Steam Locomotives trivia
More Steam Locomotives Trivia
Steam trains, railroads, and locomotive history.
Steam Locomotives Mini Quiz
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
What flows inside the fire tubes of a steam locomotive's boiler?
The tubes carry hot gases through boiler water, creating a large heating surface for steam production.
Steam locomotive connecting rods turn the driving wheels by converting which type of motion?
A crank pin on the driving wheel lets the rod turn a piston's straight stroke into rotation.
Which part of a Mallet locomotive pivots to help it follow curves?
The rear engine stays fixed beneath the boiler while the front engine swings through curves.
Which locomotive won the Rainhill Trials for the Liverpool and Manchester Railway?
Rocket's multi-tube boiler helped it make steam quickly, a design that shaped later locomotives.
Which preserved steam locomotive made an authenticated 100 mph run in 1934?
The National Railway Museum returned Flying Scotsman to the main line in 2016 after a major restoration.
Which workforce often performs skilled restoration work on heritage steam locomotives?
More than 200 volunteers spent 34 years restoring locomotive 80097, including building a new boiler.
Which engineer built the locomotive behind the first recorded steam journey on rails?
Trevithick's 1804 locomotive hauled ten tons of iron from Penydarren to Abercynon in Wales.
Which feat did Flying Scotsman achieve in 1934?
The authenticated run made Flying Scotsman the first steam locomotive officially recorded at 100 mph.
Which steam locomotive still holds the official world speed record?
Mallard reached 126 mph on Britain's Stoke Bank in 1938, and the steam record still stands.
At speed, why might an engineer move the reverser nearer mid-gear?
Moving toward mid-gear shortens cutoff, ending admission earlier so trapped steam expands through more of the piston stroke.