Railway General Knowledge.

[EbbwJunction1]

in that case, it was Prince Harry, aka the Duke of Cambridge.

 

[444045]

in that case, it was Prince Harry, aka the Duke of Cambridge.

Sorry @EbbwJunction1 it wasn't that particular royal.

 

[xotGD]

Prince Andrew

 

[Whistler40145]

Your persistence has paid off @Graham H it was u.2418 Wessex Cancer Trust but it wasn't the Earl of Wessex aka Prince Edward.

Clue time: This HRH doesn't have that status anymore.

Prince Harry

 

[444045]

Sorry @xotGD & @Whistler40145 it was neither of those royals I'm afraid.

Clue time: This former HRH used to live in Dummer, Hampshire before marriage into royalty.

 

[Whistler40145]

Sarah Ferguson, formerly HRH Duchess of York

 

[444045]

Sarah Ferguson, formerly HRH Duchess of York

Well done, that is correct. She named U.2418 at Southampton Central. The floor is all yours.....

 

[Whistler40145]

A two part question

1 In the summer of 1993, what class of loco could you get haulage behind on a return Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh service?

2 What day of the week was this class of loco allocated?

 

[Cowley]

A two part question

1 In the summer of 1993, what class of loco could you get haulage behind on a return Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh service?

2 What day of the week was this class of loco allocated?

I’ve got a feeling that it was one (or both?) of the BR green class 26s. Was it on a Wednesday?

 

[Whistler40145]

I’ve got a feeling that it was one (or both?) of the BR green class 26s. Was it on a Wednesday?

Too easy, both correct

 

[Cowley]

Can’t think of a question right now so open floor guys.

 

[Calthrop]

There is a large country, highly prominent on the contemporary world stage; to which railways came late, beginning with a "false start": with public opinion and the powers-that-were, turning against the idea -- what had initially been built, was destroyed. There is between this unhappy episode; and a charming British minor railway with a relatively early closure date; a rather tenuous link -- with some foundation in fact, but a good deal of the supposed connection belongs in the "urban legend" realm.

Please identify the large country; and the British "rail byway"; and please identify (briefly will do), the abovementioned perceived connection.

 

[martinsh]

I think the "Large country" is China - but I've no idea about the rest

 

[341o2]

I am going to suggest Australia, somewhere I read about a wooden railway, that is to say that the rails were constructed of wood, was destroyed by fire, but after that no further knowlege

 

[Calthrop]

I think the "Large country" is China - but I've no idea about the rest

I am going to suggest Australia, somewhere I read about a wooden railway, that is to say that the rails were constructed of wood, was destroyed by fire, but after that no further knowlege

China is right -- so Australia isn't. The respective railways there and in Britain had basically normal iron or steel rails; were both narrow gauge; and were of approximately the same (not very great) length.

 

[Calthrop]

Hint: the connection, such as it is, closely involves a renowned East Anglian engineering firm which specialised in railway equipment.

 

[Calthrop]

It looks as though this one isn't going anywhere further. Attempted brief "wrapping things up": the aborted Chinese undertaking was the Woosung Tramway (1876 - 77), a nine-mile 2' 6" gauge line in the environs of Shanghai -- a venture on the part of Western commercial / political interests, without Chinese official authorisation: after running for about a year, the line was purchased and dismantled by the governing authorities. Worked by at least three locos built by the firm of Ransomes & Rapier of Ipswich: the firm sent out to China, a small team of their employees to take part in setting up and working the line. One of this team was Will Jackson, who after returning to Britain, became in due course locomotive superintendent of the 3' gauge Southwold Railway, opened 1879, closed 1929. "Legends" grew up -- maybe from misinterpretations of Jackson's recounting of his Chinese experiences -- to the effect that the Southwold Railway's locos and / or coaching stock, were those built by Ransomes & Rapier for the ill-fated Woosung line, and returned to Britain; which was totally not the case -- this stuff was pure flights-of-fancy.

Open floor.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Thank you; let's try this one:

Of the twelve companies who provided engines for the Railway Operating Department during the First World War, four provided over 70 each. Who were these companies, and can you put them into the following descending order: 96; 78; 73; 72.?

Best of luck!

 

[martinsh]

Great Central, Great Western, LNWR, Midland ?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Great Central, Great Western, LNWR, Midland ?

Well done, that's three out of four, as highlighted above. The order is slightly wrong - it should be LNWR, MR, GWR plus one - but that'll be okay.

So, does anyone know the fourth company?

 

[444045]

Was it LSWR ?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Was it LSWR ?

No, sorry. I'll give you a clue: All of the engines from this company came from the same class and, although they were designed by the company's CME, they were mostly built by an outside contractor, Dubs & Co. They were 0-6-0 Double Framed Tender Locomotives.

 

[martinsh]

No, sorry. I'll give you a clue: All of the engines from this company came from the same class and, although they were designed by the company's CME, they were mostly built by an outside contractor, Dubs & Co. They were 0-6-0 Double Framed Tender Locomotives.

North British ?

 

[xotGD]

North Eastern?

 

[Ashley Hill]

Highland?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

North British ?

North Eastern?

Highland?

None of these, I'm afraid, as you're all too far north. This clue will give the answer … the locos were designed by Matthew Kirtley.

 

[Ashley Hill]

London & Birmingham Railway?

 

[martinsh]

Er Matthew Kirtley was CME of the Midland - who we've already had !

 

[EbbwJunction1]

North Eastern?

Many apologies, I've made a complete mess of this. The outstanding answer is the North Eastern, which I wrongly rejected from xotGD a couple of days ago.

So, martinsh is the winner, as he got three out of four and has the floor.

 

[martinsh]

Phew. At last !

As is well know the Great Western converted all it's broad gauge lines to standard in 1892. There have however been other gauge conversions in Great Britain since them. Please name the taest gauge conversion. Name of the line. Bonus points for date and thew two gauges concerned.

PS this does not include narrow gauge / miniature railways built on old standard gauge trackbeds.