Re: Irish Gauge

["Stephen Crawshaw" <healthlinkAT@ultra.net.au>]

According to the history books, the Ulster Company commenced building a line
to Dublin with 6ft 2in gauge. The Drogheda Company coming north to meet
them, set out from Dublin with a 5ft 2in gauge. The compromise was 5ft 3in.
There were, however a plethora of 3ft gauge light railways, so that a truly
national gauge for Ireland did not exist by 1900.

S Crawshaw

John Duncan McCallum <mccallum@melbpc.org.au> wrote in message
3819785D.51DC8575@melbpc.org.au">news:3819785D.51DC8575@melbpc.org.au...
>
>
> John Dennis wrote:
>
> > I have just been asked why Victoria ran on 5'3" and New South Wales on
> > standard gauge.  I know all the Australian history of those decisions,
> > and was able to answer the query.  I was then asked why the Irish chose
> > 5'3" as opposed to the Biritish standard gauge.
>
> > Can anybody assist with an answer ...
>
> > JD
>
> > John Dennis
>
> I cannot vouch for the truth of the following, but you never know! :-)
>
> It was said that, when the Irish wanted to build a railway, they sent
> over
> a person to measure the track so as to have a "standard" gauge.
> Unfortunately,
> said person measured over the outside of the rails, which just happened
> to be
> 5' 3". It does not explain how India and Spain got 5' 6" though.
>
> John McCallum