Railway General Knowledge.

[Spamcan81]

"Pass" is a term in card betting games, to decline to bet, I will be busy for the next few days, so offer the floor to Spamcan81

Thanks. Thinking cap on to come up with a question.

 

[Spamcan81]

Which railway line in Austria's steepest?

 

[D6130]

Achenseebahn?

 

[Peterthegreat]

Schafbergbahn?

 

[Spamcan81]

Achenseebahn?

Sorry, no.

Schafbergbahn?

Correct. The Führerstand is yours.

 

[Peterthegreat]

In the song "King of the Road" what was the destination?

 

[Calthrop]

Bangor, Maine.

 

[Peterthegreat]

Bangor, Maine.

Indeed it was. Your turn at the throttle.

 

[Calthrop]

Thanks, buddy.

Staying with that part of the world: at one time, there were in the state of Maine several public railways of 2ft. gauge -- the biggest cluster of such, anywhere in the USA (all abandoned between 1929 and 1944). Please name any one of these Maine 2ft. gauge undertakings.

 

[DerekC]

The Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad is one I recall. Isn't there some preservation activity?

 

[Spamcan81]

Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington. Now runs as a preserved line IIRC

 

[Calthrop]

The Sandy River and Rangeley Lakes Railroad is one I recall. Isn't there some preservation activity?

That was one, for sure -- longest and in the estimation of many, finest, of the Maine Two-Footers -- was abandoned over period 1932 -- 35.

Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington. Now runs as a preserved line IIRC

And that was another: one of the earlier ones to close. (The WW&F did not actually serve Farmington; the "Sandy River" 's routes commenced at Farmington. "Go figure", as they say in those parts.)

("Preserved" doings re railways abandoned and dismantled many decades ago, are not my personal "bag" -- was vaguely aware a propos this scene in Maine, but had to Google to refresh memory.)

I requested naming of just one of the Maine two-foot concerns; @DerekC, you were in first with the Sandy River -- next question is yours to set.

 

[DerekC]

In February 1881 the bill for the Canadian Pacific was finally passed by Parliament in Ottawa and construction could start, but the route over the Rockies had not been agreed, with alternatives separated in some places by more than a hundred miles. By the middle of 1882 track was being laid across the prairie at a rate of up to five miles a day and finalising the route over the Rocky mountain ranges was getting urgent! Who was the surveyor who found the route finally used?

Edit: Clue - His name was immortalised by being given to a geographical feature along the route.

 

[Calthrop]

Who was the surveyor who found the route finally used?

Edit: Clue - His name was immortalised by being given to a geographical feature along the route.

A thing I seemed vaguely to have heard of; but didn't recall the bod or his name. I Googled -- memory was jogged; was indeed stuff I'd read about once upon a time -- but I consider the Googling, disqualificatory !

 

[Whistler40145]

Rogers Pass named after the Surveyor, Major Albert Bowman Rogers?

 

[DerekC]

Rogers Pass named after the Surveyor, Major Albert Bowman Rogers?

Spot on. If you get the chance read "The Impossible Railway" by Pierre Berton. It's a great read, especially once you get past the Canadian politics at the beginning. The stories of exploring the various possible routes through the mountain wilderness are amazing. The route via the Kicking Horse Pass (over the Rockies proper) and the Rogers Pass (over the Selkirks) was agreed on because it kept the CPR closer to the US/Canada border, whereas the more sensible route over the Yellowhead Pass was further away and might leave people in the border zone more open to ideas of joining the USA.

Your miles of open prairie.

 

[Whistler40145]

Which Class 40 never carried BR Blue and was withdrawn from British Rail without being converted to Dual Braked?

 

[RDP]

40106

 

[Whistler40145]

40106

Correct

 

[RDP]

Try this one which I rate as easy.

The county of Kent escaped lightly from the Beeching cuts with only one passenger service completely withdrawn. Which service?

 

[D6130]

The county of Kent escaped lightly from the Beeching cuts with only one passenger service completely withdrawn. Which service?

Appledore-New Romney

 

[RDP]

Appledore-New Romney

Correct. Although a small number of other stations such as Smeeth and Grove Ferry & Upstreet closed around that time this was the only line to lose its passenger service which was withdrawn from 6th March 1967 with the section beyond the Dungeness power station sidings closing completely.

Your Turn.

 

[D6130]

Your Turn.

Thanks. Just turning-in for the night now....so I'll think of something tomorrow.

 

[D6130]

Next question:

At which historic UK railway station might you be shown round by Italian tour guide Flavia Burroni?

 

[Whistler40145]

Glasgow Central

 

[D6130]

Glasgow Central

Correct! She was previously a guide at the Vatican Museums in Rome for nearly 35 years, but is now employed by Network Rail at 'The Central'.

Your turn to carry the little red flag.

 

[Whistler40145]

What’s the gradient on Shap?

 

[D6130]

Mainly 1 in 75....with a slightly less steep first half mile out of Tebay.

 

[Whistler40145]

Mainly 1 in 75....with a slightly less steep first half mile out of Tebay.

Correct sir

 

[xotGD]

I reckon it is Open Floor time here, so...

Five Class 82s were scrapped at the same location - where?