Why did the Central Pacific want so badly to use a 5 gauge when they asked Lincoln to approve it for the Transcontinental Railroad (instead of the 4 8 1/2″ gauge that was actually used)?
The railroads already existing in California with which the CPRR might likely connect were laid with a 5′ 0″ track gauge. These would have been the Sacramento Valley, the California Central, and the Sacramento, Placer & Nevada (though they had no rolling stock). Initially (during the congressional process of writing the Pacific Railroad act and perhaps into August or September 1862) the CPRR expected to commence their construction from the railhead of the Sacramento, Placer & Nevada near Auburn or from Judah’s California Eastern—also near Auburn in another direction. Expecting to be an extension of existing railroads, the gauge was critical. The Pacific Railroad Law itself canceled those plans by requiring (initially) that the CPRR build its first 40 miles on their own account, so it was imperative that the initial construction be as inexpensive as possible. Imagine the expense to the CP if they had actually tried to build 40 miles directly east from Auburn on their own—as compared to
Related Questions
- Why did the Central Pacific want so badly to use a 5 gauge when they asked Lincoln to approve it for the Transcontinental Railroad (instead of the 4 8 1/2" gauge that was actually used)?
- How will this impact the Eastern Prom Trail or Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad?
- What did the Pacific Railroad Act do for the Transcontinental Railroad?
