Railway General Knowledge.

[hexagon789]

Aside from the World War I front-line scene -- what was the location of the world's most extensive, with greatest track length, "600mm / 2ft." gauge rail system? (None of said system is now in existence.)

I think the Cape Province of South Africa had about 350 miles of 2ft guage track at one point, but there may have been somewhere else with more.

 

[Calthrop]

You've got the right continent; but the system concerned, was in a different country of it (one which I suspect many people would not think obvious in this connection).

 

[hexagon789]

You've got the right continent; but the system concerned, was in a different country of it (one which I suspect many people would not think obvious in this connection).

I see, can't think at the moment but if no one else has had a bash by tomorrow evening, I'll maybe have another guess then.

 

[Calthrop]

Hint: the country was never part of the British Empire; it got its railways, when under the sway of a continental European nation.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Is it Namibia - which was formerly German South West Africa?

 

[Calthrop]

Nope -- Namibia / SWA once had a big system on the gauge concerned; but that of the "answer country", was a good deal more extensive still.

 

[hexagon789]

Hint: the country was never part of the British Empire; it got its railways, when under the sway of a continental European nation.

Having considered that, can I have another go at with Morocco?

 

[Calthrop]

Having considered that, can I have another go at with Morocco?

Morocco it is: under the French, its system started out on 600mm gauge -- at its peak, clocked up some 1,700 kilometres (much of said system was primarily for military use). A fairly short-lived phenomenon, lasting for about a generation in the earlier part of the 20th century: basically all gone -- largely, converted to standard gauge -- by the mid-1930s.

Monsieur le Legionnaire, le plancher est a vous !

 

[hexagon789]

Monsieur le Legionnaire, le plancher est a vous !

Merci beaucoup, Monsieur!

 

[hexagon789]

Why might a Belgian Type #3 give Mr Whyte a headache?

 

[theageofthetra]

Why might a Belgian Type #3 give Mr Whyte a headache?

Ahh this must be this contraption- basically a pair of Crosti monsters back to back.

http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/francocrosti/francocrosti.htm#b

 

[hexagon789]

Ahh this must be this contraption- basically a pair of Crosti monsters back to back.

http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/LOCOLOCO/francocrosti/francocrosti.htm#b

No, it's not that. Interesting website though - must bookmark it for later!

 

[hexagon789]

Perhaps a slight clarification:

Why might a Belgian Type #3 tank have given Mr Whyte a headache over being able to describe it?

Hopefully that's a bit clearer

 

[theageofthetra]

Perhaps a slight clarification:

Why might a Belgian Type #3 tank have given Mr Whyte a headache over being able to describe it?

Hopefully that's a bit clearer

I think this other Belgian steam oddity (and boy there were plenty of them) was that 0-6-0 Pannier which had an extra set of supporting wheels put between a pair of the driving wheels. It was something to do with a weight limit on the route it was used on.

 

[hexagon789]

I think this other Belgian steam oddity (and boy there were plenty of them) was that 0-6-0 Pannier which had an extra set of supporting wheels put between a pair of the driving wheels. It was something to do with a weight limit on the route it was used on.

That's sounds like the Class, yes, but why would it be difficult for Mr Whyte to describe it?

 

[theageofthetra]

That's sounds like the Class, yes, but why would it be difficult for Mr Whyte to describe it?

Well because the six main wheels were driven like a GWR pannier but it had an extra set of undriven supporting wheels between two of the driven ones. The continental system would work but can't see how Whyte could do it.

 

[hexagon789]

Well because the six main wheels were driven like a GWR pannier but it had an extra set of undriven supporting wheels between two of the driven ones. The continental system would work but can't see how Whyte could do it.

Yes, that's it essentially. The Type #3 was designed for the Luxembourg line which had a maximum axle-loading of 14 tonnes but instead of inserting a carrying axle behind the driving wheels it was inserted between the 2nd and 3rd driving axles. The Whyte system doesn’t really allow such arrangements to be described but under the Continental System it can be described as B2A though that doesn't explain that all driven axles are connected but it's the best description one can give.

Your floor

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Well because the six main wheels were driven like a GWR pannier but it had an extra set of undriven supporting wheels between two of the driven ones. The continental system would work but can't see how Whyte could do it.

0-6-(2)-0 might do it...?

 

[hexagon789]

0-6-(2)-0 might do it...?

That doesn't tell you that the carrying axle is between the second and third driven axle though. Neither the Whyte nor Continental system can describe the Class perfectly but the Continental system can do it far more accurately but not exactly.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

That doesn't tell you that the carrying axle is between the second and third driven axle though. Neither the Whyte nor Continental system can describe the Class perfectly but the Continental system can do it far more accurately but not exactly.

Oh yes... you're right... I'd overlooked the exact positioning...

 

[hexagon789]

Oh yes... you're right... I'd overlooked the exact positioning...

It's an awkward thing whichever way you look at it.

 

[backontrack]

To revive this thread:

Fill in the gaps between the terms, and give me the next three terms in this sequence please.

CLBRN
BLNCW
HGHGT PLTFRM
BRRY SDNG HLT
BRTHWT
MBLTN (rgnlly LMBFT)

 

[Calthrop]

To revive this thread:

Fill in the gaps between the terms, and give me the next three terms in this sequence please.

CLBRN
BLNCW
HGHGT PLTFRM
BRRY SDNG HLT
BRTHWT
MBLTN (rgnlly LMBFT)

With bits of guesswork; and all my insertions / additions, in lower case save for the initials --

CLiBuRN
Clifton
[Eamont Bridge Junction]
[Red Hills Junction]
BLeNCoW
Penruddock
Troutbeck
HiGHGaTe PLaTFoRM
Threlkeld
BRieRY SiDiNG HaLT
Keswick
BRaiTHWaitE
Bassenthwaite Lake
EMBLeToN (oRiGiNaLLY LuMBFooT)
Cockermouth
Brigham
Broughton Cross

 

[backontrack]

With bits of guesswork; and all my insertions / additions, in lower case save for the initials --

Cliburn
Clifton
Blencow
Penruddock
Troutbeck
Highgate Platform
Threlkeld
Briery Siding Halt
Keswick
Braithwaite
Bassenthwaite Lake
Embleton (originally Lambfoot)
Cockermouth (for Buttermere)
Brigham
Broughton Cross

Excellent! Only correction is above, in the spelling of Lambfoot.

Your floor, good Sir.

 

[Calthrop]

Thank'ee, sir.

There's an island which was at one time, disputed territory between two nations. In the end, the inhabitants opted for the island to stay with the nation which already owned it. Not very long afterward, the nation concerned, built an embankment / dam joining the island to nation's mainland parts, and carrying a rail line linking to the main-line network (some have suggested that this was a reward to the islanders for their choice). The island already had its own narrow-gauge system.

Please name the island, and the two nations involved.

 

[backontrack]

Thank'ee, sir.

There's an island which was at one time, disputed territory between two nations. In the end, the inhabitants opted for the island to stay with the nation which already owned it. Not very long afterward, the nation concerned, built an embankment / dam joining the island to nation's mainland parts, and carrying a rail line linking to the main-line network (some have suggested that this was a reward to the islanders for their choice). The island already had its own narrow-gauge system.

Please name the island, and the two nations involved.

Sodor - England and the Isle of Sodor being the two nations?

 

[Calthrop]

Sodor - England and the Isle of Sodor being the two nations?

An inspired notion -- but no ! To the very best of my knowledge, no locos with faces on their smokebox doors have ever worked on the rail systems of the places involved.

 

[backontrack]

OK...what about Sylt, and German/Denmark?

 

[RJ21]

Is it the island of Pulau Ujong, Singapore & Malaysia?

 

[Calthrop]

OK...what about Syllt, and German/Denmark?

Richtig, mein Herr ! (To be super-pedantic, it's spelt with one "l".) Your floor.

Is it the island of Pulau Ujong, Singapore & Malaysia?

Tidak, Tuan -- Maafkan saya [No, sir -- sorry].