Quote:
Originally Posted by Boomerang
Why was the track redone? I read somewhere that it was poorly constructed due to corruption, not technical issues, is that true?
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A little of both.
Turns out doing it as fast as they resulted in the tracks not being as secure as they could have been. So you had spikes that didn't quite secure the rails to the track on a roadbed that wasn't entirely stable.
It didn't help that "The companies were paid based on the terrain on which they built, with rougher terrain being worth more. So company executives naturally selected roundabout routes on hills and through mountains, even though such routes were neither efficient nor safe. The cheapest supplies were also used, which virtually guaranteed shoddy workmanship and the need for future repairs." (
Corruption and the Transcontinental Railroad )
Now "cheap" doesn't mean the same as shoddy as 1830s rail would be cheaper then the latest in 1860s rail but the 1830s rail simply wouldn't be up to the task of handling the weight and speed of 1860s trains. But tech wise they are both still TL5.
The Newcomen and Watt steam engines are another example of progression
within a tech level with Newcomen being early TL5 and Watt slightly improved TL5.