Railway General Knowledge.

[Spamcan81]

That is the year I have so over to you to set the next instalment of questions for Christmas.

Thanks.
Was a complete stab in the dark.
A tad busy so will declare open house.

 

[DerekC]

The"golden spike" ceremony was held at Promontory Point, Utah on May 10, 1869 to mark completion of the first US transcontinental railroad. A "silver spike" ceremony was held on completion of the second route, but in which state? (and for a bonus, in which year?)

 

[xotGD]

Arizona

 

[DerekC]

Arizona

Not Arizona

 

[xotGD]

South Dakota

 

[DerekC]

South Dakota

or South Dakota

 

[xotGD]

North Dakota

 

[Gloster]

Wisconsin?

 

[martinsh]

New Mexico ?

 

[D6130]

Colorado?

 

[DerekC]

New Mexico ?

Wins the biscuit. In 1881 the Rio Grande, Mexico and Pacific (an Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe controlled company) reached Deming, New Mexico from Albuquerque and made junction with the Southern Pacific's route from Los Angeles towards El Paso, creating the second transcontinental route. The "silver spike" ceremony was held at Deming on 8th March of that year.

Your route to the West.

 

[martinsh]

Open floor

 

[D6130]

Shortly before his sudden death in 1941, Sir Nigel Gresley designed and built for the LNER a pair of lightweight 3 cylinder 2-6-2 locomotives (Class V4), which were used primarily on West Highland Line freight services during their short 16 year careers. Only the first locomotive - 3401/1700/61700) was named....but what was the unofficial nickname given to the second loco by the West Highland crews?

 

[Spamcan81]

Bantam Hen.

 

[D6130]

Bantam Hen.

Correct! That didn't take long. Your turn to fry a very small egg.

 

[Cowley]

Correct! That didn't take long. Your turn to fry a very small egg.

Could I ask why they were given that nickname please?

 

[D6130]

Could I ask why they were given that nickname please?

Certainly....perhaps I should have expanded on that earlier. The first loco - no. 3401 - was named "Bantam Cock" , presumably due to its light weight (17 tons axle load). However, sister loco 3402 was never named....but you can see how the nickname came about. Throughout my childhood and teenage years there was a beautiful scale model of "Bantam Cock" in a glass case on the concourse at Helensburgh Central station. Sadly, sometime in the 1990s it was stolen - presumably to order - and has never been recovered.

 

[Cowley]

Certainly....perhaps I should have expanded on that earlier. The first loco - no. 3401 - was named "Bantam Cock" , presumably due to its light weight (17 tons axle load). However, sister loco 3402 was never named....but you can see how the nickname came about. Throughout my childhood and teenage years there was a beautiful scale model of "Bantam Cock" in a glass case on the concourse at Helensburgh Central station. Sadly, sometime in the 1990s it was stolen - presumably to order - and has never been recovered.

Fascinating. Thanks for that.
Always good to fill the brain up with things like this.

 

[Spamcan81]

Correct! That didn't take long. Your turn to fry a very small egg.

Thanks.
Following the 1927 Sevenoaks crash, a Maunsell River Class 2-6-4T was sent for trial running to assess their high speed riding qualities. Which stretch of line was used?

 

[D6130]

Kings Cross-Peterborough?

 

[Spamcan81]

Kings Cross-Peterborough?

Correct. On the GN the loco rode well at speeds up to 85mph due to superior permanent way. The Southern deemed it cheaper to rebuild them as 2-6-0 tender locos than upgrade many miles of track.
The road is yours to set the next question.

 

[D6130]

Correct. On the GN the loco rode well at speeds up to 85mph due to superior permanent way. The Southern deemed it cheaper to rebuild them as 2-6-0 tender locos than upgrade many miles of track.
The road is yours to set the next question.

Thanks. Continuing on the same theme:

What type of Southern Region train was the subject of similar riding trials between London and Peterborough following another accident forty years later than Sevenoaks?

 

[Spamcan81]

Hastings DEMU?

 

[D6130]

Hastings DEMU?

Correct. Following the Hither Green derailment in November 1967, unit no. 1001 was tested on the GN in January 1968. Back to you!

 

[Spamcan81]

Correct. Following the Hither Green derailment in November 1967, unit no. 1001 was tested on the GN in January 1968. Back to you!

Thanks. Sorry for the delay.
The 4-6-4T was an uncommon type in the UK. Name the four pre-grouping companies that used that them.

 

[martinsh]

Midland
Lancashire & Yorkshire
County Donegal
Londonderry & Lough Swilly

 

[Spamcan81]

Midland
Lancashire & Yorkshire
County Donegal
Londonderry & Lough Swilly

Midland - sort of half right
L&Y - wrong
The Irish lines were not part of the 1923 grouping so don’t qualify.

 

[Gloster]

London, Tilbury & Southend
Furness

 

[Spamcan81]

London, Tilbury & Southend
Furness

LT&S - corect(ish) = designed and commissioned by by the LT&S but entered full service after the Midland absorbed the LT&S
Furness - correct and designed by Whitelegg who also designed the LT&S examples.
Just two more to find.

 

[Gloster]

Glasgow & South Western?