Impact
Garratt's design for an articulated steam locomotive saw substantial usage in many in regions throughout Africa, South America, Asia, and the South Pacific where difficult terrain impeded railroad travel. In particular, the locomotive's articulated nature allowed it to navigate rail lines with sharp and frequent curves more easily than designs which lacked articulation. The ability to transverse previously impassable regions of land via railroad allowed for increased traffic of human activity and settlements, drastically reducing the isolated nature of previously remote areas of the world.
Additionally, the Garratt saw significant usage in economically developing countries due to extensive reliance on narrow gauge rail in these locales. The Garratt boasted high efficiency within its class and rail gauge, making its usage economically attractive in counties which would otherwise have to run larger numbers of locomotives per train or convert their existing rail lines to a larger gauge. This acted in part as an incentive for further rail expansion, and by extension, societal and economic expansion.
Read more about this topic: Herbert William Garratt
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