Royal Commission on Railway Gauges
Encyclopedia
The Royal Commission on Railway Gauges was held in the United Kingdom
in 1845 to choose between the Broad Gauge
of the Great Western Railway
and its allies, and the so-called narrow gauge
used by most of the rest of the country. The situation in Ireland where there were three gauges was also considered. Really narrow gauges such as of the Festiniog Railway appear to have been overlooked.
was to recommend a change in gauge in Australia to that gauge, with a partial reversion, when Sheilds resigned over a pay cut. Unfortunately the difference between these gauges of only 6.5 inches was not enough to allow safe third rail dual gauge
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in 1845 to choose between the Broad Gauge
Broad gauge
Broad-gauge railways use a track gauge greater than the standard gauge of .- List :For list see: List of broad gauges, by gauge and country- History :...
of the Great Western Railway
Great Western Railway
The Great Western Railway was a British railway company that linked London with the south-west and west of England and most of Wales. It was founded in 1833, received its enabling Act of Parliament in 1835 and ran its first trains in 1838...
and its allies, and the so-called narrow gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
used by most of the rest of the country. The situation in Ireland where there were three gauges was also considered. Really narrow gauges such as of the Festiniog Railway appear to have been overlooked.
Repercussions in Australia
The commission was not to know that the selection of for Ireland was to create a national break of gauge when an Irish engineer, Francis Webb SheildsFrancis Webb Sheilds
Francis Webb Sheilds was an early civil engineer on the Sydney Railway Company during its construction but before its opening.In England, Shields worked on a number of railway projecrs, including the then Dublin and Kingstown Railway. He considered himself to be a born railway engineer...
was to recommend a change in gauge in Australia to that gauge, with a partial reversion, when Sheilds resigned over a pay cut. Unfortunately the difference between these gauges of only 6.5 inches was not enough to allow safe third rail dual gauge
Dual gauge
A dual-gauge or mixed-gauge railway has railway track that allows trains of different gauges to use the same track. Generally, a dual-gauge railway consists of three rails, rather than the standard two rails. The two outer rails give the wider gauge, while one of the outer rails and the inner rail...
.