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LNER Steam Trivia Quiz

This is aimed particularly at steam-engine lovers, particularly those with an interest in the famous British East Coast Main Line engines!

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

Author
superdupersue

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
152,073

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
573

Last 3 plays: Guest 165 (4/10), Guest 77 (8/10), Guest 171 (2/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The first authenticated run at 100mph by a steam locomotive was achieved by which famous locomotive? Hint

Mallard

Flying Scotsman

Royal Scot

King George V

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Question 2 of 10

2. The 100mph record, set in 1934, was beaten a year later by Papyrus by achieving what speed? Hint

101mph

108mph

103mph

105mph

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Question 3 of 10

3. Sir Nigel Gresley is reputed to have climbed down from the footplate of which engine pointing at his watch and exclaiming '112mph!' Hint

Mallard

Silver Link

Silver Fox

Sir Nigel Gresley

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Question 4 of 10

4. Mallard's famous record-breaking run received no advance publicity; the attempt was disguised as: Hint

braking trials

crew training

a running-in turn for a new locomotive

permanent way measurements

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Question 5 of 10

5. The post-war speed record for steam was set in 1959 by 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley working as a special train for which organisation? Hint

The Stephenson Locomotive Society

Locomotive Club of Great Britain

British Rail Eastern Region

Railway Travel and Correspondence Society

6. The 112mph record had almost certainly been surpassed a few years previously by the same driver and locomotive, but the speed of 117mph could not be authenticated, possibly because the driver would have been in serious trouble if it had! Who was the driver? Hint

Peter Coster

Joseph Duddington

Bill Hoole

Ted Hailstone

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Question 7 of 10

7. 50 years after Mallard's record run a famous east coast driver retired after a day driving her. Who was he? Hint

Henry Williams

Harry Williams

Harry Wilson

Henry Wilson

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Question 8 of 10

8. Sir Nigel Gresley's successor Edward Thompson had very different ideas on locomotive design but his rebuild of which locomotive caused most acrimony amongst Gresley followers? Hint

The last batch of the excellent V2s

Flying Scotsman

Great Northern

10000 'The Hush Hush'

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Question 9 of 10

9. Thompson apparently told his eventual successor A. H. Peppercorn that he would not get his job as Chief Mechanical Engineer because Hint

Peppercorn was planning to marry a woman 30 years his junior.

Peppercorn was too old.

Peppercorn's ideas were too close to Gresley's.

Thompson planned to continue in post until the formation of British Railways.

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Question 10 of 10

10. A famous class of LNER locomotive left Kings Cross in March 2003 for the first time since the end of steam on British Rail. Which class?

Answer: (One letter and one number)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The first authenticated run at 100mph by a steam locomotive was achieved by which famous locomotive?

Answer: Flying Scotsman

Although City of Truro is claimed to have achieved 102mph in 1904, this cannot be authenticated. Thirty years later Flying Scotsman's speed just peaked at 100mph down Stoke Bank on a test run (for non-train buffs, that's between Grantham and Peterborough).

2. The 100mph record, set in 1934, was beaten a year later by Papyrus by achieving what speed?

Answer: 108mph

Papyrus was, like Flying Scotsman, on a test run prior to the introduction of the A4s on the Silver Jubilee express. Papyrus was an A3 (220psi boiler and improvements to the valve gear), whereas Flying Scotsman was still in A1 form when she set the 100mph mark, making her achievement more remarkable.

3. Sir Nigel Gresley is reputed to have climbed down from the footplate of which engine pointing at his watch and exclaiming '112mph!'

Answer: Silver Link

Said to have been on the occasion of the press run for the inauguration of the Silver Jubilee express on 27 September 1935.

4. Mallard's famous record-breaking run received no advance publicity; the attempt was disguised as:

Answer: braking trials

Even the Westinghouse Brake people did not know about the attempt until the train left London. They were offered the chance to leave the train before the attempt, but all declined! The railway journalist Cecil J. Allen had been offered a ride on the run but had turned it down (how he must have kicked himself!).

5. The post-war speed record for steam was set in 1959 by 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley working as a special train for which organisation?

Answer: The Stephenson Locomotive Society

The record attempt had been long in the planning and debate will probably rage forever as to whether No 7 could have beaten Mallard's record if the crew had been allowed to try.

Answer: Bill Hoole

Bill Hoole retired a few months after setting the 1959 post-war record, but the 117mph run had convinced him that beating Mallard's 126mph record was possible. The only reason we know about the 117mph run is because permanent way engineers had installed recording equipment on the train for regular tests on the track without the drivers knowing.

The equipment allowed speed to be calculated, but not very accurately, hence Bill Hoole got away with the run without being reprimanded!

7. 50 years after Mallard's record run a famous east coast driver retired after a day driving her. Who was he?

Answer: Harry Wilson

Harry Wilson retired in 1988 after 50 years as a railwayman. He was perhaps more famous as a driver of Deltics but was reported to be sorry that British Rail would not let him have a crack at Mallard's record while she was on the main line.

8. Sir Nigel Gresley's successor Edward Thompson had very different ideas on locomotive design but his rebuild of which locomotive caused most acrimony amongst Gresley followers?

Answer: Great Northern

Great Northern was Gresley's first 'Pacific' and as such was a historic loco. For Thompson to rebuild it to his own design was highly controversial, more so because Thompson's re-design was not a success.

9. Thompson apparently told his eventual successor A. H. Peppercorn that he would not get his job as Chief Mechanical Engineer because

Answer: Peppercorn was planning to marry a woman 30 years his junior.

Peppercorn did marry the woman in question and did get the job of Chief Mechanical Engineer, but lived only a few years to enjoy both! His Pacifics, however, were well-regarded as powerful machines and were much more successful than Thompson's.

10. A famous class of LNER locomotive left Kings Cross in March 2003 for the first time since the end of steam on British Rail. Which class?

Answer: V2

V2 - Green Arrow hauled the Scarborough Flyer on 8 March 2003 which included a storming run over Stoke Bank and a cracking dash down the other side.

Source: Author superdupersue

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