Railway Trivia Quiz

1) The GWR ‘Saints’ were legendary steam locomotives; they had a particular reputation for high speeds. One of them ‘Saint Martin’ became famous for a different reason – what? Why are present day activities at Didcot connected with this?

2) Midland Mainline, which operates services to Leicester and Nottingham from St. Pancras, are proud of their new four-car ‘Meridien’ units. However, the guards go on strike if the train is longer than four cars – why?

3) Stratford is to be at the centre of the 2012 Olympic Games. The new high speed link to the channel tunnel will use a brand new station. How many different train companies use the existing station?

4) The Somerset and Dorset Joint Railway ran from Bath to Bournemouth and was closed in March 1966. It had one named express train that ran daily in the summer. What was the name of the express and why was it so called?

5) A steam locomotive fitted with an engine resembling an internal combustion engine is known as a ‘Shay’. Which famous locomotive works in the USA constructed them? What was there main use and which British railway had one?

6) Class 46 Diesel locomotive No. 46 035 was named ‘Ixion’. Who was Ixion?

7) Yeovil Town station closed in 1967. It was a terminus served by a shuttle service from both the Southern from Yeovil Junction and the Western from Yeovil Pen Mill. Before 1964, however, Yeovil Town was a through station. To which major town was the station originally connected?

8) What is the function of the dome on a steam engine?
Why do some steam engines not have a dome?
 
9) Robert Adam was convicted of theft at Perth Sheriff Court last month. He was accused of stealing items from Blairgowrie museum. What did he steal and how was he caught?

10) The famous and very extensive metre-gauge Rhaetian Railway of Switzerland is divided into several sections, which are given individual names such as the ‘Brig - Visp - Zermatt - Bahn’ or ‘BVZ’. One major section has a set of initials to those of a well know British sports car of the 20th century. What are the initials of the railway and the car, and what is the name of that section of the Rhaetian Bahn?
 
11) BR Standard class 8P 71000 “Duke of Gloucester” had one significant feature unique to itself amongst all the other BR standards – what?

12) Can you name the person who first established the scale/gauge combination that became known as 'OO' in the UK.

13) Which was the last of the big mainline termini to be constructed in London? For which railway was it built?

14) Early in 1942 the president of an American railroad announced to the board "We now have the largest locomotive on God's earth!".

Which railroad was he president of? What was the popular name for the locomotive? Why was the president's statement even more accurate than he thought?

15) From Oct 22nd 2005 you are able to see NER Director's saloon coach No. 1661 at York Museum. It has been loaned by the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. What is so special about it?

16) What articulated The 10:30am express from Paddington to Penzance was known for years as "The Cornish Riviera Express". Its first stop was at Plymouth and it was often hauled by a "King" class locomotive. What time was it due in Plymouth?

17) What is the standard track gauge in Portugal?

Secondly, a main line runs from Oporto to Pochino in the Port wine region, where it has several meter gauge branch lines serving local vineyards. One such is the "Corgo" railway which used some highly unusual articulated locomotives to tackle the severe grades. What articulated arrangement did they use and what was the wheel arrangement?

18) Where, on Network Rail, is there a continuous platform seat that is 456 feet long?

19) One of Sir Nigel Gresley's V2 2-6-2 mixed traffic engines was named "Green Arrow" - why?

20) Where, in Europe, is there a narrow gauge railway that starts in an underground station, climbs over 300metres, crosses, allegedly, 100 river valleys and ends underground in another country?