Ad
related to: standard running track measurement conversion chart
Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
Track gauge conversion is the changing of one railway track gauge (the distance between the running rails) to another. In general, requirements depend on whether the conversion is from a wider gauge to a narrower gauge or vice versa, on how the rail vehicles can be modified to accommodate a track gauge conversion, and on whether the gauge conversion is manual or automated.
Originally, various track gauges were used in the United States.Some railways, primarily in the northeast, used standard gauge of 4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in (1,435 mm); others used gauges ranging from 2 ft (610 mm) to 6 ft (1,829 mm).
The proper length of the first lane of a competitive running track is 400 m (1,312.3 ft). Some tracks are not built to this specification, instead being a legacy to imperial distances such as 440 yd (402.336 m), equivalent to a quarter of a mile.
This rail gauge was soon changed to 7 ft 1 ⁄ 4 in (2,140 mm) [105] to ease running in curves. 2,140 mm 7 ft 1 ⁄ 4 in: South Africa East London and Table Bay harbour railways England Brunel's Great Western Railway until converted to standard gauge by May 1892, see Great Western Railway The "gauge war".
Cross-section of 4-rail dual-gauge track (standard and metre gauge/ narrow gauge) (click to enlarge) Cross-section of Australian dual-gauge track – 1600 mm (5 ft 3 in) and 1435 mm (4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in) gauges (click to enlarge) Mixed gauge track at Sassari, Sardinia: 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 + 1 ⁄ 2 in) standard gauge and 950 mm (3 ft 1 + 3 ⁄ 8 in)
The American gauges converged, as the advantages of equipment interchange became increasingly apparent. Notably, all the 5 ft (1,524 mm) broad gauge track in the South was converted to "almost standard" gauge 4 ft 9 in (1,448 mm) over the course of two days beginning on 31 May 1886. [21] See Track gauge in the United States.
This is a list of notable railway track gauge conversions, railway lines where the distance between the rails is broadened or narrowed.Conversions to broader gauge are generally to accommodate heavier loads or for wider cars, while conversions to narrower gauge tend to be for compatibility with other lines on a rail network.
The measurement of uniformity is done using a predefined length of string line (normally the same length used in horizontal alignment) along the track. If the midpoint of the measurement has higher elevation, it is called hump deviation. On the other hand, if the midpoint has lower elevation, it is called dip deviation. [9]