Interesting thought.

If the width of the Traction Animals Back side determins the track gauge you would expect to find different gauges in different countries railways.

If we take the European Horse as Standard we get 4' 8.5 ",

In India where the bullock was the draught animal we get (as in Ireland, Portugal and Spain) 5'3".

In the remoter parts of Ireland and Wales we find 3 foot or less. Question, how wide is a Goat's backside ?

In Africa 3'6 inches - Question what was the draught animal.

And underground, in the Rhondda, or any other coalfield the gayge underground was 18 inches. Which is just about the width of a woman or child, who in less enlightened days was the haulage power of the tram !!

By History ye shall know your betterments !

BTW Whilst I've not been to Bristol recently in the early 1990's I was working there and comuting from Wales. At the foot of the approach to Temple Meads Station there was a strtch of 'Cobbled' pavement Inset were some very old railway lines. Yup ! One evening I measured them, 7 foot gauge ! Nigh on 100 years since the Broad Gauge disapeared !

Gareth

Gareth