Here are links to the answer to your question: http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/r/railwidth.htm http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~dsulliva/g0000095.html http://www.countryhumor.com/humor/railroad_tracks.htm
The railroad industry expanded at a rapid rate in the years following the US Civil War. From 1870 to 1900, rail lines miles increased from 52,000 miles of tracks to 193,000 thousand. Railroads dominated US industry for a long period of time. They exerted allot of power in the Federal and state governments.
The length of the Colosseum is 620 ft. The width of the Colosseum is 513 ft. Length x width = area. Do the math.The length of the Colosseum is 620 ft. The width of the Colosseum is 513 ft. Length x width = area. Do the math.The length of the Colosseum is 620 ft. The width of the Colosseum is 513 ft. Length x width = area. Do the math.The length of the Colosseum is 620 ft. The width of the Colosseum is 513 ft. Length x width = area. Do the math.The length of the Colosseum is 620 ft. The width of the Colosseum is 513 ft. Length x width = area. Do the math.The length of the Colosseum is 620 ft. The width of the Colosseum is 513 ft. Length x width = area. Do the math.The length of the Colosseum is 620 ft. The width of the Colosseum is 513 ft. Length x width = area. Do the math.The length of the Colosseum is 620 ft. The width of the Colosseum is 513 ft. Length x width = area. Do the math.The length of the Colosseum is 620 ft. The width of the Colosseum is 513 ft. Length x width = area. Do the math.
510 feet in width. Definition of width: Having a specified extent from side to side... More simply put, a distance from left to right, vs. up, down, and forward. The Roman Colosseum in Rome, Italy is 510 ft wide.
Very similar to today's roads except no machinery. The Romans developed road building to a very high standard, to the point that some road surfaces are still usable. Start with a base layer of compressed clay preferably. Next layers of compressed rock of different sizes. Finally lay a surface of stones held in place with concrete.
It is widely viewed that the Romans were able to expand their empire because of their ability to build long distance roads, thus allowing for rapid transport of men and material to areas of conflict and to speed communication and furnish supplies to occupied lands. Indeed, railways even today are spaced to the width of Roman chariot wheels - 4' 8 1/2", the same as wagons. Roman chariots were designed to be able to support the width of 2 horses, so you could say it was a horse's a$$ that enabled the Romans to get around quickly. Similarly, the British Empire was compared to the Romans because of their vast naval fleet and merchant ships, allowing them to have command of the seas - until they screwed up and let the colonies get away from them anyway.
It is called a gauge. The North American railroad system's gauge is 4 ft. 8 1/2 in. in width. It is the width of a Roman chariot.
Gauge by: Andrea Burke
The Gauge. In America we use standard gauge - 4 ft 8,1/2 inches.
Is the gauge not to confused with the "loading gauge" which is the height and width of a vehicle above the rails. Standard rail gauge is 4ft 8.5ins (1.435m) as used in Europe, the US, Canada, North Africa and Australia
56.5" wide
No they aren't. They both run on different tracks because of this :-)
If the tracks are not parallel, the wheels will not stay on the tracks; train wheels are spaced at a fixed width, or gauge, and that width cannot expand or contract to accommodate non-parallel tracks. Thus, if the tracks were non-parallel, the wheel would come off the track and cause a derailment.
192 feet
One result of the effort to standardize the width of tracks was the increase in interoperability and efficiency of train operations. Standardized track width allowed for seamless movement of trains across different networks without the need for costly modifications or transshipment.
Track width is a measurement of the distance between the inner edges of a pair of railway tracks. This measurement is important for determining the load-bearing capacity of the tracks as well as the types and sizes of trains that can use the tracks. The width of the tracks is also important for the maneuverability of the trains as the width of the track will determine the amount of space available in the curves of the track and the degree of curvature that can be achieved. There are several different ways to measure track width including: Standard Gauge (SG) - This is the most common track width in the world and is measured as 4 feet 8.5 inches. Broad Gauge (BG) - This is a wider track width and is measured as 5 feet 6 inches. Narrow Gauge (NG) - This is a narrower track width and is measured as any width below 4 feet 8.5 inches. Mixed Gauge (MG) - This is a combination of both Standard and Broad Gauge tracks on the same line. The track width is also important for the layout and design of the railway as the width of the track will determine the amount of space available for the construction of the railway as well as the amount of space available for the installation of signals switches and other track infrastructure.
The railroad industry expanded at a rapid rate in the years following the US Civil War. From 1870 to 1900, rail lines miles increased from 52,000 miles of tracks to 193,000 thousand. Railroads dominated US industry for a long period of time. They exerted allot of power in the Federal and state governments.
The width of a railroad ROW is always recited in the recorded instruments (deeds) that first created the ROW. That type of research is difficult and usually requires the assistance of a professional title examiner. However, a little research in the land records for your area may yield results. Ask if they have the original plans of the railroad ROW on file. In jurisdictions that have land records filed by county those plans are usually available. If they don't have them, they can tell you where to find them. Railroad plans were usually filed in the mid to late 1800s. They would show the width. We have them readily available in Massachusetts either at the Registries of Deeds or filed with the various county highway records. In my area. I have seen them range from one to three rods wide. One rod is usually measured at 16.5 feet.