Mostly

  – but not only – 

from the Wikipedia

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The Myth of the «Standard» Gauge

High-speed railways and «standard» gauge

For the purposes of our discussion,

Standard Gauge (SG) is 4′ 8½» (1,435 mm).

Broad Gauge (BG) is any railway

with tracks wider than «standard».

BG, if not qualified as

Brunel, Spanish, Iberian, Portuguese,

Irish, Russian, or «metric Russian»,

means 5′ 6″ (1,676 mm).

Narrow Gauge (NG) is any measure under «standard».

«CAP» (from Carl Abraham Pihl’s initials)

or «Cape» is 3′ 6″ (1,067 mm).

MG is Metric or Metre Gauge, 3′ 3 3/8″ (1,000 mm).

And there are several more sizes in the world…

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Generally speaking…

Rail gauge  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_gauge

Broad gauge  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_gauge

Break-of-gauge  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Break-of-gauge

Timeline of railway history  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_railway_history

Railway history  –  http://en.citizendium.org/wiki/Railway_history

Argentina

History of rail transport in Argentina  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Argentina#History

Armenia

Rail transport in Armenia  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armenian_Railway

Australia

John Ayres Mills  –  «The Myth of the Standard Gauge:  Rail Gauge Choice in Australia, 1850-1901″  –

https://www120.secure.griffith.edu.au/rch/items/1ae862a0-eccc-43a8-3da4-55d9bb5340ae/1/

History of rail transport in Australia  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Australia

Rail gauge in Australia  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_gauge_in_Australia#First_lines

Transport in Melbourne  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Melbourne

Azerbaijan

History of rail transport in Azerbaijan  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azerbaijan_State_Railway#History

Azores  –  Açores

The Broad Gauge Railway of the Azores / Açores  –  http://chrisbrady.itgo.com/azores/broad.htm

Baden

Großherzoglich Badische Staatseisenbahnen  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Duchy_of_Baden_State_Railway

Bangladesh

History of rail transport in Bangladesh  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bangladesh_Railway#History

History of Bangladesh Railway  –  http://www.railway.gov.bd/history.asp

Belarus

History of rail transport in Belarus  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Belarus#History

Brazil

History of rail transport in Brazil  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Brazil#History

Rail gauge in Brazil  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Brazil#Track_gauge

BRICS  –  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRICS

California

Bay Area Rapid Transit  –  http://www.bart.gov/

History of the Bay Area Rapid Transit  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Bay_Area_Rapid_Transit

Canada

History of rail transport in Canada  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Canada

Rail gauge in Canada  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_gauge_in_Canada

Chile

History of rail transport in Chile  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empresa_de_los_Ferrocarriles_del_Estado#History

The Anglo-Chilean Nitrate and Railway Company  –  http://spellerweb.net/rhindex/Chile/Chile.html

China

History of rail transport in China  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_China

BRIC  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRIC

Cuba

History of rail transport in Cuba  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferrocarriles_de_Cuba#History

Egypt

History of rail transport in Egypt  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_National_Railways#History

Estonia

History of rail transport in Estonia  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Estonia

Rail gauge in Estonia  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_gauge_in_Estonia

Finland

History of rail transport in Finland  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Finland

Georgia

History of rail transport in Georgia  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgian_Railway#History

Great Britain

History of rail transport in Great Britain   –   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Great_Britain

Rail gauge in Great Britain  –  The Battle of the Gauges  –

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Great_Britain_1830%E2%80%931922#.22The_Battle_of_the_Gauges.22

A very important document  –  The Railway Regulation (Gauge) Act 1846

«WHEREAS it is expedient to define the Gauge on which Railways shall be constructed:
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty That after the passing of this Act it shall not be lawful to construct any Railway for the Conveyance of Passengers
on any Gauge other than Four Feet Eight Inches and Half an Inch in Great Britain, and Five Feet Three Inches in Ireland:
Provided always, that nothing herein-before contained shall be deemed to forbid the Maintenance and Repair of any Railway
constructed before the passing of this Act on any Gauge other than those herein-before specified,
or to forbid the laying of new Rails on the same Gauge on which such Railway is constructed within the Limits of Deviation authorized
by the several Acts under the Authority of which such Railways are severally constructed.»

Gauge of Railways Act  –  http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=60

http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/HMG_Act_Reg1846.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_Regulation_(Gauge)_Act_1846

Broad Gauge in Great Britain

Broad Gauge Society  –  http://www.broadgauge.org.uk/

Lionel A. Smith  –  The Broad Gauge Story  –  http://lionels.orpheusweb.co.uk/RailSteam/GWRBroadG/BGHist.html

Broad Gauge Trilogy  –  http://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/history/isambard-kingdom-brunel/broad-gauge-trilogy

Great Western Railway  –  http://www.greatwestern.org.uk/

History of the Great Western Railway  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Western_Railway

Isambard Kingdom Brunel  –  Brunel University  –  http://www.brunel.ac.uk/about/history/isambard-kingdom-brunel

Mike’s Railway History  –  http://mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/r010.html

Hungary

History of rail transport in Hungary  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungarian_State_Railways#History

India

Railway Gauges in India  –  http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-gauge.html

Classification of Locomotives  –  http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-loco.html

History of rail transport in India  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_India

Indian gauge  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_gauge

(( Lord Dalhousie’s minute  –  pending ))

Project Unigauge  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Unigauge

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC)  –  http://www.delhimetrorail.com/

History of Delhi Metro  – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delhi_Metro#History

Conflicting views over Mumbai Metro gauge, by Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar  –  http://www.hindu.com/2006/05/26/stories/2006052616840400.htm

BRICS  –  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRICS

Indonesia

History of rail transport in Indonesia  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Indonesia#Historical_overview

Iran

History of rail transport in Iran  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Railways#History

Link between Iran and Pakistan  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Railways#Link_to_Pakistan

Ireland

History of rail transport in Ireland  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Ireland

Rail gauge in Ireland  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_gauge_in_Ireland

Irish gauge  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_gauge

A very important document  –  The Railway Regulation (Gauge) Act 1846

«WHEREAS it is expedient to define the Gauge on which Railways shall be constructed:
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty That after the passing of this Act it shall not be lawful to construct any Railway for the Conveyance of Passengers
on any Gauge other than Four Feet Eight Inches and Half an Inch in Great Britain, and Five Feet Three Inches in Ireland:
Provided always, that nothing herein-before contained shall be deemed to forbid the Maintenance and Repair of any Railway
constructed before the passing of this Act on any Gauge other than those herein-before specified,
or to forbid the laying of new Rails on the same Gauge on which such Railway is constructed within the Limits of Deviation authorized
by the several Acts under the Authority of which such Railways are severally constructed.»

Gauge of Railways Act  –  http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/docsummary.php?docID=60

http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/HMG_Act_Reg1846.pdf

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railway_Regulation_(Gauge)_Act_1846

Italy

History of rail transport in Italy  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_railways_in_Italy

Rail gauge in Italy  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian_gauge

Japan

«Why Did Japan Choose the 3′ 6″ Narrow Gauge?»  –  www.jrtr.net/jrtr31/f33_sai.html

History of rail transport in Japan  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Japan

Kazakhstan

Rail transport in Kazakhstan  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kazakhstan_Railways

Kyrgyzstan

Rail transport in Kyrgyzstan  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyrgyzstan#Railways

Latvia

History of rail transport in Latvia  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Latvia

Lithuania

History of rail transport in Lithuania  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithuanian_Railways#History

Moldova

Rail transport in Moldova  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Moldova

Mongolia

Rail transport in Mongolia  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Mongolia

Netherlands

History of rail transport in the Netherlands  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_the_Netherlands

Het laantje van Van der Gaag  –  http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Het_Laantje_van_Van_der_Gaag  (in Dutch)

New Zealand

History of rail transport in New Zealand  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_New_Zealand#History

Norway

History of rail transport in Norway  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Norway#History

Rail gauge in Norway  –  http://www.norsk-jernbanemuseum.no/en/about-us/norwegian-railway-history

Pakistan

History of rail transport in Pakistan  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Pakistan

Link between Iran and Pakistan  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_Republic_of_Iran_Railways#Link_to_Pakistan

Panama

History of the Panama Canal Railway  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama_Canal_Railway#History

Poland

History of rail transport in Poland  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Poland

Portugal

Rail transport in Portugal  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Portugal

Rail gauge in Portugal  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_gauge

The Broad Gauge Railway of the Azores / Açores  –  http://chrisbrady.itgo.com/azores/broad.htm

Roman Empire

A. Trevor Hodge  –  «Roman gauge«

A. Trevor Hodge’s Column

Romania

History of rail transport in Romania  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanian_Railways#History

Russia

History of rail transport in Russia  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Russia

Russian gauge  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_gauge

BRICS  –  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRICS

Scotland

Railscot  –  History of rail transport in Scotland  –  http://www.railbrit.co.uk/

Scotch gauge  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_gauge

Slovakia

History of rail transport in Slovakia  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Slovakia

Rail gauge in Slovakia  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_gauge_in_Slovakia

Uzhhorod – Košice «metric Russian» line  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uzhhorod_%E2%80%93_Ko%C5%A1ice_broad_gauge_track

South Africa

History of rail transport in South Africa  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_South_Africa#History

Gautrain  – Gautrein  –  http://www.gautrain.co.za/

History of Gautrain – Gautrein  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gautrain#History

BRICS  –  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BRICS

Spain

History of rail transport in Spain  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Spain

Spanish gauge  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iberian_gauge

http://www.docutren.com/archivos/subercase.htm  –  in Spanish

Subercase Report  in modernized Castilian ortography

(( English translation  –  pending ))

On 3 June 1855 a Law (Ley General de Caminos de Hierro) set the gauge for Spanish railways at six Castilian feet.

http://www.docutren.com/archivos/ley1855.htm  –  in Spanish

Ley General de Caminos de Hierro  in modernized Castilian ortography

(( English translation  –  pending ))

Sri Lanka

History of rail transport in Sri Lanka  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Sri_Lanka

History of Sri Lanka Railways  –  http://www.railway.gov.lk/history.html

Switzerland

History of rail transport in Switzerland  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_Switzerland

16 May 1886, the «Conférence Internationale pour l’Unité Technique des Chemins de Fer»
(International Convention for the Technical Unity of Railways)
closes in Bern, Switzerland, with an agreement to promote SG in Europe.

Tajikistan

Rail transport in Tajikistan  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Tajikistan

Turkmenistan

Rail transport in Turkmenistan  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_Turkmenistan#Railways

Ukraine

History of rail transport in Ukraine  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainian_Railways#History

Rail transport in Ukraine  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Ukraine#Railways

United States

History of rail transport in the United States  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_rail_transport_in_the_United_States

Rail gauge in the United States  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport_in_the_United_States#Rail_gauge_selection

History of the Pennsylvania Railroad  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pennsylvania_Railroad#History

Mike’s Railway History  –  mikes.railhistory.railfan.net/r009.html

Pennsylvania Trolley Gauge  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broad_gauge#Pennsylvania_Trolley_Gauge

Confederate Railroads  –  http://www.csa-railroads.com/

«Erie Gauge War»  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erie_Gauge_War

Gauge conversion  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio_gauge#United_States

Bay Area Rapid Transit of San Francisco  –  http://www.bart.gov/

History of the Bay Area Rapid Transit  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Bay_Area_Rapid_Transit

Uzbekistan

Rail transport in Uzbekistan  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transport_in_Uzbekistan#Railways

Wales

Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways…  –  http://www.festrail.co.uk/

Michael Bell has written a very interesting speculation about
what might have happened if a small rail gauge had become widespread
before the automobile boom.
Please read this article. It is quite short, and gives a lot of healthy food for thought.

Michael Bell  –  «What if?  –  http://www.grijalvo.com/Michael_Bell/What_if.htm

Minimum gauge  –  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minimum_gauge_railways

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