Division 1 (Queensland)

Australasian Region, NMRA

Narrow Gauge Special Interest Group

What is Narrow Gauge?

For any railway the gauge, or distance between the rails, was determined by engineering, economic and cultural considerations when the railway was first built (or rebuilt).
    In Australia the various states adopted the gauge recommended by their first engineering superintendents, resulting in a variety of primary gauges across the country. New South Wales, for example, adopted 4 foot 8.5 inches, while Victoria adopted 5 foot 3 inches, and several of the other states adopted 3 foot 6 inches... helping ensure that trade went through their respective capitals.
    Over the years 4' 8.5" became accepted as 'standard' gauge. Any wider gauge is known as 'broad' gauge, and anything smaller as 'narrow' gauge. Resource railways, particularly in mountainous areas (eg Colorado silver) or to access seasonal crops (eg South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland government railways; and Cuban and Australasian sugar cane), were often built narrow gauge to minimise costs.

This 30" gauge Baldwin-built 2-8-0 was originally built for 3' gauge and later regauged. In 2003 it was operating on the Cuban sugar cane railway of the Gregorio Arlee Manalich sugar mill at Mercedita, Cuba. John Black photo ©.

Narrow Gauge SIG

Members of this Australasian region NMRA special interest group host regular meetings of interested modellers, support narrow gauge modelling activities, and host the bi-annual Australian Narrow Gauge Convention. The latter normally attracts over 100 modellers and a full complement of related vendors.

Contact

Steve Chapman: scha4661 @ bigpond.net.au