Railway General Knowledge.

[Whistler40145]

Was personal assistant to Sir Nigel Gresley?

 

[Ash Bridge]

Correct! Would you like a stab at what makes him stand out among British CMEs?

Was it the fact that although he had British parents his birth was in another country (New Zealand) and on his death he was living in Malta, whereas most if not all other British CME's were both born and also died in their homeland?

 

[TheEdge]

Exactly. Mr Bullied is the only CME to have both been born and died outside of the British Isles. As you say he was born in Invercargill in New Zealand and died and is buried in Malta.

Your floor.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Exactly. Mr Bullied is the only CME to have both been born and died outside of the British Isles. As you say he was born in Invercargill in New Zealand and died and is buried in Malta.

Your floor.

Thanks,

I have amended my original question as I didn't think it was suitable so try this one...

A famous actor and regular passenger led a campaign to get a certain breakfast item restored after BR withdrew it from the menu on the service he regularly used, eventually he achieved his goal then only several months later BR completely withdrew the famous train from service, who was the actor, what was the food item, and what was the train?

 

[D6975]

It was the kippers on the Brighton Belle.
I think it was Larry Olivier who did the campaigning.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

that can surely only be the kippers on the Brighton Belle - Laurence Oliver.

 

[Ash Bridge]

It was the kippers on the Brighton Belle.
I think it was Larry Olivier who did the campaigning.

Absolutely correct on all three counts D6975

Your floor.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Damn - beaten by a minute or so!!!


And I've made a typo in mine....

 

[Ash Bridge]

Damn - beaten by a minute or so!!!


And I've made a typo in mine....

So close there Peter, ah just noticed the missing i from Olivier!

 

[Peter Mugridge]

So close there Peter, ah just noticed the missing i from Olivier!

That is indeed the typo!

 

[D6975]

Absolutely correct on all three counts D6975

Your floor.

I haven't got a question prepared so

OPEN FLOOR

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

A Mr C Mills would hire a train for several months at a time - why?

 

[krus_aragon]

A Mr C Mills would hire a train for several months at a time - why?

Presumably nothing along the line of camping carriages?

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Presumably nothing along the line of camping carriages?

No...

 

[krus_aragon]

Was it someone's practice, on finding a train or rake to be missing, would assign it on hire to a fictitious person until it was returned?

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Was it someone's practice, on finding a train or rake to be missing, would assign it on hire to a fictitious person until it was returned?

No, far from it

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Anything to do with the Bertram Mills Circus? Circuses used to tour by rail for the trunk haul and then road locally if necessary didn't they?

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Anything to do with the Bertram Mills Circus? Circuses used to tour by rail for the trunk haul and then road locally if necessary didn't they?

I thought one of the older members of the parish would get it! Yes, that is indeed the answer - Cyril Mills was his son. Led rather an eventful life with him discovering German heavy weapons plants and working in MI6.

The big top is yours

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Not a bad result for a stab in the dark!


Right... next question...

Today, Stoneleigh station on the Epsom line is a busy commuter station on a line built in the Victorian era. I claim it ( the station ) was built in the 1930s before the houses around it were.

True or false?

 

[BestWestern]

Not a bad result for a stab in the dark!


Right... next question...

Today, Stoneleigh station on the Epsom line is a busy commuter station on a line built in the Victorian era. I claim it ( the station ) was built in the 1930s before the houses around it were.

True or false?

Such a statement by it's obscure nature could only be true, surely!? And it's an Art Deco jobby, isn't it? That would fit...

 

[Phil.]

Not a bad result for a stab in the dark!


Right... next question...

Today, Stoneleigh station on the Epsom line is a busy commuter station on a line built in the Victorian era. I claim it ( the station ) was built in the 1930s before the houses around it were.

True or false?

Well, I believe that the area around Stoneleigh was developed in the 1930s - the architecture would seem to bear this out - and as the station was built around the same period it may very well be true.

 

[backontrack]

False?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

BestWestern stated "true" first and it is true; I have on a wall at home an aerial photograph of a near complete Stoneleigh station which is surrounded by nothing more than a few foundations for the extensive urban sprawl that surrounds it.

The picture can be seen online here, a little way down the page: http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplorer.org.uk/Stoneleigh.html

The article also provides this little gem about the name of the station:

A station was at the centre of most new 1930s suburban estates, which depended on easy public transport and Stoneleigh was no different. Stoneleigh station was opened in 1932 on the existing line from Waterloo and Wimbledon to Epsom and beyond. It was originally to be called Stoneleigh Park, but the 'Park' was dropped before it opened as it was thought that a fourth 'Park' station following Raynes Park, Motspur Park and Worcester Park was one too many. The developers provided the necessary land and shared the construction costs of £7,550 with the Railway Company. The new footbridge and ticket office was completed in 1941.

 

[BestWestern]

An easy one then; where would one find 'Station Jim', who or what was he, and what is his current condition?

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

An easy one then; where would one find 'Station Jim', who or what was he, and what is his current condition?

It was a film from 2001 involving a dog that did tricks - random appearance by Queen Victoria at the end. I think the dog has now died...

 

[BestWestern]

It was a film from 2001 involving a dog that did tricks - random appearance by Queen Victoria at the end. I think the dog has now died...

Interesting response - but not the answer I was looking for!

The answer I'm after doesn't require a cinema or a dvd player!

 

[Ash Bridge]

An easy one then; where would one find 'Station Jim', who or what was he, and what is his current condition?

Platform 5 at Slough Station, was he a GWR collection dog for that railway companies Orphans & Widows Fund until 1896 when he passed on, a visit to a taxidermist ensued after which he was placed in a glass cabinet and installed in his current resting place.

 

[BestWestern]

Platform 5 at Slough Station, was he a GWR collection dog for that railway companies Orphans & Widows Fund until 1896 when he passed on, a visit to a taxidermist ensued after which he was placed in a glass cabinet and installed in his current resting place.

Absolutely! All yours

 

[Ash Bridge]

Absolutely! All yours

Thanks!

I think this one may be relatively easy so...What is the connection between a railway station hotel, the year 1906 and a luxury car brand?

 

[DasLunatic]

Rolls-Royce.

The company was founded in Manchester's Midland Hotel in 1906, and they produce luxury cars and jet engines.