QUOTE: Originally posted by davekelly Good point. But that begs the question - which came first, the rail or the wheel/axle set?
QUOTE: Originally posted by modlerbob You can't articulate an 80' long tube. I live in central Florida and although I can't verify this story I did hear it from several NASA employees after the Challenger explosion.
QUOTE: But I do know part of their PR campaign about the shuttle was that it provided income in over 40 states for various reasons.
QUOTE: Originally posted by marknewton QUOTE: Originally posted by modlerbob Another story I've read is that the fact that the SRB's were built in segments instead of one single long tube is that 80' is about the maximum length a rail car can be built and negotiate curves. How long are modern auto-rack cars? 89 feet? How long are the various types of articulated container cars? How long are the various specialised dimensional load cars? Much longer than 89 feet. Obviously that story is also untrue. Cheers, Mark.
QUOTE: Originally posted by modlerbob Another story I've read is that the fact that the SRB's were built in segments instead of one single long tube is that 80' is about the maximum length a rail car can be built and negotiate curves.
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. .
Have fun with your trains
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 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.
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.
Ray Breyer
Modeling the NKP's Peoria Division, circa 1943
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