Largest Loading Gauge in the World?

[J-2739]

I know ours is one of the smallest, but everyone knew that.

Which international network operates the largest Loading Gauge? Like, really big? In terms of both height and width.

 

[Cowley]

No idea. The USA maybe with their double stacked container Trains?
Or Russia ..?

Picture of a rocket being transported to a launchpad in Kazakhstan.

 

[etr221]

Former Soviet Union (Russia, etc.) is generally quoted as being the largest (but note the picture of rocket is on an industrial line at the Cosmodrome, not 'national network'); other contenders are North America, some Australian lines, and Eurotunnel.

 

[TheSeeker]

Didn't the third reich have plans for a rail network using a massive loading gauge? I remember seeing a model in the DB museum in Nuremberg. It would have been enormous.

*quick google*

Yes, a track gauge of three meters!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breitspurbahn

 

[J-2739]

No idea. The USA maybe with their double stacked container Trains?
Or Russia ..?
View attachment 47448
Picture of a rocket being transported to a launchpad in Kazakhstan.

Former Soviet Union (Russia, etc.) is generally quoted as being the largest (but note the picture of rocket is on an industrial line at the Cosmodrome, not 'national network'); other contenders are North America, some Australian lines, and Eurotunnel.

Lol, Russia always needs to look big.

Americans are very tall, but not really wide, isn't it?

 

[ac6000cw]

According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loading_gauge Russia allows up to 3.75m width and 5.3m height, North America 3.25m width and 6.15m height, and India 3.25m width and 7.0m height (on some freight lines).

So I think that probably gives the 'largest general loading gauge' title to India...

Other special-purpose lines (from Wikipedia):

• Betuweroute: 4.10 by 6.15 m (13 ft 5 in by 20 ft 2 in) to allow double stacked container trains in the future. The present overhead line does not allow this height, as it has to follow standards.
• Channel Tunnel: 4.10 by 5.60 m (13 ft 5 in by 18 ft 4 in)

 

[jopsuk]

Not quite as a large, but the Japanese "classic" network accommodates typically 2950mm wide passenger trains on 1067mm tracks