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We are paying the price for inventing trains in the first place. Much of the present infrastructure was laid out in the 1840-50's!
Countries that followed learn't from our mistakes!
Catenary is lower because the loading gauge is smaller.
The original West Coast Elecifiction was lowered to save the cost of rebuilding all the bridges and enlarging tunnels, which is why many steam engines ended up with yellow stripes on their cab sides.
The bigger engines running on the main line now eg the Duchess have been lowered to work under the wires.
If you compare the width and depth of our canals compared with those on the continent you will find the same thing for the same reason, which is why there is much more commercial traffic on canals on the continent.
We can be very proud of giving the world railways. The downside is our very restricted loading gauge.
Last edited by John H-T; 17th July 2006 at 22:01.
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