Smalspår

Smalspår, or narrow-gauge railways, are railways whose track gauge is narrower than the standard gauge of 1435 mm. The term covers a range of gauges, from about 600 mm up to 1000 mm (metre gauge) and sometimes slightly beyond, depending on region and application. Narrow-gauge lines are common in mountainous terrain, in forests or mining settings, and in many heritage or tourist railways, where lower construction costs and tighter curves can be advantageous.

Historically, smalspår was developed to reduce construction costs, allow steeper gradients and tighter curves, and fit into smaller rights-of-way. It was widely used for mining, logging, plantation railways, and regional networks where full standard-gauge railways would be impractical.

Operationally, rolling stock on narrow-gauge lines is lighter and smaller, and trains typically operate at lower speeds. Interoperability with standard-gauge networks is limited, and many lines today function as heritage or tourist routes rather than primary freight corridors.

Notable examples include the Ffestiniog Railway in Wales, a metre-gauge line that operates as a heritage railway, and the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway in India, which uses a 762 mm gauge. Around the world, narrow-gauge lines remain in service in various capacities—some for freight or passenger transport in regions where the gauge offers cost or terrain advantages, others preserved as museums or tourist attractions.