Re: Ancient Rome WAS Standard Gauge! ... 
| January 26, 2015 10:43PM |
Russo Loco Wrote:
=======================================================
> Hey, Mike -
>
> I didn't write that - Willie did. PLEASE be
> more careful in your attributions henceforth!!
Whoops, edited. Sorry about that.
> And besides, if you read the Snopes article (to
> which you linked) carefully, it really doesn't
> completely discredit the idea that standard gauge
> was based on the Roman chariot's gauge,
> only that the several other gauges in use in early
> England and the U.S. eventually succumbed
> to the two-horses-asses standard initially adopted
> by George Stephenson ...
I think the real details are lost to history, and only Mr. Stephenson as the answer as to that very particular size, and in general the article speaks for itself. The old popular mechanics article that it alludes to was written in 1905 and talks about events that happened 91 years prior, with no earlier mentions yet found. Hardly close to the source. Where did the PopSci article get that information? Maybe a biography or autobiography of Stephenson out there somewhere...
Mike Massee
www.mikemassee.com - railroad photography, live steam and more
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2015 10:44PM by Harlock.
=======================================================
> Hey, Mike -
>
> I didn't write that - Willie did. PLEASE be
> more careful in your attributions henceforth!!
Whoops, edited. Sorry about that.
> And besides, if you read the Snopes article (to
> which you linked) carefully, it really doesn't
> completely discredit the idea that standard gauge
> was based on the Roman chariot's gauge,
> only that the several other gauges in use in early
> England and the U.S. eventually succumbed
> to the two-horses-asses standard initially adopted
> by George Stephenson ...
I think the real details are lost to history, and only Mr. Stephenson as the answer as to that very particular size, and in general the article speaks for itself. The old popular mechanics article that it alludes to was written in 1905 and talks about events that happened 91 years prior, with no earlier mentions yet found. Hardly close to the source. Where did the PopSci article get that information? Maybe a biography or autobiography of Stephenson out there somewhere...
Mike Massee
www.mikemassee.com - railroad photography, live steam and more
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 01/26/2015 10:44PM by Harlock.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
The NGDF was started by Don Richter and is currently operated in his memory by Nathan Holmes and others. Others who have contributed to the upkeep of this board are (in no particular order): Charles McCandless, Everett Lueck, Ted Wilton, Cole Adams, James Bane, John Moellmer, Jon Bentz, Linn Moedinger, lloyd lehrer, Rod Jensen, John Craft, Steven Forney, Herb Kelsey, Bill Ramaley, Russ Sperry (El Russo Loco), Josh McNeal, John West, Jim Armstrong, Bob Bergstrom, Greg Scholl, Blake Forbes Doug van Veelen and Mark Fuller.