Nar′row gage.
（Railroad-engineering.) One less than 4 feet 8 1/2 inches in width between the rails, which is the usual distance between the wheels of locomotives and railroad-cars, as well as those of ordinary vehicles. Railways of this description have been in operation in the Pennsylvania coal-region for more than thirty years, and have attracted great attention within the past few years, their advocates claiming for them much greater cheapness of construction, both of road and rolling stock, and greater economy of running expenses than can be attained on roads of the ordinary gage. Less excavation and embankment is necessary, a lighter rail is employed, and the cars are made much lighter in proportion to the weight they are capable of transporting. The narrow gages actually in use vary from 3 feet 6 inches to 2 feet. The Mauch Chunk road has a gage of 3 feet; this, the Nesquehoning, and the Carbondale roads, all narrow gage, were among the first of such gage constructed in this country. Three feet six inches appears to be a favorite gage, those of Queensland, Australia, India, and Norway being all constructed of this width, the rails weighing from 35 to 40 pounds per yard. Many engineers advocate a 3-feet gage or one even narrower for some purposes or localities. The narrowest in actual operation, so far as we are aware, only two feet, is the Portmadoc and Festiniog Railway in North Wales, through a very difficult country. This was originally designed as a tramway for the transportation of slate, stone, and other minerals from the hills of Merionethshire to the sea, but has since been used for passengers and general freight.
 |
| “Little wonder” (Portmadoc and Festiniog Railway, South Wales). |
