a passenger service or some engineering train doing an asset check?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I dimly recall reading about some disruption or blockage leading to a service train having been diverted over a closed line shortly before the track on it was lifted - was it this?

 

[Cowley]

I dimly recall reading about some disruption or blockage leading to a service train having been diverted over a closed line shortly before the track on it was lifted - was it this?

No. The line was well and truly closed by then. This was a non passenger carrying train but contained passenger stock...

It's not a particularly trick question by the way.

 

[theageofthetra]

Was it some delivery of withdrawn coaches to the fledgling preservation society?

 

[Cowley]

Was it some delivery of withdrawn coaches to the fledgling preservation society?

Absolutely right. In 1976 a full three years after the last services ran, 09003 hauled a collection of carriages and vans to the fledgling preservation scheme and after dropping them off the line from Ropley to Alton was unfortunately dismantled.

Here's a photo by RW Small taken from Roger Hardinghams book on the railway.
Your turn.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Absolutely right. In 1976 a full three years after the last services ran, 09003 hauled a collection of carriages and vans to the fledgling preservation scheme and after dropping them off the line from Ropley to Alton was unfortunately dismantled.

Here's a photo by RW Small taken from Roger Hardinghams book on the railway.
Your turn.

Ah! Misunderstood your question, after performing endless searching for photographs or info about something that may have traversed the section to Alton via Itchen Abbas from the Winchester end of the route before it was lifted, what a plonker Iam!

Good shout from theageofthetra though!

 

[Cowley]

Ah! Misunderstood your question, after performing endless searching for photographs or info about something that may have traversed the section to Alton via Itchen Abbas from the Winchester end of the route before it was lifted, what a plonker Iam!

Good shout from theageofthetra though!

I'm struggling to work out when Winchester Junction was finally disconnected, but It's interesting that the train came in via Alton as you'd expect something like that to have come up from Eastleigh perhaps? Not sure where 09003 would have been based in 1976 either, but it must have been a fair trek wherever it was from.
I'm going up there in a few weeks so I'll ask a couple of people that I know.

 

[DerekC]

I'm struggling to work out when Winchester Junction was finally disconnected, but It's interesting that the train came in via Alton as you'd expect something like that to have come up from Eastleigh perhaps? Not sure where 09003 would have been based in 1976 either, but it must have been a fair trek wherever it was from.
I'm going up there in a few weeks so I'll ask a couple of people that I know.

I think (as you imply) that the track between Alresford and Winchester Junction had been lifted by then. BR was still in negotiation with the MHR so didn't lift between Alresford and Alton at the same time. It's no good, I will have to buy the book!

 

[Ash Bridge]

I'm struggling to work out when Winchester Junction was finally disconnected, but It's interesting that the train came in via Alton as you'd expect something like that to have come up from Eastleigh perhaps? Not sure where 09003 would have been based in 1976 either, but it must have been a fair trek wherever it was from.
I'm going up there in a few weeks so I'll ask a couple of people that I know.

During my searches I came across a shot of Itchen Abbas Station during 1976 showing that by then the track had been lifted although judging by the fairly weed free condition of the remaining trackbed not so long ago. I wonder if the coaching stock was perhaps initially hauled to Farnham Depot by a mainline loco, then just transferred from there by the class 09?

I think (as you imply) that the track between Alresford and Winchester Junction had been lifted by then. BR was still in negotiation with the MHR so didn't lift between Alresford and Alton at the same time. It's no good, I will have to buy the book!

I think what you suggest there sounds about right Derek.

 

[theageofthetra]

There were many jobs on the steam era railway that were dirty and dangerous.

There was however one very unpleasant job that was briefly introduced in the US that was banned here.



What was the job.

 

[DerekC]

The words "very unpleasant" rather than dangerous suggests something very dirty. the USA was advanced in terms of things like mechanical stokers, just because of the size of the locos and rate of coal feed needed so it doesn't sound like a job in the cab. I am trying to think of a job that was banned here and am not getting very far. Something to do with heavy freight? Maybe a job that the conductor had to do? I am thinking we might need a clue!

 

[Cowley]

Washing out chamber pots?

 

[DerekC]

Washing out chamber pots?

I did think about something along those lines, but would it have been banned here? I doubt it! (The lack of toilets on early trains did result in some interesting and very strange devices to provide relief - might make a good subject for another railway book!)

 

[Cowley]

I did think about something along those lines, but would it have been banned here? I doubt it! (The lack of toilets on early trains did result in some interesting and very strange devices to provide relief - might make a good subject for another railway book!)

I can't think what else it could be. Where's Tra when you need him?
The only other thing I could think of was clearing the (human) waste off the permanent way?

 

[theageofthetra]

Nothing lavatorial. It involved the locomotive.

 

[Cowley]

Did it involve climbing down the chimney to do something?
That sounds even sillier than my last suggestion. Anyone else?

 

[theageofthetra]

Did it involve climbing down the chimney to do something?
That sounds even sillier than my last suggestion. Anyone else?

Your getting warmer.