There is a track spacing known as "narrow gauge" (three feet wide?) and was
often used in the mountains where there are tight curves. There is a
tourist train between Durango and Silverton, CO that uses this gauge. See:
http://www.durangotrain.com/
-----Original Message-----
From: Candice Brashears [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, January 24, 2000 5:24 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Roman Specs
I Do Love History! Thanks for reminding me of Roman chariots and railroads -
I haven't thought about that for quite a while. I seem to have forgotten,
the
single gauge (narrower track spacing) of early trains was based on what? It
seems to me that the Southern states of US had built primarily these and so
ran into some economic and shipping dilemmas during and after the Civil War.
Since the North built primarily the gauge we now use - railroad shipments of
industrial products had some hurdles to overcome during Reconstruction.
cb