Ask a Question
or
Create a Poll
  1. Home /
  2. Questions /
  3. Transportation
  4. / Railroads

by Santaanacanyon on July 16th, 2003

Santaanacanyon

Question

Help answer this question below.

Why is the distance between the rails of real train track 4 feet, 8 1/2 inches? That's a strange number!

  • Like
  • Report
Share:
Other

Answers. Showing one answer.

  • by Santaanacanyon on July 16th, 2003

    Santaanacanyon

    It is the classic example of "We've always done it this way!"
    American railroads were built by British expatriates, so they laid the rails the same gauge as those of British railroads.
    The British decided that gauge because the wheels on the coaches were built on the same jigs as the wheels on horse drawn carriages.
    That gauge was decided so that carriage wheels would fit in the ruts of many of the dirt roads of Europe.
    Those roads were originally built by the ancient Romans, who decided that width because it would be convenient for their chariots.
    Yep...4 feet 8 and one half inches wide...

    Comments

    • The similarity of carriages and chariots was just a coincidence, based on both being drawn by horse teams.

      ShadowKat

      by ShadowKat on November 22nd, 2004

    • You will also find that it's the width of 2 horses side by side

      Krista Ludwig

      by Krista Ludwig on January 9th, 2005

    • http://www.snopes.com/history/american/gauge.htm

      Anonymous

      by Anonymous on August 14th, 2005

    • You guys are so smart! When I first read about this, I thought it was just unbelievable.

      shammers still slogging along

      by shammers still slogging along on April 5th, 2008

    • Like
    • Report

    4 comments | Post one | Permalink

Want to attach an image to your answer? Click here.

Did this answer your question? If not, then ask a new question or create a poll.

More Questions. Additional questions in this category.

You're reading Why is the distance between the rails of real train track 4 feet, 8 1/2 inches? That's a strange number!

Follow us on Facebook!

Related Ads

Related Questions

Professionally Researched

Answerbag

a Demand Media company