Fortran Coding Form Pads...

From: Merle K. Peirce <at258_at_osfn.org>
Date: Thu Aug 1 07:23:01 2002

I would have guessed that the gauge was based on the common tramway
gauges of the time. Wasn't Stephenson involved with the Wyllam Dilly
(sp?) engine? that could have been an influence.

On Thu, 1 Aug 2002, Huw Davies wrote:

> At 10:28 AM 31/07/2002 +0200, Andreas Freiherr wrote:
>
> >I have heard that the gauge of today's railway tracks (1435mm or 4'
> >8.5"), and hence even the dimensions of Space Shuttle's boosters go back
> >to ancient Roman vehicles built to the width of two horse's backs, maybe
> >true or maybe not. But, why did punched cards have just 80 columns?
>
> I'd always been told that "standard gauge" was based on the track of
> The Rocket - Stephenson's first steam locomotive.
>
> Huw Davies | e-mail: Huw.Davies_at_kerberos.davies.net.au
> | "If God had wanted soccer played in the
> | air, the sky would be painted green"
>
>

M. K. Peirce

Rhode Island Computer Museum, Inc.
Shady Lea, Rhode Island

"Casta est quam nemo rogavit."
              
              - Ovid
Received on Thu Aug 01 2002 - 07:23:01 BST