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Moonstruck · 06-07-2007, 02:24 AM

Guys! there are no moderators online so I thought I'd slip this one in! Lol!

There's $20 on this. Having just watched a marathon fest of 2 series of The Sopranos, and always watching the titles for the fantastic theme tune. The question arises: What is the definition of a Turnpike. It sounds like a junction but I'm sure it's a road.

If I win I will send this thread to my other half and demand payment. If I don't we'll just forget about it! Lol!

Thanks

Marc

yukionna · 06-07-2007, 02:56 AM

A turnpike is typically a road that charges a toll.

flyfisher · 06-07-2007, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yukionna

A turnpike is typically a road that charges a toll.

Additionally, if you refer specifically to the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the toll is typically outrageously high and holes in the roadway are treacherously deep.

Another Question:

In Lancaster County, PA there are a number of roadways that I understand once charged tolls, many years ago, but no longer do so. Today, they are officially called "Pikes".

For example, there's the Harrisburg Pike, the Oregon Pike, and the Fruitville Pike.

What's the difference between a "Turnpike" and a "Pike"?

John

yukionna · 06-07-2007, 05:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyfisher

What's the difference between a "Turnpike" and a "Pike"?

Good question. I would venture a guess that "pike" might just be a shortened version of the word "turnpike".

enduroryda · 06-07-2007, 05:42 AM

All the "Pikes" that are around us are secondary 2 lane routes that lead to a major city.

aka..Putnam Pike...which is Route 44 that heads towards Providence.

We had a "Turnpike" going through our town (4 lanes) which use to be called Route 52 but then the state came through took out the tolls and renamed it 395.

Hope you win your bet

markdoane · 06-07-2007, 05:49 AM

Did Turnpike Trusts Increase Transportation Investment in Eighteenth-Century England?

Turnpike trusts were private organizations that financed road improvements by levying tolls and issuing mortgage debt. They were established by Acts of Parliament throughout the seventeenth, eighteenth, and early nineteenth centuries. The acts transferred authority from parishes to a body of trustees, composed of local landowners and merchants. Parishes financed road improvements with local property taxes; but they could not levy tolls. This article uses a new data set to show that turnpike trusts increased road expenditure, rather than replacing existing or forthcoming parish expenditure. It also illustrates how institutional changes contributed to the process of economic development in England.

DAN BOGART
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, University of California, Irvine,

. . . . and this early court case may describe the origin of the word:

1642 The magistrates court at Cirencester heard a case in which:-

Each end of the High Street ... was secured against a horse, with a strong straight boom which our men call Turn pike. A barrier with short metal spikes along the upper surface, placed across a road to stop passage till the toll has been paid.

dudebb · 06-07-2007, 05:55 AM

How does one determine if there are no moderators on line??

By the way, my office is believed to have been a toll collectors house in the past which is currently situated beside West Chester Pike in Edgemont, PA. The tolls were collected in the 1800's and early 1900's by both private citizens and/or municipalities that may have had these roads running through their properties. I believe the Pennsylvania Turnpike was the first major toll highway built specifically for car and truck traffic utilizing a modern roadway engineering. It was quite an engineering feat at the time tunneling through a few mountains. It is constantly undergoing construction and resurfacing and yes pothole repairs!
George

lewster · 06-07-2007, 05:55 AM

Nice research markdoane!

BTW, the actual word 'turnpike' refers to the long 'pike' or pole that was used to block the road at the toll hose. The gate keeper would then 'turn' the 'pike' to allow you access to the road when you had paid the toll.

tamis · 06-07-2007, 05:59 AM

Don't let your government find out about this. You'll be sorry.

T

overlander63 · 06-07-2007, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudebb

How does one determine if there are no moderators on line??

George, you can look at "who's online" near the bottom of the portal page. All users are in blue type, except moderators, who are in bold blue type. If there are no users in bold blue type, that means no moderators are currently logged on. Of course, we sometimes surf the forums without logging on, so we may be here, even when we're not...

Boondocker · 06-07-2007, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlander63

If there are no users in bold blue type, that means no moderators are currently logged on. Of course, we sometimes surf the forums without logging on, so we may be here, even when we're not...

On the other hand, I am often not here, even when I am

raebaker06 · 06-07-2007, 07:42 AM

Not all here...Do you mean not all there?

Moonstruck · 06-08-2007, 02:14 AM

Thanks folks!
I now declare this thread officially dead! My other half has developed selective memory and now says that she was right! Never mind, I Love Her dearly and the good news is she's taking her prize in kind.
It's a bloody ill wind that blows nobody any good - and on that thought a piece of advice - don't eat scallops! Lol!

yukionna · 06-08-2007, 05:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonstruck

Thanks folks!
I now declare this thread officially dead! My other half has developed selective memory and now says that she was right! Never mind, I Love Her dearly and the good news is she's taking her prize in kind.
It's a bloody ill wind that blows nobody any good - and on that thought a piece of advice - don't eat scallops! Lol!

So, please tell us what she thought the definition of a turnpike was? I saw your definition in the first post (i.e., a junction or a road).

toastie · 06-08-2007, 05:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yukionna

Good question. I would venture a guess that "pike" might just be a shortened version of the word "turnpike".

turnpike, road paid for partly or wholly by fees collected from travelers at tollgates. It derives its name from the hinged bar that prevented passage through such a gate until the toll was paid. See also road.

LoydBonifide · 06-08-2007, 05:40 AM

Ah, by why then, do we park in a driveway and drive on a parkway?

dudebb · 06-08-2007, 06:04 AM

Thanks Terry!
George

Moonstruck · 06-08-2007, 08:06 AM

She said it was a junction for a toll road - a toll plaza
Marc

yukionna · 06-08-2007, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Moonstruck

She said it was a junction for a toll road - a toll plaza
Marc

Technically you were both correct but just not entirely correct.

She said toll plaza and you said a road. When you put the two answers together, you get a TURNPIKE!

raebaker06 · 06-08-2007, 08:15 AM

A pike is la long pole and was used as a weapon way back when in Merry old England. Like a spear.
It was layed across a road (which was private) and you had to pay to use the road. When paid it was turned aside and you were allowed to pass.
Therefore a turnpike is a toll road.

Rae