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

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...

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Distance between railroad tracks

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Why is there distance between rails

Distance between train rails

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

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

Answers. 2 helpful answers below.

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