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EbbwJunction1

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That's funny, Goodreads made the same mistake.

An unknown book by Harold Wilson's former Secretary, then?

:)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'll take it back, then.

This is a list of closed stations in South Wales. The name of the village / town / city which goes before the name shown has been removed; can you identify them, please?

Brecon Road
Troy
Footpath
Marshes Turnpike Gate
The Mount
Crane Street
Wick Road
Tram Road.

Some of these I've never heard of, so good luck!
 

t_star2001uk

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Brecon Road - Abergavenny
Troy - Monmouth
Footpath - Raglan
Marshes Turnpike Gate - Newport
The Mount - Swansea
Crane Street - Pontypool
Wick Road - Llandow
Tram Road - Pontypridd

I think i have a little too much time on my hands

Open floor if correct....
 

EbbwJunction1

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Brecon Road - Abergavenny
Troy - Monmouth
Footpath - Raglan
Marshes Turnpike Gate - Newport
The Mount - Swansea
Crane Street - Pontypool
Wick Road - Llandow
Tram Road - Pontypridd

I think i have a little too much time on my hands

Open floor if correct....

The latter isn't for me to say, but I can say that you're 100% correct .... well done!
 

krus_aragon

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I'll take the open floor.

Despite standing for 120 years, burning down, and being rebuilt, the Britannia Bridge (on the North Wales Coast Line) is still not complete. What is the missing "final touch" that was never added?
 

krus_aragon

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Is it the lion sculptures that were originally at the entrance....

open floor if correct

Nope. The lion sculptures placed at the entrances are still there, and visible at rail level. It was suggested that their plinths be raised so they'd be visible from the road deck, but it wasn't done so they remain hidden. But those stone lions are "finished". (Edit: Image)

Continue thinking along the lines of sculptures...
 
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Cowley

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A wild stab in the dark, were there meant to be dragon sculptures on it? (Sorry if I've set off the cliche alert klaxon)
 

krus_aragon

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A wild stab in the dark, were there meant to be dragon sculptures on it? (Sorry if I've set off the cliche alert klaxon)

No dragons. That would have been too partisan for the British Empire of the 1840s.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Are there 2 lions that should have been added on the Anglesey, but have never been made?

The bridge has a full complement of lions. As the (translated) local poem goes:

Four lions fat
Lying on their flat
Two over this side
Two over that
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Was the Bridge originally planned to have sculptures of the Crest of Wales?

No. The missing item is not associated with Wales at all. The name of the bridge may be a further clue.
 

Cowley

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Would it have been a statue of Britannia, a bit like on 50p?

Oops, I was too slow.
 

krus_aragon

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Would it have been a statue of Britannia, a bit like on 50p?

Oops, I was too slow.

A little slower than TimSYoung, but exactly on the money! Rather than a crest, the Chester and Holyhead Railway planned to place a statue of Britannia on top of the central tower. When they failed to win the government contract for conveying the mail on their steamships from Holyhead to Dublin, monetary concerns put paid to that idea.

(The central tower stands in the middle of the straits on Britannia Rock, which gave the bridge its name.)

Your floor, Cowley.
 

Ash Bridge

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This one is ringing bells in my head, I'm sure the question has been asked on this quiz in the past, so if the correct bells are ringing could it be the support chains for the original tubes that were never fitted from the three towers, even though provision was made for them at the time of construction.

Edit: Wrong bells! (Well done Mr Cowley!)
 
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krus_aragon

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This one is ringing bells in my head, I'm sure the question has been asked on this quiz in the past, so if the correct bells are ringing could it be the support chains for the original tubes that were never fitted from the three towers, even though provision was made for them at the time of construction.

Edit: Wrong bells! (Well done Mr Cowley!)

You're right to say that there was a contingency plan to use chains to support the tubes if necessary, that's why the towers are built taller than the tube level. The earlier test-bed that was the Conwy tubular bridge showed they wouldn't be needed.

I think I may have been the one to set that question, and had clean forgotten about it!
 

Cowley

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Ooh. I got one, thanks!

So I just remembered this:

Where is this railway related hole and what's the story behind it?
It wouldn't be much of a clue to say that it's fairly near me.
 

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Cowley

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You're right to say that there was a contingency plan to use chains to support the tubes if necessary, that's why the towers are built taller than the tube level. The earlier test-bed that was the Conwy tubular bridge showed they wouldn't be needed.

I think I may have been the one to set that question, and had clean forgotten about it!

That's funny because whenever I've set a question I check if anyone's answered every few seconds because I have a slight panicking feeling that I've got some minor detail wrong and I'm about to be found out. :)
 

Mvann

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Is it to do with the railway at Bideford where the built the railway, had the locos delivered by boat then found that the locos wouldn't fit through the tunnels
 
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Cowley

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Is it to do with the railway at Bideford where the built the railway, had the locos delivered by boat then found that the locos wouldn't fit through the tunnels

Excellent answer. So close.
The story's right although I think it was just one loco that was delivered. Wrong part of Devon though.
The colour of the cliffs may be a bit of a clue
 

Ash Bridge

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You're right to say that there was a contingency plan to use chains to support the tubes if necessary, that's why the towers are built taller than the tube level. The earlier test-bed that was the Conwy tubular bridge showed they wouldn't be needed.

I think I may have been the one to set that question, and had clean forgotten about it!
I'm pretty sure it was your good self!
Excellent answer. So close.
The story's right although I think it was just one loco that was delivered. Wrong part of Devon though.
The colour of the cliffs may be a bit of a clue

Sandstone cliffs so perhaps suggests the GW mainline on the South Devon coast, Starcross, Dawlish, Teignmouth? Could the locomotive perhaps have been of a broadgage design? obviously just guessing here.
 

Cowley

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I'm pretty sure it was your good self!


Sandstone cliffs so perhaps suggests the GW mainline on the South Devon coast, Starcross, Dawlish, Teignmouth? Could the locomotive perhaps have been of a broadgage design? obviously just guessing here.

No Mr Bridge not that way. Right coast though.
 

Cowley

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Is it the tunnel at sidmouth that became block by a landslide and then reappeared a few years ago due to erosion.

That's the one Mvann. You were right with most of first answer too.

The railway was built along the sea front at Sidmouth to enable the town to build two stone piers for a proper harbour for the town at the west end of the sea front, they built a tunnel at the east end through Salcombe Hill to access the stone that was needed.
The locomotive arrived by sea (thought to 3' 6" gauge but details are sketchy), unfortunately it couldn't be unloaded safely so it was apparently taken to Exmouth, unloaded and bought to Sidmouth by horse and cart.
The problem was though that it wouldn't go through the tunnel so the plan was dropped and the locomotive and track removed. A very strange story, but then they are a bit funny down there ;)

Your floor.
 

Cowley

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I'm going to put this in but I only know part of the answer, I think curve 404 relates to a locomotive that derailed on the corner that was numbered 404, the trouble is I can't remember where this happened or where I've heard about it. Maybe India, maybe America, maybe Africa, not sure. I'll take a guess at India?
 

Mvann

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Yes it was to do with loco 404 that derailed their. The loco in that guise gained the reputation like a certain class 47 in this country (UK).

Not India though.
 
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Cowley

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Yes it was to do with loco 404 that derailed their. The loco in that guise gained the reputation like a certain class 47 in this country (UK).

Not India though.

Ah yes 47299 (47216 originally).
Ok I'll try again with South Africa as 404 doesn't sound like an American engine number for some reason
 

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