The master pattern for this sort of thing is probably Babbage arguing with Stephenson about whether a broader gauge would have been better for railroads. Undoub

The master pattern for this sort of thing is probably Babbage arguing with Stephenson about whether a broader gauge would have been better for railroads. Undoubtedly Babbage had the right of it in the sense that if one were starting a railroad system from scratch the broader gauge would have been better. But beyond some established base of rail mileage, it really didn't matter.