Why are railway gauges different?
Broader gauge railways are generally more expensive to build, because they are usually heavier in construction, use larger cars and locomotives (larger loading gauge), as well as larger bridges, larger tunnels (larger structure gauge). But broader gauges offer higher speed and capacity.
What was the best result of gauge standardization?
What was the best result of gauge standardization? A vast transportation network was created. What effect did the railroads have on the amount of time necessary to travel from coast to coast? It cut the time from several months to six days.
Why was there no standard gauge railroad in the United States?
In the early days of rail transport in the United States, railroads tended to be built out of coastal cities into the rural interior and hinterland and systems did not connect. Each builder was free to choose its own gauge, although the availability of British-built locomotives encouraged some railroads to be built to standard gauge.
Why was there a 4 foot track gauge?
The gauge of 4 feet, 8-1/2 inches came here mainly because American engineers expected – erroneously – to use a great many British locomotives. Because early American railroads were expected only to connect bodies of water that were impractical to connect with canals, there is no reason to have expected much gauge uniformity.
How did the Transcontinental Railroad change its gauge?
As railways proliferated and travel expanded in the 1850s and 1860s, the breaks in gauge presented continual problems. A number of remedies were attempted. “Compromise cars” were built with 5-inch-wide wheels, an inch wider than normal, to allow them to travel on standard tracks and on four-foot-ten-inch-wide tracks.
What was the first rail gauge in England?
Standardization of American Rail Gauge. Stephenson used that gauge in 1830 when designing the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the first rail line in England. The width came to be called the “Stephenson gauge.”. Opinions varied on the best rail gauge and a few British railroads chose different, wider gauges.