The standard railroad track is four feet, eight-and-one-half inches wide.
Where do you suppose the railroads got such a strange measurement?
The first rail lines were built by the same people who built the tramways
which preceded the railroads. And the trams were built with the same tools used
for wagon transportation.
And why did wagon transportation use a four foot, eight-and-one-half inch
wide spacing? Because the imperial Roman army used war chariots which had wheels
that same width.
And why did the Romans use this measure? Because this is the average width of
the rear end of the two horses which pulled an imperial chariot.
Isn't it amazing how many of our contemporary decisions are based on old,
poorly-thought-out assumptions?
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