Minimum gauge railways have a gauge of less than 2 ft (610 mm) or 600 mm (1 ft 11+5⁄8 in), most commonly 15 in (381 mm), 400 mm (15+3⁄4 in), 18 in (457 mm) or 500 mm (1 ft 7+3⁄4 in). The notion of minimum gauge railways was originally developed by estate railways and by the French company of Decauville for industrial railways.
The major distinction between a miniature railway and a minimum gauge railway is that miniature lines use models of full-sized prototypes. There are miniature railways that run on gauges as wide as 2 ft (610 mm), for example the Wicksteed Park Railway. There are also minimum gauge railways running on extremely narrow track as small as 10+1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge, for example the Rudyard Lake Steam Railway. Generally minimum gauge railways have a working function as estate railways, or industrial railways, or providers of public transport links; although most also have a distinct function in relation to tourism as well, and depend upon tourism for the revenue to support their working function.
[edit] List of Minimum Gauge Railways
- Anse (Chemin de fer Touristique d')[1], 381 mm (15 in)
- Artouste (Petit train d'), 500 mm (1 ft 7
+3⁄4 in) - Assiniboine Valley Railway, 7
+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) - Bicton Woodland Railway, 457 mm (18 in)
- Bure Valley Railway, 381 mm (15 in)
- Cleethorpes Coast Light Railway, 381 mm (15 in)
- Duffield Bank Railway, 381 mm (15 in)
- Eaton Hall Railway, 381 mm (15 in)
- Fairbourne Railway
1895-1916: 2 ft (610 mm)
1916-1986: 15 in (381 mm)
1986-Present: 12+1⁄4 in (311 mm) - Hesston Steam Museum 15 in (381 mm) and 7
+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) - Isle of Mull Railway, 260 mm (10
+1⁄4 in) - Kirklees Light Railway, 381 mm (15 in)
- Lappa Valley Steam Railway, 381 mm (15 in)
- Meadows and Lake Kathleen Railroad,
457 mm (18 in) | | - Perrygrove Railway, 381 mm (15 in)
- Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, 381 mm (15 in)
- Riverside and Great Northern Railway,
381 mm (15 in) - Rhyl Miniature Railway, 381 mm (15 in)
- Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway,
381 mm (15 in) - Rudyard Lake Steam Railway, 260 mm (10
+1⁄4 in) - Ruislip Lido Railway, 305 mm (12 in)
- Sand Hutton Light Railway, 457 mm (18 in)
- Scarborough North Bay Railway,
508 mm (1 ft 8 in) - Southern Fuegian Railway, 500 mm (1 ft 7
+3⁄4 in) - Royal Arsenal 18 inch Railway, 457 mm (18 in)
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[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Chemin de fer Touristique d'Anse
| World Railways & Tramways of 15 in (381 mm) Gauge | | 
United Kingdom | |  | | 
United States | | | 
Rest of World | | | | Others | | |
