Trains Can Be Interesting! Trivia Quiz

Answer: World War II

The film starred Frank Sinatra as Colonel John Ryan, who led a group of war prisoners escaping captivity by hijacking a train. The group, who include Trevor Howard as a British prisoner, have to fight their way through Italy to Switzerland, while being chased by the SS. The film was based on the novel of the same name, written by David Westheimer.

(Question by Rockette: rossian)

Answer: Hell on Wheels

'Hell on Wheels' was a TV western series which aired from 2011 and ran for 57 episodes. Cullen Bohannon, an ex soldier, and Thomas "Doc" Durant, a businessman, were played by Anson Mount and the rapper, Common. The show told of the exploits of a team of workers on a mobile camp as they constructed the First Transcontinental Railroad in America.

(Question by Rockette: Plodd)

Answer: Midnight Train to Georgia

Written by Jim Weatherly and originally named 'Midnight Plane to Houston', the song was reworked with a train theme about a man leaving Los Angeles to return to his home in Georgia and the simpler pace of life that it offered. The song went to number one on the Billboard 100 in October 1973. It also won Gladys Knight and the Pips a Grammy Award in 1974 and has featured on the soundtrack of various films, including 'The Deer Hunter'.

(Question by Rockette: Fifiona81)

Answer: Johnny Cash

The tune was written by Ervin T. Rouse, and was particularly associated with bluegrass players. Johnny Cash did a vocal version on his album, which also included the Irish ballad 'Danny Boy' and a version of Bob Dylan's 'It Ain't Me Babe'.

(Question by Rockette: rossian)

Answer: Edith

Edith Nesbit wrote several books for children, including 'The Story of the Treasure Seekers' about the Bastable family. Her books are credited with inspiring other authors, such as C. S. Lewis and Michael Moorcock, both of whom refer to the Bastables in their own works. 'The Railway Children' is probably the best known of her books, having been adapted for film and television on several occasions.

(Question by Rockette: rossian)

Answer: Wilbert Awdry

Wilbert and Christopher Awdry published their first book in the 'Railway Series' in 1945 and called it 'The Three Railway Engines'. This was followed a year later by 'Thomas the Tank Engine'. The books featured the lovable train engines, Thomas, Gordon, James and Percy. It went on to spawn a very popular TV series which ran from 1984 and starred Ringo Starr as the storyteller.

(Question by Rockette: Plodd)

Answer: Universal Orlando Resort

The Hogwarts Express was the magical rail connection between Platform 9 and ¾ at Kings' Cross Station in London to Hogsmeade village, the closest station to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The theme park version serves the dual role of a 'Harry Potter' themed attraction and a practical method of transporting visitors between two of Universal Orlando Resort's theme parks: the 'Islands of Adventure' and 'Universal Studios Florida' where you can visit a real-life Diagon Alley as well.

(Question by Rockette: Fifiona81)

Answer: Rusty

Rusty the steam engine was one of the lead characters in Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Starlight Express', the musical where the stage actors played the roles of trains by performing on roller skates. It first opened in London's West End in 1984 and features well-known songs such as 'I am the Starlight' and the titular 'Starlight Express', a song performed by Rusty and about the character that inspired him to race despite his uncared-for state.

(Question by Rockette: Fifiona81)

Answer: Unstoppable

'Unstoppable' was an American disaster film which told of a runaway freight train, which left a yard due to human negligence. Denzel Washington and Chris Pine starred as the engineer and conductor who tried to stop the train as it contained toxic materials and was heading at high speed towards Stanton train yard. The film was directed by Tony Scott who had also directed Washington in 'Déjà Vu' (2006), and 'The Taking of Pelham 123' (2009).

(Question by Rockette: Plodd)

Answer: Charles Dickens

The story first appeared in a magazine called 'All the Year Round', which was owned by Dickens. It was one of a group called 'The Mugby Junction', which included stories from other authors. 'The Signal-Man' is a ghost story - the narrator describes meeting the signalman, who hears an approaching train and warning bells even when no train is on the track. The signals are warnings of unavoidable accidents, including the demise of the signalman himself.

(Question by Rockette: rossian)