narrow gauge 0-4-2ST locomotive Blanche, formerly of the Penrhyn Quarry, operating on the Ffestiniog Railway
Narrow-gauge railways are railroads (railways) where the distance between the two parallel rails constituting the railway track (the track gauge) is less than the 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) of standard gauge railroads. The rationale for the use of a narrower gauge is that a railway using such a gauge can be substantially cheaper to build, equip, and operate than one built to standard gauge. On the other hand, standard gauge railroads have a greater haulage capacity and allow greater speeds than those a narrow gauge system can attain.
Recently featured: Great Orme Tramway - WD Austerity 2-10-0 - Bridgnorth Cliff Railway