Railway General Knowledge.

[Snow1964]

Northampton avoiding line?

No that’s not correct, all the original stations are still open on line in question

 

[DerekC]

Could it be the LSWR direct line from Brockenhurst to Christchurch? It cut off a loop of "Castleman's Corkscrew". Not sure of the opening date but it's about the right distance from London, has three open stations and is electrified.

 

[Snow1964]

Could it be the LSWR direct line from Brockenhurst to Christchurch? It cut off a loop of "Castleman's Corkscrew". Not sure of the opening date but it's about the right distance from London, has three open stations and is electrified.

Yes correct, well done

Started near Lymington Junction (near Brockenhurst), via Sway, New Milton, Hinton Admiral to Christchurch where it joined the original single track branch from Ringwood.

The former branch line which continued from Christchurch to Bournemouth West was doubled at same time, and in the Boscombe area was lowered 12 feet whilst being doubled. This was so all the level crossings could be eliminated. An extension to a new station Bournemouth Central (now plain Bournemouth) was also built and line subsequently joined the line from Poole to Bournemouth West via a triangular Junction.

A very unusual clay slumped on the tall embankment just west of Sway, the base is now hundreds of feet wide, and it had to be rebuilt with strips of gravel and stones to stabilise it which is why the lines opening was delayed to early 1888

The original line across New Forest to Ringwood closed in Beeching era although part stayed open until late 1970s accessed from Poole end.

 

[DerekC]

What did the Cascade Tunnel in Washington State, USA, once have in common with the Petit Train de la Rhune in the French Pyrenees?

 

[AndrewE]

3rd rail side contact electrification?

 

[DerekC]

3rd rail side contact electrification?

Nope - right subject area but not the real distinguishing factor. There are only four small railways left in the world which use this technology.

 

[krus_aragon]

It wasn't Atmospheric, was it?!

 

[AndrewE]

It wasn't Atmospheric, was it?!

Given that there are 4 railways left using the technology, could it be multiple phase AC then? I've seen pictures of locos with 2 pantographs, (and not just shunters running under trolleybus wires) so I guess they might be 3-phase if an insulated rail provided the third? Or maybe like trolleybus DC with feed and return wires?

 

[DerekC]

Given that there are 4 railways left using the technology, could it be multiple phase AC then? I've seen pictures of locos with 2 pantographs, (and not just shunters running under trolleybus wires) so I guess they might be 3-phase if an insulated rail provided the third? Or maybe like trolleybus DC with feed and return wires?

That's the one. The Cascades Tunnel used and the Petit Train still uses 3-phase AC. Two wires plus rail for the three phase-connections. The big advantage is that you get simple non-electronically-controlled regenerative braking using induction motors - just the job for heavy gradients.

Your connection.

 

[AndrewE]

That's the one. The Cascades Tunnel used and the Petit Train still uses 3-phase AC. Two wires plus rail for the three phase-connections. The big advantage is that you get simple non-electronically-controlled regenerative braking using induction motors - just the job for heavy gradients.

Your connection.

OK, I have recently read a book which claimed that 2 original broad gauge (7-foot and a bit) locos survive and that they worked into the 2nd half of the 20th century, although not continuously.
Can anyone guess where, and what the story is?

 

[Calthrop]

I think I've heard that it concerns an island of the Azores group; a basically short, isolated line running along a breakwater or "mole" on the shore, the line existing to carry stone etc., for maintenance of said work. Locos -- aged saddle-tanks (0-4-0 wheel arrangement?) -- still in existence at this venue, thanks to a preservation / conservation initiative of some kind.

 

[krus_aragon]

The Holyhead breakwater? It was isolated from the main network, and just used to cart stone out to repair storm damage to the breakwater, so there was no rush to regauge it until the engines were life-expired.

Hold on, they wouldn't have made it into the 2nd half of the 20th century...

 

[AndrewE]

I think I've heard that it concerns an island of the Azores group; a basically short, isolated line running along a breakwater or "mole" on the shore, the line existing to carry stone etc., for maintenance of said work. Locos -- aged saddle-tanks (0-4-0 wheel arrangement?) -- still in existence at this venue, thanks to a preservation / conservation initiative of some kind.

Correct: after being first retired when their breakwater job was done, at least one was resurrected to work a quarry when the road network was being improved.
Your go...

 

[Calthrop]

Open floor, please.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Open floor, please.

What would I be talking about if I said C H-E was rather good at it...?

 

[EbbwJunction1]

I think that C H-E is Cuthbert (Chip) Hamilton Ellis (29 June 1909 – 29 June 1987), so you're talking about railway writing and painting.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I think that C H-E is Cuthbert (Chip) Hamilton Ellis (29 June 1909 – 29 June 1987), so you're talking about railway writing and painting.

Exactly correct on all counts. Your desk / easel.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Thank you … here's a question for you:

These two writers are better known for other works, but they all wrote one book with a railway theme / subject. Can you name the theme / subject?
1. John Prebble
2. Simon Garfield

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Here's the answers for you:

These two writers are better known for other works, but they all wrote one book with a railway theme / subject. Can you name the theme / subject?
1. John Prebble wrote "The High Girders" about the Tay Bridge Disaster
2. Simon Garfield wrote "The Last Journey of William Huskisson" about early railway development, including the death of WH.

Open writing floor!

 

[DerekC]

What part did the Tyneside firm of Armstrong Whitworth play in the early history of the Trans-Siberian Railway?

 

[martinsh]

2Simon Garfield wrote "The Last Journey of William Huskisson" about early railway development, including the death of WH.
Open writing floor!

And a very good book it is too

 

[EbbwJunction1]

And a very good book it is too

I agree ... in fact, they both are!

I'll take this back if I may, and ask you to identify some random GWR Shed Codes:

ABH
BCN
LTS
MTHR
NEY
RYR

A clue is that they're all in Wales!

 

[krus_aragon]

I agree ... in fact, they both are!

I'll take this back if I may, and ask you to identify some random GWR Shed Codes:

ABH
BCN
LTS
MTHR
NEY
RYR

A clue is that they're all in Wales!

Here's an 'off-the-top-of-my-head' answer from a non-GWR specialist:

Aberystwyth
Brecon
Llantrisant
Merthyr
Neyland
Radyr

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Here's an 'off-the-top-of-my-head' answer from a non-GWR specialist:

Aberystwyth
Brecon
Llantrisant
Merthyr
Neyland
Radyr

I'd hate to think what you're like with your specialist subject, because you're 100% correct!

Well done, and it's your shed code.

 

[krus_aragon]

I'd hate to think what you're like with your specialist subject, because you're 100% correct!

I think that was a product of my knowledge of geography! (I'm hotter on the independent, pre-grouping railways of South Wales than the GWR itself.)

But to turn toward my specialist subject...

With the arrival of the railways, Telford's hard work in improving the (A5) road from London toward Ireland became obsolete almost overnight as mail traffic went by rail to Liverpool once the London & Birmingham railway opened in 1838.

It was already clear that it would be quicker still to build a railway into Wales, to shorten the distance travelled on a slow ferry, and surveyors and advocates were already busy at work.

During the 1830s (and early 1840s), four ports in Wales were seriously considered as a possible railhead for a through ferry service to Ireland. What are/were their names?

 

[DerekC]

Well, I will have a guess:

Hoyhead
Porth Dinllaen (not sure if I have spelt it right) on the Lleyn Peninsula
Fishguard
Milford Haven

 

[krus_aragon]

Well, I will have a guess:

Hoyhead
Porth Dinllaen (not sure if I have spelt it right) on the Lleyn Peninsula
Fishguard
Milford Haven

That's two of the four on my list. One of the others is arguable, but there's another option definitely missing.

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Neyland was the one preferred by Brunel, and there's still buildings of his era there; however, Fishguard was the choice for South West Wales. Something tells me that Port Dinorwic was also considered, but I may be mixing that up with Port Dinllaen.

 

[krus_aragon]

Neyland was the one preferred by Brunel, and there's still buildings of his era there; however, Fishguard was the choice for South West Wales. Something tells me that Port Dinorwic was also considered, but I may be mixing that up with Port Dinllaen.

You are indeed mistaken about Port Dinorwig, Porth Dinllaen is on the list, so that's one correct. (Holyhead is the other correct one.)

Neyland/Milford was Brunel's preferred port for his steamships to America, but he had considered another port before then for mail traffic. (Remember that the Irish mails went to Dublin.)

And there's a fourth port that nobody's come close to mentioning yet...

 

[DerekC]

Caernarfon?