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Test yourself! Take this British Railways Quiz | Trains

British railway history, geography and other facts.

A multiple-choice quiz by Kenners158. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
Kenners158

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
323,558

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
520

Last 3 plays: Guest 185 (5/10), Guest 86 (5/10), Guest 51 (5/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Name the device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams. Hint

Pantograph

Dropper

Catenary

Midpoint anchor

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which London Underground line has the least number of stations? (Map colour turquoise) Hint

Waterloo & City Line

Jubilee

Victoria

Hammersmith & City

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which London Underground line has the most stations? (Map colour green) Hint

Piccadilly

Circle

Northern

District

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Question 4 of 10

4. What is the type of railway junction in which two railway tracks of conflicting routes cross over one another at an acute angle? (Hint: what it looks like from a plan view) Hint

Rochelle

Split

Gauge

Diamond

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who was the British inventor (known as The Cornish Giant)of the first WORKING steam locomotive in 1804? Hint

Robert Stephenson

Richard Trevithick

George Bradshaw

George Stephenson

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which steam locomotive won the Rainhill Trials in 1829? Hint

Cycloped

Rocket

Novelty

Perseverance

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was the name of the first COMMERCIALLY successful steam locomotive (built by Matthew Murray of Holbeck, Leeds)? Hint

Rocket

Salamanca

Royal George

Thomas the Tank Engine

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Question 8 of 10

8. What is the most northerly railway station in Great Britain (hint: a river and a bay)? Hint

Inverness

Wick

Thurso

John O'Groats

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Question 9 of 10

9. What was the Christian name of the infamous Beeching, first chairman of British Rail, 1961 to 1965? Hint

Robert

Richard

Stephen

Lloyd

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which is Britain's longest railway tunnel, apart from the Channel Tunnel? Hint

Mersey

Severn

Corby

Standedge

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 20 2024 : Guest 185: 5/10
Apr 04 2024 : Guest 86: 5/10
Mar 31 2024 : Guest 51: 5/10
Mar 29 2024 : Sunsetdb7: 10/10
Mar 27 2024 : Guest 84: 10/10
Mar 23 2024 : Guest 77: 9/10
Mar 22 2024 : Guest 1: 8/10
Mar 19 2024 : Guest 86: 0/10
Mar 16 2024 : AndySed: 5/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Name the device that collects electric current from overhead lines for electric trains or trams.

Answer: Pantograph

The Z-shaped pantograph is the most common today, mostly replacing the diamond-shaped roller pantograph.

2. Which London Underground line has the least number of stations? (Map colour turquoise)

Answer: Waterloo & City Line

There are only two stations, Waterloo and Bank. The line goes underneath the River Thames.

3. Which London Underground line has the most stations? (Map colour green)

Answer: District

The District Line has 55 stations; the Piccadilly has the next highest number, with 52.

4. What is the type of railway junction in which two railway tracks of conflicting routes cross over one another at an acute angle? (Hint: what it looks like from a plan view)

Answer: Diamond

Conflicting routes carry a risk of possible collisions so the signals have to be interlocked. Where the two tracks cross each other forms a diamond shape.

5. Who was the British inventor (known as The Cornish Giant)of the first WORKING steam locomotive in 1804?

Answer: Richard Trevithick

The engine, called the Penydarren locomotive, travelled nearly 10 miles at 2 to 3 m.p.h. carrying wagons, iron and men. It only made three journeys then it reverted back to its stationary role, driving hammers at Pen-Y-Darren Ironworks. Before this Trevithick had built an experimental locomotive called The Puffing Devil in 1801.

6. Which steam locomotive won the Rainhill Trials in 1829?

Answer: Rocket

On the Liverpool-Manchester railway, Rocket was the only engine to complete the trials.

7. What was the name of the first COMMERCIALLY successful steam locomotive (built by Matthew Murray of Holbeck, Leeds)?

Answer: Salamanca

Salamanca was used from 1812 until 1818 when its boiler exploded. It was the first locomotive to have two cylinders.

8. What is the most northerly railway station in Great Britain (hint: a river and a bay)?

Answer: Thurso

Thurso is a port town in Caithness in the highlands of Scotland.

9. What was the Christian name of the infamous Beeching, first chairman of British Rail, 1961 to 1965?

Answer: Richard

The "Beeching Axe" resulted in the loss of 4,000 miles of railway and 3,000 stations. At the time, conservative transport minister Ernest Marples was the director of a road construction company. In their 1964 election campaign, Labour promised to halt these closures, but after they won the election, they renagued on this promise and continued with the closures even faster than before.

10. Which is Britain's longest railway tunnel, apart from the Channel Tunnel?

Answer: Severn

The Severn Tunnel is 4.3 miles (7 km) long, linking Gloucestershire to Monmouthshire. It was built in the years 1873 to 1886.

Source: Author Kenners158

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