Help requested for map review

[Andrew Brown]

Hi all,

I am doing a review of my WitP map, but I am having trouble finding information on the Chinese railway system. I found a map of Manchukuo on Wikipedia that seems to show two types of railway lines - presumably major and minor railways. What I cannot find is a similar map for China, indicating which railway lines in China (in 1941) would be considered "major" and which would be considered "minor". This is for my map, which classifies railway lines as "major" or "minor" according to their ability to carry large volumes of railway traffic.

So, is anyone aware of a map or maps, or other information available online, that provides this information? I do have maps that show the railway lines in China, but not divided into categories as in the linked map of Manchukuo. I would also be interested in any similar information for Japan and India. If anyone does know of any such information it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Andrew

[Dutchgy2000]

Maybe of limited use in this case, but for anyone interested, a nice overview of railway development in China can be found HERE

[herwin]

ORIGINAL: Andrew Brown

Hi all,

I am doing a review of my WitP map, but I am having trouble finding information on the Chinese railway system. I found a map of Manchukuo on Wikipedia that seems to show two types of railway lines - presumably major and minor railways. What I cannot find is a similar map for China, indicating which railway lines in China (in 1941) would be considered "major" and which would be considered "minor". This is for my map, which classifies railway lines as "major" or "minor" according to their ability to carry large volumes of railway traffic.

So, is anyone aware of a map or maps, or other information available online, that provides this information? I do have maps that show the railway lines in China, but not divided into categories as in the linked map of Manchukuo. I would also be interested in any similar information for Japan and India. If anyone does know of any such information it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Andrew

There were usually single-track and double-track railroads in most countries during the early 20th century. Dual track railroads had about three times the capacity of single-track railroads because they could run trains in both directions on each block. Those probably correspond to your two categories.

[Andrew Brown]

ORIGINAL: herwin
There were usually single-track and double-track railroads in most countries during the early 20th century. Dual track railroads had about three times the capacity of single-track railroads because they could run trains in both directions on each block. Those probably correspond to your two categories.

I agree. However finding out what is single track and what is double is not easy.

I think the rating of a railway also depends on the gauge, with narrow gauge lines generally not as able to handle as much traffic, though this is not always the case. Japan uses a type of narrow gauge, for example, and I would not class the railway network in Japan as low capacity. At least not the main lines.

[Andrew Brown]

ORIGINAL: Dutchgy2000

Maybe of limited use in this case, but for anyone interested, a nice overview of railway development in China can be found HERE

Thanks. That is an interesting article.

[treespider]

Need me to go to the map library again? Remember the 1945 transportation maps of China....

[Andrew Brown]

ORIGINAL: treespider

Need me to go to the map library again? Remember the 1945 transportation maps of China....

I can't remember whether they include different classes of railway line or not. I will take a look tonight.

Thanks,
Andrew

[treespider]

ORIGINAL: Andrew Brown

ORIGINAL: treespider

Need me to go to the map library again? Remember the 1945 transportation maps of China....

I can't remember whether they include different classes of railway line or not. I will take a look tonight.

Thanks,
Andrew

Not only classes but gauge and state of repair...

[treespider]

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[Mike Scholl]

ORIGINAL: herwin

ORIGINAL: Andrew Brown

Hi all,

I am doing a review of my WitP map, but I am having trouble finding information on the Chinese railway system. I found a map of Manchukuo on Wikipedia that seems to show two types of railway lines - presumably major and minor railways. What I cannot find is a similar map for China, indicating which railway lines in China (in 1941) would be considered "major" and which would be considered "minor". This is for my map, which classifies railway lines as "major" or "minor" according to their ability to carry large volumes of railway traffic.

So, is anyone aware of a map or maps, or other information available online, that provides this information? I do have maps that show the railway lines in China, but not divided into categories as in the linked map of Manchukuo. I would also be interested in any similar information for Japan and India. If anyone does know of any such information it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Andrew

There were usually single-track and double-track railroads in most countries during the early 20th century. Dual track railroads had about three times the capacity of single-track railroads because they could run trains in both directions on each block. Those probably correspond to your two categories.

Herwin. This would certainly be a good guess in more industrialized areas of the world..., but I would doubt it is the case in China. The original guess of varying "gauges" is much more probable..., expecially given the large number of different consortiums involved in building the RR's in China.

[bradfordkay]

The Durango and Rio Grande Western RR was a narrow guage railroad, but I don't think that anyone would call it a low capacity railroad. There are a lot more factors involved, like weight carrying capacity of the railbed itself for one.