Dual gauge track

I'm posting this here as, presumably, in dual gauge track usually* at least one of the gauges will be narrow!

I have always assumed that in cases of dual gauge track, trains will either be one gauge or the other entirely. However a friend swears he's seen video of a train where the loco and some stock were of one gauge while other vehicles were of the other.
Is this possible, or is this a misremembering?

*Usually, because of course various broad plus standard gauge combinations are possible.

 

Check out the D&RGW dual gauge in Colorado. NG locos shunted SG stock using dual coupled match cars. I think they even worked trains over the dual gauge Alamosa - Antonito section.

Peter James

 

I believe that in the early days of the Exeter and Crediton railway, there was a regular through goods working from the LSWR that had standard gauge wagons hauled by a broad gauge locomotive.

Tom

 

Whilst it was dual gauge throughout, the Stafold Barn regularly used 2'6" gauge locos hauling 2' gauge stock. Since the 3rd rail has been mostly removed, that obviously doesn't happen any more.

John

 

Technically, the Padarn and the Leek & Manifold Valley Light railways both qualify, but that's cheating!

Vaguely remember that Tom Rolt made mention of mixed broad / standard gauge trains in 'Red For Danger', copy unfortunately not to hand - think this would be in the prelude to Norton Fitzwarren as mentioned above by Mr Dragon. As I recall, Rolt had picked up on this being far from a rare occurrence, and questioned the compatibility (or lack thereof) around drawgear, buffing gear etc.

At the risk of slight thread drift, how does one (safely) form a mixed-gauge train?

 

Here's one of my favourite instances, taken back in 2008 (was that really nine years ago now?!):

https://www.flickr.com/photos/muztrem/8276737341/in/album-72157628501057473/

Personally I think it's a great pity the dual-gauge has been removed at Statfold - seeing surreal loco combinations like this was part of the joy of the place. Owner's prerogative of course, but still...

On a smaller scale there is also the 7.25"/10.25" Eastleigh Lakeside Railway. IIRC all the coaches are 10.25", but are often hauled by 7.25" locos. However, I can't find any pictures of them double-heading locomotives of different gauges.

 

If you by safely mean how to build a signalling system that safely guides also mixed trains in and out of stations its possible, but certainly a challenge. Doubt that it has been any fully interlocked such systems anywhere.

Just forming and running the train is more straight forward. Either with dual coupling systems on the locos (as on D&RG as mentioned above) or with coupling wagons. My favourite type of coupling wagon are the ones in Brazil, just take a long flat car and change the bogie in one end:
http://www.railroadforums.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/57652/ppuser/3630

In Sweden we had as far I can remember 3 mixed lines where std. gauge wagons were pulled by narrow gauge locos, all freight only. On one of them locomotives with one std. gauge buffer and hook was used.
http://www.dibis.se/index.php?a=sp&tmo=8&item=95126&pos=4396&plimit=20
The locos could be turned and the buffer moved to the other side to even out the wear. But this locos is right now going through the final phase of a big overhaul
http://www.srjmf.se/nytt-galleri-test/noj-16-bilder-2014
And it is is said that it wore signs of its rough days on the mixed gauge.

The 71 km long preserved narrow gauge line Västervik - Hultsfred has a 4 km mixed gauge section belonging to the national railway system. The the train staff has to be qualified to operate on the national network.
http://www.lokman.se/tagbilder/Svenska_tag/Svenska_museitag/VHVJ.htm
Pictures of the mixed gauge far down on the page, with a blurry night shot of the double home signals of Västervik. The one on the left for the std. gauge and the "two greens" for the narrow gauge meaning proceed with caution (max 40 km/h).

 

Fascinating, and very informative ~
Tack så mycket!

 

You're welcome, and your Swedish is quite good

 

I reckon the Irish had it right with the extensive dual gauge installation at the quayside in Derry ..... horses!

 

The Baie de. Somme Railway in Northern France has preserved its dual gauge track which enabled the K&ESR P class to run there a few years ago. It's unusual having four rails, the narrow gauge tracks are laid between the outer standard gauge rails to enable the NG locos to haul standard gauge wagons. It's located half way between Bolougne and Le Harvre and well worth a visit. If you live in Kent or Sussex it's probably closer than most UK heritage lines.

 

The Ravenglass and Eskdale, for a while, had a dual gauge section between Ravenglass and Murthwaite to serve the quarry there. In this the 15in gauge was laid between the standard gauge rails (ie. 4 rails in all), and when the SG Kerr Stuart diesel was unavailable one of the NG Fordson locos would chain haul the standard gauge wagons. How many wagons, and what happened if you wanted to stop quickly, I don't know.

Steve B

 

There was a very small length of mixed gauge in Welshpool narrow gauge yard. Although it fell out of use quite early on, it is still there.

PH

 

They also had steam locos, 2 of which are preserved. No3 at Whitehead and No1 at Cultra.
No3 can be seen in this pic: https://mikemorant.smugmug.com/Trai...ailways/Irish-railways-industrial/i-TDxWwrc/A with its dual buffers.
No1 retains it's 3ft gauge buffer

Keith

 

The real oddity in Derry has to be the bridge over the Foyle. Too weak for locos, wagons were maneuvered by capstans at either end. Wonder if anybody with a penchant for inset dual gauge track has modelled this wonderful location?

 

even more surprising was the running of Swilly trains over the dockside lines with no authority at all to do so.

 

Dara Ó Briain explained it well. To the English, the law is the law. In Ireland, there are shades from "Sure... you're grand" through "Mmm... not too sure about that" to "Right, now you're taking the p*ss!"

There was actually a law which stated cattle wagons had to have roofs. Study any photo of any narrow gauge cattle train on any line in Ireland to see how enforced that one was. Even the Tralee & Dingle, which got pulled up over the issue, honoured the law more by flouting than obeying it!

 

At the gala last year, I was on a train of metre-gauge coaches hauled by an SNCF pacific, complete with "Golden Arrow" regalia, over the section from St Valery depot to Noyelles.