Standard Gauge: Was it a Mistake?

But there's no reason why say, the US had to use the same gauge.

I mean yes, it would be easier in the days when we imported locomotives from Britain, but that ended fairly quickly in the US railroad age as a major factor (though exact dates are escaping me, certainly by the 1850s).
 
But there's no reason why say, the US had to use the same gauge.

I mean yes, it would be easier in the days when we imported locomotives from Britain, but that ended fairly quickly in the US railroad age as a major factor (though exact dates are escaping me, certainly by the 1850s).

Standard gauge was made "standard" in Britain in 1845 though. By the time the US stops importing engines in the 50s it's already had a decade of accepting the primacy of 8' 4.5"
 

Hoist40

Banned
British locomotives were not considered to be suitable for American railroads. The maximum number imported was 26 in 1835, after that the numbers fall off sharply. American railroads did not have the money for building smooth, straight track and so the ridged British engines of the time did not work well in many places. That is why the US developed the "American" type locomotive with 4 wheels in front and 4 driving wheels in back on a flexible 3 point suspension system.

Also the US did not really standardize on 4’ 8 1/2” gauge until after the Civil War. Prior to that 6 foot, 5 foot and many types around 4’ 8” but not the same.
 
British locomotives were not considered to be suitable for American railroads. The maximum number imported was 26 in 1835, after that the numbers fall off sharply. American railroads did not have the money for building smooth, straight track and so the ridged British engines of the time did not work well in many places. That is why the US developed the "American" type locomotive with 4 wheels in front and 4 driving wheels in back on a flexible 3 point suspension system.

This (though I'd love a source on the number - not contesting it, just in a period of rebuilding my collection of railroad history books after getting rid of many after moving a few years ago).

It's enough to be a strong influence, but it's not enough to make it a given Britain is seen as a model.
 

Hoist40

Banned
This (though I'd love a source on the number - not contesting it, just in a period of rebuilding my collection of railroad history books after getting rid of many after moving a few years ago).
.

The source is the book “American Locomotives, An Engineering History, 1830 -1880“ page 7 by John H White. It also says that a total of about 120 British locomotives were imported into the US between 1829-1841.
 
The source is the book “American Locomotives, An Engineering History, 1830 -1880“ page 7 by John H White. It also says that a total of about 120 British locomotives were imported into the US between 1829-1841.

Ah yes, that book. Darn good reference for both understanding OTL, and (IMO) getting a sense of how an ATL might see steam locomotive evolution - there's a fair amount of engineering at work to develop them, even if the basics are worked out within a generation.

I wonder if there's an equivalent for other countries (and I wish there was - at least, Amazon doesn't mention one - one for the next era, while I'm engaging in hopeful thoughts).


So why did US lines embrace "standard" gauge? Even pre-ACW, it seems to have been in a strong position (if hardly the only one).

Given what I remember from White's book, sheer practicality was not the only consideration at work, but locomotive designers and railroad builders weren't stupid.
 
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