Railway General Knowledge.

[D6130]

Thomas Telford?

 

[DerekC]

Thomas Telford?

Not Thomas Telford. As far as I know he didn't get involved in railways - just roads and canals.

Time for another clue? One of our candidates was originally a mining engineer - son of a mine captain. The other came from a family of engineering entrepreneurs and innovators - his uncle was a famous balloonist.

 

[Snow1964]

Was it the Cornish mining engineer, Richard Trevithick

 

[DerekC]

Was it the Cornish mining engineer, Richard Trevithick

Indeed it was - he used the blastpipe to enhance draught through the fire on his very first locomotive (for road not rail) in 1801.

Another clue to the inventor of the multi-tubular boiler - his balloonist uncle was Joseph Montgolfier

 

[Snow1964]

Looks like I need to set a question.

What 1905 structure partially collapsed at about 08:40 on Monday 10th May 1965, due to rusting, and partly due to extra weight of bomb protection added during WW2

 

[Gloster]

One of the signal boxes built across the main line to Waterloo just east of Clapham Junction. I can’t remember if it was West London Junction, Clapham Junction A or another.

 

[Snow1964]

One of the signal boxes built across the main line to Waterloo just east of Clapham Junction. I can’t remember if it was West London Junction, Clapham Junction A or another.

Yes that was quick.
It was Clapham Junction A box

Your turn to move from wonky signal box to a new question

 

[Gloster]

Keeping to the Southern sixties signalling theme. When the centre section of the Salisbury-Exeter line was singled in May 1967, what was unusual about the status of Yeovil Junction (formerly Yeovil Junction A) Signal Box?

 

[xotGD]

Keeping to the Southern sixties signalling theme. When the centre section of the Salisbury-Exeter line was singled in May 1967, what was unusual about the status of Yeovil Junction (formerly Yeovil Junction A) Signal Box?

It didn't control any signals.

 

[Gloster]

It didn't control any signals.

No, but you are not that far away.

 

[Ashley Hill]

Was that when it received its Western lever frame? Also double track to Sherborne,reversible over the up line.

 

[Gloster]

Was that when it received its Western lever frame? Also double track to Sherborne,reversible over the up line.

No, both were slightly later, but they are connected to the answer.

 

[Snow1964]

Was it the only LSWR box retained, I know most of the rest were post war (or just before the war eg Templecoombe)

 

[Gloster]

Was it the only LSWR box retained, I know most of the rest were post war (or just before the war eg Templecoombe)

No. Wilton, Chard Junction and Pinhoe were all LSWR boxes: all were older than Yeovil Junction.

 

[xotGD]

No, but you are not that far away.

It only controlled one signal?

 

[Gloster]

It only controlled one signal?

No, and you needn’t have a go at counting upwards, although I don’t think it controlled more than a handful.

 

[Cowley]

I’m wondering if it didn’t control anything on the main line that it was originally built for and ended up just controlling the section towards Pen Mill maybe?

 

[Gloster]

I’m wondering if it didn’t control anything on the main line that it was originally built for and ended up just controlling the section towards Pen Mill maybe?

That is indeed the answer. When the singling initially took place at the beginning of May between Sherborne and Chard Junction, Yeovil Junction box was retained but only controlled the (then double) line from Yeovil South Junction and Pen Mill. The connection to the Salisbury-Exeter line was controlled by Ground Frames. Later in the year the box was closed completely for a period, given a new GWR lever-frame and reopened at the same time as the line from Sherborne was redoubled. The double to single connection was just east of the station and it was to be a few more years before Down trains no longer had to wait outside the station for an Up to clear the section from Chard Junction.

I pass the signalman’s duster to you.

 

[Cowley]

That is indeed the answer. When the singling initially took place at the beginning of May between Sherborne and Chard Junction, Yeovil Junction box was retained but only controlled the (then double) line from Yeovil South Junction and Pen Mill. The connection to the Salisbury-Exeter line was controlled by Ground Frames. Later in the year the box was closed completely for a period, given a new GWR lever-frame and reopened at the same time as the line from Sherborne was redoubled. The double to single connection was just east of the station and it was to be a few more years before Down trains no longer had to wait outside the station for an Up to clear the section from Chard Junction.

I pass the signalman’s duster to you.

Thanks @Gloster.
Quite pleased to have got that actually but it makes sense now I think about it.

I’ll keep it to the same area then.
There’s at least 6 closed stations between Yeovil Junction and Exeter Central.
Can you name five of them?

 

[D6130]

Sutton Bingham, Chard Junction, Seaton Junction, Broad Clyst. Can't think of any others....Sidmouth Junction and Pinhoe were closed for a time, but then reopened - the former as Feniton in its new incarnation.

 

[Cowley]

Sutton Bingham, Chard Junction, Seaton Junction, Broad Clyst. Can't think of any others....Sidmouth Junction and Pinhoe were closed for a time, but then reopened - the former as Feniton in its new incarnation.

I’ll give you that because you’ve done really well there.

There were also two in the Exeter area -
Whipton Bridge Halt and Mount Pleasant Road Halt (these two were either side of Exmouth Junction).

The keys to the long gone wooden platforms are yours…

 

[D6130]

I’ll give you that because you’ve done really well there.

Thanks. Continuing on a similar theme, name six of the seven closed stations on the former Great Western line between Castle Cary and Weymouth Town.

 

[Gloster]

Sparkford, Marston Magna, Evershot, Grimstone & Frampton, Upwey (original station) and Radipole. I am not sure if the other was Upwey Wishing Well Halt. ( Was there Monkton & Came?)

 

[Snow1964]

Sparkford, Upwey wishing well, Radipole, Catistock

 

[D6130]

Sparkford, Marston Magna, Evershot, Grimstone & Frampton, Upwey (original station) and Radipole. I am not sure if the other was Upwey Wishing Well Halt. ( Was there Monkton & Came?)

Well done. You've got them all.....in fact you have eight of the seven! I hadn't included Upwey, as I didn't realise that it had been resited. Your turn to turn right onto the quay tramway with bells and whistles!

 

[Gloster]

How many steam locomotives did the Plymouth, Devonport & South Western Junction Railway own?

 

[DerekC]

Six?

 

[Ashley Hill]

I’ll give you that because you’ve done really well there.

There were also two in the Exeter area -
Whipton Bridge Halt and Mount Pleasant Road Halt (these two were either side of Exmouth Junction).

The keys to the long gone wooden platforms are yours…

There was also Roundball Halt just to the west of Honiton. An unadvertised stop that closed in the early 1920s

 

[Spamcan81]

How many steam locomotives did the Plymouth, Devonport & South Western Junction Railway own?

Three?

 

[xotGD]

None?