The Chariot Maker's Idea
FACT or FICTION? What I’m about to tell you has been passed around as being factual but, no one really knows for sure. Regardless, the lesson buried with-in the story is TRUE.
In this story, no one knows the actual name of the individual who is credited with the original IDEA. For story telling purposes, we’ll call him Demetrius.
The Idea - The Decision - The Action
Demetrius was a chariot maker in the early days of the Roman Empire. One day in his life, he decided that the space between two chariot wheels should be about as wide as two horses’ rear ends. That was his IDEA.
His DECISION to take ACTION on this IDEA, in modern US measurements works out to be exactly 4’ 8-1/2”. Other chariot makers DECIDED Demetrius’ IDEA was a good IDEA and began to copy his design for the chariots they built... 4’ 8-1/2”.
All Roman Roads Were Built Based on Demetrius' Idea
As the Roman Empire expanded, the Romans built cobble stone roads throughout Europe, North Africa and England. Many of those cobble stone roads still exist today. Over many years, the thousands and thousands of Roman chariots traveling over these stone roads caused ruts in the stones.
If you were a “local” anywhere the Romans had built their roads, you had to build your wagons with wheels that matched the grooves in the roads or the stones would cause your wagon wheels to break. The “locals” learned to space their wagon wheels… 4’ 8-1/2”.
If you were a “local” anywhere the Romans had built their roads, you had to build your wagons with wheels that matched the grooves in the roads or the stones would cause your wagon wheels to break. The “locals” learned to space their wagon wheels… 4’ 8-1/2”.
Horse Drawn Trolleys
Hundreds of years later, someone had an IDEA. Trolleys. This individual figured out a horse could pull many more people than a standard wagon if the wagon had steel wheels and rolled on steel rails.
Since the standard for all axle-and-wheel tools and jigs were 4’ 8-1/2”, this measurement became the standard measurement for the spacing for all horse drawn axles and trolley wheels.
Steam Locomotives
When steam engines were invented, they replaced the horses that pulled the trolleys. Steam engines made possible even larger versions of steel wheeled vehicles rolling on steel rails called trains. The original trains were built using the existing tools, technologies and standards of the day. The same 4’ 8-1/2” wheel spacing used on trolleys became the standard wheel spacing for all of the early English railways.
As America expanded, we needed to build trains and railway systems. Ex-patriots from England came over to help build the American rail systems. The workers brought with them, the same tools and jigs they used to build England’s rail system. So, American trains adopted England’s standard for the distance between railroad wheels on all US trains… 4’ 8-1/2”.
As America expanded, we needed to build trains and railway systems. Ex-patriots from England came over to help build the American rail systems. The workers brought with them, the same tools and jigs they used to build England’s rail system. So, American trains adopted England’s standard for the distance between railroad wheels on all US trains… 4’ 8-1/2”.
Modern Locomotives, Train Tunnels and The Space Shuttle
When rocket scientists designed what they wanted for the first space shuttle spacecraft, they had to downsize the three exterior booster rockets because they are all built at a factory in Utah, and then, transported by train to Cape Canaveral, Florida.
The problem that caused the redesign was, the booster rocket factory was on the other side of a mountain and the train tracks had to go through a mountain tunnel to get to/from the factory.
The size of the train tunnel was based on the design of the rails that, again, used the same standard spacing of 4’ 8-1/2”.
The problem that caused the redesign was, the booster rocket factory was on the other side of a mountain and the train tracks had to go through a mountain tunnel to get to/from the factory.
The size of the train tunnel was based on the design of the rails that, again, used the same standard spacing of 4’ 8-1/2”.
Be Aware, Every Idea - Decison and Action has Rippling Effects!
You may never, for as long as you live, understand the rippling effects of some of the little decisions you may have made, so casually, on any ordinary day in your life.
On the day Demetrius was looking at his chariot design, had an IDEA, made a DECISION, and then took ACTION on his IDEA I am convinced he had no clue of the importance, the signifance, the impact on humanity for hundreds and then, thousands of years into the future.
CAUTION: Be very careful what you choose to THINK about. Your IDEAS are more powerful than you might have ever thought possible. Your IDEAS are, in reality, “previews of your own future” because, your IDEAS really do become the new realities in your life.
IDEAS are truly unique. Can you think of anything else, other than an IDEA that can be divided… and then, shared equally with an infinite number of people… without diminishing its original value? Only an IDEA can pass that test.
You never know when you’re going to have an IDEA, make a DECISION and take some form of ACTION that impacts the lives of millions of people for generations to come.
Jim Vaughan, Editor
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