Narrow Gauge Examples
Many modellers think narrow gauge railways were only the now mostly defunct North American common carriers such as the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railroad (3', 914 mm) or Maine's Sandy River Railroad (2', 610mm). However narrow gauge railways operated in many countries and some very significant narrow gauge railways continue to operate, including those in Africa (often Cape Gauge: 3' 6", 1067mm), Queensland Rail (3' 6", 1067mm) and Queensland's 2' (610mm) sugar mill tramways.
Railway operations in Europe during WWI will perhaps be the most familiar narrow gauge examples for many Australians. These were primarily 2' gauge using American and British railway equipment. While some were built with temporary track sections similar to those used on plantation railways, other had quite permanent formations, albeit often hastily constructed [YouTube video]. A number of WWI locomotives made their way to Australian sugar mills, construction and industrial sites following the war.
The examples here are a sample of the ones I've had direct contact with, either through visiting (generally as heritage/tourist operations) or research interest, or ones that friends have had contact with. Like many NG modellers I'm interested in the small and quirky so you'll have to look elsewhere for mainline NG examples.
Australia
Light Railways, the bimonthly journal of LRRSA, the Light Railway Research Society of Australia, and the LRRSA Facebook discussion group provide detailed information on Australasian narrow gauge railways.
Victoria
While the major railway lines in Victoria were originally 5' 3" (1600mm) gauge, four lower cost 2' 6" (762mm) lines were built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, generally with sharp curves and steep gradients.
The Puffing Billy Railway, "Australia's premier preserved steam railway", operates over one of those narrow gauge lines (Belgrave to Gembrook) and is a major Melbourne-area tourist attraction.
Coal Creek Bush Tramway, Korumburra, VIC: This 2' gauge tramway was part of what is now a municipal museum celebrating the state's coal mining industry. However the tramway does not appear to still be operating. Photos: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - .
Tasmania
The Bush Mill Railway was a 15" (381 mm) gauge miniature railway (1986-2004), situated 2 km (1.2 miles) from Port Arthur. From 1990 it operated with a half-size replica of the K1, the world's first Garratt locomotive (built for the North-East Dundas Tramway on Tasmania's west coast). Photos: 1 - 2 - 3.
The Ida Bay Railway is a short 2' (610 mm) Heritage Tramway 105 kilometres (65 miles) south of Hobart. Opened in 1919 to transport limestone from the quarry west of Lune River to a jetty at Ida Bay. Since 1975 it has since been operating as a tourist attraction. Photos: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17; c 1998 map, and c 2006 Brochure.
Queensland
Queensland has a rich history of narrow gauge railways, essentially adopted to take advantage of lower construction costs. It's two modern rail systems remain narrow gauge: the extensive state-owned Queensland Railways (3' 6", x1067mm, coastal line and inland branches) and the 2000km+ sugar mill-owned tramways (2', 610mm).
Australian Sugar Cane Railway: Situated in the Bundaberg Botanical Gardens the Bundaberg Steam Tramway Preservation Society operates a number of restored 2' gauge ex-sugar cane locomotives in a tourist railway environment. ASCR's strength is their relationship with local sugar mills and their proven restoration record. For photos use ASCR as the search term in the Image Collection.
The Woodford Railway is a 2' gauge tourist railway operating on an ex-QR branch line formation using primarily ex-sugar cane equipment. Their historic and sales displays can also be found at Brisbane and area train shows. For photos use ANGRMS (Australian Narrow Gauge Railway Museum Society) as the search term in the Image Collection.
The Archer Park Rail Museum is a municipally owned but community run ex-QR station museum. One of a large number of station museums in Australia, it's major attraction is the only restored Purrey steam tram (3' 6" gauge) in the world. Similar trams ran on QR to service Rockhampton area communities. For photos use [AP (note square bracket!) as the search term in the Image Collection.
Overseas
Wales
Narrow gauge railways served the Welsh slate industry as well as providing access to local communities. Several have survived as tourist railways.
The Ffestiniog Railway, Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog slate mining town, is a 1 ft 11 1/2" (597 mm) heritage railway, located in Gwynedd, Wales. A major tourist attraction it's located mainly within the Snowdonia National Park. Photos: 1 - 3.
The Welsh Highland Railway (formerly the Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon)) is a 1 ft 11 1/2" (597 mm) heritage railway operating from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, where it connects with the Ffestiniog Railway and the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway. Photos: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4.
The Welsh Highland Heritage Railway (formerly the Welsh Highland Railway (Porthmadog)) is a short 1 ft 11 1/2" (597 mm) volunteer run heritage railway and museum. It was begun by a group of railway enthusiasts to preserve and rebuild the original Welsh Highland Railway, since reconstructed by the Festiniog Railway Company and the Welsh Highland Railway Limited. Photos: 1 - 2 - 3 - 4.
The Llanberis Lake Railway is a 1 ft 11 1/2" (597 mm) heritage railway running along the northern shore of Llyn Padarn (Snowdonia National Park) to what was once the second largest slate quarry in the world. Photos: 1 - 2 - 3.
The Dinorwic Quarry is a large former slate quarry, now home to the Welsh National Slate Museum, located between the villages of Llanberis and Dinorwig in North Wales. Although a nominal "2-foot gauge", the actual gauge between the rails at Dinorwic was 1 ft 10 3⁄4" (578 mm) in common with its neighbour Penrhyn, but fractionally narrower than the public lines of the Ffestiniog Railway or North Wales Narrow Gauge Railway which were 1 ft 11 1⁄2" (597 mm). Photos 1 - 2 - 3.
Africa
Heeresfeldbahn locomotive during a photo run-past on the Sandstone Estates, South Africa 2010. This 2' gauge loco was built for the German Army in the Great War and later used on a Mozambique sugar estate.John Browning photographer.
Visit John Browning's Trainrover blog to see the wide range of narrow gauge railways he's visited since 2010.
India
I lived and worked in India for almost two years when at least some steam was operating and took several memorable train trips, however almost no photographs. Some regrets, but that's life. However I did record my visit to the Rail Transport Museum, New Delhi, in 1979. The photo of the Museum below was taken in 1981.
Narrow Gauge History
In the 1990s Pete Mofatt conducted a column in the NMRA Bulletin called Narrow Nuggets, which included a series on NG History (at least 3' and 3'6" primarily in North America): 1 - 2 - 3 - 4.