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We've always done it that way...
Greg_4
Member Posts: 32
I am usually first to comment sharply whenever I hear that statement. My wife found this story recently and I wanted to share it: (hope it hasn't appeared prior)
Standard railroad track spacing (gauge) in the U.S. is 4 ft. 8 and 1/2 in. Kind of an odd figure. Why is this standard? Because that's the way they built them in England. Many of the first rail lines in US were built and designed by some of the same people who built them in England. The pre-railroad tramways in England were also 4'-8 & 1/2". They used that gauge because those same folks who built early tramways used the same jigs & tools as they used for building wagons. Okay, so why did wagons have that wheel spacing? Well, when other spacings were used, wagon wheels would break or other wise fail on the old long distance roads of England. Because- that's the spacing of the "old" wagon wheel ruts. Now, who built the old English long distance roads? Romans! Imperial Rome built the first long distance roads in Europe - of course, "all roads lead to Rome"! Why were the ruts spaced that distance? Roman war chariots formed the early ruts.
And now, we know that bureaucracy can live forever.
If you find yourself handed a set of specs and wonder what horses' **** came up with this plan... you may be right. In the case of the chariots, 4' - 8 & 1/2" is just about perfect to accomodate two horse rear ends side by side.
As the space shuttle sits on it's launch pad (I'd loved to have seen what M.E. saw recently on their trip) with it's two gigantic booster rocket 'engines'. Those two booster rockets are made in Utah. And, they are shipped by rail to Florida. With a mountain railway tunnel or two to pass through, the rocket boosters can't be any larger than what railroad lines can pass through. And that distance is about equal to the width of two horses' rear ends. So now we can argue that space shuttle design is limited to a 2,000 +/- year old transporation system - based upon two horses' rear ends!
And- we've always done it that way! I am so thankfull for a group of people (Wallies) who are not afraid to venture out of the ordinary and look to new twists... on an old heating system... originally designed by ancient Romans... who also designed chariots... who built roads in Europe...
Dad used to say "there's little new - it's just new twists on old stuff that's been around for years". He also liked to think out of the ordinary. And he rode on a few trains in his younger days.
Greg
Standard railroad track spacing (gauge) in the U.S. is 4 ft. 8 and 1/2 in. Kind of an odd figure. Why is this standard? Because that's the way they built them in England. Many of the first rail lines in US were built and designed by some of the same people who built them in England. The pre-railroad tramways in England were also 4'-8 & 1/2". They used that gauge because those same folks who built early tramways used the same jigs & tools as they used for building wagons. Okay, so why did wagons have that wheel spacing? Well, when other spacings were used, wagon wheels would break or other wise fail on the old long distance roads of England. Because- that's the spacing of the "old" wagon wheel ruts. Now, who built the old English long distance roads? Romans! Imperial Rome built the first long distance roads in Europe - of course, "all roads lead to Rome"! Why were the ruts spaced that distance? Roman war chariots formed the early ruts.
And now, we know that bureaucracy can live forever.
If you find yourself handed a set of specs and wonder what horses' **** came up with this plan... you may be right. In the case of the chariots, 4' - 8 & 1/2" is just about perfect to accomodate two horse rear ends side by side.
As the space shuttle sits on it's launch pad (I'd loved to have seen what M.E. saw recently on their trip) with it's two gigantic booster rocket 'engines'. Those two booster rockets are made in Utah. And, they are shipped by rail to Florida. With a mountain railway tunnel or two to pass through, the rocket boosters can't be any larger than what railroad lines can pass through. And that distance is about equal to the width of two horses' rear ends. So now we can argue that space shuttle design is limited to a 2,000 +/- year old transporation system - based upon two horses' rear ends!
And- we've always done it that way! I am so thankfull for a group of people (Wallies) who are not afraid to venture out of the ordinary and look to new twists... on an old heating system... originally designed by ancient Romans... who also designed chariots... who built roads in Europe...
Dad used to say "there's little new - it's just new twists on old stuff that's been around for years". He also liked to think out of the ordinary. And he rode on a few trains in his younger days.
Greg
0
Comments
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Geeeze Dan!
I WANTED to believe all of that!
Sure would be nice if it were true.
Mark H
To Learn More About This Contractor, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"0 -
Okay, I guess
I fell for that one! It did sound pretty good, though.
Thanks for setting the record straight. Greg0 -
You Know
necessity is the mother of invention. Inventors always did it that way. I need, I design, I build, I test, and if works I do it again that way.
Jake0
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