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East and West? was: Why were gondolas more popular in the west for hauling minerals than hoppers?
Jerry Michels
Thought it was Middle East not Mideast😊 Anyway, I've been remiss in going too far afield with this, although the geography applies to steam era freight cars to an extent. But to bring this topic back to normal, I have an interest in the Quanah Acme and Pacific, a Frisco sub that went to Floydada in the Texas Panhandle. Were Frisco cabooses used on the QA&P?
Jerry Michels
Not that I am aware.
The direct interchange of railcars to other rail lines, no matter where they maybe, requires the receiving rail line to use the same standards for clearances, track gauge, couplers and brake systems.
Rail gauge is the most obvious difference, but there are differences in coupler designs and also different brake systems which are not compatible.
The US standard is not quite the same for all South American or Central American railroads, nor for European, Middle Eastern and some Asian railroads.
For the most part, railroads in most other countries are controlled and run or owned by the national government.
Another was building railways in colonial countries, such as done in the expanding British Empire of the 1800's.
When many such railroads we first built they used English engineering and design which set their standard. Egypt, Israel (Palestine back then) and Jordan's railways (India's too) were built to what became the 'standard gauge,' using English designs for motive power and rolling stock along with English couplings and vacuum brake systems.
Such were railways in many other places under British influence.
World War II had the effect of changing the way some railroads were equipped and operated, using US design equipment modified for their clearances yet using knuckle couplers and air brakes. Even at that, such differences and the prospect of long, trans-oceanic voyages for interchanging rail freight also makes it less than desirable for the bottom line, which is to make a profit.
Ed Bommer
The direct interchange of railcars to other rail lines, no matter where they maybe, requires the receiving rail line to use the same standards for clearances, track gauge, couplers and brake systems.
Rail gauge is the most obvious difference, but there are differences in coupler designs and also different brake systems which are not compatible.
The US standard is not quite the same for all South American or Central American railroads, nor for European, Middle Eastern and some Asian railroads.
For the most part, railroads in most other countries are controlled and run or owned by the national government.
Another was building railways in colonial countries, such as done in the expanding British Empire of the 1800's.
When many such railroads we first built they used English engineering and design which set their standard. Egypt, Israel (Palestine back then) and Jordan's railways (India's too) were built to what became the 'standard gauge,' using English designs for motive power and rolling stock along with English couplings and vacuum brake systems.
Such were railways in many other places under British influence.
World War II had the effect of changing the way some railroads were equipped and operated, using US design equipment modified for their clearances yet using knuckle couplers and air brakes. Even at that, such differences and the prospect of long, trans-oceanic voyages for interchanging rail freight also makes it less than desirable for the bottom line, which is to make a profit.
Ed Bommer
Jerry Michels
Growing up in Missouri I always considered the Mississippi River as the east-west separation line, with one or two states to the west side of it the midwest..
Gateway Arch?
How come there is no mideast?
Wyoming, where I lived for 10 years, does not exist (let's keep it that way!).
According to the residents, Texas is midwest, west, and southwest depending on where you live in the state. We consider Houstonians southerners and Houstonians consider us the wild west. Die-hard Texans consider Missourians as Yankees and haven't heard of Wyoming! 😊
Jerry Michels from Amarillo