B&O Trivia – Round 4: 1910s-1940s

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Quiz Questions

1.
B&O President Daniel Willard united nearly 70 top railroad leaders to create the “Railroad War Board” on April 11th, 1917 with the power to run the railroad companies as if they were a “continental railway system”, prioritizing troop and supply movement to the East Coast for transport to Europe. Despite their best efforts, this endeavor was ill-fated and the federal government took control of all railroads on December 28th, 1917, forming the United States Railroad Administration (USRA). Which of the following did NOT contribute to this takeover?
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- A.
  A growing national shortage of freight equipment and locomotives
- B.
  Growing tensions between members of the war board, who had previously been business rivals, resulting in physical altercations
- C.
  Conflicting priority orders from the army, the navy, and the United States Shipping Board which disrupted and snarled rail traffic
- D.
  Early arrival of an extremely harsh winter in the northeast
2.
Many employees of the B&O Railroad volunteered or were drafted into military service in WWI. 97 B&O employees were killed in action, 103 seriously wounded, and two were awarded the military’s highest honors: the Distinguished Service Cross to Corporal Harry Weymouth Fanning and the Medal of Honor to Sergeant John C. Squires (pictured here). How many B&O employees fought in WWI?
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- A.
  706
- B.
  1,204
- C.
  6,794
- D.
  10,006
3.
In 1929, the Great Depression began to take its toll on American industry, including the railroads. B&O stock fell from a high of $145 per share to just under $4. Combining this with widespread reductions in freight and passenger traffic, and the growing costs of maintaining and manning the B&O’s extensive network, the B&O had to think outside of the box to survive. What are some of the tactics they employed during these years of economic uncertainty?
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- A.
  All B&O workers, including executives, took a 10% wage reduction
- B.
  The company took out a series of large loans from the federal government to pay for track and equipment maintenance, payrolls, and bonds that were due to investors
- C.
  They sold old properties that were no longer profitable
- D.
  All of the above
4.
The B&O Railroad played a part in many technological firsts, including telecommunications. Perhaps the most famous of these is the first message sent by telegram in 1844, which was received at the B&O’s Mount Clare Station in Baltimore, now the B&O Railroad Museum. Which telecommunications first did NOT happen on a B&O train? (Check all that are true)
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- A.
  The first live radio broadcast from a moving train
- B.
  The first reception of a live television broadcast on a moving train
- C.
  The first cell phone call made from a moving train
5.
WWI saw the recruitment of women into positions they had never held before to cover gaps left by men fighting overseas. During WWII, the number of women working in heavy industries increased greatly, as well. The B&O actively recruited the wives, mothers, sisters, and daughters of male employees to bolster the workforce. What kinds of jobs did women railroad workers hold during wartime? (Check all that apply)
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- A.
  Maintenance of way track workers
- B.
  Metal workers and machinists
- C.
  Car and engine cleaners
- D.
  Equipment operators
- E.
  Porters and baggage handlers
6.
At the end of WWII in 1947, Americans filled over 700 train cars with food, clothing, and fuel (worth over $40 million) which was sent overseas to aid victims of warfare in Italy and France. Known as the American Friendship Train, it traveled from Los Angeles to New York City, picking up filled cars as it went along, and was meant to be a symbolic effort of the Marshall Plan. How did the people of France respond to this gesture?
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- A.
  They returned the favor by sending a special thank you train with gifts for all 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Hawaii.
- B.
  They gifted New York City with the Statue of Liberty
- C.
  They held a ceremony in Paris where they bestowed their highest award on President Truman
- D.
  They sent a warmly worded thank you note to the US Congress
7.
Olive Wetzel Dennis is well known in the railroading community as the first “service engineer” in the transportation industry. In an industry lacking women in the workforce, she was responsible for many innovations in passenger service. In fact, the famed Cincinnatian train line included all of her inventions in one place. Which of the following was NOT an Olive Dennis innovation?
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- A.
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  Reclining chairs
- B.
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  Stain-resistant upholstery for the seats and flooring
- C.
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  Dimmable ceiling lights
- D.
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  Individual window vents for letting in fresh air
- E.
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  Service trolley to sell meals directly to customers in their seats
- F.
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  Air-conditioned train compartments
8.
In the 1930s and 1940s, railroads like the B&O began modifying and building “streamlined” steam locomotives, which quickly made all other steam locomotives seem antiquated and inefficient. Why did the B&O invest in streamlined locomotives?
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- A.
  Attractive appearance for marketing appeal
- B.
  More aerodynamic for increased speeds
- C.
  Easier maintenance and better performance
- D.
  All of the above

Quiz Outcomes

1.
Better luck next time...
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You can perfect your B&O knowledge for next time at www.borail.org. MORE QUIZZES & ACTIVITIES: Check out all our trivia rounds as they come out, as well as more quizzes, games and activities by the B&O Railroad Museum at www.BOLivesOn.org/games PRIZES: Every Wednesday at 5 PM until May 6, 2020, a new #BOTrivia quiz will be released on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. To be entered to win a premium puzzle from the B&O Railroad Museum Store, just share the quiz and shout out your score on Facebook, comment your score and tag a friend on Instagram, or reply with your score on Twitter. Repeat for the new quiz each week to boost your entries! Winners will be randomly selected on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - one week after the final quiz is released.
2.
Better luck next time...
Image Source
You can perfect your B&O knowledge for next time at www.borail.org. MORE QUIZZES & ACTIVITIES: Check out all our trivia rounds as they come out, as well as more quizzes, games and activities by the B&O Railroad Museum at www.BOLivesOn.org/games PRIZES: Every Wednesday at 5 PM until May 6, 2020, a new #BOTrivia quiz will be released on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. To be entered to win a premium puzzle from the B&O Railroad Museum Store, just share the quiz and shout out your score on Facebook, comment your score and tag a friend on Instagram, or reply with your score on Twitter. Repeat for the new quiz each week to boost your entries! Winners will be randomly selected on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - one week after the final quiz is released.
3.
Congrats!
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You can perfect your B&O knowledge for next time at www.borail.org. MORE QUIZZES & ACTIVITIES: Check out all our trivia rounds as they come out, as well as more quizzes, games and activities by the B&O Railroad Museum at www.BOLivesOn.org/games PRIZES: Every Wednesday at 5 PM until May 6, 2020, a new #BOTrivia quiz will be released on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. To be entered to win a premium puzzle from the B&O Railroad Museum Store, just share the quiz and shout out your score on Facebook, comment your score and tag a friend on Instagram, or reply with your score on Twitter. Repeat for the new quiz each week to boost your entries! Winners will be randomly selected on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - one week after the final quiz is released.
4.
You're awesome!
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Great job! Can't get enough B&O? Check out www.borail.org. MORE QUIZZES & ACTIVITIES: Check out all our trivia rounds as they come out, as well as more quizzes, games and activities by the B&O Railroad Museum at www.BOLivesOn.org/games PRIZES: Every Wednesday at 5 PM until May 6, 2020, a new #BOTrivia quiz will be released on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. To be entered to win a premium puzzle from the B&O Railroad Museum Store, just share the quiz and shout out your score on Facebook, comment your score and tag a friend on Instagram, or reply with your score on Twitter. Repeat for the new quiz each week to boost your entries! Winners will be randomly selected on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - one week after the final quiz is released.
5.
Perfect - You're a true rail fan!
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A true B&O genius. Make sure you keep playing out trivia quizzes and check out www.borail.org for even more B&O facts! MORE QUIZZES & ACTIVITIES: Check out all our trivia rounds as they come out, as well as more quizzes, games and activities by the B&O Railroad Museum at www.BOLivesOn.org/games PRIZES: Every Wednesday at 5 PM until May 6, 2020, a new #BOTrivia quiz will be released on our Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. To be entered to win a premium puzzle from the B&O Railroad Museum Store, just share the quiz and shout out your score on Facebook, comment your score and tag a friend on Instagram, or reply with your score on Twitter. Repeat for the new quiz each week to boost your entries! Winners will be randomly selected on Wednesday, May 13, 2020 - one week after the final quiz is released.

B&amp;O Trivia – Round 4: 1910s-1940s

Quiz Questions

Quiz Outcomes

B&O Trivia – Round 4: 1910s-1940s