Rollin' Rollin': Trains, Tracks and Tunnels Quiz

Answer: Budapest

The Budapest metro was started in 1894 and was completed in 1896. In 2002, it was classified as a World Heritage Site. The Paris metro began in 1900, with the Berlin U-Bahn in 1902 followed by Athens in 1904.

Answer: Australia

The Trans Australian Railway runs from Port Augusta (SA) to Kalgoorile (WA) across the Nullarbor Plain. It is on this line that there is a section that includes a dead-straight section of track that is 478 km (297 mk) in length.

Answer: USA

In the USA, there is estimated 240,000 kms of railway track connecting all 48 continental states. In China, there is in excess of 100,000 kms of railway track. In Russia, estimates are over 85,000 kms with India at approximately 65,000 kms of railway track.

Answer: China

The Xining-Golmund-Lhasa railway line in China at 5,068m was opened in 2006. The highest in the Americas is in Peru being the Lima-Huancayo St 4,829m (15,853 ft). The Rio Mulatos-Potosi in Bolivia is at 4,786m (15,702ft). The highest in Europe is in Switzerland being the Jungfraubahn at 3,454m (11,332ft).

Answer: Strangers on a Train

"Strangers on a Train" was a 1951 Alfred Hitchcock thriller based on the 1950 novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith. The movie starred Farley Granger, Ruth Roman and Robert Walker. "Murder on the Orient Express" was a 1934 novel by Agatha Christie. Forty years later, in 1974, another movie of the same name was directed by Sidney Lumet, and in 2017, another version of the novel was directed by Kenneth Branagh. "Avalanche Express" was a 1979 movie with the backdrop of the Cold War and directed by Mark Robson. "The Cassandra Crossing" was a 1976 movie involving terrorism and directed by George Pan Cosmatos.

Answer: Gladys Knight & The Pips

"Midnight Train to Georgia" was recorded by Gladys Knights & The Pips in 1973. It peaked at number one on the US charts for two weeks in October 1973. "The Last Train to Clarksville" was also a number one hit on the US Charts for one week in November 1966 for The Monkees. Glenn Miller and His Orchestra recorded the song "Chattanooga Choo Choo".

Although written in 1930, the recording of "Georgia On My Mind" by Ray Charles in 1960 made the song famous. In fact the state of Georgia (USA) adopted it as the official state song.

Answer: Marklin (Germany)

Märklin (Germany) was founded in 1859 and originally created doll house accessories. In 1891, they produced the first windup train for the Leipzig Toy Fair. Lionel (USA) was founded by Joshua Lionel Cowan and Harry C. Grant in 1900. Their first battery-powered train was produced in 1901 called the "Electric Express". Carlisle & Finch (USA) was founded in 1894 and in 1896 produced their first electric train. Hornby Railways (UK) produced their first clockwork train in 1920.

Answer: Gottard Base tunnel (Switzerland)

Gottard Base tunnel (Switzerland) was completed in 2016 and is 57.1 km. Seikan Tunnel (Japan) is 53.85 km and was completed in 1988. Channel Tunnel (France/UK) completed in 1994 is 50.45km in length. Yulhyeon Tunnel (South Korea) finished in 2016 is 50.3 km in length.

Answer: The Ghan

The Ghan is the passenger train service from Adelaide- Alice Springs- Darwin a distance of 2,979 km (1,851 mi) and takes 54 hours. The name comes about by the Afghan drivers who brought their camels to Australia in the late 19th century to help explore the dry and dusty interior. The first service was in 1929. The Overland is the passenger service between Adelaide and Melbourne which began in 1887. The Blue Train operates a service of 1,600 km in South Africa from Pretoria to Capetown. It is one of the most luxurious services in the world.

Answer: Iron Horse

Ben Calhoun was played by Dale Robertson in the television western series "Iron Horse"(1966-68). Ben Calhoun is a fictional gambler, come railroad baron when he wins a railroad in a poker game. "Casey Jones" (1957-58) was a television western series starring Alan Hale as Casey Jones, the engineer of the Cannonball Express. Union Pacific is the major railroad franchise in North America covering nearly half of the states in the USA. "Wild Wild West" was a 1999 movie starring Will Smith and Kevin Kline as Secret Service agents in the American West in the 1860/70s who live on a luxurious train called "The Wanderer".