Section sizes

[NW Mailing List]

While I can't state for any degree of certainty as to
the length of the N&W section gangs, it varied
somewhat from railroad to railroad but the segments
seemed to be about 5-10 miles in length per section
gang for most railroads.

Such was the case for the Southern Railway's mainline
south of Washington, DC as well as the Harrisonburg
Branch.

Other factors in determining length of a section were
undoubtedly number of tracks, grades and degree of
difficulty in maintaining. If there were cuts, fills,
bridges, etc. those had to be factored in, too.

In addition, to a lesser degree the distances between
stations where they were based out of may have been a
small consideration as well.

Don't know if that helps you but it's a start. Often
railroads published that information for "employees
only" and perhaps the Society may one of those items
reprinted for at least some era of interest.

Bob Cohen


       
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