narrow-gauge

Smaller track width

Narrow-gauge describes railways with tracks set closer together than the standard gauge of 4 feet 8.5 inches.

These smaller railways were cheaper to build and could navigate tighter curves, making them practical for mountainous terrain, mining operations, and industrial sites.

The term extends figuratively to suggest something limited in scope or provincial in outlook: His narrow-gauge thinking couldn't accommodate new ideas.

A narrow-gauge approach lacks breadth or flexibility.

railway

locomotive

Railway pulling machine

  • trackPath or monitored route
  • steamHeated water's gaseous form
  • railroadPermanent track for trains

train · freight · passenger · station · depot · cogwheel · switchback · trestle · carriage · diesel

Categories
Opposites
rail width

narrow-gaugebroad-gauge

Wider rail spacing

broad gauge · standard gauge · full-size

scope/breadth (figurative)

narrow-gaugebroad

Wide in span

wide-ranging · expansive · comprehensive · far-reaching · all-encompassing

Family

narrow, gauge, narrows, narrowly, narrowing, narrowed, gauging, narrowest, narrowness

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G