So how many of those amongst us who customarily use Her Britannic Majesty's Imperial Units can remember how long a chain is? From memory I know it has something to do with cricket pitches and furlongs, but I'm not sure I'd get it right without looking it up. Apparently though the Wikipedia railway enthusiasts (or at least the British ones) think that giving distances in miles and chains is right and proper, since the 'sources' (e.g. whoever it is that is in charge of the railways today, I've rather um, lost track...) use this venerable unit of length. And because obviously an encyclopaedia isn't written to be understood by just anyone. Or something like that. There is currently a discussion on Talk:East Croydon station (T-H-L) where a few heretics have dared to suggest that measuring things in units people are familiar with might be helpful, but I'm sure the trainspotters will prevail.East Croydon is a railway station and tram stop in the town of Croydon, Greater London, England, and is in Travelcard Zone 5. It is 10 miles 28 chains (16.66 km) measured from London Bridge.
"Wikipedia: the free encyclopedia that anyone can edit. Just don't expect to be able to understand it..."