It’s that most wonderful time of the year. So while Father Christmas tries to top up his Oyster card, why not take a shot at the one, the only… London Reconnections Annual Christmas Quiz!
2019 has been a challenging year for those at LR Towers with various other demands on their lives limiting time spent on updating the website. We will see how 2020 pans out. At the same time transport, news has been limited or drowned out by other issues affecting the country so the spread of topics available for questions for the Christmas Quiz has somewhat more difficult than usual.
Meanwhile the list of token prizes not yet sent out mounts and maybe 2020 will be the year we clear the backlog. A reminder is in order, therefore, that the primary benefit in doing well in the quiz is the satisfaction of knowing you have done well.
Sending in submissions
The closing time and date is 23:59 GMT on New Year’s Eve. We aim to publish the answers at 00:01 on New Years Day but don’t guarantee to do so. Sometime after that but, not too long we hope, we will publish the winners, identified by a suitable pseudonym agreeable to them, and an analysis of how people, in general, got on.
Each question or part of a question normally carries one mark. It is relatively obvious where this is the case. Please send your answers to [email protected] with the word “quiz” in the subject line.
If you decide to update your answer please send a complete new set rather than just the changes – it is easier for us.
And, of course, our final and most important warning: don’t give away answers in the comments!
So without further ado, let’s get to the questions.
Merry Christmas to you all!
The LR Editorial Team
Question 1
A Christmassy station for a Christmas Quiz: Turkey Street station has an obvious Christmas related theme. Name another current or former station in London with a Christmas theme in its name.
Question 2
What potential structural failure wrought havoc in 2019 in London?
Question 3
Vaguely related to question 2, where would you find these unusual traffic lights?
Question 4
And, vaguely related to a structural failure, in 2019 which platform became visible once more, probably as the result of something rotten happening ?
Question 5
The following is a list of five Underground stations. Each station is either a single word with two syllables or consists of two words (each of which may have one or two syllables).
Replace each sequence of identical letters with a word (of any length) and remove the space (if necessary) to produce the names of five stations.
AAAAA BBBBB
BBBBB CCCCC
CCCCC DDDDD
DDDDD EEEEE
EEEEE AAAAA
Question 6
Now identify the following two stations. Both consist of two words, but now there is no restriction on the number of syllables.
AAAAA BBBBB
AAAAA BBBBB CCCCC
Question 7
Sequentially, what comes next (hopefully):
1, 2a, 5a, … ?
Question 8
Measuring by direct distance, which railway station is closest to this building, which is located within the Greater London Area (GLA)?
Question 9
What do the following have in common?
1) Latimer Road Tube Station
2) Old Street Roundabout Bus Stop
3) The AC sidings at Selhurst Depot
In each case explain what has changed in order for it to apply since originally named in order for it to qualify for this category.
Question 10
A Matter Of Observation
The above video is part of an advert put out by a transport organisation. By observing the video carefully, you should be able to identify the organisation. What organisation was it?
What group of people was the advert aimed at?
Question 11
One station in London has seen more types of electric traction power supply than any other. Identify the station and the different types of power supply that are or have been used there.
By electric traction power supply we mean at a particular voltage and by a particular means of delivery. So, as a hypothetical example, 3rd rail at 750 Volts and 3rd/4th rail at 750 Volts would count as two different answers. The voltage is a nominal voltage with fluctuations so, if there are any very similar voltages (we don’t believe there are) they would only count once. Therefore, anything under 650V would count as a single entry but 750V would be recognised as a separate entry.
Question 12
If an object is described as ‘pre-Worboys’ what kind of object is it likely to be?
(This has absolutely nothing to do with taxi drivers)
Question 13
What makes this particular bus stop unique?
Question 14
Usually platforms are numbered from the left in the direction of travel to London. However most of the platforms where you catch a TfL Rail train to Paddington are even numbered.
Why is this?
And where on the Great Western Main Line can you catch a TfL Rail service from Heathrow to Paddington from an odd number platform?
Question 15
In what way did ATO on the Jubilee line assist TfL’s inclusivity and diversity objectives in 2019?
Question 16
Where, fairly precisely, is this street sign located?
Which vehicles are depicted as banned in the prohibition sign in the bottom right red circle?
Related the previous part of this question, what is the significance of the ‘E’ in a rectangular box?
Question 17
Identify the London terminals by the things that have happened beneath them. Under which terminus…
a) …were beer barrels stored?
b) …was a conveyor belt system for passengers’ luggage?
c) …is a replica 1890 City & South London Railway padded cell carriage?
d) …is a figurative connection with one of the busiest railway stations in the southern hemisphere?
e) …is there a permanent theatre?
f) …was a replica World War II plane on display beneath the platforms?
Question 18
This year has been a big one for the Roundel. Nine different custom designs for special events or occasions have appeared on the Underground this year. We won’t ask you to name all the stations (that would be cruel). But can you name all the events and occasions?
QUESTION 19
Name a station that has three direct train services a day from London but no direct train services to London.
Question 20
Let us end as we began: in the Christmas spirit. Why is the Robin in a sticky situation?
Good luck everyone, and a very Merry Christmas!
Well, I know number 6…
Always love the Christmas Quiz.
Actually got a question for LR…
What tube station received its first Night Tube service this year?
For Q14 do you mean “odd numbered” as in 1, 3, 5, 7… or “oddly numbered” as in not following the pattern of other stations?
Lots of good questions this year again 🙂
In the mathematical sense of an integer not divisible by two.
A confident 7 so far. Gibbering wreck on the others though…
Q 5 – does AAAAA = AAAAA & BBBBB=BBBBB?
Or in other words, using non-real examples Ushant Road / Road passage / passage place, etc … or not?
Same for Q 6?
And – I think I am not going to do well this year, at all ….
A 20th question has appeared since this morning; just as well I refreshed.
Question 6: Are these still Underground stations (like #5)?
Sorry about that extra question. I realised I had omitted it and thought no one would notice if I put it in quickly! I put it in because I wasn’t sure if it would still be useable next year (that’s a bit of a clue I suspect).
Also, Question 14 somehow got mangled when being edited. I want to make the wording clearer but unfortunately the editor is playing up. Not sure if it is anything to do with the site update or not.
Question 6 is refers to Underground stations, yes.
Greg, yes that is the gist of Question 5. I found it surprisingly difficult to find an example not related to the actual answer. But Hounslow East/East Acton/Acton Town would be one such example. If there were a Town Hounslow that would complete the closed chain.
Q9 “In each case explain what has changed in order for it to apply since originally named in order for it to qualify for this category.” has that become horribly mangled or is the wording deliberate?
I have 3 answers to Q1 so I hope that is worth extra points !
Martin Smith,
I tried to get the wording to be really precise to be clear what we are looking for but it didn’t read easily. Fear not, if your explanations as to why the items qualify covers the reason, then that will be good enough for us.
JohnM,
After last year and all the issues surround what qualified for the ‘saints’ question I am keeping it simple and only requiring (and only giving a point for) one answer. I could only think of one and, if there are more than one, there should be one very obvious one.
On the first pass I have 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 17a, 17b, 17e, 17f, 19, and 20 for certain. I have a good guess which I don’t think is likely to be beatable (though I could be wrong!) for 11, an answer which I would probably like to verify (if only I could work out how) for 14, and an answer I’m pretty sure is wrong for 15. No clue on the rest yet but I’ll have to carry on looking…
For 11 I also want to be the awkward one to ask the age-old question of how a station is defined… If that doesn’t give too much away! As I think I actually have a tie (which is perhaps a sign I’ve got the wrong one) but it depends on your definition. There’s certainly an option which is less ambiguously correct so all else being equal I’ll submit that one!
With regards to Q17f, is the question referring specifically to a plane that flew in World War II, or does it encompass replicas of such planes?
This is always too hard for me. I’m usually happy if I can answer one question at the first pass. Managed Q15 and one or two of the strange things under the stations. I’ve even been to the permanent theatre!
The answer to Q15 set me off on a quest to explore this matter of diversity in infant schools – but that’s way off topic!
Another infuriatingly difficult (in a good way) quiz. As usual, I am mostly flummoxed.
Ah well, I thought, at least I recognise the location of that road sign in question 16. It’ll only take me a couple of seconds, I foolishly said to myself, to look up exactly what that restriction code means. Well – did I get that wrong….
As always with the LR quiz, I start out hopeful but begin to lose that hope as time goes on. On my first pass through I have answers to 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 12, 14b and 17f along with an idea for 3.
Also, I really like the idea behind question 5. Now I just need to have a good long think about the answer…
I have a guess for question 11 but it is probably wrong. And question 16 turns out to be surprisingly easy and does not even require Streetview!
Hi, just a question regarding question 18. Is it nine individual roundel designs or several designs for nine events? Thanks for the Quiz, really tricky as every year!
I have a feeling that one of these questions has the same answer as a (very different) question from an earlier Christmas quiz which I was still able to remember. I may be wrong here, though.
@ IslandDweller: I overlooked your comment. I was of course talking about the first part, not the second. Nevertheless, I have found the code as well.
I certainly like question 11. It uncovers all sorts of surprises about electrification. I did encounter a tie as well, but some detours led me back to a railway which I’d already written off in my mind, where I found a larger number of systems at an unexpected station.
@ Muzer: I have simply taken the definition of station to be broad – if it weren’t, the ‘right’ answer would inevitably be challenged by the community. I have instead been facing other questions, such as how to count types of conductor rail. I don’t believe that it matters for the answer, though.
Thanks for another great quiz and i’m looking forward to my favourite Christmas tradition of reading the agonised comments as people become increasingly frustrated by the quiz.
So far found 1-3, 5-7, 9, 11-13, 14 (part 2), 16, 17a, and 19
I thought I had a three way tie for No 11 until I remembered yet another system used to be used at one of them.
I haven’t found a unique answer to 14 part 2 – should there be one?
………….and I’ve now found No 8.
Muzer: There are indeed several definitions of “a station”. If it helps for question 11, Waterloo + Waterloo East is two stations, Charing Cross is one, Bank and Monument is two, and Kings Cross, St Pancras and Kings Cross St Pancras is three. Hammersmith is one. (So in a sense, the question is about station-names). (The above is subject to correction by the official setter).
I’m amazed at how many answers have aleady (apparently) been answered …
I ca normallyu “get” about 40% on the first pass – this year – 4.
I may not bother … OTOH I might ….
Crossword-puzzlw style clues leave me completely cold & there’s a lot of those this time around.
For question 6, do the AAAAA/BBBBB/CCCCC have to be dictionary words or can they be arbitrary strings of letters? And does any current and former underground station name count?
@PHILIP POTTER
They are both current underground stations, one opened in the 19th Century, the other just in the 20th.
It’s strange there are lots of answers to the question if it’s changed to have a single word name (Barking/Barkingside, Leyton/Leytonstone etc) but only answer one for the actual question.
@Philip Potter: the nature of the question already poses some constraints. There is a space in both station names so AAAAA and BBBBB can be taken to be the two words of a certain two-word station name. Whether or not CCCCC has to be a word, I don’t know. I found at least one solution where it is not a word.
Steve1,
Apologies for the delay in replying. Regarding the World War II plane, I have changed the wording to make it clear we are talking about a replica.
With regards to question 1, I can think of 15 London stations (12 open, 3 closed) that could be connected to Christmas (not including Turkey Street).
Just to clarify, and as asked by Alessandro earlier on – for Q18, are we looking for nine different _designs_ across a number (1-9) of events, or are we looking for 9 _events_, each of which may have had one or more designs? For example, had TfL commissioned “20 Years of the JLE” roundels in three designs, would that count as one or three for the purposes of the question?
I’ve got [number redacted] different systems for the station I’m thinking of for qu11, is that enough or do I have to pull out my old books by J Graeme Bruce?
Moderator’s note: If the setter had wanted to ask “At which stations were/are there X different electrification systems?” he would have done so, specifying X. The question is a bit more challenging without a target number, so no spoilers/distractors please. Malcolm
Edd,
I’ll enquire. This is one of only a very few questions I was not involved with – and don’t know the answer myself.
Philip Potter,
Q6, could be arbitrary strings of letters. What the question is basically saying is find a station name X that can be made into another station name Y by adding a sequence of letters. You might think there would be quite a few but I can only think of one. There is only one mark for a correct answer just in case someone finds a second or subsequent one.
timbeau,
Q14. The question was deliberately vague. I will say no more than that.
Regarding definitions of a station for question 11.
This is surprising hard to be specific and absolutely unambiguous. A good guide for this question is that if you can move from one part of the station to another part without exiting then it is the same station. A further way of looking at this in modern day terms is: can you change platforms without going through a ticket barrier?
Edd,
The response I got makes it clear we are asking for events and that does seem clear to me in the question.
For question 18 the question does specifically ask you to list the Events. It was decided that asking for the designs would be too tough – I suspect to mark as well as to answer.
I immediately had two answers for Q.1, one current, and one abandoned station. As I usually get hardly any, I suppose I should doubt them. Perhaps how or why one celebrates Christmas has a bearing on word association.
Twopenny Tube,
Not for the first time in these quizzes, I have prided myself in thinking of a question with an obscure answer only to overlook an obvious answer. In this case, two obvious but very similar answers.
Question 1 was meant to be easy – but not that easy. Any of the three stations gets the point but give yourself a pat on the back if you found the former station which qualifies.
Pedantic – not wishing to heap coals of fire or anything, but I believe there are at least two former stations which would qualify.
Malcolm,
One of the joys of the quiz (and writing other articles) is how much I learn from the responses. I will be intrigued to see the answers I didn’t think of.
At least I learnt my lesson from last year and didn’t make the question open-ended.
@MALCOLM
I thought the point of Question 1 was it was in the “THE LONDON RECONNECTIONS 2019 CHRISTMAS QUIZ” which leads to just one answer.
We’ll see.
Brian Butterworth,
I don’t quite understand the comment but I think you are thinking too deeply. Question 1 is intended to be a fairly simple no-tricks question to get you going.
The intention was there was one possible answer but it is even easier than that as there were answers I overlooked. There is only one point and any valid answer will get that.
@PEDANTIC OF PURLEY
Fair enough, I’m still kicking myself for over-thing the Welsh Railway station that was an answer to the quiz four years ago! (I think my photos of the answer are on Wikipedia…)
There are plenty of equally fiendish transport questions in this year’s King William’s quiz as seen in today’s Guardian. Check out section 17…
https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2019/dec/24/king-williams-college-quiz-2019
My 7 yr son and I have had a go at the quiz. We think we’ve got four points and we’ve thrown in a few guesses for most of the others. Our self-imposed rule was that we weren’t allowed to do any research / look up any details apart from consulting the map of the rail/tube network.
Given that we are in a different hemisphere to London, it’s probably a good thing that we don’t have a chance of winning the prizes.
Thanks for another enjoyable quiz season. I cracked the majority of questions quite quickly (at least, I think I did) but the last few were tricky and there are some that are definitely wrong. Definitely learnt a lot, perhaps too much, about electrification.
For the first time ever … I’m not going to try.
There are far too many where I haven’t even the faintest clue where to start.
Whereas, in previous years, I have managed some sort of answer for every question – even if between 3 & 9 of those answers have been wrong (!)
So – what is different about the setting this year is the other question that pops up …..
Conversely to @Greg T, this is the first year I have managed an answer to every question, though I’m sure two are wrong and probably six will prove to be incorrect. I’m interested in social history and buildings and reasons for building things, much less so in engine details, which may have assisted somewhat this year?