Railway General Knowledge.

[Cowley]

But they aren't - they can't work in multiple with another one. It must have been a train spotter that thought that they were.

I know they're not a multiple unit Phil if you meant me by that? It was me that said it originally. I suppose I was thinking of the 252001 being written on the front being an early use of a TOPS number without thinking something through properly (not for the first time today).
Railway enthusiast yes. Train spotter no.

 

[martinsh]

Think it's time for a clue

This class was introduced slightly earlier than the 313s

 

[Ash Bridge]

Think it's time for a clue

This class was introduced slightly earlier than the 313s

Could it be the class 312 emu?

If correct, then it's open floor, as currently I don't have a suitable question.

 

[martinsh]

Could it be the class 312 emu?

If correct, then it's open floor.

Class 312 is correct - so open floor. Introduced 1975.

Incidentally the last slam-door EMUs built

 

[Phil.]

I know they're not a multiple unit Phil if you meant me by that? It was me that said it originally. I suppose I was thinking of the 252001 being written on the front being an early use of a TOPS number without thinking something through properly (not for the first time today).
Railway enthusiast yes. Train spotter no.

Er no, not at all. I've had this "discussion" with people that I'll politely refer to as enthusiasts before who don't seem to understand the "M" word and it's connotations. I'm sure that you're a thoroughly splendid fellow.

 

[Cowley]

Er no, not at all. I've had this "discussion" with people that I'll politely refer to as enthusiasts before who don't seem to understand the "M" word and it's connotations. I'm sure that you're a thoroughly splendid fellow.

Ah that's nice.

I only come on here to relax you see..?

 

[Calthrop]

As it's "open floor":

At the very peak era of operational rail passenger services worldwide -- approximately the 1930s / 40s -- the longest continuous* point-to-point rail passenger journey that could have been made within North / Central America, would be between which two cities? (Submitting approximate distance is optional -- I have only a "guesstimate".)

* "Continuous" meaning, over lines effectively "touching each other": for sure, numerous train changes (likely some making of own way between different stations in certain cities), and at least one break of gauge, would have featured.

 

[talltim]

I'm guessing something like Halifax Nova Scotia to Panama City? Do rail ferries where the stock is carried on the ship count?

 

[Calthrop]

I'm guessing something like Halifax Nova Scotia to Panama City? Do rail ferries where the stock is carried on the ship count?

Purely "rail-on-land", pace minor river-crossing doings. "End of line" in Central America, was far short of the Panama Isthmus.

 

[martinsh]

Sydney, Nova Scotia to Puerto Barrios, Guatemala ?

 

[Calthrop]

Sydney, Nova Scotia to Puerto Barrios, Guatemala ?

By my reckoning, the opposite side of Canada is further away from Central America; and at "rail peak", the system went further at its south-eastern end, than to Puerto Barrios.

 

[talltim]

By my reckoning, the opposite side of Canada is further away from Central America;

I didn't believe it until I checked, but yes, Prince Rupert (for example) is a lot further from Central America than Nova Scotia

 

[Calthrop]

I didn't believe it until I checked, but yes, Prince Rupert (for example) is a lot further from Central America than Nova Scotia

Prince Rupert is indeed, per what I've figured, for our purposes the furthest-away point in North America on the interconnected rail system. The opposite-extreme location, just remains to be identified.

 

[martinsh]

La Union, San Salvador ?

 

[Calthrop]

La Union, San Salvador ?

Correct. (By my reckoning, the most direct rail route between Prince Rupert and there would be a little over 8000 km.)

martinsh, you got the Salvadoran end; and talltim, you the Canadian end. Would you like to work out between you, who now takes the floor?

 

[martinsh]

Talltim can have it.

[Otherwise I'll take it ]
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
OK, no sign of Talltim, so lets try this one.

Name 5 closed lines in Great Britain that were previously electrified

NB 1. Ireland is not included
2. lines that have passed to non NR operators are not included (e.g. Manchester - Altrincham) - though lines that became heritage railways are
3. the line must have had a passenger electric service at some stage - freight only lines don't count
4. the line need not have been electrified when closed

PS I can think of at least 7 lines meeting this criteria

 

[Phil.]

Well I suppose the obvious one is the Woodhead route between Sheffield and Manchester.
The bit of line between Woodside and Selsdon.
The line between Merton Park and Tooting.


There's three to be going on with.

 

[HMS Ark Royal]

Talltim can have it.

[Otherwise I'll take it ]
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
OK, no sign of Talltim, so lets try this one.

Name 5 closed lines in Great Britain that were previously electrified

NB 1. Ireland is not included
2. lines that have passed to non NR operators are not included (e.g. Manchester - Altrincham) - though lines that became heritage railways are
3. the line must have had a passenger electric service at some stage - freight only lines don't count
4. the line need not have been electrified when closed

PS I can think of at least 7 lines meeting this criteria

*raises hand to ask point of order*

Do light railways count?

 

[martinsh]

The bit of line between Woodside and Selsdon.

I'm not allowing that because most of the line is now the Tramlink, just the odd bit not converted.

The line between Merton Park and Tooting.

Didn't realise that was ever electrified - do you have dates ?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

*raises hand to ask point of order*

Do light railways count?

No, because then you could have things like the Swansea & Mumbles, and the total would shoot up.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Well I suppose the obvious one is the Woodhead route between Sheffield and Manchester.

Strictly speaking Hadfield & Sheffield

 

[Welshman]

1) The Woodhead line from Hadfield eastwards.
2) The Bury to Holcombe Brook line.
3) The Riverside Loop on Tyneside.
4) The line from Hoxton into London Broad St.
5) The line from Lancaster Castle down to Green Are and over the Greyhound Bridge to Scale Hall.

Edit: - I've just remembered there's also the Southport-Crossens part of the West Lancashire Railway.

 

[theageofthetra]

Ardingly branch
Selsdon-Sanderstead
Tilbury Town-Tilbury Riverside
North Woolwich-Silvertown
Blackfriars-Holborn Viaduct
Liverpool Exchange services
Folkestone to Folkestone Harbour
Dover to Dover Western Docks/Marine
Broad St to Shoreditch
Peckham Rye- Crystal Palace High Level
Liverpool Overhead system (Don't believe that operated under a Light Railway Order)
Southend Pier Railway (Again believe this pre dates Light Railway Act & didn't operate under it)
City & South London Railway -London Bridge-King William Street
Aldwych branch
Epping-Ongar
Charing Cross Jubilee line
Shepherds Bush-Wood Lane (used for 1908 exhibition)

 

[steamybrian]

Ardingly branch
Selsdon-Sanderstead
Tilbury Town-Tilbury Riverside
North Woolwich-Silvertown
Blackfriars-Holborn Viaduct
Liverpool Exchange services
Folkestone to Folkestone Harbour
Dover to Dover Western Docks/Marine
Broad St to Shoreditch
Peckham Rye- Crystal Palace High Level
Liverpool Overhead system (Don't believe that operated under a Light Railway Order)
Southend Pier Railway (Again believe this pre dates Light Railway Act & didn't operate under it)
City & South London Railway -London Bridge-King William Street
Aldwych branch
Epping-Ongar
Charing Cross Jubilee line
Shepherds Bush-Wood Lane (used for 1908 exhibition)

add Woodside- Addiscombe
add LT Whitechapel-Shoreditch
add LT South Acton-Acton Town
add LT- Hounslow Town branch
add Croxley Green-Watford High Street
add Rickmansworth Church Street- Watford High Street

 

[martinsh]

1) The Woodhead line from Hadfield eastwards.
2) The Bury to Holcombe Brook line.
3) The Riverside Loop on Tyneside.
4) The line from Hoxton into London Broad St.
5) The line from Lancaster Castle down to Green Are and over the Greyhound Bridge to Scale Hall.

Edit: - I've just remembered there's also the Southport-Crossens part of the West Lancashire Railway.

AS the first one to quote 5, you are the winner. Your third rail
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Other lines not mentioned by anyone yet

Farringdon - Moorgate
Glasgow High St - Bridgeton

Not sure if Bootle - Aintree was ever electrified ?

 

[steamybrian]

AS the first one to quote 5, you are the winner. Your third rail
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Other lines not mentioned by anyone yet

Farringdon - Moorgate
Glasgow High St - Bridgeton

Not sure if Bootle - Aintree was ever electrified ?

I discounted Farringdon-Moorgate as it was effectively 4 tracks.
The present double track LT circle/Met lines
plus the abandoned double track former GN Widened lines

 

[Welshman]

On closure, which tunnel was used by railway staff and staff from St Bartholomew's Hospital, to test steam and diesel fumes/emissions in relation to their having carcinogenic properties?

 

[theageofthetra]

Snow Hill prior to Thameslink reopening?

 

[Welshman]

This is not the one I had in mind, but I'm not ruling it out.
Do you know this as a fact, or is it just a guess?

The one I have in mind is further north and the tests took place in the late 1950s

There! A couple of clues.

 

[theageofthetra]

Only suggested Snow Hill as its very close to St Barts.

 

[Welshman]

Only suggested Snow Hill as its very close to St Barts.

Ah - these red herrings get around!

 

[Darren R]

The original Woodhead tunnels?

Not sure if Bootle - Aintree was ever electrified ?

It was, along with the short-lived branch to Gladstone Dock station; EMUs ran from Aintree Sefton Arms.