Railway loading gauge constrained British tank size and persists in Eurostar design

Evidence

Problems with tank development were linked to the lack of suitable engine designs and a consequent reliance on available commercial models, and the constraint of the existing railway loading gauge—larger armored vehicles could not be carried on British tracks. It is for this same reason that the Eurostar carriage conforms to British dimensions and is considerably more cramped than Continental carriages. — Philip Mirowski & Dieter Plehwe (eds.), The Road from Mont Pèlerin, 480

Categorization

• CANDY: The Eurostar being cramped because British tank rails dictated size is a fun party fact tying WWII logistics to everyday travel.
• XREF: Path dependence / lock-in: could connect to narratives about how infrastructure choices persist long after their original rationale.