tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10944560.post111330695087234363..comments2024-01-01T08:18:36.278-05:00Comments on Real Physics: Tradition: Senseless or Sensible?Lawrence Gagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01242322119143922513noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10944560.post-1140449070666039032006-02-20T10:24:00.000-05:002006-02-20T10:24:00.000-05:00Straight Dope story:Was standard railroad gauge (4...Straight Dope story:<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000218.html" REL="nofollow">Was standard railroad gauge (4'8½") determined by Roman chariot ruts?</A><BR/><BR/>Here's an interesting paragraph:<BR/><BR/><I>Richard Solomon, the source of this bit, has elaborated in <A HREF="http://lists.essential.org/1998/am-info/msg01555.html" REL="nofollow">a message posted to the net</A> that Caesar decided on standard gauge after seeing a "grooveway" at the isthmus of Corinth in Greece. This was a purposely built set of ruts used to guide the wheels on carts carrying goods being transshipped across the isthmus. Prof. Solomon says he personally measured an excavated portion of this ancient grooveway and found it had a gauge of four feet, eight and a half inches.</I>Lawrence Gagehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01242322119143922513noreply@blogger.com