Machinery Narrow Gauge

Narrow Gauge · 10:37 AM

In North America - in fact for most of the world - standard railroad track has 4' 8-1/2" gauge {the inner distance between the two rails}. According to legend, this is because British wagons were of that width because they fit in ruts in Roman roads.

In some cases, US railroads are built to a narrower gauge {for example, plantation locomotives .... the locomotive originally used on Hawaiian plantations was built with 3' gauge}
Hawaiian Steam Locomotive in Connecticut - PentaxForums.com

The East Broad Top tracks - which were originally built to haul coal through the mountains of Pennsylvania - were also built to 3' gauge. After it was no longer needed to haul coal, the EBT was sold for scrap - but the new owner decided it actually had value carrying tourists. I took this picture in 1986. A few years later it was shut down .... as far as I know, docents still give occasional tours through their extensive shops, but no one has gotten around to finishing the job of scrapping it.

Reciprocity · 07-29-2021, 07:48 PM

Originally posted by reh321

In North America - in fact for most of the world - standard railroad track has 4' 8-1/2" gauge {the inner distance between the two rails}. According to legend, this is because British wagons were of that width because they fit in ruts in Roman roads.

In some cases, US railroads are built to a narrower gauge {for example, plantation locomotives .... the locomotive originally used on Hawaiian plantations was built with 3' gauge}
Hawaiian Steam Locomotive in Connecticut - PentaxForums.com

The East Broad Top tracks - which were originally built to haul coal through the mountains of Pennsylvania - were also built to 3' gauge. After it was no longer needed to haul coal, the EBT was sold for scrap - but the new owner decided it actually had value carrying tourists. I took this picture in 1986. A few years later it was shut down .... as far as I know, docents still give occasional tours through their extensive shops, but no one has gotten around to finishing the job of scrapping it.

Beautiful train, nice shot

reh321 · 07-29-2021, 09:05 PM

Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann

Very nice image, The White Pas and Yukon Route - Whitehorse, Yukon to Skagway Alaska - is also Narrow Gauge. I have a few images if you'd like tom see them I'll post them.

Yes, it is narrow-gauge, although I'm not certain if they use any steam any more. They are helped by the fact that cruise ships regularly deliver potential passengers to them, passengers with very little else to do, And, yes, I'm always interested in your images.

**cl1352** · 11-23-2023, 05:23 PM

Originally posted by reh321

In North America - in fact for most of the world - standard railroad track has 4' 8-1/2" gauge {the inner distance between the two rails}. According to legend, this is because British wagons were of that width because they fit in ruts in Roman roads.

In some cases, US railroads are built to a narrower gauge {for example, plantation locomotives .... the locomotive originally used on Hawaiian plantations was built with 3' gauge}
Hawaiian Steam Locomotive in Connecticut - PentaxForums.com

The East Broad Top tracks - which were originally built to haul coal through the mountains of Pennsylvania - were also built to 3' gauge. After it was no longer needed to haul coal, the EBT was sold for scrap - but the new owner decided it actually had value carrying tourists. I took this picture in 1986. A few years later it was shut down .... as far as I know, docents still give occasional tours through their extensive shops, but no one has gotten around to finishing the job of scrapping it.

Excellent. Looks like the East Broad Top railway. Thanks for sharing!

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07-29-2021, 07:48 PM	#16
Reciprocity Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 606	Originally posted by reh321 In North America - in fact for most of the world - standard railroad track has 4' 8-1/2" gauge {the inner distance between the two rails}. According to legend, this is because British wagons were of that width because they fit in ruts in Roman roads. In some cases, US railroads are built to a narrower gauge {for example, plantation locomotives .... the locomotive originally used on Hawaiian plantations was built with 3' gauge} Hawaiian Steam Locomotive in Connecticut - PentaxForums.com The East Broad Top tracks - which were originally built to haul coal through the mountains of Pennsylvania - were also built to 3' gauge. After it was no longer needed to haul coal, the EBT was sold for scrap - but the new owner decided it actually had value carrying tourists. I took this picture in 1986. A few years later it was shut down .... as far as I know, docents still give occasional tours through their extensive shops, but no one has gotten around to finishing the job of scrapping it. Beautiful train, nice shot

07-29-2021, 09:05 PM	#17
reh321 Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Bend, IN, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,181 Original Poster	Originally posted by Heinrich Lohmann Very nice image, The White Pas and Yukon Route - Whitehorse, Yukon to Skagway Alaska - is also Narrow Gauge. I have a few images if you'd like tom see them I'll post them. Yes, it is narrow-gauge, although I'm not certain if they use any steam any more. They are helped by the fact that cruise ships regularly deliver potential passengers to them, passengers with very little else to do, And, yes, I'm always interested in your images.

11-23-2023, 05:23 PM	#18
cl1352 Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 283	Originally posted by reh321 In North America - in fact for most of the world - standard railroad track has 4' 8-1/2" gauge {the inner distance between the two rails}. According to legend, this is because British wagons were of that width because they fit in ruts in Roman roads. In some cases, US railroads are built to a narrower gauge {for example, plantation locomotives .... the locomotive originally used on Hawaiian plantations was built with 3' gauge} Hawaiian Steam Locomotive in Connecticut - PentaxForums.com The East Broad Top tracks - which were originally built to haul coal through the mountains of Pennsylvania - were also built to 3' gauge. After it was no longer needed to haul coal, the EBT was sold for scrap - but the new owner decided it actually had value carrying tourists. I took this picture in 1986. A few years later it was shut down .... as far as I know, docents still give occasional tours through their extensive shops, but no one has gotten around to finishing the job of scrapping it. Excellent. Looks like the East Broad Top railway. Thanks for sharing!