Railway General Knowledge.

[theageofthetra]

A locomotive was designed with wheels that were not round. Who designed it and what was the designers theory as to why it was a good idea.

 

[Marton]

In 1887 the Swinerton Locomotive Driving Wheel Company in the U.S.A. had Onward, which had been built by the Hinkley Locomotive Works of Boston. its wheels were not round. The company's founder, C. E. Swinerton, had specifed that both driving wheels should actually polygons with 118 sides, each flat segment being about 2 inches (50mm) long. He wanted to prove that the line contact at the intersection of each segment would have better rail adhesion than a circular wheel, which was supposed to have only a point contact. However this was actually not the case as even steel deforms under enough pressure, so there is on fact a contact area even with a circular wheel

 

[theageofthetra]

Correct. There were really some bonkers locomotives to come out of the minds of US designers.

 

[martinsh]

In 1887 the Swinerton Locomotive Driving Wheel Company in the U.S.A. had Onward, which had been built by the Hinkley Locomotive Works of Boston. its wheels were not round. The company's founder, C. E. Swinerton, had specifed that both driving wheels should actually polygons with 118 sides, each flat segment being about 2 inches (50mm) long. He wanted to prove that the line contact at the intersection of each segment would have better rail adhesion than a circular wheel, which was supposed to have only a point contact. However this was actually not the case as even steel deforms under enough pressure, so there is on fact a contact area even with a circular wheel

any info on whether this actually worked or not ?

 

[theageofthetra]

I will refer you to the ever fascinating Douglas Self site. If you think this was bonkers plenty more to be seen on there.

http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/polygon/polygon.htm

 

[Marton]

I take it as my floor.

In which case I declare open floor.

 

[backontrack]

In that case, which three stations on the reopened Borders Railway have two platforms?

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Shawfair........this is a new station
Stow..............built on the site of the old station
Tweedbank....this is a new station

 

[backontrack]

Shawfair........this is a new station
Stow..............built on the site of the old station
Tweedbank....this is a new station

Correct, your floor.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Nothing springing to mind at present, so I declare "Open Floor"

 

[Peter Mugridge]

How many units* of 2009 Stock were built for the Victoria Line?


*For the purposes of this question, we can take "unit" to mean the full 8 car pairings of two 4 car units.

 

[DasLunatic]

Fourty-seven.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Forty-seven.

The fleet is 47 units, yes, but you might want to do a bit more digging...




If you need a further clue, I asked how many had been built, not what is the size of the fleet.....

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Unless these are counted in the above answer, may it be 49? 47 fleet units and 2 pre-production units?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Correct; the original 11001/2 and 11003/4 were scrapped and replacements built with the same numbers - it is not completely clear whether the original frames were re-used or not; most people think not and those who rode the originals usually attempt to re-bash those two units to make sure.

Your floor.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

It is HMS Ark Royal's turn to take the floor...

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

It is HMS Ark Royal's turn to take the floor...

Sorry, for some reason this didn't pop up on my instant messaging...


On 2nd January 1982, what claim to fame did 55015 "Tulyar" nearly have whilst at Haymarket?

 

[Whistler40145]

55015 had worked the Farewell Scotsman from Kings Cross to Edinburgh, she then went light engine to Haymarket for fuel and authorities were trying to allocate 55015 to work 1E29 17:18 Edinburgh to Newcastle, but instead ran light behind it to York, where she was then withdrawn from traffic.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

55015 had worked the Farewell Scotsman from Kings Cross to Edinburgh, she then went light engine to Haymarket for fuel and authorities were trying to allocate 55015 to work 1E29 17:18 Edinburgh to Newcastle, but instead ran light behind it to York, where she was then withdrawn from traffic.

Yep, your turn

 

[Whistler40145]

Which Class 40 was never converted to Dual brakes?

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Well I was under the impression that a number of them were never converted, but I presume you mean D322 - she was scrapped due to accident damage

 

[Whistler40145]

Unfortunately not D322.

The loco in question was the only one left in traffic with vacuum brakes in 1985, she mainly worked in the North West and was a low numbered loco, but wasn't one of the locos renumbered for the Crewe remodelling project.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Was it D306 (40106)

Edit: just noticed you said a low numbered example so perhaps not.

 

[Whistler40145]

Unfortunately not 40106. It wasn't a celebrity locomotive.

I have since found out that this locomotive was withdrawn in 1984, but reinstated and renumbered for the Crewe remodelling works, but isn't 40012 or 40135.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I think it's 40009/D209.

 

[Whistler40145]

Correct Ash Bridge

 

[Ash Bridge]

Thankyou

Going to stick with the class 40's for the next question.


On the 21st August 1980 what unlikely event occurred that involved 40179?

 

[Whistler40145]

Did 40179 work a service train on the Cambrian line?

 

[Ash Bridge]

I won't say no because it may have done, buts that's not what I had in mind, sorry.

 

[Whistler40145]

Did she work the Royal Train?