Standard gauge
As a standard gauge, standard gauge or full track is called in railways have a gauge with a nominal dimension of 1435 mm (4 ' 8.5 ") between the inside edges of the rail heads. In the early days of rail transport that gauge was also called Stephenson Trail.
Smaller gauges are generally referred to as narrow gauge, larger than broad gauge.
The standard gauge is in Western and Central Europe and in North America and the People's Republic of China, the most widespread. In addition, we find that gauge in the Middle East, Australia and at the high-speed lines in Japan and Spain.
History
As in 1822 from Stockton to Darlington, the construction of the first public railway in the world began their tracks were designed with a track width of 1422 mm (4 feet 8 inches ). This measure resulted from the fact that it was very common even at the "tram road" railways of the coal mines of the English County Durham and thus permitted the tracks of the new railway also be used by the existing carts. During archaeological work on the River Tyne in England in 2013 was excavated with preserved wood rails such a "tram road", which had the track gauge of 4 feet 8.5 inches ( 1435 mm) and the beginning of the 19th century had been operated. This railway is now considered as the oldest documented rail line to standard gauge.
In 1830 opened railway from Liverpool to Manchester was founded by George Stephenson to improve running properties, a further ½ inch gauge, so today's standard gauge of 1435 mm (4 feet 8 ½ inches), is provided. In this way, Stephenson enlarged the track game without having to change the track gauge to the vehicles. Later, the railway from Stockton to Darlington was rebuilt on this track.
1846, the track width 1435 mm for the UK as a standard gauge required by law. Together with the technology of locomotive railroad also the track width from the UK has been exported to many parts of the world.
In the U.S., the standard gauge was set as the gauge for the first transcontinental railroad in the " Pacific Railroad Act" of 1863. In 1886, the railways in the southern states, where until then 1524 mm broad gauge was predominant, transformed into one of the largest Umspuraktionen of railway history to standard gauge.
1886 was drawn up by the Technical Unit of Railways in Bern by representatives from Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, Austria and Hungary. The already dominant 1435 mm and gauges, tolerances and many other details for international traffic have been defined.
Worldwide approximately 60 % of all rail lines are standard gauge today. At no other gauge operate longer, heavier or faster trains.
Trivia
A popular urban legend sees the reason for this odd Spurweitenmaß in the supposedly comprehensive two horses behinds lane - width of the roads of the Roman Empire, which extended to England. Essentially this the origin of the trace measure English mine tracks is further reduced to the width of Roman roads.
In fact, the Roman roads were different widths, even if it a policy that, for 8 Roman feet, corresponding gave latitudo legitima 2.4 meters. This can not be reconciled with the 1422 millimeters, the mine tracks in line. The track width of carriages and carts moved already in the Roman period by 1.5 meters, with variances in the decimetre range. There was at no time a uniform width, as opposed to tracks to was no need. Modern Sage also often reported by " Roman chariot ", but which are not used for the Roman military. Consequently, the Roman roads were designed not for chariots.