Generally speaking, an up line travels towards a major town or city and a down line away from it, on main lines in...
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What is a loading gauge?
Loading gauge is the maximum dimensions that a railway locomotive, coach or waggon (including its load) can be to travel safely along a track.
There are many obstacles along the side of or above a railway line that could affect its loading gauge. Bridges and tunnels are the most obvious, but station platforms, cables, walls and nearby buildings all have to be taken into account too.
The height and width of irregular or one-off loads must be checked before being allowed to travel out onto the mainline. This includes anything that is to be transported in open trucks that is higher than the truck itself. The check is carried out using a special post sited at the exit to goods yards, the post has a maximum height bar hanging from it that the loaded train must be able to pass under safely before being allowed to proceed.
These special height indicator posts (also known as loading gauges) are not seen so much these days as freight is mainly confined to specialised wagons, but back in the days of steam and mixed freights, a loading gauge would have been present at most stations.
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Loading Gauge
Price: £ 20.90Loading GaugePlastic Model Kit: need to be assembled, glued and painted.
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