Load Gauge Height in the USA

Hello All,
Just a quick question, can some-one please tell me the common height of the Load Gauges used in the USA, that is if they are still in use.My thanks in advance.
RegardsStew aka 6330trainfan
Albany WA Australia

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RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, Richard, Jun-15-03, 06:30 PM, (1) RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, 6330trainfan, Jun-16-03, 05:19 AM, (2) RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, ge44tonner, Jun-16-03, 01:53 PM, (3) RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, CharlieB, Jun-16-03, 03:03 PM, (4) RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, Richard, Jun-16-03, 09:20 PM, (5) RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, 6330trainfan, Jun-17-03, 03:13 AM, (7) RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, John 136 6000 GO, Jun-17-03, 10:45 AM, (8) RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, Magick_maker, Jun-17-03, 07:43 PM, (9) RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, John 136 6000 GO, Jun-18-03, 11:35 PM, (12) RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, Magick_maker, Jun-19-03, 06:21 PM, (14) RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, metraup, Jun-18-03, 04:46 PM, (10) RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, Magick_maker, Jun-18-03, 07:56 PM, (11) RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, metraup, Jun-19-03, 04:05 PM, (13) RE: Load Gauge Height in the USA, derekmorton, Jun-16-03, 10:54 PM, (6)

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What is a Load Gauge? Is it called by another name?

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Hi Richard,
A load gauge was used to measure the height of 'open' freight loads here in Western Australia a long time ago, not sure if they are still used here due to containerization. The load height was measured so it did not exceed a set limit, would not do to go under a bridge and leave most of the load scattered over the rails.
I am not sure by what name it would go by in the USA if used at all. But I thought with some of the rail lines passing through tunnels etc. that there would be a set height for any load carried by rail.Regards
Stew aka 6330trainfan
Albany WA Australia

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Hi Richard.
The 'load gauge' is the dimensions of rolling stock used assure clearances through trackside obstructions such as bridges or tunnels. Here in the US, it is better known as 'Clearance diagram' or referenced as 'AAR plate dimensions'. The 'Plates' are a series of printed diagrams which give the maximum allowable dimensions, such as width at a specific height above the rail. The 'Plates' are designated by letters, such as 'Plate A' (the smallest) on to 'Plate F' (the largest). Plate A clearances are used in only a few locations in the Northeast US, for example the tunnels into Penn Station in New York. Plate E is used where double-stack and autorack rolling stock is used.
Here's a link to a site which shows some of the diagrams.
http://www.nmra.org/standards/gauge.html
The full text of the diagrams is published in the 'Official Equipment Register'. I have a copy, and can photocopy some pages and post here if you want all the details.
Dan

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LAST EDITED ON Jun-16-03 AT 03:04 PM (EDT)

Yeah...that's real life, but in MSTS-world it doesn't matter. Take a look at activity PC-2 in the NNJ (aka NJC) route, for example. The tall cars you are required to drop on the car float at Piers 4b and 4c (edit: make that 4a)intersect the roof trusses of the shed over the piers. But never-you-mind...just keep driving and they'll go right on through without causing even so much as a shiver in the timbers. Yup...yup! Charlie
Newport

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Stew and Dan,
Thanks for the info guys I'm familiar with the plate designation found on all US freight cars. I'd never heard it called a Load Gauge, learn something new everyday . Stew, do modern freight cars in Australia have some type of plate designation like US freight cars?Thanks,
Rich S.

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Hi Richard,
It is the first I have heard of the 'Plate Designation', like you said you learn something new everyday, to answer your question as to whether the plate designation is used in Australia, I don`t know, but will be doing some home work now to find out and will let you know if it is in use here.
Also thanks to Derek for correcting me, the ING`s seem to vanish occassionally on this machine.
Thanks to all for your replies, gives me something to work on now.Regards
Stew aka 6330trainfan
Albany WA Australia

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LAST EDITED ON Jun-17-03 AT 10:48 AM (EDT)

I don't know if they're still used, but when I was growing up in Britain, the railways there had height (= loading) gauges suspended above the track at some of their sidings. These were a metal arc, suspended by chains (so an overloaded car wouldn't sustain or give damage) which loaded trucks should be able to pass under without contact.Edit begins:
Here in Canada, near the largest car plant in Canada, I often see trains of autoracks. Many (all?) have a notation "exceeds plate F". Now I know what that means, sort of. They're too big for the railways!
Edit ends;Going off on a related tangent - in London where the eastbound Pickadilly line dives down into it's tube tunnel the District line is right along side. Since the height of the stock on the two lines is different - tube stock being much lower then standard stock - the possibility of having a district line train attempting to enter the tube is something to be avioded. The mess which would result would be considerable. This was gauded against by having a fairly large glass u-tube suspended above the tracks, which was full of mercury. This mercury filled u-tube was part of the power circuit for the tracks. If any train higher than a tube train approached the tunnel, the glass would be broken, the mercury spilled, and the power to the train disconnectec. Both tracks were protected this way, since once you postulate a train on the wrong track, directtion of travel is not releavent. In my youth (fifties and sixties) these u-tubes were very grimy, quite black, which suggested that it was along time since they had been replaced - just as well!.CheersJohn (now in Canada)

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Oh that's cool. Any pictures of them floating around?

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Is that the suspended loading gauges or the U-tubes on the underground for which you want pictures?I've recently seen a somewhat old issue of Steam (British mag) which my father brought over here with him. There was a picture of such a loading guage in it. I could scan that and post if that's what you want. I don't know where to find any pictures of the safety U-tubes, and since my father is now just short of 92 I'm not sure how soon he could take a trip to get such pictures after his return to England, and I don't know of anyone else I could ask who would know what I'm talking about.If you want the pic of the loading guage, it may take a few days, as we're going away for a short trip.CheersJohn

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I just wondered if they were on the web. I'd be interested in Modeling them for British modelers as a scenery element if you have an idea of the size and dimensions, I can go from there.

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What would require F? A Schabbell? Thought double-stacks were as big as they got...Thanks!
METRAUP

Chicago-Geneva Metra Line

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Triple height auto carrier cars are a few inches higher than the double stacks.I don't know the guage, but I'd suspect that F would be anything that is over tall and over wide. (so called high and wides)

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Then I guess my line is F. I once saw a triple-decker autorack in a train of doubles.Thanks!
METRAUP

Chicago-Geneva Metra Line

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Its actually called "loading guage"http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=%22loading+guage%22&btnG=Google+SearchDerek

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