P.S.- There was debate as late as the turn of the century about whether the engineer should have a seatbox or be required (as per English practice) to stand whilst operating the machine. Would dual controls have been the result if this prevailed?
Charlie
No, it was the combination of right handed engineer on right handed track (or left and left for that matter) rather than putting the engineer in the middle, as is the case with vehicles. If you follow the notion that teamsters sat on the left rear horse to keep their right arm free and that they kept to the right side of the road, why weren’t engineers placed on the left side of the cab? The follow-up is where was the first double track installed, and which side was used? Absolutely irrelevant to the mighty Burlington but interesting none the less!
(For any potential tourists heading down-under, let me assure you that driving on the “wrong” side isn’t that difficult, having driven in USA, Canada and Europe)
Rupert Gamlen
Auckland NZ
I think Rupert raised the question of why we Yanks insist on driving on the Right rather than on the Left as they do in the British Empire.
Here is a link to the full explanation http://www.worldstandards.eu/cars/driving-on-the-left/ which was quite interesting. Turns out it has to do with revolutions and multi-horse team wagons.
Having been in countries that do it the wrong way I still think it isn’t Right!!! (driving isn’t something I would try because it is bad enough trying to remember to look the opposite way when stepping off the curb so as not to be run over!!)
Charlie Vlk