Railway General Knowledge.

[steamybrian]

According to legend how did I.K. Brunel select Swindon as the location for the main engineering works for the GWR?

It was the junction of the line to Cheltenham and a convenient place to change locomotives.

 

[deltic1989]

It was the junction of the line to Cheltenham and a convenient place to change locomotives.

This may be the fact of the matter. However my question referred to how legend has it, which is slightly less strategic.

 

[Welshman]

Was it not because it was considered approximately mid-way between Paddington and Bristol?

 

[Buttsy]

Because Oxford turned it down...

 

[deltic1989]

Neither are the answers I am looking for. There is a legend that surrounds the selection of Swindon. I am looking for the reason given in the legend. Not the actual, or strategic reason.

 

[theageofthetra]

The legend was that Brunel & Gooch were walking the line from Swindon station & one of them threw a stone over their shoulder & where it landed was were the works would be built. All fairy tale nonsense as the nearby canal with access to the Somerset coal fields was the reason for the site being chosen.

 

[deltic1989]

The legend was that Brunel & Gooch were walking the line from Swindon station & one of them threw a stone over their shoulder & where it landed was were the works would be built. All fairy tale nonsense as the nearby canal with access to the Somerset coal fields was the reason for the site being chosen.

Fairy tale it may be, but it is the exact answer I was looking for.
Whatever the strategic reasons for the location of the works (which other answers covered very well), everyone likes a good urban legend.
Over to you sir to set the next one.

 

[theageofthetra]

When originally built the classic American 4-4-0 (e.g The General) were painted in vivid bright colour schemes. Those that survive(including The General) and the several new build replicas are invariably black and red and and rarely depict their as-built colours. Why is that?

 

[deltic1989]

This has got to be wrong but I'll have a punt anyway.
There are no colour photographs to work from?

 

[martinsh]

Is it something to do with Walt Disney ?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

We're talking about America so there is probably some obscure law somewhere that forces this colour scheme on them?

 

[theageofthetra]

The answer is not particular to the US.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
As this has gone quiet a clue- it is to do with a change of fuel.

 

[Marton]

Since there has been nothing here for a week here goes as a guess

The original design was for wood burning

The new design was for oil burning.

The oil burning version is hotter and the paint discolours so black was used.

 

[theageofthetra]

Correct! Your floor.

 

[Marton]

Which two rail companies built a pass named after a blonde man and which company uses it now?

 

[cjp]

Which two rail companies built a pass named after a blonde man and which company uses it now?

Unless "Pass" is a railway term isn't a pass just a natural feature built by no one?

 

[Marton]

OK. Which line through a pass...

This line is usually referred to as the ****** pass.

It is not in Europe.

 

[deltic1989]

I'm going to guess the Fremont Pass in Colorado.
Named after John. C. Fremont.
There were two narrow gauge railways built across it, one by the Denver, South Park and Pacific Railroad, and another by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad.
The line over the pass is currently operated by the Leadville, Colorado and Southern Railroad.
Open floor if correct.

 

[Marton]

Right continent, but not the blonde man or correct country.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[theageofthetra]

Rogers Pass in BC?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The Yellowhead Pass is situated on the borders of Alberta and British Columbia.

The two original railways being the Grand Trunk Pacific and the Canadian Northern Railway.

The later company being the Canadian National Railway.

 

[Marton]

Correct.

To put the final pieces together.

The blond man was Pierre Bostonais.

The Canadian Northern is the successor to both Canadian Northern and Grand Trunk railways.

The two railways ran side by side in competition in the pass and on merger one set of tracks was lifted. I don't know which.

Your turn.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

In signalling terms, what is an overlap?

 

[Marton]

The track beyond a red signal which is required to be clear to allow the previous signal to be cleared. IIRC 1/4 mile.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Correct....set us another one, please.

 

[Marton]

Why is the commonwealth bogie so named?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Manufactured under licence from the Commonwealth Steel Company of Illinois by the English Steel Corporation?

 

[Marton]

Correct. Yours.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Which railway station has 67 platforms

 

[theageofthetra]

Grand Central in NY must be close to that, although 1 platform may serve two tracks?