Page 308 - SF RAIL CAT_V2.0_WEB_F2-UPDATE-02-11-18

RAILWAY GAUGE
RAILWAY GAUGE

RAIL GAUGE

AUSTRALIAN RAILWAY GAUGES

Australia’s state run railways have not been known for cooperating in the past. The three railway gauges that
exist are:

NARROW GAUGE (1,067mm / 3’6” [42”])
sTANDARD GAUGE (1,435mm / 4’8-1/2” [56-1/2”])
BROAD GAUGE (1,600mm / 5’3” [63”])
?
Rail
Clip / Clamp
Ballast Ballast
Concrete Sleeper (tie)
Pad
Ballast
?
Rail
Spike
Ballast Tie Plate Wooden Sleeper (tie) Ballast
REFERENCE The following identifies each state or territory and their rail gauge types:
Ballast

• ACT Australian Capital Territory sTANDARD GAUGE
• vIC victoria chose BROAD GAUGE (1,600mm / 5’3”);
(1,435mm / 4’8-1/2”);
• sA south Australia has all sTANDARD GAUGE
(1,435mm / 4’8-1/2”), BROAD GAUGE (1,600mm /
• NsW New south Wales adopted sTANDARD GAUGE
(1,435mm / 4’8-1/2”);
5’3”) and NARROW GAUGE (1,067mm / 3’6”);
• NT Northern Territory has sTANDARD GAUGE • TAs Tasmania has NARROW GAUGE (1,067mm /
(1,435mm / 4’8-1/2”); 3’6”);
• qLD queensland has NARROW GAUGE (1,067mm / • WA Western Australia has NARROW GAUGE
3’6”); (1,067mm / 3’6”);
Today standard gauge exists nationally except in Tasmania and connects Brisbane, sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide,
Perth and Darwin. victoria also built four NARROW(ER) GAUGE lines, one of which has been preserved as
www.specialisedforce.com.au
“Puffing Billy”. Queensland is running high speed tilt trains on its NARROW GAUGE network.
HEIGHT OF RAIL

Devices installed between the rails (derails, hinged stops, weighing scales, etc.) should be no higher than the top
of the rails. (An exception to this rule is any flexible urethane marking cone, such as a Track Clearance Marker.)
Height of rail is usually measured from the top of the wooden sleeper (or tie) to the top of the rail. Do not forget
the thickness of the tie plate. Put a pipe or straight piece of lumber across the rails and measure from the tie up
to the underside of the pipe or board.

Concrete Sleeper (tie)
Rail
?
Clip / Clamp
Ballast Ballast
Pad
Ballast

Wooden Sleeper (tie)
Rail
?
Spike
Ballast Ballast
Tie Plate
Ballast

The technical information provided is intended for informational purposes only and is subject to change without notice. Information may be
changed or updated without notice. Customers should seek technical information directly from manufacturers of railway track components to
ensure accuracy and suitability of tools and equipment.
298 SYDNEY Head Office (02) 9547 1844 Adelaide (08) 8352 8866 Brisbane (07) 3256 6011 Townsville (07) 4728 8756
Darwin (08) 8984 4453 Melbourne (03) 9761 4199 Perth (08) 9354 8544 Port Hedland (08) 9172 1113 Tasmania 0427 423 217