https://www.irm.org/in-the-news/1979-st ... xkRXejCbVA

Jeff

Very nice. What is the difference between the Toronto car's current gauge and IRM's and what will have to be done to accomplish the conversion? Thank you.

Also, here is a real-life permutation that I do not see in your graphic.

Toronto's gauge is 4'10&7/8", a difference of 2.375", so at a bare minimum, each wheel would have to be moved in 1.1875".

Jeff

Overheard the rumor to double track the entire IRM plant to both gauges last Wednesday.

Good one!

Does anyone on here know the story behind why Toronto chose their unusual gauge?

I think it was something about preventing standard gauge railways from using TTC (and their predecessors) tracks.

That's exactly it. This dates back to the 1800's remember.

You're not serious I hope. That would be insane to do for one car. Just swap out the wheels. Easier and cheaper.

Baltimore went with 5' 4.5" for the same reason. It was also wide enough for wagons to fit between the rails.

Sure, IRM has lots of spare seven inch wide wheels left over from the five foot gauge Russian Decapod conversion.

Actually, 4'-10 7/8" would be miserable to build three rail track for, since the 2 3/8" difference in gauge is less than the width of most rail heads, so the inner rail would impinge on the flangeway for the outer rail.

Since as I understand it these were designed to be the next generation 'standard' streetcar, I am sure the trucks are laid out to provide adequate wheel clearance for a variety of gauges, so it's likely just a matter of pressing the wheels in on the axles, with no other changes required.

Toronto's' track gauge is explained in a Wikipedia article - scroll to "Toronto Gauge"....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_gauge_in_Canada

"That the gauge of the said railways shall be such that the ordinary vehicles now in use may travel on the said tracks".

It must be true - I read it on the internet....

Bob Miller

Maybe just put the flanges on the outside? Switches would be bumpy but otherwise might work.....

Maybe by coincidence, the Toronto, Ont. streetcar gage is very clos to a Metric 1-1/2 meters.

So? Standard gauge is even closer to 1-7/16 meters, but typically the Metric mind can't deal in fractions anyway.

Question here, half-joking and full earnest: Were there any import tariffs on a Canadian-built streetcar? It's obviously not "US goods returned" as might be the case with most PCC cars. Any other complications for bringing it across the border?

/s/ Larry