Note: I replied that the inch is EXACTLY 25.4 mm, by definition.
Carleton
--- Begin Message ---Remember the thread about gauge tolerance that devolved into a "debate" about how SI (a/k/a the metric system) was evil, etc? Well, I think I found the source of the original poster's information.In reading up on the TGV (and ICE), I found the following passage at http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it/tgv/rec-track.html: "Just as on all TGV lines, the rails were aligned to 1 mm (3/64 in) tolerances, and the ballast was blasted to remove small, loose gravel." So it appears that the issue was not converting tolerances to Metric but that the SNCF MAINTAINS TGV LINES TO A TOLERANCE OF 1 mm!!!! Incredible! What did the FRA find with CSX ("Route of the Pumping Ballast" proudly stencilled on box cars) the other year? Tolerance of 1 *inch*? For the record, there are about 25.4 mm in 1 inch. Can you imagine *any* North American railroad maintaining track to this kind of tolerance? Ha. The site is wonderful and really makes one *proud* to be American ... See http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it/tgv/ for TGV and http://mercurio.iet.unipi.it/ice/ for ICE info ... -- Peter Laws | [EMAIL PROTECTED] | MP 19, Geneva Sub, Union Pacific RR RR Emergency Numbers: http://plaws.net/rail/emergency.shtml More trains, not fewer; more railroad capacity, not less. ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~--> <FONT COLOR="#000099">4 DVDs Free +s&p Join Now </FONT><A HREF="http://us.click.yahoo.com/pt6YBB/NXiEAA/MVfIAA/raYplB/TM";><B>Click Here!</B></A> ---------------------------------------------------------------------~-> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/--- End Message ---
