An opportunity for light Googling on a Sunday afternoon

[whole diary]

[grahame]

Around the British Isles, there are a number interesting railways and rail stories.  How many of these can you identify?   How many did you need a search engine to help you with?

Voting is open for forum members.    If you're not a member, you can register ((here)).

[grahame]

"Bumping" this poll - at http://www.passenger.chat/24536 - to the top of the recent posts lists.

How many of the seven can you identify?

It's only running for a day ... so it closes in three hours then it becomes a public guessing game. I'll post the identities this evening of any that are not identified by that point.    Little bit like the "Masked Singer" ... but none of the railways to identify has any links that I'm aware of with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Melanie Brown or Martine McCutcheon.

[grahame]

It's only running for a day ... so it closes in three hours then it becomes a public guessing game

OK ... tell me 

1- opened in 1967, to compete for airport traffic with buses and taxis   -  (35.7%)

2- Of 2ft 6in gauge, it carried an unmanned 'locomotive' consisting of an engine on a chassis and a trolley carrying a tank-shaped screen at which artillery fired   -  (7.1%)

3-  The track is a broad gauge of 6 ft 6 3⁄4 in. The maximum operating speed is 22 mph   -  (14.3%)

4-  Opened: 1908; Closed: 1913; Gauge: 3′; Length: 4 miles   -  (7.1%)

5-  Completed around 1922, it was built by the Lithgow family to employ men from their shipbuilding yards when the end of World War I signalled a drop in their order-book   -  (7.1%)

6- The track had a central common rail and just above the bridge it broke into a passing loop at the half-way point. At the summit and before entering [redacted] yard. it passed through a cutting as an ordinary single track, and thereafter fanned out ...   -  (0%)

7-  opened broad (5'3" gauge, 1863). Converted to narrow (3') gauge, 1894. Closed, 1960   - (21.4%)

!! I can't work out ANY of them!   - 1 (7.1%)

.. brave vote, thank you.   I suspect lots of others stayed quiet!

I'll post the identities this evening of any that are not identified by that point.

[TonyN]

1 is Ronaldsway halt Isle of Man

[grahame]

1 is Ronaldsway halt Isle of Man

Yes, it is.   I wondered if anyone was thinking Teeside Airport, which opened in 1971 rather than the 1967 for Ronaldsway!  (Of course no-one would admit that now!)

[TonyN]

3 is the Cairngorm funicular

[grahame]

3 is the Cairngorm funicular

It is, Tony.  The speed quoted is in winter - limit much lower in summer. 

[ellendune]

5 is Duchal Moor Grouse Railway

[grahame]

5 is Duchal Moor Grouse Railway

Yes, it ... I will follow up with various links later (or early!) ... I was actually looking for a different grouse moor railway to put into the quiz when I came across this one - hadn't realised there were a  number of them around.

[ellendune]

7 Is the Tooban Junction - Cuttymanhill section of the Derry and Lough Swilly Railway

[grahame]

7-  opened broad (5'3" gauge, 1863). Converted to narrow (3') gauge, 1894. Closed, 1960   - (21.4%)

7 Is the Tooban Junction - Cuttymanhill section of the Derry and Lough Swilly Railway

Desparatley close ... Swilly dates (from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Londonderry_and_Lough_Swilly_Railway ) are:
1863 - initial openings at broad gauge
1885 - conversion to narrow gauge
1953 - final (freight, rail service)
2014 - final bus service

If he's around tonight, bignosemac may find some sort of linkage in nomenclature (and even in origin) in the line in question.

[grahame]

* opened in 1967, to compete for airport traffic with buses and taxis
Ronaldsway Airport Halt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronaldsway_railway_station

* Of 2ft 6in gauge, it carried an unmanned 'locomotive' consisting of an engine on a chassis and a trolley carrying a tank-shaped screen at which artillery fired
Shrewton Folly Railway
https://www.darch.org.uk/Category/Wiltshire/Shrewton-Folly/

* The track is a broad gauge of 6 ft 6 3⁄4 in. The maximum operating speed is 22 mph
Cairngorm mountain railway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairngorm_Mountain_Railway

* Opened: 1908; Closed: 1913; Gauge: 3′; Length: 4 miles
Skye Marble Railway
https://hlrco.wordpress.com/scottish-narrow-gauge/constructed-lines/skye-marble-railway/

* Completed around 1922, it was built by the Lithgow family to employ men from their shipbuilding yards when the end of World War I signalled a drop in their order-book.
Duchal Moor Railway
https://www.railscot.co.uk/Duchal_Moor_Railway/index.php

* The track had a central common rail and just above the bridge it broke into a passing loop at the half-way point. At the summit and before entering [redacted] yard. it passed through a cutting as an ordinary single track, and thereafter fanned out ...
Tregantle Military Railway
https://brucehunt.co.uk/south%20east%20cornwall/tregantle%20military%20railway.html

* opened broad (5'3" gauge, 1863). Converted to narrow (3') gauge, 1894. Closed, 1960
Finn Valley Railway
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strabane_(CDR)_railway_station