General Discussion

As in, tallest, widest trains. I think Russia has a wider gauge than USA, so are their train engines and cars taller, wider and heavier than ours? 

Does he mean in HP or Size?

Track gauge isn't always a factor in the size of the equipment.  Remember Milwaukee's "Little Joe's"?  Built for Russia but didn't go, so they were regauged for US use and went on to a successful career in the Northwest (and in Chicago).

Erie started out broad gauge (6'), but I don't recall reading that their equipment was outsized.

Brazil still runs on 5' gauge, IIRC.  Yet you probably wouldn't know that to look at their locomotives, which come out of the same factories as what we see every day.

I believe the US uses some of the largest individual cars - consider those hi-cube monster boxcars built for the auto trade, not to mention auto racks.

That's rolling stock - which some folks also call trains.

For trains, I think the Aussies have the corner on big trains on a regular basis, but I don't have any numbers in front of me.

Spain has large amounts of 5'-6" (or 5'-3" ?) gauge, but - like many European and Asian countries (India) - their "loading gauge" (= clearance diagram) is comparatively constricted, so they can't take advantage of the wide gauge to build proportionally wider and taller rolling stock.

It seems that what you're really asking is, "Who has the biggest Loading Gauge ?" - "taller, wider and heavier".  Now that many key U.S. routes are good for double-stack clearances, 315,000 lb. cars and 420,000 lb. 6-axle locomotives, it's still probably the U.S.  I don't think there are any overseas railroads that have as much equipment and routes that are good for "Plate E" clearances, for example. 

Edit:  or Plate H for double-stacks.  See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loading_gauge 

and the pictorial comparison between the European and American loading gauges at:

http://www.emdx.org/rail/Gabarit/ComparaisonGabaritsEuropenEtAAR.pdf 

- Paul North.

 If I understand BIGGEST as longest trains or biggest loads in terms of train weight in total, I think nothing beats the US trains. Second would be the LKAB trains from Kiruna to Narvik, with an axle load of 30 tons.

Now I know why European rail cars have those rounded roofs.

Adding to beaulieu's comments, afaik the Pilbara iron ore lines have the highest standard axle loadings in the world. 

1. 71,500 lbs:  standard maximum U.S. axle load (the "286K standard)
   
2. 78,570 lbs:  highest typically permissable U.S. axle load (the "315K" standard)
3. 82,500 lbs:  standard BHP iron ore lines axle load

Sweden might have the widest loading gauge. Some of their passenger trains are wide , maybe around 12' wide, on standard gauge. Some freights are loaded wide there too.

USA must be the tallest , unless somewhere in Australia equals the US loading gauge in height also.

Channel tunnel trains are extra wide.

TH&B:

Sweden might have the widest loading gauge. Some of their passenger trains are wide , maybe around 12' wide, on standard gauge. Some freights are loaded wide there too.

 

USA must be the tallest , unless somewhere in Australia equals the US loading gauge in height also.

 

Channel tunnel trains are extra wide.

Saudi Railways has the same height capability.

Let's not forget that primary lines in Canada and Mexico have similar loading gauge and axle loadings to the U.S.

RWM

 I meant tallest and widest. Not longest or heaviest

I can't think of any trains wider then the Chunnel shuttle trains, standard track gauge but wide coaches.

Sorry, maby a little here, but what is the heviest recorded load pulled by a US train? What railroad was it from?

AFAIK N&W still has the US record, from 1967 or so-- 500 coal loads, Iaeger to Williamson.