In October we counted the ways to cross the Thames, what other facts do you know about traversing London’s waterway? As before the correct answer will turn green when it’s clicked upon and expanded to give more information. The incorrect answers will turn red giving the correct explanation.
1. Can you remember how many ways there were to cross the Thames that was publicly accessible to humans?
49
WRONG A total of 11 routes to cross the Thames on a London Underground line, plus 14 other railway crossings. There are 25 roads and/or footbridges to cross the Thames, plus 5 pedestrian/vehicle tunnels. We have 3 boat and ferry services offering direct routes across the Thames. In addition the cable car between Royal Docks and North Greenwich, whatever they call it this week. The total number of ways to cross the Thames by this count is 59.
59
CORRECT A total of 11 routes to cross the Thames on a London Underground line, plus 14 other railway crossings. There are 25 roads and/or footbridges to cross the Thames, plus 5 pedestrian/vehicle tunnels. We have 3 boat and ferry services offering direct routes across the Thames. In addition the cable car between Royal Docks and North Greenwich, whatever they call it this week. The total number of ways to cross the Thames by this count is 59.
39
WRONG A total of 11 routes to cross the Thames on a London Underground line, plus 14 other railway crossings. There are 25 roads and/or footbridges to cross the Thames, plus 5 pedestrian/vehicle tunnels. We have 3 boat and ferry services offering direct routes across the Thames. In addition the cable car between Royal Docks and North Greenwich, whatever they call it this week. The total number of ways to cross the Thames by this count is 59.
2. On 30th December 1952 Albert Gunter made the newspapers for his unusual river crossing. Why?
He was the first to paraglide across the Thames
WRONG On the 30th December 1952, Albert Gunter was travelling north over Tower Bridge when it started to open, he accelerated and successfully jumped the bridge with only one injury, the bus conductor broke his leg. Albert was awarded £10 and a day off work for his quick thinking.
He jumped Tower Bridge while driving a bus
CORRECT On the 30th December 1952, Albert Gunter was travelling north over Tower Bridge when it started to open, he accelerated and successfully jumped the bridge with only one injury, the bus conductor broke his leg. Albert was awarded £10 and a day off work for his quick thinking.
He walked on a tightrope between Tower Bridge’s towers
WRONG On the 30th December 1952, Albert Gunter was travelling north over Tower Bridge when it started to open, he accelerated and successfully jumped the bridge with only one injury, the bus conductor broke his leg. Albert was awarded £10 and a day off work for his quick thinking.
3. What have John Burns, Ernest Bevin and James Newman to do with crossing the Thames?
They’re the names of three 1963-built Woolwich ferries
CORRECT The Ernest Bevin, John Burns and James Newman ferries, named after local politicians, have been chugging vehicles across the Thames to and from Woolwich for more than 50 years. The old sea dogs made their last trip on 5th October 2018.
They’re politicians who opened a tunnel under the Thames on the Jubilee Line
WRONG The Ernest Bevin, John Burns and James Newman ferries, named after local politicians, have been chugging vehicles across the Thames to and from Woolwich for more than 50 years. The old sea dogs made their last trip on 5th October 2018.
They’re captains of Uber Boats by Thames Clippers
WRONG The Ernest Bevin, John Burns and James Newman ferries, named after local politicians, have been chugging vehicles across the Thames to and from Woolwich for more than 50 years. The old sea dogs made their last trip on 5th October 2018.
4. A notice on Albert Bridge commands soldiers to do what?
Stop marching
CORRECT The notice reads: All troops must break step when marching over this bridge. In 1831 the Broughton Suspension Bridge collapsed as a troop of 74 men marched across. Investigations put this down to the effects of mechanical resonance and the army issued an order that troops should ‘break step’ when crossing a bridge.
Stop whistling
WRONG The notice reads: All troops must break step when marching over this bridge. In 1831 the Broughton Suspension Bridge collapsed as a troop of 74 men marched across. Investigations put this down to the effects of mechanical resonance and the army issued an order that troops should ‘break step’ when crossing a bridge.
Stop crossing
WRONG The notice reads: All troops must break step when marching over this bridge. In 1831 the Broughton Suspension Bridge collapsed as a troop of 74 men marched across. Investigations put this down to the effects of mechanical resonance and the army issued an order that troops should ‘break step’ when crossing a bridge.
5. Which bridge carries the A3 over the Thames?
London Bridge
CORRECT The A3, known as the Portsmouth Road is a major road connecting the City of London and Portsmouth via London Bridge, passing close to Kingston upon Thames, Guildford, Haslemere and Petersfield.
Blackfriars Bridge
WRONG The A3, known as the Portsmouth Road is a major road connecting the City of London and Portsmouth via London Bridge, passing close to Kingston upon Thames, Guildford, Haslemere and Petersfield.
Westminster Bridge
WRONG The A3, known as the Portsmouth Road is a major road connecting the City of London and Portsmouth via London Bridge, passing close to Kingston upon Thames, Guildford, Haslemere and Petersfield.
6. Why are there said to be sharp bends at each end of the Rotherhithe Tunnel?
Built to avoid plague pits
WRONG An urban myth is that the bends were installed to prevent horses from seeing daylight at the end of the tunnel too early, which might make them bolt for the exit.
To stop horses bolting for the exit
CORRECT An urban myth is that the bends were installed to prevent horses from seeing daylight at the end of the tunnel too early, which might make them bolt for the exit.
To slow traffic
WRONG An urban myth is that the bends were installed to prevent horses from seeing daylight at the end of the tunnel too early, which might make them bolt for the exit.
7. Which tunnel is longer to walk?
Woolwich Tunnel
WRONG Designed by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice, the Rotherhithe Tunnel was constructed using both a tunnelling ‘shield’ and the ‘cut and cover’ method, at 4,860 feet in length is four times longer than Greenwich Tunnel.
Greenwich Tunnel
WRONG Designed by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice, the Rotherhithe Tunnel was constructed using both a tunnelling ‘shield’ and the ‘cut and cover’ method, at 4,860 feet in length is four times longer than Greenwich Tunnel.
Rotherhithe Tunnel
CORRECT Designed by Sir Maurice Fitzmaurice, the Rotherhithe Tunnel was constructed using both a tunnelling ‘shield’ and the ‘cut and cover’ method, at 4,860 feet in length is four times longer than Greenwich Tunnel.
8. Whose motorcade was accidentally split in two when Tower Bridge’s bascules opened in May 1997?
His Holiness Pope John Paul II
WRONG When President Clinton was returning late and behind schedule to the American Embassy from lunch with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at a restaurant on the banks of the Thames, to the horror of his forward security detail who had already crossed the Tower Bridge and cleared traffic for the President’s safe journey, the bridge suddenly opened behind them for a yacht called Gladys which passed beneath on the exact scheduled time previously agreed to by the Embassy.
French President Jacques Chirac
WRONG When President Clinton was returning late and behind schedule to the American Embassy from lunch with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at a restaurant on the banks of the Thames, to the horror of his forward security detail who had already crossed the Tower Bridge and cleared traffic for the President’s safe journey, the bridge suddenly opened behind them for a yacht called Gladys which passed beneath on the exact scheduled time previously agreed to by the Embassy.
President Bill Clinton
CORRECT When President Clinton was returning late and behind schedule to the American Embassy from lunch with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at a restaurant on the banks of the Thames, to the horror of his forward security detail who had already crossed the Tower Bridge and cleared traffic for the President’s safe journey, the bridge suddenly opened behind them for a yacht called Gladys which passed beneath on the exact scheduled time previously agreed to by the Embassy.
9. What is the surname of the father-son team who built the first tunnel under the Thames, which opened in 1843 and now carries trains between Wapping and Rotherhithe?
Brunel
CORRECT Built between 1825 and 1843 by Marc Brunel and his son Isambard using the tunnel shield, was originally designed for horse-drawn carriages, but was mainly used by pedestrians and became a tourist attraction. In 1869 it was converted into a railway tunnel which, since 2010, is part of the London Overground Railway Network.
Rennie
WRONG Built between 1825 and 1843 by Marc Brunel and his son Isambard using the tunnel shield, was originally designed for horse-drawn carriages, but was mainly used by pedestrians and became a tourist attraction. In 1869 it was converted into a railway tunnel which, since 2010, is part of the London Overground Railway Network.
Locke
WRONG Built between 1825 and 1843 by Marc Brunel and his son Isambard using the tunnel shield, was originally designed for horse-drawn carriages, but was mainly used by pedestrians and became a tourist attraction. In 1869 it was converted into a railway tunnel which, since 2010, is part of the London Overground Railway Network.
10. How many times does the Jubilee Line pass under the Thames?
3
WRONG The Jubilee line crosses beneath the Thames an impressive four times within nine stops: between Westminster and Waterloo; Canada Water and Canary Wharf; Canary Wharf and North Greenwich; and North Greenwich and Canning Town.
4
CORRECT The Jubilee line crosses beneath the Thames an impressive four times within nine stops: between Westminster and Waterloo; Canada Water and Canary Wharf; Canary Wharf and North Greenwich; and North Greenwich and Canning Town.
2
WRONG The Jubilee line crosses beneath the Thames an impressive four times within nine stops: between Westminster and Waterloo; Canada Water and Canary Wharf; Canary Wharf and North Greenwich; and North Greenwich and Canning Town.
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