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Teaching 512 28307 1652564187 1

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64 views5 pages

Teaching 512 28307 1652564187 1

Uploaded by

Anwaar Hazoor
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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RAILWAY GAUGES

Rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the two parallel rails that make
up a single railway line. There are three types:
1- Track (Rail) gauge
2- Loading (clearance gauge)
3- Fixed Structure gauge

Track (Rail) gauge


Railway track gauge: Is the clear minimum perpendicular distance between the inner
faces (inside heads) of the two rails 5/8" below the top of rail
60% of the world's railways use a 4 feet 8½ inch (1435 mm) gauge, which is known
as standard gauge or international gauge.
Rail gauges larger than standard gauge are called broad gauge, and rail gauges smaller
than standard are called narrow gauge.
A dual gauge railway has three or four rails positioned so that trains of two different
gauges can use it.
Types of Rail gauges

1.Narrow Gauge
The other countries using narrow gauge are Britain, South Africa, etc. 10% of India’s
railway tracks have been laid to this gauge.
Suitability: Narrow gauge is suitable under the following conditions:
(i) When the construction of a track with wider gauge is prohibited due to the
provision of sharp curves, steep gradients, narrow bridges and tunnels etc.
(ii) When the prospects of revenue are not very bright. This gauge is, therefore, used
in hilly and very thinly populated areas. The feeder gauge is commonly used for
feeding raw materials to big government manufacturing concerns as well as to private
factories such as steel plants, oil refineries, sugar factories, etc.

2.Meter Gauge
The other countries using Meter gauge are France, Switzerland, Argentine, etc. 40%
of India’s railway tracks have been laid to this gauge.
Suitability: Meter Gauge is suitable under the following conditions:
(i) When the funds available for the railway project are inadequate.
(ii) When the prospects of revenue are not very bright. This gauge is, therefore, used
for tracks in under-developed areas and in interior areas

3.Standard Gauge
A standard-gauge railway is a railway with a track gauge of 1,435 mm ( 4 ft 81⁄2 in).
The standard railway gauge of 4 feet, 8 1/2 inches derives from the original
specification for an Imperial Roman army war chariot.
The standard gauge is also called Stephenson gauge (after George Stephenson),
International gauge, UIC gauge, uniform gauge, normal gauge and European gauge in
Europe, and SGR in East Africa
Standard gauge railway lines are the primary gauge used in many countries. It is used
on such high speed lines as France's TGV, Germany's ICE, & Japan's Bullet Trains.

4.Broad Gauge
The countries using the Broad Gauge are India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, SriLanka,
Brazil, Argentine, etc.
Suitability: Broad gauge is suitable under the following conditions:
(i) When sufficient funds are available for the railway project.
(ii) When the prospects of revenue are very bright. This gauge is, therefore, used for
tracks in plain areas which are densely populated i.e. for routes of maximum traffic,
intensities and at places which are centers of industry and commerce
Uniformity in gauges
One country should have only one gauge throughout its various parts.
But the policy of some countries and their topographical, geological and financial
conditions have led to adopt various gauges in their different parts.
Break of gauge is a place where different gauges meet is called a.
Gauge tolerances specify how much the actual gauge may vary from the nominal
gauge

Advantages of Breaking the Gauge


i). The most effective advantage of breaking the gauge is to render the railway an
economical and profitable concern.
ii). It facilitates the provision of a steeper gradient, sharp curves and narrow tunnels
by adopting a less wide gauge in hilly and rocky areas.

Disadvantages of Breaking the Gauge


i). It causes much inconvenience to the passengers while changing the train at station,
with change of gauge.
ii). It causes delay in movement of people and goods.
iii). It results in wastage of time.
iv). It involves extra labor for unloading and reloading the goods. The goods are also
likely to be damaged or dislocated at the junction station, having change of gauge.
v). It requires the provision of extra and costly transshipment yards, go downs, sheds,
etc. at every junction station having change of gauge.vi). It causes extreme difficulty
in quick movement of military and ammunition during war days.
Clearance (loading) gauge
Clearance (loading) gauge: A limit above and to both sides of the track which no part
of the rolling stock or their loads are allowed to encroach upon
Or it is the maximum height and width for railway vehicles and their loads to ensure
safe passage through bridges, tunnels and other structures.
It determines the sizes of passenger trains and the size of shipping container
that can be conveyed on a section of railway line and varies across the world and
often within a single railway system.
Fixed structure gauge
Structure gauge: Is the limit above and both sides of track within which no
permanent structure installation is permitted

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