DOn't know about standard, but when it comes to hauling oversize 
machinery, the actual clearances each side and above the rails of the 
route to be traveled govern. A few years back, I brought a large 
stamping press from St.Louis, Mo. to Cleveland, Ohio. There were 3 over 
width pieces, each on it's own flat car. The 3 cars traveled together a 
special round about route to avoid narrow clearances due to bridges, and 
other obstructions. At times the cars moved only when they could travel 
on certain tracks if it was a multi track line, and only when there was 
no other traffic on adjacent rails. It took 6 weeks, where we shipped 
box cars of engines the same terminals in a couple of days. The cost was 
expensive.

Best to check with the railroad. If your customer/employer has a traffic 
  department, they will have the connections. A good machinery moving 
contractor also will be a good source of info. Also the AMERICAN RAILWAY 
ENGINEERING ASSOCIATION (AREA) might have a  web site.

A few years ago, the Ohio State Patrol (Smokey) stopped a truck trying 
to sneak a 200 ton load across the state highways. They happened to stop 
him at a railroad track (coincidence ??), he was not allowed to go any 
further, had to hire a large crane, and load a heavy duty flat car on 
the spot!

Cedric Chang wrote:
> I did some google research which seems to suggest that obstructions  
> to rail cars must leave an envelope 8 feet from centerline ( USA ).   
> This would be a 16 foot wide envelope on standard rails which are  
> 1435 mm gauge in the USA.
> ( Rail gauge is the distance between the inner sides of the two  
> parallel rails that make up a railway track. )
> 
> Does anyone know what the widest railcar allowed on US tracks would be ?
> 
> cc
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