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Rail gauge facts for kids

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(Redirected from Narrow gauge)
Gauge EN

Rail gauge is the distance from the inside of one rail on a railroad track to the inside of the other. Most tracks use a standard gauge of 1,435 mm (4 ft, 8 1/2 in). Wider gauges are called broad gauge(1676mm), smaller gauges are called narrow gauge(762mm or 610mm). Broad gauge may be used where the track needs to have big things moving on it. Narrow gauge, such as metre gauge(1000mm), is used to build railroads for less money, because the smaller track costs less. Places where different gauges meet are called break of gauge.

Rail gauge
General
Break-of-gauge • Dual gauge • Gauge conversion • List of rail gauges • Rail gauge by country
Broad gauge
Indian 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) • Iberian 1,668 mm (5 ft 5+2⁄3 in) • Irish 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) • Russian • 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+7⁄8 in)
Standard gauge
1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Narrow gauge
Cape 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) • Metre 1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) • Scotch 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm)

Images for kids

  • Dual Gauge Afghanistan

    Comparison of track gauges

  • East Side Access GCT cavern with work train

    Narrow gauge work train in an East Side Access cavern that will eventually house a standard gauge station for the Long Island Rail Road.

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