Broad-gage.
(Railroad-engineering.) A distance between rails over 56 1/2 inches. The width of 4 feet 8 1/2 inches was adopted by Stephenson, being the usual grade of the coal-wagons on the railways in the North of England. He found it, did not make it. Brunel, who was not used to following anybody, either under or above ground, struck out a path for himself, and gave the broad-gage to the Great Western Railway of England, making it 7 feet. It was a very expensive experiment, and has been reduced to the standard of 56 1/2 inches. See Railway-gage.