Loading Gauges

There are obvious gauging differences between the Welsh Highland and the Ffestiniog and I assume there are variances between other lines - ( for example, those built on former standard gauge track beds etc. versus pre-existing narrow gauge lines. Are these measurements tabulated and published. Are guest locomotives automatically checked before being transported?

 

I'll be very surprised if anything goes beyond "local knowledge".

 

The FR and WHR have CAD drawings of their loading gauges and kinematic envelopes and are probably the closest to 'big railway' practice you'll find in the NG world. The planning documents for the Bala extension also have detailed drawings for engineering and planning approval, although they aren't what you'd call loading gauge drawings. I've never seen any in the public domain apart from the Bala ones though (they are on the planning portal).

I find the subject very interesting because I wanted to make sure that the 'route availability' of the locos and stock I'm working on are as good as possible but I found it very difficult to come by anything meaningful other than from the FR.

 

I genuinely wish there was a set of easy to access standards for the UK's 2 footish railways. There are various things that almost amount to that if you put them all together, but broadly we all just muddle along with local knowledge - we can't even agree on a gauge

 

Slightly off-beam, I know, but why has the Bala got such tiny carriages? Surely a NG line on a SG bed has plenty of elbow room?
Pat

 

I think it dates back to the small standard gauge look they initially went for with the Severn Lamb Western. I always wished they'd widen the clearances a bit at platforms to allow more interesting stock with a bit more elbow room. I'm thrilled the tiny buffers disapeared in favour of choppers though

 

I read somewhere that the bala was intended to be a big minimum gauge railway hence the small almost miniature style loading gauge.

 

I was wondering about the tolerances on the W&LLR looking at the big new diesel being loaned from Taiwan. Presumably someone on the railway has a master set of specifications to send before they receive all the varied stock from overseas. Of course no over-bridges must help, and I think they had to cut a hole above the engine shed door to get Zillertal’s chimney inside.

 

If you think about it, the only common wagons accross the slate railways were the slate wagons, and their dimensions were established by the need to move them by muscle power round a quarry.
Anything beyond that is down to budget, optimism and Hunslet quarry tank designer's decisions...

 

Mrcow = Prompted by your suggestion. I browsied on t'internet I came across this article on the Festiniog and Welsh Highland
Loading gauge - Festipedia
It included the following:
"Technically speaking, the phrase "kinetic envelope" is more accurate than loading gauge, as this takes into consideration not just raw maximum dimensions, but the like of extra space or overhang taken by a carriage when swinging out at speed, necessitating the speed restrictions at some of the above-named restricted locations."
Thanks for the tip.

 

End throw and Centre throw are the terms you need to know,

 

Technically speaking I’m fairly certain the correct term is “kinematic envelope”.


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