Railway General Knowledge.

[RDP]

Try this one.

The Windrush line of London Overground has several features that make it different from the others such as Dalston Junction-New Cross/New Cross Gate being owned by TfL rather than Network Rail, Dalston Junction-Canada Water having the most intensive service on the Overground and being the only line worked exclusively by class 378 but what other operational feature is different compared to other Overground lines?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Try this one.

The Windrush line of London Overground has several features that make it different from the others such as Dalston Junction-New Cross/New Cross Gate being owned by TfL rather than Network Rail, Dalston Junction-Canada Water having the most intensive service on the Overground and being the only line worked exclusively by class 378 but what other operational feature is different compared to other Overground lines?

Is it that it is the only one that tunnels under the Thames?

 

[RDP]

Is it that it is the only one that tunnels under the Thames?

Not that. What I am looking for is something to do with the operation of the line rather than the infrastructure.

A clue. this feature is shared with Thameslink and some Avanti West Coast trains.

 

[xotGD]

Slow trains get overtaken by fast trains?

 

[RDP]

Slow trains get overtaken by fast trains?

Afraid not.

A further clue. This feature is also used by Eurostar but for a different reason.

 

[A S Leib]

Trains set up with multiple signalling systems?

 

[RDP]

Trains set up with multiple signalling systems?

Afraid not. Its something simpler than that.

 

[xotGD]

Right hand running?

 

[RDP]

Right hand running?

No.

 

[RDP]

As this seems to have stumped everyone the answer is that whereas passenger trains on other Overground lines operate under class 2 train reporting numbers those on the Windrush Line operate as class 9.

Open floor.

 

[Tester]

As this seems to have stumped everyone the answer is that whereas passenger trains on other Overground lines operate under class 2 train reporting numbers those on the Windrush Line operate as class 9.

Open floor.

That was interesting, and a good question!

 

[DerekC]

Based on my (now rather tatty) copy of J.I.C Boyd's "The Festiniog Railway" plus a bit of study of the 1890 OS map, I reckon that the Ffestiniog had physical connection (in some cases shared) to 19 quarries and mines. Please name them. (Not including connections via the Croesor Tramway and Festiniog & Blaenau Railway).

 

[Calthrop]

Nineteen -- cripes ! Have doubts as to whether, from material in my head, I can come up successfully with even a quarter of that number. Trying what I can -- Llechwedd; Maenofferen; Votty & Bowydd; I seem to recall that there was some kind of quarry very near the Moelwyn tunnel; and Cwmorthin & Conglog come to mind -- but suspect that that, may have been on the Croesor system.

 

[DerekC]

That's six to @Calthrop

• Moelwyn Granite Quarry (Syenite Sett Company)
• Cwmorthin
• Conclog (shared Cwmorthin's branch)
• Llechwedd (J W Greaves & Co)
• Maenofferen
• Votty & Bowydd

Plenty more to go!

 

[DerekC]

Looks like this one has run out of steam - so the biscuit goes to @Calthrop. The complete list is:

1. Moelwyn Zinc Mine
2. Moelwyn Granite Quarry
3. Moelwyn Slate Quarry
4. Pant Mawr
5. Wrysgan
6. Groby Granite Quarry
7. Cwmorthin
8. Conclog
9. Nidd-y-Gigfran
10. Welsh Slate Co (absorbed into Oakeley)
11. Rhiwbrifdir (absorbed into Oakeley)
12. Llechwedd
13. Maenofferen
14. Votty & Bowydd
15. Rhiwbach
16. Bugail
17. Blaen-y-Cwm
18. Bwlch-y-Slater
19. Duffws Casson

@Calthrop - your dressing floor.

 

[Calthrop]

Thank you. I have trouble feeling that I merit it, with my having been able to name such a sorry few of the total; however -- will offer another one from Mr. Hughes's tome.

Garganville, a redundant marshalling yard near Paris on SNCF's Region Est, was largely blown up on 31 March 1964. Why?

 

[D6130]

For the filming of the Burt Lancaster epic The Train/Le Train?

 

[Calthrop]

Correct ! In my opinion, a grand film; but with an utterly feeble, "nothing" title; and a central episode which stretched "willing suspension of disbelief" to the utmost.

Your turn to come up with a thrilling but improbable stratagem to make a fool of Jerry...

 

[D6130]

Correct ! In my opinion, a grand film; but with an utterly feeble, "nothing" title; and a central episode which stretched "willing suspension of disbelief" to the utmost.

Your turn to come up with a thrilling but improbable stratagem to make a fool of Jerry...

Thanks. Continuing with the cinematic theme:

Which preserved French steam locomotive had a starring role in the 1970's remake of Murder on the Orient Express, starring Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot.

 

[Gloster]

Thanks. Continuing with the cinematic theme:

Which preserved French steam locomotive had a starring role in the 1970's remake of Murder on the Orient Express , starring Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot.

Do you mean the 1974 one with Albert Finney? I think that was 231G353?

 

[D6130]

Do you mean the 1974 one with Albert Finney? I think that was 231G353?

Yes....sorry. I was thinking of the television adaptation I think. You are correct, of course! Your turn to dig your train out of a snowdrift.

 

[Gloster]

Where was the summit of the old Dumfries-Stranraer and Portpatrick ‘Port Road’?

 

[Peterthegreat]

Gatehouse of Fleet?

 

[Gloster]

Gatehouse of Fleet?

Indeed it was. To you to reach the heights with the next question.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Thank you.
Which is the busiest French railway station outside the Île de France?

 

[A S Leib]

Lyon Part-Dieu?

 

[Peterthegreat]

Lyon Part-Dieu?

Well that didn't last long.
Please provide the next question.

 

[A S Leib]

Sticking with France, what is its only city to have a metro system and not a tram system?

 

[Peterthegreat]

Rennes?

 

[A S Leib]

Correct; another question which was answered quickly.