Scotch gauge

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Track gauges

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By size (list)



Broad
Breitspurbahn	3,000 mm	(9 ft 10 ¹⁄₈ in)
Brunel	2,140 mm	(7 ft ¹⁄₄ in)
Indian	1,676 mm	(5 ft 6 in)
Iberian	1,668 mm	(5 ft 5 ²¹⁄₃₂ in)
Irish	1,600 mm	(5 ft 3 in)
Pennsylvania	1,588 mm 1,581 mm	(5 ft 2 ¹⁄₂ in) (5 ft 2 ¹⁄₄ in)
Russian	1,524 mm 1,520 mm	(5 ft) (4 ft 11 ²⁷⁄₃₂)

Standard	1,435 mm	(4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in)

Narrow
Scotch	1,372 mm	(4 ft 6 in)
Cape	1,067 mm	(3 ft 6 in)
Metre	1,000 mm	(3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in)
Three foot, 900mm and Swedish three foot	914 mm 900 mm 891 mm	(3 ft) (2 ft 11 ⁷⁄₁₆) (2 ft11 ³⁄₃₂) in
2 ft 6 in, Bosnian and 750 mm	762 mm 760 mm 750 mm	(2 ft 6 in) (2 ft 5 ¹⁵⁄₁₆ in) (2 ft 5 ¹⁄₂ in)
2 ft and 600mm	610 mm 600 mm 597 mm	(2 ft) (1 ft 11 ⁵⁄₈ in) (1 ft 11 ¹⁄₂ in)

Minimum
Fifteen-inch	381 mm	(15 in)

By location

North America · South America · Europe

Scotch gauge was the name given to a 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm) track gauge, that was adopted by early 19th century railways mainly in the Lanarkshire area of Scotland. It differed from the gauge of 4 ft 8 in (1,422 mm) that was used on some early lines in England. Early railways chose their own gauge, but later in the century interchange of equipment was facilitated by establishing a uniform rail gauge across railways: a so-called 'standard gauge' of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8¹⁄₂ in). In the early 1840s standard gauge lines began to be constructed in Scotland, and all the Scotch Gauge lines were eventually converted to standard gauge. Later, tram lines of Tokyo adopted this gauge in 1903.

Scottish railways built to Scotch gauge

A flat bottomed and 15-foot (4.57 m) long section of Vignole rail from the Scotch gauge Ardrossan and Johnstone Railway.

A section of original 1831 Scotch Gauge track relaid at Eglinton Country Park in North Ayrshire.

A small number of early to mid 19th century passenger railways were built to Scotch gauge, they include:

The Ardrossan and Johnstone Railway.: ^[1] Length: 10 miles (16 km).^[2] Authorised on 20 July 1806 and opened on 6 November 1810;^[3]

The Monkland and Kirkintilloch Railway.: ^[4] Length: 10 miles (16 km).^[2] Authorised on 17 May 1824 and opened on 1 October 1826.^[3] The engineer was Thomas Grainger.^[4]

The Ballochney Railway.: ^[1] Length: 6.5 miles (10.5 km).^[2] Incorporated on 19 May 1826 and opened on 8 August 1828.^[3]

The Edinburgh and Dalkeith Railway.: ^[1] Authorised on 26 May 1826 and opened in part on 4 July 1831.^[3]

The Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway.: ^[1] Length: 8.25 miles (13.3 km).^[2] Incorporated on 26 May 1826 and ceremonially opened on 27 September 1831 for both passengers and goods.^[3] The engineers were Thomas Grainger and John Miller from Edinburgh.^[1]^[4]

The Wishaw and Coltness Railway.: ^[4] Length: 11 miles (17.7 km).^[2] Incorporated on 21 June 1829 and partially opened on 21 March 1834.^[3] The engineers were Thomas Grainger and John Miller from Edinburgh.^[4]

The Slamannan Railway.: ^[1] Length: 12.5 miles (20.1 km).^[1]^[2] Incorporated on 3 July 1835 and opened on 31 August 1840.^[3]

The Paisley and Renfrew Railway.: ^[1] Length: 3 miles (4.8 km).^[2] Authorised on 21 July 1835 and opened on 3 April 1837 for both passengers and goods.^[3] The engineer was Thomas Grainger.^[4] Converted to Standard Gauge 1866.

Interestingly Robert Stephenson and Company built a Scotch gauge locomotive, the St. Rollox, for the Garnkirk and Glasgow Railway; which was later sold to the Paisley and Renfrew Railway.^[1]^[3]

All the lines were later relaid in Standard gauge.^[1]^[3]

Other early 19th century Scottish gauges

4 ft 6½ in gauge

In addition to the above lines, there were three railways, authorised between 1822 and 1835, that were built in the Dundee area, to a gauge of 4 ft 6¹⁄₂ in (1,384 mm). They were:

The Dundee and Newtyle Railway.: ^[1]^[4] Length: 10.5 miles (16.9 km).^[2]

The Newtyle and Coupar Angus Railway.: ^[1]^[4] Length: 6.5 miles (10.5 km).^[2]

The Newtyle and Glammis Railway.: ^[1]^[4] Length: 10 miles (16 km).^[2]

5 ft 6 in gauge

Grainger and Miller built another two railway lines in the same area to a gauge of 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm), (Indian gauge). Thomas Grainger is said to have chosen this gauge, since he regarded standard gauge as being too narrow and Isambard Kingdom Brunel's 7 ft ¹⁄₄ in (2,140 mm) broad gauge as being too wide.^[1] They were:

The Dundee and Arbroath Railway;: ^[1]^[4] Length: 14.5 miles (23 km).^[2] Incorporated on 19 May 1836 and opened in part in October 1838.^[3]

The Arbroath and Forfar Railway.: ^[1]^[4] Length: 15 miles (24 km).^[2] Incorporated on 19 May 1836 and opened in part on 24 November 1838.^[3]

End of Scotch gauge

The Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Railway and the Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Railway, which both obtained Parliamentary Approval on 15 July 1837 and were later to become part of the Glasgow and South Western Railway and the Caledonian Railway, respectively, were built to standard gauge from the start.^[1]

The standard gauge of 4 ft 8¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm), also known as the Stephenson gauge after George Stephenson, was adopted in Great Britain after 1846.

Use in Japan

Keiō Line train on 1,372 mm (4 ft 6 in) gauge track

After the end of Scotch gauge in Britain, the gauge revived in Japan. Since 1903, most of tram network in Tokyo was built with 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm) rail gauge, called "coach gauge" (馬車軌間, Basha Kikan). The use of this gauge extended to other suburban lines that projected through services to the city tram. Although Tokyo has abolished its major tram network, as of 2009, the following lines still use this gauge:

The Keiō Line and its branches (excluding the Inokashira Line).: ^[5] Length: 72.0 km (44.7 mi). Commuter railways connecting Tokyo and its suburb operated by Keio Corporation.
The Toei Shinjuku Line.: ^[5] Length: 23.5 km (14.6 mi). One of rapid transit lines in Tokyo built to provide through service with the Keiō Line.
The Toden Arakawa Line.: ^[5] Length: 12.2 km (7.6 mi). Only surviving line of Tokyo municipal tram.
The Tōkyū Setagaya Line.: ^[5] Length: 5.0 km (3.1 mi). Another tram line in Tokyo operated by Tokyu Corporation.
The Hakodate City Tram.: ^[5] Length: 10.9 km (6.8 mi). Only user of the gauge out of Greater Tokyo Area.

Former operators.: ^[5] The Keisei Electric Railway converted to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8¹⁄₂ in) standard gauge in 1959.

References

Notes

↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 Whishall (2nd Edition)
↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8 2.9 2.10 2.11 Popplewell
↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 3.9 3.10 3.11 Awdry (1990)
↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 4.10 Robertson (1983)
↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Tetsudō Yōran

Sources

Awdry, Christopher (1990). Encyclopaedia of British Railway Companies. London: Guild Publishing.
Robertson, C.J.A. (1983). The Origins of the Scottish Railway System: 1722-1844. Edinburgh: John Donald Publishers. ISBN 0-85976-088-X.
Thomas, John (1971). A Regional History of the Railways of Great Britain. Volume 6 Scotland: The Lowlands and the Borders. Newton Abbott: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-5408-6.
Popplewell, Lawrence (1989). A Gazetteer of the Railway Contractors and Engineers of Scotland 1831 - 1870. (Vol. 1: 1831 - 1870 and Vol. 2: 1871 - 1914). Bournemouth: Melledgen Press. ISBN 0-906637-14-7.
Whishaw, Francis (1842). The Railways of Great Britain and Ireland practically described and illustrated. Second Edition. London: John Weale. Reprinted and republished 1969, Newton Abbott: David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-4786-1.
Tetsudō Kyoku, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (2008). Tetsudō Yōran (Heisei 20 Nendo) (in Japanese). Tokyo: Denkisha Kenkyūkai. ISBN 978-4-88548-112-3.

v t e Historical Scottish railway companies

Primary companies	Caledonian Railway Glasgow and South Western Railway Great North of Scotland Railway Highland Railway North British Railway

Caledonian Railway	Aberdeen Railway Alloa Railway Alyth Arbroath and Forfar Busby Railway Cathcart District Clydesdale Junction Crieff Junction Crieff and Comrie Crieff and Methven Junction Dumfries, Lochmaben and Lockerbie Dunblane, Doune and Callander Dundee and Perth Dundee and Perth and Aberdeen Forfar and Brechin General Terminus and Glasgow Harbour Garnkirk and Glasgow Glasgow Central Railway Glasgow, Paisley and Greenock Greenock and Wemyss Bay Hamilton and Strathaven Lanarkshire and Ayrshire Lanarkshire and Dunbartonshire Leadhills and Wanlockhead Lochearnhead, St Fillans and Comrie Paisley and Barrhead District Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Polloc and Govan Rutherglen and Coatbridge Scottish Central Scottish Midland Junction Scottish North Eastern Solway Junction Symington, Biggar and Broughton Talla Railway Wishaw and Coltness Lines built by the Caledonian Railway Balerno line CR Cleland and Midcalder CR Main Line CR Douglas Branch CR Hamilton Branch CR Hamiltonhill Branch CR The Switchback Independent lines worked by the Caledonian Railway Callander and Oban Killin Railway

Glasgow and South Western Railway	Ardrossan Railway Ardrossan and Johnstone Ayr and Dalmellington Ayr and Maybole Junction Ayr to Mauchline Ayrshire and Wigtownshire Barrhead Branch Bridge of Weir Railway Cairn Valley Caledonian and Dunbartonshire Junction Castle Douglas and Dumfries Dalry and North Johnstone Darvel Branch Girvan and Portpatrick Junction Glasgow, Dumfries and Carlisle Glasgow, Paisley, Kilmarnock and Ayr Greenock and Ayrshire Kilmarnock and Troon Largs Branch Maidens and Dunure Maybole and Girvan Paisley and Renfrew Paisley Canal Line

Great North of Scotland Railway	Aberdeen and Turriff Aboyne and Braemar Alford Valley Banff, Macduff and Turriff Junction Banff, Portsoy and Strathisla Boddam Branch Deeside Denburn Valley Formartine and Buchan Inverury and Old Meldrum Junction Keith and Dufftown Moray Coast Morayshire St Combs Light Railway Strathspey Railway

Highland Railway	Buckie and Portessie Branch Dingwall and Skye Duke of Sutherland Findhorn Railway Fortrose Branch Inverness and Aberdeen Junction Inverness and Aviemore Direct Inverness and Nairn Inverness and Perth Junction Inverness and Ross-shire Kyle of Lochalsh Extension Perth and Dunkeld Sutherland and Caithness Sutherland Railway Independent lines worked by the Highland Railway Dornoch Light Railway Wick and Lybster Light Railway

North British Railway	Aberlady, Gullane and North Berwick Ballochney Bathgate and Coatbridge Blane Valley Border Counties Railway Border Union Railway Campsie Branch Carlisle and Silloth Bay Railway and Dock Company Coatbridge Branch Devon Valley Railway Dunfermline and Queensferry Edinburgh and Bathgate Edinburgh and Dalkeith Edinburgh and Glasgow Edinburgh and Hawick Edinburgh, Leith and Newhaven Railway Edinburgh, Loanhead and Roslin Railway Edinburgh and Northern Edinburgh Suburban and Southside Junction Esk Valley Eyemouth Railway Forth and Clyde Junction Gifford and Garvald Glasgow, Bothwell, Hamilton and Coatbridge Glasgow City and District Glasgow, Dumbarton and Helensburgh Glasgow and Milngavie Junction Glasgow, Yoker and Clydebank Kelvin Valley Railway Kirkcaldy and District Railway Kincardine Line Leadburn, Linton and Dolphinton NBR Macmerry Branch Monkland and Kirkintilloch Monkland Railways Montrose and Bervie Mallaig Extension NBR North Berwick Branch North British, Arbroath and Montrose Peebles Railway Stirling and Dunfermline Strathendrick and Aberfoyle Slamannan Slamannan and Borrowstounness West Highland Railway Wilsontown, Morningside and Coltness

Joint lines	Caledonian and Dunbartonshire Junction City Union Dundee and Arbroath Darvel and Strathaven Glasgow and Paisley Joint Glasgow and Renfrew District Glasgow, Barrhead and Kilmarnock Joint Kilsyth and Bonnybridge Portpatrick and Wigtownshire Joint

Other lines	Brechin and Edzell District Campbeltown and Machrihanish Light Railway Cromarty and Dingwall Light Railway Denburn Valley Line Dundee and Arbroath Hagdale Chromate Railway Invergarry and Fort Augustus Lealt Valley Diatomite Railway Lochaber Narrow Gauge Perth, Almond Valley and Methven Rothesay and Ettrick Bay Light Railway Skye Marble Railway Tranent to Cockenzie Waggonway

v t e Track gauge

General	Bogie exchange Break-of-gauge Dual gauge Gauge conversion Variable gauge

Broad gauge	Breitspurbahn 3 m (9 ft 10¹⁄₈ in) Brunel 7 ft ¹⁄₄ in (2,140 mm) Indian 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) Iberian 1,668 mm (5 ft 5²¹⁄₃₂ in) Irish 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm) Pennsylvanian 5 ft 2¹⁄₂ in (1,588 mm) 5 ft 2 in (1,575 mm), see track gauge in Ireland Five-foot 5 ft (1,524 mm) Russian 1,520 mm (4 ft 11²⁷⁄₃₂ in) Toronto subway and Toronto streetcar 1,495 mm (4 ft 10⁷⁄₈ in) Italian broad gauge 1,445 mm (4 ft 8⁷⁄₈ in)

Standard gauge	4 ft 8¹⁄₂ in (1,435 mm) (Stephenson gauge)

Narrow gauge	Scotch 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm) Cape 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) Metre 1,000 mm (3 ft 3³⁄₈ in) Italian meter gauge 950 mm (3 ft 1³⁄₈ in) Three-foot 3 ft (914 mm) 900 mm gauge 900 mm (2 ft 11⁷⁄₁₆ in) Swedish three-foot 891 mm (2 ft 11³⁄₃₂ in) 2 ft 6 in 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) Bosnian 760 mm (2 ft 5¹⁵⁄₁₆ in) 750 mm gauge 750 mm (2 ft 5¹⁄₂ in) Italian narrow gauge 700 mm (2 ft 3⁹⁄₁₆ in) 2 ft (610 mm) and 600 mm (1 ft 11⁵⁄₈ in)

Minimum gauge	500 mm (19³⁄₄ in) 18 in (457 mm) 400 mm (15³⁄₄ in) 15 in (381 mm)

Lists	track gauges gauge conversions

Categories	by country by imperial units by metric units by name

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