Railroad History
Instructions: All aboard! Test your knowledge of the history of railroads and train travel!
- 1.
Which English engineer built the 'Rocket,' one of the first successful steam locomotives, in 1829?
AJames WattBGeorge StephensonCIsambard Kingdom BrunelDRichard Trevithick - 2.
The Transcontinental Railroad in the United States was completed in 1869 at which location?
APromontory Summit, UtahBOmaha, NebraskaCCheyenne, WyomingDSacramento, California - 3.
The Trans-Siberian Railway, the longest railway line in the world, connects Moscow to which city?
AIrkutskBVladivostokCBeijingDNovosibirsk - 4.
Which country operates the Shinkansen, the world's first high-speed rail system introduced in 1964?
AJapanBFranceCGermanyDChina - 5.
The Orient Express, made famous in literature, originally ran between Paris and which city?
AAthensBBudapestCIstanbulDVienna - 6.
What gauge (distance between rails) is considered 'standard gauge' used by most railways worldwide?
A1,435 mmB1,520 mmC1,676 mmD1,000 mm - 7.
Which two railroad companies built the First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States?
ACentral Pacific and Union PacificBNew York Central and ErieCSouthern Pacific and Santa FeDPennsylvania and Baltimore & Ohio - 8.
The TGV high-speed rail system operates in which country?
AItalyBFranceCGermanyDSpain - 9.
What was the primary workforce that built the western portion of the Transcontinental Railroad for the Central Pacific?
AIrish immigrantsBChinese immigrantsCNative AmericansDAfrican Americans - 10.
The Stockton and Darlington Railway, opened in 1825, is notable for being the world's first what?
AUnderground railwayBTranscontinental railwayCElectric railwayDPublic railway using steam locomotives - 11.
Which railroad magnate was known as 'Commodore' and built the New York Central Railroad empire?
AJay GouldBJames J. HillCCornelius VanderbiltDLeland Stanford - 12.
The Indian Railways network is one of the largest in the world. Approximately how many people does it employ?
A800,000B500,000C1.5 millionD1.2 million - 13.
What innovation did George Westinghouse patent in 1869 that dramatically improved railroad safety?
AAir brakeBSteel railsCAutomatic couplerDBlock signal system - 14.
The Glacier Express in Switzerland is famous for being what kind of train service?
AThe highest altitude trainBThe longest non-stop serviceCThe fastest train in EuropeDThe slowest express train in the world - 15.
Which technology does a maglev train use to achieve high speeds with minimal friction?
AJet propulsionBDiesel-electric motorsCMagnetic levitationDSteam turbines