Re: Why one narrow guage versus another?

Chris Walker Wrote:
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> I forgot about Tasmania they are or were using our
> Diesels after the Wisconsin Central crowd moved
> in. Some of our DC's went there. Not certain if
> Tassie is even running that rail system now.
>


Oh dear, I forgot about Tasmania as well, sorry Tassie! I believe that the Tasmanian Government took control back when WC made an absolute shambles of the system, as far as I know they are still in control and running as TasRail, a lot of money has been invested in the rail network.
The author A. E. Durant made an interesting observation in one of his books about the state of the railways in Australia in about 1920, basically criticising the folly of so called standardisation of railways in Australia, the standard gauge Trans Australia Railway had been just built across our continent that connected the South Australian and Western Australia Railways narrow gauge systems at each end. At that time there was more 42" gauge track in Australia than broad and standard combined, he had some splendid tables that showed the South African Railways, were pulling bigger trains faster and with far more powerful locomotives on their 42" than anything on either the broad or standard gauge in Australia!
Sorry about the improptu history lesson.

Wayne from Oz.