Because the Romans used two horses to pull the wagons, and the frames had to be 4'-8.5? apart to accommodate the horses' rear flanks. Why are railroad tracks 4 feet 8.5 inches apart?
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Since the chariots were made for or by Imperial Rome they were all alike in the matter of wheel spacing. Thus, we have the answer to the original question. The United States standard railroad gauge of 4 feet, 8.5 inches derives from the original specification for an Imperial Roman army war chariot.
When properly maintained by a Midwest railroad contractor, a modern running track has the potential to last for almost 30 years after its construction. It may be difficult to recognize the signs of deterioration in rails because they appear to last an entire lifetime.