Railway General Knowledge.

[jp4712]

The Manchester - Bury line was electrified at 1200v DC in 1916, using electricity from the company's own power station: but where was that power station?

 

[FrodshamJnct]

The Manchester - Bury line was electrified at 1200v DC in 1916, using electricity from the company's own power station: but where was that power station?

Clifton Junction?

 

[jp4712]

Clifton Junction?

It was! I remember seeing it, empty, as a young man. Over to you…

 

[FrodshamJnct]

Open floor please

 

[xotGD]

If I may...

Sticking with the Manchester - Bury line, how many Class 504 EMUs were built?

 

[SuspectUsual]

24?

 

[xotGD]

24?

Close enough - it was 26.

Your floor...

 

[SuspectUsual]

Oh, I wasn’t expecting it to be right!

Nothing prepared, so open floor please

 

[Calthrop]

Which part of the world (I'm being deliberately vague) had a public railway -- essentially just one route -- which ran between 1881 opening, and 1937 abandonment; and was inaugurated on 3ft. 6in. gauge, but was converted circa 1898 to 2ft. 6in. gauge, on which it ran for the remainder of its life?

 

[Gloster]

Cyprus?

 

[Calthrop]

You're "better than freezing cold" in a couple of respects, with Cyprus; but Cyprus it ain't, I'm afraid. The Cyprus Government Railway was always-and-only 2ft. 6in.; and opened later and closed later, than "our hero".

 

[Gloster]

Malta?

 

[Calthrop]

I feel that compared to some, I'm a softy re giving hints; but -- you're still on right track in some ways, but in the wrong part of the world. (Malta's railway was delectable; but always metre-gauge.)

 

[FrodshamJnct]

I feel that compared to some, I'm a softy re giving hints; but -- you're still on right track in some ways, but in the wrong part of the world. (Malta's railway was delectable; but always metre-gauge.)

I’m going to guess that the bit on the right track is it’s an island - so Sri Lanka?

 

[Calthrop]

It's an island; but not Sri Lanka -- 3ft. 6in. never featured, if I'm right, in "British India and neighbours".

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Noting the use of railways in the Caribbean area for assorted transportation, I will suggest that Barbados may be a likely contender.

 

[Calthrop]

Barbados indeed it is. Feel that the line must have been a delight, on either gauge -- pity that its demise was so long ago. Essentially 24 miles long: starting in the capital Bridgetown, running initially eastward; then turning north-west to follow the island's east coast, terminating at St. Andrew's.

Your question to set.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Staying with the idea of a railway on an island, this time in South America. What was the railway with a 600mm gauge that connected the two main towns on the island from 1912 to 1960?

 

[Calthrop]

"Back atcha" to the extent that I think that this concerns the line from Ancud to Castro, on the island of Chiloe, Chile; but I don't have the answer, if said outfit was called anything more recondite than Ferrocarril de Chiloe.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

"Back atcha" to the extent that I think that this concerns the line from Ancud to Castro, on the island of Chiloe, Chile; but I don't have the answer, if said outfit was called anything more recondite than Ferrocarril de Chiloe.

Absolutely correct in all respects.
Please take the line token and proceed.

 

[Calthrop]

Absolutely correct in all respects.
Please take the line token and proceed.

Thank you ! Knew about the line; just wondered whether it perhaps had a "fancy" name with which I wasn't acquainted.

I'm short of inspiration for "Railway General Knowledge" these days -- obscure island lines are fun, but I think I'll "lay off" question-setting for a bit; maybe others have further such to submit? (Non-wordy version: open floor.)

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I will take up the challenge and set a new question, this time the line in question being situated in the area of the British Commonwealth, which operated from August 1872 to March 1978. Originally built to 1,600mm gauge, but within your years, the decision was taken to regauge to 1,067mm.

What was the name of the railway and where was it situated.

 

[Calthrop]

I reckon, the Launceston & Western Railway: the first line opened in Tasmania, from Deloraine to Launceston, in the north-east of this island. Tasmania's ongoingly-expanding rail network elsewhere, was on the narrower gauge -- a "standardisation" matter. (With a situation of 5ft. 3in. gauge versus 3ft. 6in., the locale can only be Australia !). If correct, open floor please.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

I reckon, the Launceston & Western Railway: the first line opened in Tasmania, from Deloraine to Launceston, in the north-east of this island. Tasmania's ongoingly-expanding rail network elsewhere, was on the narrower gauge -- a "standardisation" matter. (With a situation of 5ft. 3in. gauge versus 3ft. 6in., the locale can only be Australia !). If correct, open floor please.

A most correct answer.

 

[Calthrop]

24 hours gone by, "no takers" -- might I, after all, put a question? (Filched from railway quiz book which recently came into my possession -- as was a question of mine earlier this month.)

Who was the engineer who designed the impressive Garabit viaduct, on the Neussargues -- Beziers line in south-central France?

 

[Peterthegreat]

Eiffel?

 

[Calthrop]

Eiffel?

Correct -- Gustave of that name (him of the Tower).

Monsieur, priere de construire l'edifice prochaine -- or, your turn !

 

[Peterthegreat]

Merci.
Which is currently the largest country (by area) in the world without a functioning railway network?

 

[D6130]

Afghanistan?

 

[Peterthegreat]

Afghanistan?

Not Afghanistan.