5 ft 6 in gauge railway

Track gauge

By transport mode
Tram · Rapid transit Miniature · Scale model
By size (list)
Minimum   Fifteen inch 381 mm (15 in) Narrow   600 mm, Two foot 597 mm 600 mm 603 mm 610 mm (1 ft 11 1⁄2 in) (1 ft 11 5⁄8 in) (1 ft 11 3⁄4 in) (2 ft)   750 mm, Bosnian, Two foot six inch, 800 mm 750 mm 760 mm 762 mm 800 mm (2 ft 5 1⁄2 in) (2 ft 5 15⁄16 in) (2 ft 6 in) (2 ft 7 1⁄2 in)   Swedish three foot, 900 mm, Three foot 891 mm 900 mm 914 mm (2 ft11 3⁄32 in) (2 ft 11 7⁄16) (3 ft)   Metre 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 3⁄8 in)   Three foot six inch, Cape, CAP, Kyōki 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in)   Four foot six inch 1,372 mm (4 ft 6 in)   Standard 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Broad   Russian, Five foot 1,520 mm 1,524 mm (4 ft 11 27⁄32 in) (5 ft)   Irish 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)   Iberian 1,668 mm (5 ft 5 21⁄32 in)   Indian 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)   Six foot 1,829 mm (6 ft)   Brunel 2,140 mm (7 ft 1⁄4 in)
Change of gauge
Break-of-gauge · Dual gauge · Conversion (list) · Bogie exchange · Variable gauge
By location
North America · South America · Europe

5 ft 6 in/​1,676 mm gauge is a broad track gauge commonly used in India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Argentina and Chile, but is also used on BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit), in the San Francisco Bay Area, United States. It is historically known as "Indian gauge" on the Indian subcontinent or "Provincial gauge", "Portland gauge" or "Texas gauge" in North America. It is the widest gauge in regular use anywhere in the world.

Scotland

See 5 ft 6 in gauge in Scotland

This gauge was first used in Scotland for two short, isolated lines, the Dundee and Arbroath Railway (1836-1847) and the Arbroath and Forfar Railway (1838- ).

Asia

India

Broad gauge in Chennai

In India, the Governor-General James Andrew Broun-Ramsay, 10th Earl of Dalhousie determined that a wider gauge than 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) standard gauge was more suitable for larger firebox and stability in high winds and long steep gradients.

"The first agreement of the Government of India with East Indian Railway Company and Great Indian Peninsula Company in 1849 stipulated that railways in India would be built on a four feet, eight and half inches gauge. However, soon there were disagreements with Lord Dalhousie favoring a 6 ft (1,829 mm) gauge and Mr. Simms, the consulting engineer favoring five feet and six inches gauge. The debate was finally settled in favor of the five and half feet gauge, called the broad gauge in 1850s and the first train that ran from Bombay to Thane ran on broad gauge."

In the late 20th century, India adopted Project Unigauge. Gauge conversion towards Indian gauge is underway, replacing several narrow gauges and metre gauges.^[1]

To achieve long term economic feasibility of railway projects by transporting more cargo and passengers, India's all new railway lines will be built with Broad-gauge, with Dedicated Freight Corridor too built using Broad-gauge.

Pakistan

Bangladesh

Sri Lanka

North America

Canada

In the 1850s it was first used in Canada, and was then used in other British colonies. It was known as the "Provincial gauge" in Canada. The earliest railways in Canada, including the 1836 Champlain and St. Lawrence, 1839 Albion Colliery tramway and 1847 Montreal and Lachine Railway were all built to standard gauge.^[2]

The Grand Trunk Railway which operated in several Canadian provinces (Quebec and Ontario) and American states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont) used it, but changed to standard gauge by 1873. The Grand Trunk Railway was operated from headquarters in Montreal, Quebec; but corporate headquarters were in London, England. The St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad which operated in Quebec, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine also used it and was converted in 1873.

There is a longstanding rumour that the Provincial gauge was selected specifically to create a break-of-gauge with US railways, the War of 1812 still being a fresh memory. However, there is little supporting evidence for this, and this story appears to be traced to a single claim from the late 1800s.^[2]

United States

The Bay Area Rapid Transit system uses Indian gauge. The New Orleans, Opelousas and Great Western Railroad (NOO&GW) used Indian gauge until 1872, and the Texas and New Orleans Railroad used Indian gauge ("Texas gauge") until 1876. The Grand Trunk Railway predecessor St. Lawrence and Atlantic Railroad which operated in Quebec, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine also used Indian gauge ("Canadian gauge" or "Portland gauge") and was converted in 1873. Several Maine railroads connected to the Grand Trunk Railway shared its "Portland Gauge". The Androscoggin and Kennebec Railroad and the Buckfield Branch Railroad were later consolidated as the Maine Central Railroad which converted to standard gauge in 1871. The only electric streetcar system in the U.S. to use this gauge was that of Fairfield, Maine.

John A. Poor's chief engineer Alvin C. Morton compiled the following advantages of "Portland Gauge" for Maine railways in 1847:^[3]

• Frost heaves (swelling of wet soil upon freezing) produce an uneven running surface causing an irregular rocking motion as trains moved past. A wider wheelbase offered a steadier ride with less wear and tear on machinery and roadbed.
• Wider cars offered more room for passengers and cargo. Train length would be reduced for cars carrying more cargo. Shorter trains would lessen the effects of side winds, and permit more efficient application of power.
• Wide gauge locomotives offered more room to place reciprocating machinery inside, rather than outside the driving wheels. Reciprocating machinery was a source of vibration before mechanical engineering encompassed a good understanding of dynamics; and keeping such vibration close to the center of mass reduced the angular momentum causing rocking.
• Wider fireboxes and boilers allowed more powerful locomotives. The alternative of longer boilers held the disadvantage of poor firebox draft through the increased frictional resistance of longer boiler tubes.
• More powerful locomotives carrying fewer, larger cars would have reduced manpower requirement for engine crews and shop personnel.
• For locomotives of equal power, fuel consumption increased as gauge decreased, especially in colder outside temperatures.
• More powerful wide gauge locomotives would be more capable for plowing snow; and thereby provide more reliable winter service.
• Several gauges were in widespread use, and none had yet come into clear dominance.
• Freight transfer was preferable to exchange of cars between railways because unowned cars were abused on foreign railways.
• The Grand Trunk Railway system feeding the seaport of Portland, Maine offered little need for gauge transfer prior to loading on export shipping.
• Potential advantages of freight transfer to the standard gauge railroad from Portland to Boston seemed insignificant as long as competitive rates were available for transport on steamships between the two ports.
• The majority of Canadian freight anticipated to be carried over rail lines to Portland was heavy and bulky in comparison to its value, and must be transported cheaply in large quantities to maintain profitability for producers and transporters.

South America

Argentina

Chile

Similar gauges

Iberian gauge (1,668 mm or 5 ft 5 ²¹⁄₃₂ in) is closely similar, with only 8mm difference, and allow compatibility with the rolling stock. For example, Chile and Argentina buy second hand Spanish\Portugal Iberian-gauge rolling stock.

Installations

See also

• List of track gauges

References