A railway Octopus

Mike Haslam · Post by **Mike Haslam** » 25 Jan 2007, 13:08

A quizz question.

In railway terms, what is an 'Octopus'?

Kevin Wilson-Smith · Post by **Kevin Wilson-Smith** » 25 Jan 2007, 13:47

Let me guess - it sounds like something with a lot of legs, so it is probably mechanical and maybe has something to do with signalling or train movements?

John Ashworth · Post by **John Ashworth** » 25 Jan 2007, 13:47

It's a smart card with embedded chip used on the Hong Kong mass transit system, similar to (and probably the fore-runner of) the Oyster card now used in London.

Then in Australia there's the so-called â€˜Octopusâ€™ Railway Act of 1884, which provided transport across the rural areas and made Melbourne the centre of commerce and industry.

"The Octopus: A California Story" is a 1901 novel by Frank Norris. It describes the raising of wheat in California, and conflict between the wheat growers and a railway company. Norris was inspired by role of the Southern Pacific Railroad in events surrounding the Mussel Slough Tragedy. It depicts the corrupt railroad and the consquences it faces from avenging ranchers.

And of course the Bulawayo Railway Museum does have a 1957 Leyland Octopus - it's a lorry, not a train, but then it is in a railway museum...

Nathan Berelowitz · Post by **Nathan Berelowitz** » 28 Jan 2007, 19:20

i thought an octopus was a green thing that runs trains all over the place and has its hands on everything, taking what it wants when it wants and bot letting it go!1 Hows that for a first attempt in getting the hang of using this format thanks to some fine notes from John A and kind words from Kevin!!

John Ashworth · Post by **John Ashworth** » 28 Jan 2007, 19:24

Well done Nathan!

Well, since it is well known that octopuses (octopi?) squirt ink, and everyone knows that railways all over the world are very bureaucratic and require loads of paperwork, maybe the connection is the ink?

Kevin Wilson-Smith · Post by **Kevin Wilson-Smith** » 29 Jan 2007, 08:56

Welcome Nathan.

And now I will put everyone out of their misery.

A "squid" is an explosive device placed on a rail to warn a following train.

However, where there is a situation where say two or three lines converge, and it is possibilty (because they are trailing) to slip the points, then an "octopus" is used......