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Railway quiz question

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steevp

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Please excuse the slightly off-field question, but my wife was at a conference this weekend and one of the questions (in a bird or fish round) was name a steam locomotive that was named after a fish. I can think of plenty of birds, but not one fish. Please help as my reputation as the fount of all railway knowledge is under threat ;)
 
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EM2

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LNER A3 2506 was named Salmon Trout, although that was actually a racehorse :D

EDIT - found one! GWR Collett Castle 4-6-0 5082 Swordfish - http://www.railuk.info/members/steam/getsteam.php?row_id=2173
Number 5082 c
2nd Grouping Number
1st Grouping Number gwr 5082
2nd Pre Grouping Number
1st Pre Grouping Number
Works/Lot Number
Name Swordfish
Class Code 4073
Designer Collett
Designation 4-6-0
Built 30/06/1939
Builder Swindon Works (GWR/British Railways)
1948 Shed 82A Bristol Bath Road
Last Shed 81A Old Oak Common
Withdrawn 31/07/1962
Disposal details Cashmores, Great Bridge.
Disposal Cut Up
Disposal Date 31/12/1962

Built 1923-50, Designed by Charles B. Collett.

Total Number Built 171 - Total to BR 171.

Introduced 1923. Collett Castle design developed from Star Class.

Number Series:
4000, 4009, 4016, 4032, 4037 (1)

4063-4066, 4067-4072 (2)

4073-4099, 5000-5099, 7000-7037.

Built at Great Western Railway Swindon Works.
Click to expand...
 
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Cowley

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What about 2506 (BR 60041) 'Salmon Trout'? That sounds a bit fishy. ;)

Edit - damn, too slow. There's an industrial tank named Salmon too.
 
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341o2

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not a locomotive, but several types of PW wagons were named after aquatic life, such as Mackerel (ballast hopper), Dogfish (3-way ballast hopper), and Salmon (track-laying flat wagon with cranes fitted)
 
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gg1

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There was an LMS Jubilee class named Seahorse, although considering a number of Jubilee names had a naval theme I suspect it was named after a ship rathet than the fish.
 
Dr Hoo

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The concept has an excellent pedigree. Several of the earliest railways had locomotives named "Star". Not absolutely sure how many were inspired by starfish though.
 
Dr Hoo

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Rover said:
What about this one?

Pisces :D
a 2-4-0 GWR engine from 1842
Click to expand...

I think that this was part of a 'class' that was named after constellations/signs of the zodiac rather than what the names meant in themselves.
 
Bevan Price

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Amongst lots of weird & wonderful names, the LNWR (or constituents) used "Shark" on 5 different locos; the last one was a Prince of Wales class 4-6-0, built in 1916 and withdrawn in 1938.
LNWR no. 1084.
LMS No. 5656; renumbered 25656 in 1934.

I can find no other "fish" names with LNWR - but there were numerous animals, birds, reptiles and even insects.
 
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neilmc

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This has beaten me.

I wonder if the question setter thought a Mallard, or a Bittern is a type of fish? If railway enthusiasts can't find an obvious correct answer I doubt whether the average pub quizzer would!
 
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steevp

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neilmc said:
This has beaten me.

I wonder if the question setter thought a Mallard, or a Bittern is a type of fish? If railway enthusiasts can't find an obvious correct answer I doubt whether the average pub quizzer would!
Click to expand...

That was almost my thought - that this question was a misprint (and should have said bird like some of the other questions in the round and the answer was Mallard). Given the audience that the quiz was aimed at, it had to be something well-known and not too obscure.

We will get the answers later in the week and will let you know the outcome. Thanks for all the answers guys - nice to know that I didn't miss something obvious ;) (I would never have heard the last of it....:roll:)
 
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steevp

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Ok guys - I'm kicking myself! I led myself and everybody else down the wrong path.

The question .... Steam Engine (fish)

The answer is...... puffer:roll:
(I'll get my coat)
 
EM2

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steevp said:
Ok guys - I'm kicking myself! I led myself and everybody else down the wrong path.

The question .... Steam Engine (fish)

The answer is...... puffer:roll:
(I'll get my coat)
Click to expand...
Nah, wouldn't be having that if I was in that quiz!
That's a nickname for steam engines as a whole.
 
krus_aragon

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I may be late to the party, but in O.S. Nock's Premier Line, I find that the LNWR used the names Shark and Leviathan on a number of occasions:

1848: Allan 2-4-0 No. 244 Leviathan
1854: Allan 2-4-0 No. 3 Shark
1872: Bloomer No. 1001 Leviathan
1874: Sampson No. 2159 Shark
1904: Precursor No. 301 Leviathan
1916: Prince of Wales No. 1084 Shark
 
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