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American Diesel Locomotives Trivia Quiz

A quiz about US Diesel Locomotives and US Railroading in general.

A multiple-choice quiz by jez_mcgad. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
jez_mcgad

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
114,458

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
726

Last 3 plays: Guest 174 (2/10), Guest 174 (7/10), Guest 24 (1/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Why is the Fairbanks-Morse "Erie Built" so called? Hint

Because it was commissioned by the Erie Lackawanna RR

Because the workshops where it was built were in Erie Street

Because it was built for freight services around Lake Erie

Because it was built under contract by General Electric at their Erie, PA plant

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Who built the C-Liner or Consolidation Liner? Hint

ALCO

General Electric

Fairbanks-Morse

GM-EMD

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which of these is NOT an ALCO product? Hint

FA-1

DL-109

BL-2

PA-1

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Why can't Amtrak marshal Express Box Cars at the head of a train? Hint

They don't have through brake pipes

They cause aerodynamic problems

Their frames and couplers are too weak

They don't have Head End Power cables

5. What were the pipe-shaped air reservoirs fitted to the roof of some GP7s and GP9s on North-West commuter services (and on other Geeps with the largest optional fuel and water tanks) colloquially known as?

Answer: (Two Words)

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Question 6 of 10

6. How many DL-109s did the Chicago & North Western buy? Hint

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Question 7 of 10

7. In EMD diesels, what does the "Dash 2" designation mean (as in SD40-2)? Hint

The unit has twice the power of a normal unit

The unit has modular electrical systems

The unit requires two drivers

The unit can only be operated in "lash-ups" of two or more locomotives

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What nickname did the Union Pacific RR Gas Turbine locomotives gain? Hint

Yellow Giants

Big Blows

Big Shows

Big Yellow Birds

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Question 9 of 10

9. Did the Chicago & North Western ever buy any Erie-Built B-Units (a B-Unit is a cabless booster unit)?

Yes

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Question 10 of 10

10. Amtrak's Superliner passenger cars are well known, but for which service were their predecessors built by the Santa Fe? Hint

Southwest Chief

Super Chief

El Capitan

Grand Canyon

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Why is the Fairbanks-Morse "Erie Built" so called?

Answer: Because it was built under contract by General Electric at their Erie, PA plant

The Erie-Builts were contracted out to General Electric as Fairbanks-Morse didn't have the manufacturing capacity to built them at their Beloit, Wisconsin works.

2. Who built the C-Liner or Consolidation Liner?

Answer: Fairbanks-Morse

The C-Liner was an attempt by Fairbanks-Morse to produce a standard locomotive, though it was, sadly, not a big sales success.

3. Which of these is NOT an ALCO product?

Answer: BL-2

The BL-2 was actually an EMD product, designed to be somewhere between an F3 and a GP7. The DL-109 was an early cab unit (pre-WW2), while the PA-1 and FA-1 were ALCO's passenger and freight answers to the EMD E and F units.

4. Why can't Amtrak marshal Express Box Cars at the head of a train?

Answer: They don't have Head End Power cables

Express Box cars do not have through cables for Head End Power, and must therefore be marshalled at the back of a train. Material Handling Cars (MHCs) can be marshalled at either end as they have Head End Power cabling (but cannot carry as much as Express Box cars).

Answer: Torpedo Tubes

These air reservoirs were nicknamed "Torpedo Tubes" as they resembled the torpedo tubes fitted to WW2 PT Torpedo Boats.

6. How many DL-109s did the Chicago & North Western buy?

Answer: 1

The CNW only bought 1 DL-109, though they later bought many other passenger and freight diesels.

7. In EMD diesels, what does the "Dash 2" designation mean (as in SD40-2)?

Answer: The unit has modular electrical systems

The "Dash 2" unit designations denote a unit fitted with modular electrical systems - this allows faulty components to be replaced far more easily and quickly.

8. What nickname did the Union Pacific RR Gas Turbine locomotives gain?

Answer: Big Blows

The UP showed great interest in Gas Turbine power for a time, as they felt the turbine would offer better economy and lower running costs. Unfortunately, they proved to have a heavy appetite for fuel oil that caused them to be retired as fuel costs rose.

9. Did the Chicago & North Western ever buy any Erie-Built B-Units (a B-Unit is a cabless booster unit)?

Answer: No

Very few Erie-Built B-Units were sold - the New York Central bought 2, and as only 100 Erie-Builts were sold overall it may be assumed that far less than 50 were B-Units.

10. Amtrak's Superliner passenger cars are well known, but for which service were their predecessors built by the Santa Fe?

Answer: El Capitan

Santa Fe built Bi-Level cars for their El Capitan service - these were later taken over by Amtrak and worked alongside Superliners for a while.

Source: Author jez_mcgad

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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