CN Narrow-Gauge Passenger Trains

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NS VIA Fan

Conductor
Joined
Sep 24, 2011
Messages
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Location
Nova Scotia
It's been 30 years since CN's narrow-gauge railway was abandoned in Newfoundland and 50 years since the 'Caribou'......a full-service passenger train with coaches, diners and sleepers was discontinued on the 550 mile run across the Island between St. John's and Port-aux-Basques (Port O Bask). But at Corner Brook there's a nice display of equipment on a short section of remaining narrow-gauge track at the Railway Society of Newfoundland.

And there's been a bit of a play on paint schemes here......Locomotive 593 would never have hauled passenger equipment in those CN colours from the '60s.....and the Nfld Railway logo was never applied. It disappeared in 1949 when CN took over after Newfoundland joined Canada.

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Great shots! I was there a couple of times either on my auto trip in 1990, or later on a couple of cruises, but sadly, I was too late to get a chance to ride the narrow gauge...

Thanks for posting...
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Just guessing from those photo's and the four across seating, I would guess the cars to be about 8 feet to maybe 8 feet, 6 inches wide, compared to their contemporary standard gauge cars of ten foot wide width...

Yes, they would then have a lot of 'overhang', but they did not travel very fast, so were relatively stable.
 
Just guessing from those photo's and the four across seating, I would guess the cars to be about 8 feet to maybe 8 feet, 6 inches wide, compared to their contemporary standard gauge cars of ten foot wide width...

Yes, they would then have a lot of 'overhang', but they did not travel very fast, so were relatively stable.
SAR ran some trains at 110kph on Imperial Gauge. Later they may have upped it to 120kph. Even with all that overhang and all.
Indian Railways ran some Meter Gauge trains at 100-105kph. Their loading gauge was similar to (perhaps 6” to 9” less width) the SAR Imperial Gauge trains.

Then again IR runs Suburban EMUs that are close to 12’ wide on 5’6” at 100-105kph.
 
Just guessing from those photo's and the four across seating, I would guess the cars to be about 8 feet to maybe 8 feet, 6 inches wide, compared to their contemporary standard gauge cars of ten foot wide width...

Yes, they would then have a lot of 'overhang', but they did not travel very fast, so were relatively stable.
SAR ran some trains at 110kph on Imperial Gauge. Later they may have upped it to 120kph. Even with all that overhang and all.
Indian Railways ran some Meter Gauge trains at 100-105kph. Their loading gauge was similar to (perhaps 6” to 9” less width) the SAR Imperial Gauge trains.

Then again IR runs Suburban EMUs that are close to 12’ wide on 5’6” at 100-105kph.
I would imagine those examples are on railways built or maintained to higher standards, with much more frequent service than that of the Newfoundland Ry.....

I would love to see those wide gauge IR cars....just imagine how luxurious a sleeper could be, with that much interior space available....
default_smile.png
 
Just guessing from those photo's and the four across seating, I would guess the cars to be about 8 feet to maybe 8 feet, 6 inches wide, compared to their contemporary standard gauge cars of ten foot wide width...

Yes, they would then have a lot of 'overhang', but they did not travel very fast, so were relatively stable.
SAR ran some trains at 110kph on Imperial Gauge. Later they may have upped it to 120kph. Even with all that overhang and all.
Indian Railways ran some Meter Gauge trains at 100-105kph. Their loading gauge was similar to (perhaps 6” to 9” less width) the SAR Imperial Gauge trains.

Then again IR runs Suburban EMUs that are close to 12’ wide on 5’6” at 100-105kph.
I would imagine those examples are on railways built or maintained to higher standards, with much more frequent service than that of the Newfoundland Ry.....
I would love to see those wide gauge IR cars....just imagine how luxurious a sleeper could be, with that much interior space available....
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Wider cars are used on Suburban sections with special clearance. They are not allowed on intercity main lines outside suburban areas. So no chance of finding a sleeper in that loading gauge.
 
I will be calling at Kochi, Mangalore, Mormugao, and Mumbai next May on a cruise...do those wide cars run out of any of them? If so, I may make an effort to see them...
 
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Mumbai suburban EMUs both on Central and Western Railway are wide.
Thanks...maybe you can give me some suggestions on riding them, when at the Gathering?
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Sure. Just ride any EMU in the Mumbai Suburban system. But yeah, we can talk about it at the Gathering.
 
Except that on the subway's, the doors are closed, the air conditioner's are on, etc........

But yeah...maybe around noon, it won't be quite as chaotic as in those scene's..
 
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