Trivia

[okarol]

Ok this one mite be easy
Which celebrity was born in England May 29  1903

Bob Hope

[pitagory]

That s right Karol.   The only reason I know this is because I have been to his house before he died. Since we live in the same town and I knew some people that work around his home.
your turn Karol

[okarol]

What change in season has often been associated with melancholy in poetry?

[kristina]

Falling leaves and very cold stormy winds in autumn ?

[okarol]

  Autumn! You're up kristina!

[kristina]

Thanks, Karol.

Here is my question :

What makes the north Wales Ffestiniog Railway unique and special to train enthusiasts ?

[CebuShan]

I know that it is the oldest independently owned railroad. And I think it still uses steam engines.

[cariad]

Gwyn says it is definitely a steam engine but those are fairly common in Wales.

He thinks it has a smaller gauge, because it was probably used once in the slate mines and had to be narrower to get into and out of the mines.

Pickies from our trip last year, not of this railway but another Welsh steam train, and the boys in the signal box:

[CebuShan]

I think I remember hearing that it was a narrow gauge railroad

[kristina]

I am awfully sorry, CebuShan and Cariad, these answers are not what I am looking for.

It is something much more special.

Thanks Cariad for sharing your lovely pictures !

[YLGuy]

Is it a cog RR?

[kristina]

Sorry, YLGuy, this is not the correct answer.

[kristina]

 
Here is a clue:

“The answer has  ‘little wonder’  for me”.

[okarol]

The Ffestiniog Railway Deviation is a 2½ mile long diversionary route constructed between Dduallt and Tanygrisiau in order to avoid a hydro-electric power station and a reservoir.

The spectacular Dduallt spiral formation (unique on a public railway in the United Kingdom) was constructed with its bridge entirely by volunteers and gains an initial height rise of 35 feet in order to clear the flooded track bed north of the former Moelwyn tunnel, which is plugged near its normally submerged northern end.

A spiral (sometimes called a spiral loop or just loop) is a technique employed by railways to ascend steep hills. A railway spiral rises on a steady curve until it has completed a loop, passing over itself as it gains height, allowing the railway to gain vertical elevation in a relatively short horizontal distance.

[kristina]

Sorry, Karol, this is not the answer I am looking for.

Another clue is that you will be “double surprised” at the answer.

The spiral loop which you mentioned - I think I am right in saying -
is a recent addition to the original railway line.

[Henry P Snicklesnorter]

.

[kristina]

Well done, Henry !

In 1869 the first double Fairlie articulated locomotive called “Little Wonder” was put into service

on the Ffestiniog Railway. This was a totally unique train because it was both double-ended

and the wheels were articulated allowing it to navigate around tight bends.

Over to you, Henry.

[Henry P Snicklesnorter]

.

[okarol]

The black box flight recorder, invented by Dr. David Warren.

[Henry P Snicklesnorter]

.

[okarol]

What circles the Earth every 90 minutes?

[YLGuy]

Space Station?

[okarol]

  Yes! You're up YL!!

[YLGuy]

Who has the distinction of being the first woman in space?



Bonus: Who was the first American woman in space?

[kristina]

The first woman in space was Soviet/Russian Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova.

The first American woman and then youngest American to enter space was Sally Kristen Ride ?