Railroads

[Guinness]

So, I'm just a fountain of silly questions today.

Let's say, hypothetically of course (looking askance toward Gran Columbia) that I wanted to build the overseas railroad from Miami to Key West. What cost model shall I use? 1 track, standard gauge would probably be the plan...

[Borys]

Ahoj!
Whatever the standard Confederate guage is (5' is the most likely candidate, altough 5'6" is also possible - I tried to talk the original CSA player into running a two gauge country - 5' East, and 5'6" west - remember, at this point in time there are no bridges over the Missisippi; at laast in the CSA) at 0,5BP and $1 per 12 miles, as economic utility is doubtfull, and it is a fancy piece of engineering.
http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/r053.html
Feel free to disagree.
Borys

[Guinness]

Actually, I think economic utility is rather good. OTL in 1910, Key West was still the largest city in Florida, 4 times the size of Miami. Also OTL, the US didn't have to worry too much about the Straights of Florida as it has effective control over Cuba, thanks to the 1898 war. In the N-verse, that's a different story, as Gran Columbia controls Cuba, and has a credible naval force only 100 miles away in Havana.

So I think that Key West could grow up to be a pretty prosperous place, given a sizable naval presence there, as well as maybe an Army corps, but also the railroad would make for a large influx of commerce from around the Caribbean.

So, if the general rules apply (ie .5 BP and $1 buy you 20 km), I'd be happy with that. Maybe split it between military and non-military budget 50/50 to reflect the military involvement in the project?

As an aside, I have no idea what (if any) RR infrastructure I have now....

[Sachmle]

Actually, I think economic utility is rather good. OTL in 1910, Key West was still the largest city in Florida, 4 times the size of Miami. Also OTL, the US didn't have to worry too much about the Straights of Florida as it has effective control over Cuba, thanks to the 1898 war. In the N-verse, that's a different story, as Gran Columbia controls Cuba, and has a credible naval force only 100 miles away in Havana.

So I think that Key West could grow up to be a pretty prosperous place, given a sizable naval presence there, as well as maybe an Army corps, but also the railroad would make for a large influx of commerce from around the Caribbean.

So, if the general rules apply (ie .5 BP and $1 buy you 20 km), I'd be happy with that. Maybe split it between military and non-military budget 50/50 to reflect the military involvement in the project?

As an aside, I have no idea what (if any) RR infrastructure I have now....

The standard RR rules would be fine for the RR itself but I would think that the necessary bridges should/would cost a little more to build, IMO.

[Borys]

As an aside, I have no idea what (if any) RR infrastructure I have now....

More or less historical. Unless you think that given the shape of the CSA, some railroads that were, are no longer, and some that neverwere, are.
Borys

[Guinness]

According to Borys's link, 37 of 128 miles was built over water, either by bridge, or embankment. Maybe I should just double the cost in BP and $ of those 37 miles (59.5 km for the metric minded)? If so, I can live with that.

[Borys]

Your idea sounds reasonable to me.
Borys

[The Rock Doctor]

That'd be fine.

[Guinness]

So be it. Book your winter vacation lodgings in Key West now and beat the rush :)

[Borys]

In winter come to Ushuaia! It only rains two days in three!
And there are some WEEKS without a snowstorm!
Borys