Railway General Knowledge.

[krus_aragon]

Thanks. Continuing on the bridge/viaduct theme, here's a two-parter:

(1) Which was the highest viaduct on the British railway network?

(2) Which is currently the highest viaduct on the British railway network?

Bonus points if you can give their heights above normal river level in feet and/or metres.

The Crumlin viaduct, perhaps?

 

[D6130]

The Crumlin viaduct, perhaps?

That is (was) correct for (1).

Any ideas for (2) anyone?

 

[341o2]

Ballochmyle between Glasgow and Carlisle

 

[D6130]

Ballochmyle between Glasgow and Carlisle

Correct for (2)....so we have a dead heat between @krus_aragon and @341o2. Do either of you have any objection if I set another question as a tie-breaker?

 

[krus_aragon]

Correct for (2)....so we have a dead heat between @krus_aragon and @341o2. Do either of you have any objection if I set another question as a tie-breaker?

I'm happy to play that game...

 

[341o2]

no, please set question

 

[D6130]

Continuing with the viaducts theme for the tie-breaker:

Which English viaduct partially collapsed on 3rd February 1916 sending a steam tank locomotive crashing to the ground below?

 

[Peterthegreat]

Continuing with the viaducts theme for the tie-breaker:

Which English viaduct partially collapsed on 3rd February 1916 sending a steam tank locomotive crashing to the ground below?

Penistone?

 

[D6130]

Penistone?

Sorry....I may not have made this clear, but this question was the tie-breaker between @krus_aragon and @341o2. I shall have to set them another one. (You are, of course, correct in your answer, but one of them will set the next question after the tie-breaker).

 

[341o2]

Just seen this, I have a book with the illustration of Penistone on the L&Y with the comment "a nasty fall for the iron horse"

 

[D6130]

Tie-breaker question (to be answered only by @krus_aragon and @341o2 please!). The first one of you to answer this correctly will set the next question):

Which British viaduct lost two spans and was subsequently closed in 1960 after a ship collided with it in thick fog?

 

[Peterthegreat]

Sorry....I may not have made this clear, but this question was the tie-breaker between @krus_aragon and @341o2. I shall have to set them another one. (You are, of course, correct in your answer, but one of them will set the next question after the tie-breaker).

Sorry my fault. Jumped in too soon. Apologies.

 

[D6130]

Sorry my fault. Jumped in too soon. Apologies.

No worries. I've done it too in the past!

 

[341o2]

That would be the one crossing the River Severn between Lydney Forest of Dean and Sharpness, used for coal traffic and unusually strong tides was a contributory factor

 

[D6130]

That would be the one crossing the River Severn between Lydney Forest of Dean and Sharpness, used for coal traffic and unusually strong tides was a contributory factor

Correct.....your turn to go underneath the arches!

 

[341o2]

Staying with viaducts, the Cornwall Railway is well known for its timber viaducts, on the line between Plymouth and Penzance, incorporating the West Cornwall Railway, where was the westernmost viaduct, nearest to Penzance, which was also constructed out of timber?

 

[341o2]

Clue - you wouldn't expect to find a viaduct here looking at the line today

 

[341o2]

The answer is the Ponsandane viaduct between the Chyandour cliffs and Long Rock to the east. The viaduct was constructed on the beach. A storm destroyed it in 1869, and the replacement structure was itself replaced by a stone embankment in 1921.

Views of the viaduct may be seen on this page https://curnowcollection.wordpress.com/ponsandane/

open floor

 

[DerekC]

What does Brill in Buckinghamshire have in common with Comberow in Somerset?

 

[Gloster]

Metropolitan tanks?

 

[DerekC]

Metropolitan tanks?

Well, that one didn't last very long! Yes. "A class" 4-4-0T No 37 arrived at Watchet on 30th June 1907 and was transferred via a temporary connection at Kentsford to the physically isolated West Somerset Mineral Railway, as motive power for the reopening of that line. It wasn't a success, we gather, being too heavy for the light track. In any case the reopening didn't last long, the line being closed and lifted by 1917. And of course the Brill Tramway (aka Quainton Tramway, Wotton Tramway, Oxford & Aylesbury Tramroad) ended its life as the outermost twig of the Met, being operated by an "A class" tank for some years up to closure in 1935. My father made a special trip to travel on it in its last couple of years.

Your floor.

 

[Gloster]

More than half of the the Bulleid Light Pacifics were given names connected with the West Country and almost all the rest had names associated with the Battle of Britain. One locomotive had a name that fitted in neither category. What was its name, preferably in full?

 

[xotGD]

Winston Churchill

 

[Gloster]

Winston Churchill

As he was the leader of the country and the person who spoke of The Few, I would associate him with the Battle. So, no.

 

[xotGD]

As he was the leader of the country and the person who spoke of The Few, I would associate him with the Battle. So, no.

I don't think he would have been able to fit in the cockpit of a Spitfire!

 

[Peterthegreat]

Sir Eustace Missenden?

 

[Gloster]

Sir Eustace Missenden?

Well, correct, although the full name was Sir Eustace Missenden, Southern Railway.

Your floor.

 

[Peterthegreat]

What was unique about "Britannia" Standard Class 7 locomotive no. 70047?

 

[D6130]

What was unique about "Britannia" Standard Class 7 locomotive no. 70047?

It was the only one of the class which was never named.

 

[Peterthegreat]

It was the only one of the class which was never named.

That is correct. The regulator is yours.