Christine wrote:
There were lots of gauging problems when Netwrokers were introduce.
Several places having to have 'glued ballast'.

Presumably they are not passed on the 'Southern' lines because they
have never gauged tested the area for Networkers

It never ceases to amaze me how tight the clearences are on british
railways.
Did it never occur to the builders of the lines to maybe leave a spare
foot
here and there just-in-case? Ok , for tunnels this would be expensive
but
how much extra would it have cost to make lineside obstacles, bridge
supports
etc a foot or 2 further from the track when you're building a 30 foot
wide
permanent way anyway? Plus those victorians did loved their curved
platforms,
just to make life a real pain for longer vehicles.

B2003