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The U.s. Standard Railroad Gauge (Distance ... PRO
Contributed by Bill Prater on Jan 5, 2001 (message contributor)
The U.S. standard railroad gauge (distance between rails) is four feet, eight-and-one-half inches.
Why such an odd number? Because that’s the way they built them in England, and American railroads were built by British expatriates.
Why did the English adopt that particular gauge? Because the people who built the pre-railroad tramways used that gauge.
They in turn were locked into that gauge because the people who built tramways used the same standards and tools they had used for building wagons, which were set on a gauge of four feet, eight-and-one-half inches.
Why were wagons built to that scale? Because with any other size, the wheels did not match the old wheel ruts on the roads.
So who built these old rutted roads?
The first long-distance highways in Europe were built by Imperial Rome for the benefit of their legions. The roads have been in use ever...
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It Is The Japanese Who Have Created The Best ...
Contributed by Steve Rutherford on Aug 18, 2005
It is the Japanese who have created the best swords in the world. To create these fine weapons, ancient Japanese sword makers had to create a sword that was hard enough to retain a sharp edge, but at the same time soft enough not to be brittle. Sword makers who made swords by making the steel hard ...read more
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In 1953 In Grimes Iowa, Violet Cross Was Getting ... PRO
Contributed by Guy Caley on May 25, 2003
In 1953 in Grimes Iowa, Violet Cross was getting sicker by the day. Finally her eldest son Frank insisted she go to the doctor. Eventually they ended up at the large teaching hospital in Iowa City. The diagnosis was devastating. Though Violet had never smoked she was dying of Lung cancer. One ...read more
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A Cartoon By Joe Mckeever... PRO
Contributed by Aaron Householder on Sep 30, 2004
A cartoon by Joe McKeever... A smiling woman greeting a surprised pastor as she leaves church says, "All my life I heard pastors say they were ...read more
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Note: I Do Not Show This Clip To Discredit Those ...
Contributed by Michael Mccartney on Nov 3, 2004
Note: I do not show this clip to discredit those individuals who are genuine and are sent by God to go around the world and hold revival meetings. Illustration: From the Movie clip from “Leap of Faith” Clip: The one were they put their show of deception on for the first time. He tells them ...read more
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During The Reign Of Oliver Cromwell, There Was A ... PRO
Contributed by Dixon Olu. David on Apr 26, 2004
During the reign of Oliver Cromwell, there was a shortage of currency in the British Empire. Representatives carefully searched the nation in hopes of finding silver to meet the emergency. After one month, the committee returned with its report. “We have searched the empire in vain seeking to ...read more
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