cb@hlwpc.UUCP (Carl Blesch) (01/23/86)
> > Do engineers in the UK sit on the right hand side? > > Not surprisingly, they sit on the left, and on standard double-tracked > structues, the train normally goes forward on the left-hand track. > What is surprising is that this scheme is also followed in France, > on the SNCF (Government operated long-distance rail lines) system, > despite the fact that motorists drive on the right-hand side of the > road over there. In the good 'ole US of A, the Chicago and North Western runs trains on the left track in double-track territory. If you're a commuter in Chicago, your station is therefore on the "wrong" side of the tracks. Carl Blesch
jis1@mtgzz.UUCP (j.mukerji) (01/24/86)
A curious phenomenon takes place when you travel by train from Brussels to Amsterdam or vice versa. Just outside of the border town of Roosendahl the train actually crosses over from the right track to the left or vice versa depending on the direction you are going! If I remember right, Belgium is left sided whereas Netherlands is right sided, at least on the railroads! Jishnu Mukerji AT&T Information Systems Labs. Middletown NJ
jpexg@mit-hermes.ARPA (John Purbrick) (01/29/86)
> > > Do engineers in the UK sit on the right hand side? > > > > Not surprisingly, they sit on the left, and on standard double-tracked > > structues, the train normally goes forward on the left-hand track. > > What is surprising is that this scheme is also followed in France... Not surprising if you recall that the first French railroads were built by British engineers. British influence also caused the Chicago and NorthWestern to run lefthanded. But the marine rule is "port to port"--vessels pass on the right, and this rule is followed on canals, even British ones.