UK Railways - Locomotive Names and Nicknames Quiz

Answer: They were small and powerful

"Terriers" were the wonderful small and powerful O-6-O tank engines designed by William Stroudley in 1872. One gained the Gold Medal in the 1878 Paris Exhibition. Ten out of the original fifty are preserved and most of them can be seen working on Heritage Railways.

0-6-0 refers to the wheel arrangements i.e. no bogie wheels - 6 powered wheels - no supporting wheels.

Answer: B1

"Bongos" were LNER two-cylinder mixed traffic 4-6-Os designed by Edward Thompson. The first one, named Springbok, was completed at the time that General Smuts, the then war-time Prime Minister of South Africa, was visiting the UK. Many of the class were given antelope names and Bongo gained popularity from its weirdness. Two live on actively in preservation.

Answer: Southern Railway

"Spam cans" denoted two classes of Pacifics (wheel arrangement 4-6-2) designed by Oliver Bullied. They were so called because the locomotive was clad in a smooth casing to allow cleaning in a carriage wash. The engines were named after West Country places, shipping lines and RAF squadrons.

A few out of the twenty Light Pacific versions that escaped scrapping retain the "spam can" configuration.

Answer: 1947

"Flying Pigs" were an austerity class of small 2-6-0 locomotives. Lacking frills and with outside pipework their ungainly appearance accounted for the name. They were designed by H G Ivatt in the dying days of the LMS and were still being built well into the years of the nationalized British Rail (BR). Just one, number 43106, escaped scrapping.

Answer: Harlaxton Manor

"Manors" were the lightest of the two cylinder GWR 4-6-0. Designed by C B Collett in 1938, they were able to run on most of the GWR routes. Nine have been preserved and some have run on main-line railtours.

Answer: 2-6-0

These Moguls (engines of 2-6-0 wheel arrangements) had large high steeply inclined cylinders, which emphasised side to side movement. They were designed by George Hughes with characteristics of his Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. Three "Crabs" survive to be seen, including the first one built.

Answer: Crewe

Francis Webb of the London North Western Railway beautified these otherwise run-of-the-mill 0-6-0s with a splendid lined-out livery, complete with a magnificent coat of arms, the mantling of which made it reminiscent of the vegetable which gave the engines their soubriquet. There are no survivors.

Answer: J G Robinson

The nickname of society beauty and sometime mistress of Edward VII, "Jersey Lily" Langtry, was given to the Class B Atlantic (wheel arrangement 4-4-2) engines of the Great Central Railway because of their beautifully curvaceous lines. Unfortunately they are now extinct.

Answer: 174

Another of John Robinson's designs in 1901 for the Great Central Railway, these 0-6-0 goods engines gained their name from the sound of their very sharp exhaust beat. Improbably, in the 1940s they were made an LNER standard by Edward Thompson. There are no survivors.

Answer: Silver-grey

"Streak" is the obvious spotters' nickname for Sir Nigel Gresley's streamlined class which includes the speed record holder, Mallard. The first few "silver" engines hauled the Silver Jubilee trains. Later, garter blue was the colour used, then black during World War 2, and finally blues and greens. Six are still with us and in 2013 they were all gathered together, including the two usually resident in North America.

Answer: 2

"Black Fives", the numerous power classification 5, Stanier designed, 4-6-0 mixed traffic engines, were painted black. Such fine locomotives surely should have rather merited the crimson livery of the LMS! Eighteen are still with us and most have run in preservation.

Answer: R.O.D.

The "Tiny" was another John Robinson locomotive , this time a HUGE 2-8-0, many of which worked in France during the 1914-1918 war for the Railway Operating Department (ROD). On return to this country they were sold cheaply to the big railway companies and were remarkably long lived and robust.

RAF needs no explanation. NAAFI is the Navy, Army, Air force Institute which provides hospitality for the forces. The Entertainments National Services Association entertained the forces in World War II.

One TINY is active in the UK and maybe one or two still exist in some remote regions of the world!

Answer: They had a large driving wheel like a spinning wheel

S W Johnson of the Midland Railway produced a large diameter single driver locomotive in 1887. This 4-2-2 was really an outdated type when it was produced. Three out of ninety five lasted until 1927 and one was saved to be seen today.

Answer: They were noted for their speed

Dugald Drummond produced his T9 4-4-0 for the London and South Western Railway in 1899. All sixty-six of the class became part of the nationalized British Railways in 1947. A survivor of this beautiful type of engine was preserved for the national collection.

Answer: Marylebone

The Great Central Railway was the last company to reach London. John Robinson's "Director" 4-4-0s, so called because many carried the names of company directors, proved very powerful locomotives for the Manchester to Marylebone expresses. One, "Butler-Henderson", is still around to show what elegant puissant machines these locomotives were.

Answer: George V

An LMS passenger 4-6-0 three-cylinder express locomotive class designed by W.A. Stanier in 1934, the name was given in honour of the 1935 Silver Jubilee of George V.

After some modification they became very successful engines. Four "Jubilees" are in preservation.

Answer: Uffington Castle

They played a prominent part in the working of the Great Western Railway from 1923 onwards. Collett developed the "Castle" from Churchward's "Star" four cylinder 4-6-0. Eight "Castles" have escaped the cutters' torch.

Answer: Beyer Peacock

This beautiful class of locomotives ran on the South Eastern and Chatham Railway. The designer was Harry Wainwright and the first was in service in 1901. Number 737, with shining chimney top, dome cover and safety valve mount, can be viewed in all its glory in the National Railway Museum in York, UK.

Answer: East Anglian

These were so called after the first of the class, a three-cylinder 4-6-0 express passenger engine of the London North Eastern Railway, produced in 1928 under Nigel Gresley for East Anglian Services. Named after stately homes and then later football clubs, two were streamlined to haul the "East Anglian" train.

Answer: Epsom

R.E.L. Maunsell was restricted by the route these engines were designed for but produced the most powerful 4-4-0s to run in the UK, though limited in size.