bobtehpanda t1_iyl7fo7 wrote on December 2, 2022 at 5:19 AM Reply to comment by InfernalCorg in TIL that the southern United States converted all 11,500+ miles of its railroads from broad gauge (5 ft/1.524 m) to nearly-standard gauge (4 ft 9 in/1.448 m) in just 36 hours, starting on May 31, 1886 by 1859 The thing is that the markets for the various gauges are so large that they effectively are able to use standards as well. In the same vein there being a handful of plug socket shapes doesn’t significantly increase the cost of goods using electricity. Permalink Parent 2
bobtehpanda t1_iyl7fo7 wrote
Reply to comment by InfernalCorg in TIL that the southern United States converted all 11,500+ miles of its railroads from broad gauge (5 ft/1.524 m) to nearly-standard gauge (4 ft 9 in/1.448 m) in just 36 hours, starting on May 31, 1886 by 1859
The thing is that the markets for the various gauges are so large that they effectively are able to use standards as well.
In the same vein there being a handful of plug socket shapes doesn’t significantly increase the cost of goods using electricity.