Track Gauge also known simply as Gauge or Rail/Railway/Railroad Gauge is the width between the rails measured from the inside. There are many different types of Gauges which are grouped into seven main groups of gauges them being: Duel Gauge, Broad Gauge, Standard Gauge, Narrow Gauge, Minimum Gauge, Miniature Gauge and Model Gauge. Also note the Gauge of the track is NOT the same as scale. For more of a complex explanation click here.
Dual Gauge[]
Dual Gauge track in Vietnam. The outer most rails are for Standard Gauge trains. While the inner most rail and the nearest rail to it are for Narrow Gauge.
Dual Gauge refers to several rails of different gauge but the same height on one track.
Broad Gauge[]
Broad Gauge also known as Wide Gauge is the widest track Gauge.
Newly placed Broad/Wide Gauge track in India.
List of Broad Gauges[]
- 4 ft 107⁄8 in Gauge
- 5 ft
- 5 ft 3 in
- 5 ft 41⁄2 in
- Iberian Gauge (5 ft 521⁄32 in)
- 5 ft 6 in
- 26 ft 1027⁄32 in
- 29 ft 65⁄16 in
Standard Gauge[]
Standard Gauge as the name suggests is the standard international gauge for railways at 4 ft 81⁄2 in and is used all across Europe, North America, Africa and Asia.
Standard Gauge track in the USA.
Narrow Gauge[]
Narrow Gauge is one of the smaller gauge types often used for industrial use.
Narrow Gauge track in Poland.
List of Narrow Gauges[]
- 4 ft 73⁄4 in
- 4 ft 6 in
- 4 ft 1 in
- 4 ft
- 3 ft 111⁄4 in
- 3 ft 7 in
- 3 ft 6 in
- 3 ft 51⁄2 in
- 3 ft 5+11⁄32 in
- Metre Gauge (3 ft 33⁄8 in)
- 3 ft
- 2 ft 9 in
- 2 ft 6 in
- 2 ft 5 in
- 2 ft 1 in
- 2 ft
- 1 ft 111⁄2 in
- 1 ft 115⁄8 in
- 1 ft 113⁄4 in
Minimum Gauge[]
Minimum Gauge is considered the smallest gauge usable for industrial uses namely mining and military work where Narrow Gauge was still to big.
Minimum Gauge track in the UK.
List of Minimum Gauges[]
- 15 in
- 16 in
- 161⁄2 in
- 1715⁄16 in
- 18 in
- 181⁄2 in
- 19 in
- 20 in
- 21 in
- 2 ft 10 in
Miniature Gauge[]
Miniature Gauge is considered the smallest gauge possible to ride on safely and is used mainly for recreational purposes.
Miniature Gauge track in Western Australia.
List of Miniature Gauges[]
- 21⁄2 in
- 31⁄2 in
- 43⁄4 in
- 5 in
- 61⁄4 in
- 71⁄4 in
- 71⁄2 in
- 81⁄4 in
- 9 in
- 97⁄16 in
- 91⁄2 in
- 101⁄4 in
- 12 in
- 121⁄4 in
- 125⁄8 in
- 133⁄8 in
- 14 in
Model Gauge[]
Model Gauge is the smallest track gauge and it's main use is for modeling of toys.
Model Gauge track in the UK.
List of Model Gauges[]
Note - This list is incomplete.
- 7⁄8 in
- 2.125 in
- O Gauge (1.26 in)
- Gauge 1 (1.77165354 in)
- 1⁄2 in
- Gauge 2 (1.77165354 in)
- Gauge 1 (1.77165354 in)
- L Gauge (1.49606299 in)
- 11⁄4 in
- 00 Gauge (0.748 in)
- EM Gauge (0.709 in)
- HOe Gauge (0.276 in)