Re: Suburban densities and rail service (was Re: Putting light rail in subway)

[billboltonREMOVE-TO-EMAIL@computer.org (Bill Bolton)]

Deeg <galtfd@att.net> wrote:

> It's easy to criticise looking back from the year 2000. But when the
> railways were first established, the idea that anybody would ever
> travel overland between colonial capitals rather than by sea was too
> ludicrous to be contemplated. In fact, intercolonial travel of any
> sort wasn't of concern to most people. The rail systems began as
> feeders to seaports. By the time the state networks were extended to
> meet each other the gauges were long established.

Quite a lot of regauging has gone on in the US over the years to
achieve the current widespread standardised gauge environment.

Its not like everyone selected the same gauge to start with there
either, with different areas initially electing to go with a gauge
that suited their local view of things.  It was the US Civil War
experience that really started the push for gauge standardisation in
the US.

Australia didn't really meet that sort of pressure to standardise
until World War II,and even then its taken 40+ years since to get to
the current "all mainland state capitals" directly connected by a
standard gauge.

Cheers,

Bill