the engineering and construction of those railroads always just amazes me. what they were able to do in such a short time with mules and wagons and shovels , no bulldozers and dumptrucks , no modern surveying tools or GPS etc. its just mind blowing.
yes, but, the surveying tools were as simple, and perfect then, as anything before GPS. As the basics go, nothing has changed much, pitch, grade, level, drainage, etc... the Romans perfected how to make a road, about 1500 years ago, or so. The Egyptians figured out how to construct perfectly level foundations, and how to build level over many levels of construction, with water. Water is always level on it's surface. So, rail road builders had the simply basics for everything, and the help of dynamite, and steam powered drills. The bridge building is simple architecture. It still blows my mind. Again, a couple days ago I posted a track building machine, but the photo wasn't sharp focused or detailed about how that enormous machine got the rails and ties from the supply side to the construction side. Must have been impressive
the engineering and construction of those railroads always just amazes me.
ReplyDeletewhat they were able to do in such a short time with mules and wagons and shovels , no bulldozers and dumptrucks , no modern surveying tools or GPS etc.
its just mind blowing.
yes, but, the surveying tools were as simple, and perfect then, as anything before GPS. As the basics go, nothing has changed much, pitch, grade, level, drainage, etc... the Romans perfected how to make a road, about 1500 years ago, or so.
DeleteThe Egyptians figured out how to construct perfectly level foundations, and how to build level over many levels of construction, with water. Water is always level on it's surface.
So, rail road builders had the simply basics for everything, and the help of dynamite, and steam powered drills.
The bridge building is simple architecture.
It still blows my mind.
Again, a couple days ago I posted a track building machine, but the photo wasn't sharp focused or detailed about how that enormous machine got the rails and ties from the supply side to the construction side.
Must have been impressive
did you notice the banner, and this photo, are of the same guys, and the same train, in different places?
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