posted
I did not make up this quiz...got it off the internet:
1. When was the first transcontinental railroad completed and by which two railroad companies. Bonus if you know the time!
2. True or False, There was a golden spike used at the completion of the transcontinental railroad.
3. What railroad operated the longest passenger train in Canada and how many cars was it?
4. Between 1993 and 1994 did the COFC or TOFC traffic have a higher percent of increase?
5. Where is the busiest Jct. in the Pacific Northwest region?
6. What state in the US does not have an operating freight railroad?
7. What year (bonus if you know the exact date) did Amtrak’s last Pioneer run through the Columbia River Gorge?
8. What man built his mansion and a stonehenge monument at Maryhill, WA?
9. What date was Amtrak created?
10. Which railroad has the shortest route between LA and Chicago and how many miles long was it?
11. How long is a normal section of ribbon rail?
12. Which railroad is the largest transporter of aircraft parts?
13. An average intermodel train can carry as much as how many trucks?
14. What date did Burlington Northern and Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe merge?
15. Where did the longest freight train operate, and how long was it?
16. How fast is the fastest conventional train record?
Scroll down for the answers:
1. May 10, 1869 at 12:47pm by Central Pacific and Union Pacific.
2. True. There were actually 4 commemorative spikes used. Two gold, one silver and 1 regular spike with a gold plated top and a silver plated shaft. Prior to the Golden Spike Ceremony 4 holes where drilled in the tie so that the spikes could be placed in rather than spiked. After all of the speeches the four spikes were pulled out as well as the commemorative tie and replaced with ordinary ones. When the last spike was driven in place it as well as the hammer used where wired up to the Transcontinental Telegraph line so that the whole country could hear it.
3. Rocky Mountain Railtours and it was 34 cars.
4. COFC by 17%.
5. Vancouver Jct in Vancouver, WA.
6. Hawaii
7. May 10, 1997.
8. Sam Hill (son-in-law to James Hill).
9. May 1, 1971.
10. BNSF with 2,214 miles.
11. 1/4 mile long sections.
12. Burlington Northern Santa Fe.
13. 200-220 trucks.
14. September 22, 1995.
15. It was operated by BHP Iron Ore in Australia on June 21, 2001. It was 4.568 miles long and consisted of 682 ore cars and 8 diesel-electric locomotives which pulled the train about 170 miles.
16. 322mph in France on May 18, 1990. The train was TGV-A set 325. ...
I got 5 out of 16 questions answered correctly. I really thought that the answer to #8 would be James J. Hill.
Richard
Posts: 1909 | From: Santa Rosa | Registered: Jan 2004
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posted
I think #6 is probably technically wrong- what about the Kauai Plantation Rwy? I know, it's basically a tourist op, but I saw a crate of pineapples in one of the cars when I rode! Also, I think there may be one or two other small narrow gauge operations over there; possibly on Maui and the Big Island that might carry the odd small "freight" from time to time...
I need to get out more, huh guys? =(^o^)=
Posts: 588 | From: East San Diego County, CA | Registered: Oct 2004
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posted
I missed 5 of 16...... I also had James J. Hill for #8 and flat out could not answer 13 - 16.
I take issue with #9 even though I answered it correctly. May 1, 1971 was when Amtrak began operation but the name had been chosen a few weeks earlier and the legislation creating Amtrak had actually made it's way through congress months before that.
-------------------- David Pressley
Advocating for passenger trains since 1973!
Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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I scored about 2-1/2 out of 16. Quiz was strictly for foamers and trivia buffs, no?
Posts: 1530 | From: Ocala, FL | Registered: Dec 2006
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Climbing toward 5,000 posts like the Southwest Chief ascending Raton Pass. Cautiously, not nearly as fast as in the old days, and hoping to avoid premature reroutes. Posts: 4203 | From: Western North Carolina | Registered: Feb 2004
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