What was the ‘Pioneer’s’ weight?
- 10 tons
- 12.5 tons
- 15 tons
- 20 tons
Correct Answer: 12.5 tons
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ weighed 12-1/2 tons, which was considered a lightweight locomotive for its time.
The ‘Pioneer’ was built in 1851 and retired in 1881. How many years was the ‘Pioneer’ in service?
- 20 years
- 30 years
- 50 years
- 70 years
Correct Answer: 30 years
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ was in service for 30 years, which was a relatively long time for a locomotive in the 19th century.
Who built the ‘Pioneer’?
- Alba F. Smith
- Seth Wilmarth
- Captain Daniel Tyler
- A.S. Hull
Correct Answer: Seth Wilmarth
Correct Answer Explanation: Seth Wilmarth, a skilled machinist who started his own locomotive-building business, constructed the ‘Pioneer’ in 1851.
What was the ‘Pioneer’ used for?
- Freight transport
- Passenger service
- Construction
- Military transport
Correct Answer: Passenger service
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ was built specifically for passenger traffic on the Cumberland Valley Railroad.
How many driving wheels did the ‘Pioneer’ have?
- Two
- Four
- Six
- Eight
Correct Answer: Two
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ was a single-axle locomotive, meaning it only had one pair of driving wheels. This was an unusual design for locomotives of its time.
What was the ‘Pioneer’s’ top speed?
- 20 mph
- 30 mph
- 40 mph
- 50 mph
Correct Answer: 40 mph
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ could reach a top speed of 40 mph while pulling a four-car passenger train.
What type of fuel did the ‘Pioneer’ burn?
- Coal
- Wood
- Oil
- Gas
Correct Answer: Wood
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ burned oak and hickory wood for fuel, a common practice for locomotives in the 19th century.
Where is the ‘Pioneer’ currently located?
- Cumberland Valley Railroad
- Smithsonian Institution
- Pennsylvania Railroad
- Franklin Institute
Correct Answer: Smithsonian Institution
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ is now on display at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of History and Technology in Washington, D.C.
What was the ‘Pioneer’s’ boiler diameter?
- 20 inches
- 27 inches
- 35 inches
- 42 inches
Correct Answer: 27 inches
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’s’ boiler had a diameter of 27 inches.
What was the ‘Pioneer’s’ total mileage?
- 125,000 miles
- 255,675 miles
- 500,000 miles
- 1,000,000 miles
Correct Answer: 255,675 miles
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ logged an impressive 255,675 miles over its lifetime.
What type of valve gear did the ‘Pioneer’ use?
- Walschaerts
- Stephenson shifting-link
- Allen
- Baker
Correct Answer: Stephenson shifting-link
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ used a Stephenson shifting-link pattern valve gear to control the steam distribution to its cylinders.
The ‘Pioneer’ was damaged during a Confederate raid in 1862. What type of damage did the raid cause?
- The locomotive was completely destroyed.
- The locomotive’s boiler was damaged.
- The locomotive’s driving wheels were damaged.
- The locomotive’s frame was damaged.
Correct Answer: The locomotive’s boiler was damaged.
Correct Answer Explanation: Confederate raiders in 1862 damaged the ‘Pioneer’s’ boiler, necessitating repairs and likely affecting its use for passenger trains.
What was the ‘Pioneer’s’ water tank capacity?
- 200 gallons
- 400 gallons
- 600 gallons
- 800 gallons
Correct Answer: 600 gallons
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ had a water tank capacity of 600 gallons.
What is the name of the ‘Pioneer’s’ sister locomotive?
- ‘Jenny Lind’
- ‘The Rocket’
- ‘The Iron Horse’
- ‘The Flying Scotsman’
Correct Answer: ‘Jenny Lind’
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ was originally purchased alongside its sister locomotive, the ‘Jenny Lind’, which was also a single-axle passenger locomotive.
What did the ‘Pioneer’ cost when it was purchased by the Cumberland Valley Railroad?
- $2,000
- $4,000
- $7,642
- $10,000
Correct Answer: $7,642
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ cost $7,642 when the Cumberland Valley Railroad acquired it.
What was the ‘Pioneer’ used for after it was retired from regular service in 1881?
- It was scrapped.
- It was used for work trains.
- It was used for exhibitions.
- It was donated to a museum.
Correct Answer: It was used for exhibitions.
Correct Answer Explanation: After its retirement, the ‘Pioneer’ continued to be used for exhibitions, showcasing its historic significance.
Who invented the steam jet?
- Seth Wilmarth
- Alba F. Smith
- Captain Daniel Tyler
- A.S. Hull
Correct Answer: Alba F. Smith
Correct Answer Explanation: Alba F. Smith, the superintendent of the Cumberland Valley Railroad, invented the steam jet, a device that regulated the draft in a locomotive’s firebox.
The ‘Pioneer’ had two feedwater pumps. What was the capacity of each pump?
- 200 gallons
- 400 gallons
- 600 gallons
- 800 gallons
Correct Answer: 600 gallons
Correct Answer Explanation: Each feedwater pump on the ‘Pioneer’ could hold 600 gallons of water.
What was the ‘Pioneer’s’ tender capacity?
- 1/2 cord of wood
- 1 cord of wood
- 2 cords of wood
- 3 cords of wood
Correct Answer: 1 cord of wood
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’s’ tender could carry 1 cord of wood, enough to fuel the locomotive for a short trip.
What was the ‘Pioneer’s’ cab made of?
- Oak
- Pine
- Walnut
- Maple
Correct Answer: Walnut
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ featured a cab crafted from solid walnut wood.
What year did the Cumberland Valley Railroad acquire the ‘Pioneer’?
- 1845
- 1851
- 1862
- 1871
Correct Answer: 1851
Correct Answer Explanation: The Cumberland Valley Railroad purchased the ‘Pioneer’ in 1851, the same year it was built.
The ‘Pioneer’ was rebuilt in 1871. Who rebuilt the locomotive?
- Seth Wilmarth
- Alba F. Smith
- Captain Daniel Tyler
- A.S. Hull
Correct Answer: A.S. Hull
Correct Answer Explanation: A.S. Hull, the master mechanic of the Cumberland Valley Railroad, rebuilt the ‘Pioneer’ in 1871, likely adding a handbrake and potentially truck wheels.
What is the name of the style of boiler used on the ‘Pioneer’?
- Fire-tube boiler
- Scotch boiler
- Locomotive boiler
- Wagon-top boiler
Correct Answer: Wagon-top boiler
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ used a wagon-top boiler, a type of boiler with a cylindrical barrel and a curved top.
What was the length of each tube in the ‘Pioneer’s’ boiler?
- 50 inches
- 65 inches
- 85 inches
- 100 inches
Correct Answer: 85 inches
Correct Answer Explanation: Each of the 63 tubes in the ‘Pioneer’s’ boiler was 85 inches long.
What was the approximate depth of the ‘Pioneer’s’ firebox?
- 20 inches
- 30 inches
- 40 inches
- 50 inches
Correct Answer: 40 inches
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’s’ firebox was approximately 40 inches deep.
What was the bore of the ‘Pioneer’s’ cylinders?
- 6 inches
- 8 inches
- 8.5 inches
- 10 inches
Correct Answer: 8.5 inches
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’s’ cylinders had a bore of 8-1/2 inches.
What was the purpose of the ‘Pioneer’s’ sandboxes?
- To provide traction
- To prevent overheating
- To lubricate the wheels
- To collect rainwater
Correct Answer: To provide traction
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ had two sandboxes to distribute sand on the rails, improving traction, especially on slippery tracks.
What was the range of the ‘Pioneer’s’ headlamp?
- 500 feet
- 1,000 feet
- 1,500 feet
- 2,000 feet
Correct Answer: 1,000 feet
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ was equipped with a large headlamp capable of illuminating objects up to 1,000 feet away.
What was the thickness of each iron plate in the ‘Pioneer’s’ frame?
- 1/4 inch
- 1/2 inch
- 5/8 inch
- 3/4 inch
Correct Answer: 5/8 inch
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’s’ frame was constructed from two iron plates, each approximately 5/8 inch thick.
What year was the ‘Pioneer’ renovated by John Stine of the Smithsonian Museum staff?
- 1955
- 1960
- 1963
- 1966
Correct Answer: 1963
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ underwent renovation by John Stine, a member of the Smithsonian Museum staff, in 1963.
What type of stack did the ‘Pioneer’ have?
- Single stack
- Double stack
- Bonnet stack
- Diamond stack
Correct Answer: Bonnet stack
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ featured a bonnet stack, a common type of stack used on wood-burning locomotives between 1845 and 1870.
What was the ‘Pioneer’ considered to be a prime example of?
- A freight locomotive
- A passenger locomotive
- A light passenger locomotive
- A heavy passenger locomotive
Correct Answer: A light passenger locomotive
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ was considered to be a prime example of a light passenger locomotive, a type of locomotive designed for lighter loads and shorter distances.
Why was the ‘Pioneer’ a good choice for the Cumberland Valley Railroad?
- It could handle heavy loads.
- It was built for high speed.
- It was fuel-efficient and economical.
- It was a unique and impressive design.
Correct Answer: It was fuel-efficient and economical.
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ was a practical choice for the Cumberland Valley Railroad because it was a fuel-efficient and economical locomotive, well-suited for the lighter passenger loads and shorter distances on that line.
Which of the following was NOT an exhibition where the ‘Pioneer’ was displayed?
- The Louisiana Purchase Exposition
- The World’s Fair in Chicago
- The New York World’s Fair
- The Railroad Fair in Chicago
Correct Answer: The New York World’s Fair
Correct Answer Explanation: The ‘Pioneer’ was displayed at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the World’s Fair in Chicago (1933-1934), and the Railroad Fair in Chicago (1948) but not at the New York World’s Fair.
The ‘Pioneer’s’ single-axle design was uncommon in the United States but was becoming popular in what country?
- Germany
- France
- England
- Russia
Correct Answer: England
Correct Answer Explanation: The single-axle design, while unusual in the United States, was becoming more popular in England at the time of the ‘Pioneer’s’ construction.
What event occurred in 1862 that impacted the ‘Pioneer’ and the Cumberland Valley Railroad?
- The American Civil War
- The Great Depression
- The Industrial Revolution
- The Second World War
Correct Answer: The American Civil War
Correct Answer Explanation: The American Civil War in 1862 significantly affected the Cumberland Valley Railroad and its locomotives. Confederate raids caused damage to the railroad’s infrastructure, including the ‘Pioneer’.