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| London Transport (uk.transport.london) Discussion of all forms of transport in London. |
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#1
July 29th 06, 05:52 PM
posted to uk.transport.london,uk.railway
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DLR track gauge
As I was sitting on the DLR the other day with the train squeeling its
way round yet another sharp curve, it suddenly struck me - why did they use standard gauge track? Surely a narrow gauge would be far better suited to the tight curves on the line? Its not as if they'd have had any trouble procuring equipment for narrow gauge since plenty of light rail narrow gauge systems operate in europe. And the DLR is completely self contained with no physical links to any other railway so thats not a concern. Anyone know why they didn't use say metre gauge? B2003 |
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#2
July 29th 06, 07:14 PM
posted to uk.transport.london,uk.railway
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DLR track gauge
"Boltar" wrote:
As I was sitting on the DLR the other day with the train squeeling its way round yet another sharp curve, it suddenly struck me - why did they use standard gauge track? Surely a narrow gauge would be far better suited to the tight curves on the line? Its not as if they'd have had any trouble procuring equipment for narrow gauge since plenty of light rail narrow gauge systems operate in europe. And the DLR is completely self contained with no physical links to any other railway so thats not a concern. Anyone know why they didn't use say metre gauge? Because metre gauge was "not invented here". |
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#3
July 29th 06, 08:45 PM
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DLR track gauge
On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 20:14:30 +0100, Tony Polson
wrote: "Boltar" wrote: As I was sitting on the DLR the other day with the train squeeling its way round yet another sharp curve, it suddenly struck me - why did they use standard gauge track? Surely a narrow gauge would be far better suited to the tight curves on the line? Its not as if they'd have had any trouble procuring equipment for narrow gauge since plenty of light rail narrow gauge systems operate in europe. And the DLR is completely self contained with no physical links to any other railway so thats not a concern. Anyone know why they didn't use say metre gauge? Because metre gauge was "not invented here". ... and would also make it difficult for any kind of mixed running on or off the DLR which might occur in the future. -- _______ +---------------------------------------------------+ |\\ //| | Charles Ellson: | | \\ // | +---------------------------------------------------+ | | | // \\ | Alba gu brath |//___\\| |
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#4
July 29th 06, 09:36 PM
posted to uk.transport.london,uk.railway
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DLR track gauge
"Charles Ellson" wrote in message ... On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 20:14:30 +0100, Tony Polson wrote: "Boltar" wrote: As I was sitting on the DLR the other day with the train squeeling its way round yet another sharp curve, it suddenly struck me - why did they use standard gauge track? Surely a narrow gauge would be far better suited to the tight curves on the line? Its not as if they'd have had any trouble procuring equipment for narrow gauge since plenty of light rail narrow gauge systems operate in europe. And the DLR is completely self contained with no physical links to any other railway so thats not a concern. Anyone know why they didn't use say metre gauge? Because metre gauge was "not invented here". .. and would also make it difficult for any kind of mixed running on or off the DLR which might occur in the future. The Blackwall Railway, whose viaduct is used by the DLR, was originally constructed with a 5 foot gauge. It had to narrow this to standard when it wanted to connect with other railways. Peter |
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#5
July 29th 06, 10:32 PM
posted to uk.transport.london,uk.railway
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DLR track gauge
Charles Ellson wrote: On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 20:14:30 +0100, Tony Polson wrote: "Boltar" wrote: As I was sitting on the DLR the other day with the train squeeling its way round yet another sharp curve, it suddenly struck me - why did they use standard gauge track? Surely a narrow gauge would be far better suited to the tight curves on the line? Its not as if they'd have had any trouble procuring equipment for narrow gauge since plenty of light rail narrow gauge systems operate in europe. And the DLR is completely self contained with no physical links to any other railway so thats not a concern. Anyone know why they didn't use say metre gauge? Because metre gauge was "not invented here". .. and would also make it difficult for any kind of mixed running on or off the DLR which might occur in the future. And in the steady progression towards heavy rail, where they keep having to sell off the previous more flimsy vehicles, they are more likely to find buyers for standard guage stuff? |
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#6
July 29th 06, 11:56 PM
posted to uk.transport.london,uk.railway
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DLR track gauge
On 29 Jul 2006 15:32:45 -0700, "MIG"
wrote: Charles Ellson wrote: On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 20:14:30 +0100, Tony Polson wrote: "Boltar" wrote: As I was sitting on the DLR the other day with the train squeeling its way round yet another sharp curve, it suddenly struck me - why did they use standard gauge track? Surely a narrow gauge would be far better suited to the tight curves on the line? Its not as if they'd have had any trouble procuring equipment for narrow gauge since plenty of light rail narrow gauge systems operate in europe. And the DLR is completely self contained with no physical links to any other railway so thats not a concern. Anyone know why they didn't use say metre gauge? Because metre gauge was "not invented here". .. and would also make it difficult for any kind of mixed running on or off the DLR which might occur in the future. And in the steady progression towards heavy rail, where they keep having to sell off the previous more flimsy vehicles, they are more likely to find buyers for standard guage stuff? Or going in the other direction, the DLR stuff possibly doesn't need much modification to tram standard for venturing out onto any local tramways that might be built (oink, oink, flap, flap) which would probably also be standard gauge. -- _______ +---------------------------------------------------+ |\\ //| | Charles Ellson: | | \\ // | +---------------------------------------------------+ | | | // \\ | Alba gu brath |//___\\| |
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#7
July 30th 06, 11:08 PM
posted to uk.transport.london,uk.railway
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DLR track gauge
Charles Ellson wrote:
On 29 Jul 2006 15:32:45 -0700, "MIG" wrote: Charles Ellson wrote: On Sat, 29 Jul 2006 20:14:30 +0100, Tony Polson wrote: "Boltar" wrote: As I was sitting on the DLR the other day with the train squeeling its way round yet another sharp curve, it suddenly struck me - why did they use standard gauge track? Surely a narrow gauge would be far better suited to the tight curves on the line? Its not as if they'd have had any trouble procuring equipment for narrow gauge since plenty of light rail narrow gauge systems operate in europe. And the DLR is completely self contained with no physical links to any other railway so thats not a concern. Anyone know why they didn't use say metre gauge? Because metre gauge was "not invented here". .. and would also make it difficult for any kind of mixed running on or off the DLR which might occur in the future. And in the steady progression towards heavy rail, where they keep having to sell off the previous more flimsy vehicles, they are more likely to find buyers for standard guage stuff? Or going in the other direction, the DLR stuff possibly doesn't need much modification to tram standard for venturing out onto any local tramways that might be built (oink, oink, flap, flap) which would probably also be standard gauge. The problem is that the DLR has to be fully segregated because of the automatic operation - definitely no pedestrian crossings. To me, that makes it rather incompatible with any (proposed) tramways, with the exception of the bit on the Thames Gateway Bridge. Originally, the northern DLR terminus was to be Mile End, with street running along Mile End Road from Bow Church - but the choice of automatic operation ruled this out. Whenever Ken mentions public transport plans in the Thames Gateway, he talks about the Transit schemes, and then always mentions the possibility of upgrading them to tram or DLR. The only way to convert them to DLR would be to use the busways for the supporting pillars of an elevated track! -- Dave Arquati Imperial College, SW7 www.alwaystouchout.com - Transport projects in London |
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#8
July 31st 06, 08:04 AM
posted to uk.transport.london,uk.railway
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DLR track gauge
Charles Ellson wrote: Or going in the other direction, the DLR stuff possibly doesn't need much modification to tram standard for venturing out onto any local tramways that might be built (oink, oink, flap, flap) which would probably also be standard gauge. ....though the side-contact third rail system might not go down too well in Piccadilly Gardens... (Actually, I believe the original DLR stock which was sold on to Essen has had pantographs installed without too much trouble, so I'm just being facetious.) |
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#9
July 30th 06, 05:02 PM
posted to uk.transport.london,uk.railway
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DLR track gauge
Charles Ellson wrote: .. and would also make it difficult for any kind of mixed running on or off the DLR which might occur in the future. I can't see that ever happening. I doubt much if any standard mainline stock would be able to negotiate the sharp bends or steep inclines on the DLR and the DLR stock uses a unique (in britain) 3rd rail system so it couldn't run under its own power anywhere else unless modified. And then theres the good old HSE to factor in with mixed running rules etc.... B2003 |
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#10
July 31st 06, 02:06 PM
posted to uk.transport.london,uk.railway
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DLR track gauge
Boltar wrote: Charles Ellson wrote: .. and would also make it difficult for any kind of mixed running on or off the DLR which might occur in the future. I can't see that ever happening. I doubt much if any standard mainline stock would be able to negotiate the sharp bends or steep inclines on the DLR and the DLR stock uses a unique (in britain) 3rd rail system so it couldn't run under its own power anywhere else unless modified. And then theres the good old HSE to factor in with mixed running rules etc.... I think the OP was thinking more in terms of DLR trains running on Network Rail lines rather than vice versa (though you're probably still right about the HSE). Of course if/when the Stratford International extension happens, the DLR will be taking over Network Rail standard infrastructure (i.e. the end of the North London Line) and converting the electrical system from standard 3rd rail to side-contact. |
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