5 ft 3 in gauge railway

Railways with a track gauge of fall within the category of broad-gauge railways., they were extant in Australia, Rail [transport in Brazil#Track gauge|Brazil] and on the island of Ireland.

History

;600 BC
;1840
;1843
;1846
;1847
;1854
;1858
;1863

Nomenclature

In Great Britain and Ireland, the gauge is known as Irish gauge. In Ireland it is also common to hear it referred to as standard gauge or broad gauge when distinguishing it from the various 3 [ft gauge railways|3 ft narrow-gauge] railways of the island.
In Australia, where the states of Victoria and South Australia have this gauge, it is known as broad gauge.
In Brazil, the gauge is mainly known as broad gauge, but occasionally as Irish gauge.

Similar gauges

The Track gauge in [the United States#Broad gauges|Pennsylvania trolley gauges] of and are similar to this gauge, but incompatible. There is also a [SEPTA subway–surface trolley lines|] gauge. See: Track gauge in Ireland.

Locomotives

Before the advent of diesel and electric traction, one of the advantages of the broader Irish gauge compared to was that more space between steam locomotive frames allows for a bigger firebox, enabling generation of more steam.