Wagonways on Tyneside actually go back to the early 17th century - 1600s,
and in Shropshire perhaps back to the 1580s or 1590s (see paper in Early
Railways 4 - forthcoming). The Shropshire railways used a narrower gauge
because the railway often went underground in adits. However the Newcastle
ones were generally on the surface. 4' 8.5" is almost certainly a gauge
that had become established in the area long before steam locomotives hauled
trains. My theory is that the 4' 8.5" interior gauge corresponds to a five
foot exterior gauge, but it is merely my per theory.
Peter King
49, Stourbridge Road,
Hagley,
Stourbridge
West Midlands
DY9 0QS
01562-720368
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-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of
Tony Brewis
Sent: 17 February 2010 11:21
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: History lesson
On the Pennine moors near the town of Rochdale, Lancashire, England,
there is a section of paved road thought to be Roman running straight down
slope from the top of the hill, near a rock outcrop known as Blackstone
Edge.
The road is about ten feet wide, and there is a single groove running down
it,
in the centre. The theory is that this was to take the broom trailed behind
the
waggon as it sdecended the steep section of road, the broom acting as a
brake.
Roman roads tended to be paved with stone, as this road is, and, I believe,
the Appenine Way near Rome, consequently there are no grooves worn by
the cart wheels.
I understand that Stephenson's gauge of four feet eight-and-a-half inches
was indeed that of the surface track at the colliery where he was working on
his locomotive designs, and that had been chosen so that two horses could
be used to haul the trucks, but that gauge dates from the late 1700s.
Tony Brewis
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