Seeing how by far the most expensive and labour intensive part of a train system are the tracks, I would have thought that narrow gauge rail would be advantageous by requiring less raw materials. If you can make the concrete ties and the ground work below the tracks, say, 30% narrower by going from the 1435 mm standard gauge to 1000 mm narrow gauge, wouldn't that be a significant cost reduction on the materials alone? Since concrete has a massive carbon footprint when produced, reducing the volume used would also be more sustainable. For long runs this can add up, no?
There are also plenty of trains that are as wide as standard gauge trains but simply overhang the rails more, so it's not like it would inherently impact capacity. There is the issue of stability at high speeds, particularly around curves, but that matters a lot less for low speed trains like light rail, trams, and metros where you're probably not going much faster than 60 km/h on roads and 90 km/h on completely separated right of way, with mostly straight tracks, and can simply slow down at turns. In fact, wouldn't this be even better for trams and light rail since narrow gauge allows for a smaller turning radius? And studies in Australia, Japan, etc have shown that if you build narrow gauge with heavy duty in mind, the performance is comparable.
But as far as I know, narrow gauge is basically dead with no new infrastructure being built in countries that have have standard gauge, and most countries with existing narrow gauge seem to only really be putting up with it because the infrastructure and rolling stock is already there and it's much more efficient to just expand it. But why is this? Wouldn't it at least find a niche in low speed rail or urban rail?
New player here (joined for war 83). I've seen several posts about adding railways to the game, and the suggestion that they'll be fixed routes between fixed locations. I think that's a good idea, but I've thought of something else in addition. What about player-built narrow gauge light railways?
In the First World War, both sides (more specifically the British, French, and Germans) extensively used temporary/quickly built narrow gauge railways to transport troops and supplies from the main supply hubs (which were in turn supplied by the full-sized permanent rail network) up to the front lines. I thought that you could have something similar in-game:
- A permanent network of standard gauge (i.e. full size) railways linking fixed locations (i.e. town halls) via fixed routes, with one station in each region. The rail network would start off in need of repair before being able to be used, with upgrades possible to allow for heavier/faster trains to be run.
- The option/ability for players to build narrow gauge (i.e. 1/2 size) light railways to provide improved logistical support within/between regions. For example, a light railway from the region's standard gauge railway station to the nearest base(s) to the front line, or a light railway between regions that are not directly linked by the permanent railway network
The tracks could be laid along any land/terrain that a trench/bunker/other existing earthwork within the game can be dug, with the ability to build small wooden bridges across depressions in the land/level crossings across roads if needed. Diesel and Steam Locos would be available (Diesels being cheaper to build and use the same fuel(s) as road vehicles, steam engines being more powerful and more robust but requiring coal and water). Points could be added to provide run-round loops at the ends of each line/sidings and branch lines along the route. To make building the railways worthwhile, the wagons would have twice the capacity of a road truck (diesels being able to pull two wagons, steam locos being able to pull 4). To ease construction/removal of the railway, each section of track should take 1/2 the time to lay as it takes to dig one section of trench.
Thoughts?
It was a series of relaxing videos from an Irish farmer who built a scrappy railway in his backyard to move heavy objects across his property. The introduction video was a disclaimer that it wasn't a model railway, but a functional backyard railway that would be strictly utilitarian.
I believe the series had a name, and a title card with a logo. IIRC, it was a white background and the text was some font that almost looked like Comic Sans, or some other fun font.
The videos included:
-The farmer laying rails, which were just long steel strips turned on their sides and held in place with metal stakes.
-A video of him experimenting with different wheels, made from steel sheets welded into a circle and trying to see how well they ran over his switching points.
-A video of him pushing his family on a wooden cart made from scrap wood and using the cart to move logs and branches over his property.
I'm bad with accents, but I remember he had a deep-ish, soothing voice, and at first I thought he was German or possibly even Swedish. Every video had a voiceover of the footage.
The last I remember him uploading was around January or February of this year. I tried searching using search terms such as "workshop narrow gauge railway", "welding railway wheels", "narrow gauge cart", etc, but it came up short. My watch and browsing history only brought up videos pertaining to model trains.
Labeled as a discussion, as it's a rhetorical question.
Discussion, instead of just answers yes/no would be more beneficial for everybody.
As it says in the title, I found the remnants of narrow-gauge railway tracks, at what looks like ~600mm gauge, poking out under a road between two fields. Absolutely nothing but fields in either direction and the tracks run perpendicular to any towns nearby, very roughly North to south. I know armies used narrow gauge railways to move supplies between trenches, but I don't know the history of this exact area-is there a chance that's what these are?
From LEGO Ideas : https://ideas.lego.com/s/p:a9c40ca1678149f5b529696b30a080c3?s=l
One of the comments I have read about the passenger coach from LEGO Ideas. Here are the passenger carriage's lengths you can compare which one can fit for Talyllyn train set. To keep to Lego pieces limit (3000 parts), here are the options that show how many Lego parts for you to compare for Talyllyn Train Set.
https://preview.redd.it/gojv5w92ve771.jpg?width=4096&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=77f4e598ac62062264d16046b0277be3517c9a57
To see how many parts for Talyllyn Train Set, here is the link below.
LEGO IDEAS LINK: https://ideas.lego.com/s/p:a9c40ca1678149f5b529696b30a080c3?s=l
Please let know your comments
So For LEGO Fans, If you think Talyllyn Railway can make a great LEGO Train Set, please let me know your comments and support.
Thank you very much.
