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Big Ben and Little Len - Overall swept corridor height and width limitations

Discussion in 'Narrow Gauge Railways' started by BiggerBob, Nov 11, 2021.

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  1. BiggerBob

    BiggerBob New Member

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    Tkere is an obvious difference between the swept corridor height and width of narrow gauge rolling stock. Is this tabulated by line? For example would the Brecon Mountain Railway locomotives foul the clearances on other lines?
     
    BiggerBob, Nov 11, 2021
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  2. meeee

    meeee Member

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    Yes. Especially as a narrow gauge railway could be 15inches or it could be 4ft. Most railways regardless of gauge will or should be keeping information on the loading gauge as this is specific to each route.

    The Brecon Mountain Railway is a 2ft gauge line on a standard gauge trackbed. So it's loading gauge is quite generous.

    Tim
     
    meeee, Nov 11, 2021
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  3. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    A good example would be the difference in loading gauge between the FR/WHR. There’s no chance of a Garrett or the WHR modern stock being able to run on the FR, such is the difference between the two loading gauges and that is two railways basically connected together as one.
     
    Pete Thornhill, Nov 11, 2021
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  4. gwralatea

    gwralatea Member

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    all true, although as I'm sure you're aware it's not just a problem with the modern stock - even in the 1920s they cut down the WHR locomotives to try and get them up the FR, with mixed (and not exactly unqualified even at best) success.

    Although, and I think this might be heretical, I've always thought the cut down Moel Tryfan was more attractive than the original. Russell, on the other hand...
     
    gwralatea, Nov 11, 2021
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  5. Pete Thornhill

    Pete Thornhill Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Administrator Moderator Friend

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    Yes it was indeed a problem pre-preservation as you say, I was just trying to give a modern example.
     
    Pete Thornhill, Nov 11, 2021
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  6. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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    It is also not necessarily the case that the larger the track gauge, the larger the loading gauge. The 2ft gauge Welsh Highland and the Vale of Rheidol railways stock is considerably larger than the 2ft 3in gauge Talyllyn and Corris railways stock.

    Steve B
     
    Steve B, Nov 11, 2021
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