QUOTE: Originally posted by MAbruce Sorry guys, but this is an Urban Legend. Only a small part of it is true. See: http://www.snopes.com/history/american/gauge.htm
James, Brisbane Australia
Modelling AT&SF in the 90s
Have fun with your trains
Ray Breyer
Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943
QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy I really hate this urban legend. Nothing in it is remotely correct. Romans didn't use "war chariots", Roman road ruts are anywhere between 4 to 6 feet wide (I've measures several in the UK), horses' butts are usually MUCH wider than 4'4-1/4" (having been raided on a horse farm, I know these things), freight wagon wheel spacings vary hugely from country to country, etc., etc., etc. It SOUNDS good, unless you're a pre-industrial history geek like me, whereupon the whole story unravels fast. About the only thing that's completely true is the shuttle booster part of the story.
QUOTE: Originally posted by orsonroy I really hate this urban legend. Nothing in it is remotely correct. About the only thing that's completely true is the shuttle booster part of the story.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
QUOTE: Originally posted by Student of Big Sky Blue Time to call in the Myth Busters James
QUOTE: Originally posted by bangert1 To sum it up, Russian railroads used the 5" gauge, so not everone agreed. South Africa used 42" as their standard gauge. .