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ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BRITAIN
 
  More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)

 
More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
standard gauge

(4ft 8.5in, now standardized as 1.432m)
The width between the lines in more than half the *railways of the world. It was the gauge which happened to be in use for the early horse-drawn railways of northeast England. Adopted by George *Stephenson for his first steam locomotives, it later spread abroad with the export of British engines. The famous exception in the early days was *Brunel's Great Western railway, which opened in 1841 with a gauge of 7ft/2.134m. This was more expensive in construction but allowed greater stability and higher speeds. The company eventually lost what became known as the 'battle of the gauges'; its lines were converted to standard gauge in 1892.
 








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