Track gauge conversion

Gauge conversion is the change of one railway track gauge to another. This may be required if loads are too heavy for the existing track gauge or if rail cars are of a broader gauge than the existing track gauge. Gauge conversion may become less important as time passes due to the development of variable gauge systems, also called Automatic Track Gauge Changeover Systems.

Sleepers

If tracks are converted to a narrower gauge, the existing sleepers may be used. However, replacement is required if the conversion is to a wider gauge. Some sleepers may be long enough to accommodate the fittings of both existing and alternative gauges. Timber sleepers are suitable for conversion because they can be drilled for the repositioned rail spikes. Being difficult to drill, concrete sleepers are less suitable for conversion. Concrete sleepers may be cast with alternative gauge fittings in place. Steel sleepers may have alternative gauge fittings cast at production, may be drilled for new fittings or may be welded with new fittings.

For example, during the conversion of the Melbourne–Adelaide railway in Australia from 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) a sleeper with variable gauges and a reversible chair for the Pandrol clip was used.

Structures

Conversion from a narrow to a wider gauge may require enlargement of structures such as bridges, overpasses and tunnels, embankments and cuts. The minimum curve radius may have a wider radius on broader gauges requiring route deviations to allow the minimum curve radius to be increased. Track centers at stations with multiple tracks may also have to be moved. Conversion from narrow to standard gauge means several changes not because of the gauge itself, but in order to be compatible with the standards of standard gauge so trains can be exchanged, such as height of overpasses and choice of train couplers.

Rolling stock

Where vehicles move to a different gauge, they must be prepared with a change in the bogie (chassis) or be constructed with adjustable gauge axles. For example, passenger trains moving between the 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) gauge in France, and the 1,668 mm (5 ft 5 ²¹⁄₃₂ in) gauge in Spain, pass through an installation which adjusts their variable gauge axles. This process is known as "gauge change".

Steam locomotives

Few steam locomotives are constructed to allow for gauge change. Those that are include some in East African Railways, Garratts, and the Victorian Railways R class R766. Construction of steam locomotives in this way is difficult due to the position of the boilers and the fireboxes. The gauge change is only to a wider gauge.

In about 1860, the Bristol and Exeter Railway converted five 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) gauge locomotives to 7 ft (2,134 mm) gauge, and later converted them back again. Also in the 19th century, in the United States, some broad 1,524 mm (5 ft) gauge locomotives were designed for easy conversion to 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) gauge. In the 20th century, in Victoria station, London, some broad 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) gauge locomotive classes were designed for easy conversion to a narrower 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in) gauge. Between 1922 and 1949, five South Australian Railways T class narrow 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge locomotives were converted to Tx-class broad 1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in) gauge, and later back again. After World War II, a number of captured German 03 class Pacifics locomotives were regauged to the Russian gauge.

Diesel and electric trains

Most diesel and electric rolling stock can undergo gauge conversion by replacement of their bogies. Engines with fixed wheelbases are more difficult to convert. In Australia, diesel locomotives are regularly re-gauged between broad, standard, and narrow gauges.

Wagons and coaches

Gauge conversion of wagons and coaches involves the replacement of the wheelset or the bogies. In May 1892, wagons and coaches were converted when the 7 ft ¹⁄₄ in (2,140 mm) gauge of the Great Western Railway was abandoned.

Gauge orphan

During gauge conversion work, some stations and branch lines may become "gauge orphans". Trains can't operate to them until costly gauge conversion work is completed. For example, between Seymour and Albury in Australia, some branch lines (such as Benalla to Oaklands) and some stations, such as Violet Town have become gauge orphans.

References

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Track gauge (list)
Minimum gauge	15 in (381 mm) 400 mm (15 ³⁄₄ in) 18 in (457 mm) 500 mm (19 ³⁄₄ in)
Narrow gauge	2 foot and 600 mm 750 mm (2 ft 5 ¹⁄₂ in) 760 mm (2 ft 5 ¹⁵⁄₁₆ in) 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) 800 mm (2 ft 7 ¹⁄₂ in) 891 mm (2 ft 11 ³⁄₃₂ in) Swedish three foot 900 mm (2 ft 11 ⁷⁄₁₆ in) 3 ft (914 mm) 950 mm (3 ft 1 ³⁄₈ in) Italian metre gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3 ³⁄₈ in) metre gauge 3 ft 6 in/1,067 mm 4 ft 6 in (1,372 mm), Scotch gauge List of narrow tram track gauges
Standard gauge	4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in/1,435 mm, Stephenson gauge List of standard gauge tram tracks
Broad gauge	1445 mm gauge 1,445 mm (4 ft 8 ⁷⁄₈ in) 4 ft 10 ⁷⁄₈ in (1,495 mm), Toronto 5 ft/1,524 mm and 1520 mm, Russian gauge 5 ft 3 in (1,600 mm), Irish gauge 1,668 mm (5 ft 5 ²¹⁄₃₂ in), Iberian gauge 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm), Indian gauge 7 ft ¹⁄₄ in (2,140 mm), Brunel gauge 3,000 mm (9 ft 10 ¹⁄₈ in), Breitspurbahn List of broad tram track gauges
Gauge differences	Bogie exchange Break-of-gauge Dual gauge Gauge conversion list Variable gauge
Categories	by country by imperial units by metric units by name lists of track gauges