A structure gauge, also called the minimum structure outline, is a diagram or physical structure that sets limits to the extent that bridges, tunnels and other infrastructure can encroach on rail vehicles. It specifies the height and width of station platforms,
tunnels and
bridge
A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...
s, and the width of the doors that allow access to a
warehouse
A warehouse is a building for storing goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial parks on the rural–urban fringe, out ...
from a
rail siding. Specifications may include the minimum distance from rail vehicles to
railway platforms, buildings, lineside electrical equipment cabinets,
signalling equipment,
third rails or supports for
overhead lines.
A related but separate gauge is the
loading gauge: a diagram or physical structure that defines the maximum height and width dimensions in
railway
Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...
vehicles and their loads. The difference between these two gauges is called the
clearance. The specified amount of clearance makes allowance for
wobbling of rail vehicles at speed or the shifting of vehicles on curves; consequently, in some circumstances a train may be permitted to go past a restricted clearance at very slow speed.
Road traffic application
The term can also be applied to the minimum size of road
tunnels, the space beneath
overpasses and the space within the
superstructure
A superstructure is an upward extension of an existing structure above a baseline. This term is applied to various kinds of physical structures such as buildings, bridges, or ships.
Aboard ships and large boats
On water craft, the superstruct ...
of
bridge
A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...
s, as well as
doors into
automobile repair shops,
bus garages,
filling station
A filling station (also known as a gas station [] or petrol station []) is a facility that sells fuel and engine lubricants for motor vehicles. The most common fuels sold are gasoline (or petrol) and diesel fuel.
Fuel dispensers are used to ...
s,
residential garages,
multi-storey car parks,
overhangs at
drive-throughs and
warehouse
A warehouse is a building for storing goods. Warehouses are used by manufacturers, importers, exporters, wholesalers, transport businesses, customs, etc. They are usually large plain buildings in industrial parks on the rural–urban fringe, out ...
s.
Eurocode 1: Actions on structures has a definition of "physical clearance" between roadway surface and the underside of bridge element. The code also defines the clearance that is shorter than the physical clearance to account for
sag curves, bridge
deflection and expected settlements with a recommendation of minimum clearance of .
In UK, the "standard minimum clearance" for structures over public highways is . In United States, the "minimum vertical clearance" of overpasses on
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, commonly known as the Interstate Highway System, or the Eisenhower Interstate System, is a network of controlled-access highways that forms part of the National Hi ...
is .
Gallery
Image:Gabarit-ferroviaire.svg,
File:Lichtraumprofil.svg,
See also
*
Air draft, applies to
bridge
A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...
s across
navigable waterway
A waterway is any Navigability, navigable body of water. Broad distinctions are useful to avoid ambiguity, and disambiguation will be of varying importance depending on the nuance of the equivalent word in other ways. A first distinction is ...
s
*
Berne gauge
*
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...
*
Bridge strike
*
Clearance car
*
Cut
*
Disadvantages of third rail (additional infrastructure restrictions)
*
Engineering tolerance
*
List of bridges known for strikes
*
Loading gauge
*
Railway platform
*
Railway platform height
*
Tunnel
*
Wayobjects
References
External links
Transport Canada, Standard Respecting Railway ClearanceGLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN RAILROAD HIGH AND WIDE CLEARANCES
Railway line clearances and car dimensions including weight ..., Volumes 87-90www.ipm.fraunhofer.de/railway
Rail infrastructure
Road hazards
{{Rail-transport-stub