TRANSCRIPTIONS BY BRUCE CHAPMAN AND COLIN CHURCHER
OF ARTICLES
BY AUSTIN CROSS IN THE OTTAWA CITIZEN




"The Smallest Railway" Not There He Argues, Published 1 October 1955

Lt. Col. W. K. Walker sends me a card which reveals what is described as "The Smallest Railway" in the world. Its the Eskdale Valley route. My reason for writing this paragraph is to dispute the information. Frankly I do not believe this is the smallest railroad in the world. Somebody is always claiming this honor for two rails somewhere in the world. For instance, until fairly recently, "The Valley Railroad" in Pennsylvania was one (1) mile long and as far as I know, it was the smallest. Now that it has been abandoned, I have no doubt I can find a railway shorter than two miles in the Official Railway Guide. Much obliged to Col. Walker for thinking of me.

* * *

Meanwhile, I believe the longest named railway station has been sent me by Marcia Watts de Blois. In a card from Llandudno, she sends me a picture of the station displaying its name. Here it is: LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRNDROBWLLLANTYSILIOGOGOGOCH. Pity the brakeman calling it.

* * *

J. Lesie Harries, assistant supervisor of the Sun Life's publicity department and rail fan, draws to my attention that the Super Continental will be breaking the all time record when she starts running from Montreal to Ottawa in two hours. The twin diesels on No. 1 and 2 will really burn those 11.7 miles of Canadian National track.

CJC Note:
1. Cross is merely thinking of track length. The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway is a small, narrow gauge railway.
2. I have corrected the spelling of Llanfair p g.

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