how far apart are the tracks and why?
2007-03-16 11:29:12 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Travel ➔ United Kingdom ➔ London
Standard gauge in both cases - i.e. 4ft 8.5in.
They are that gauge because George Stephenson, who engineered many of the earliest railways in Britain, was used to that gauge on primitive horse-drawn railways in his native north east England. They were built that way because the wagon makers were used to wagons on the roads with their wheels that far apart. They were built that gauge because the wheels fitted the road ruts - which were that size because the Romans made the original ruts and 4ft 8.5 ins is just big enough to accommodate the backsides of 2 horses between the traces of a war chariot!!
Many of the earliest railways in the US were built by English ex-pats or used English equipment - so 'standard' gauge now dominated things around the world. But its 5'3" in Ireland, 5'6" in Spain & Portugal and 5' in Russia and 3'6" in South Africa.
Australia somehow ended up with 3'6", 4'8.5" and 5'3"!
2007-03-16 11:59:56 · answer #1 · answered by david f 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
As the previous answer says, 4'8.5" because we've been doing that since the Romans built roads that have lasted 2000 years (unlike I880 in Oakland).
Primitive railways indeed. The north east of England had lots of railways before we invented the steam locomotive and gave you the type of railways you have now. They were powered fixed engines with cables dragging the cars. We used them to transport coal to the rivers so we could ship it round the world.
GWR (Great Western Railway, aka God's Wonderful Railway) used 7 feet, but that was down converted to match everyone else. It's a shame because it limits train speed and stability all over the world.
2007-03-16 18:23:53 · answer #2 · answered by Chris H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
thousands of miles apart - due to the fact that the london tube tracks are in london and the us tube tracks are in the us
2007-03-16 11:34:59 · answer #3 · answered by laneyb_1983 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The standard gauge for tracks in the UK is 4ft 8.5inches (1435mm).
2007-03-16 11:38:35 · answer #4 · answered by Pearl 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Flippin heck they are the width of the Irish sea and the Atlantic away work it out
2007-03-16 11:57:17 · answer #5 · answered by terrano 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Eh....... do you mean how wide are the trains in London underground systems and Americas?
Did you think this through?
Are you actually serious?
2007-03-16 11:39:47 · answer #6 · answered by Jason 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You might find it on here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_tracks_width
2007-03-16 11:41:16 · answer #7 · answered by The Man 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
how the hell am i supposed to know?
2007-03-16 11:33:08 · answer #8 · answered by dIsTuRbEd 1 · 1⤊ 3⤋