The ("Ordinance on the Construction and Operation of Narrow-Gauge Railways" / narrow-gauge railway regulations), abbreviated as ESBO, is a German law regulation governing the field of

narrow gauge railway A narrow-gauge railway (narrow-gauge railroad in the US) is a railway with a track gauge narrower than standard . Most narrow-gauge railways are between and . Since narrow-gauge railways are usually built with tighter curves, smaller structur ...

operations. The orders are enacted by the Federal Ministry of Transport based on enabling act through the General Railway Law ("", first issued on 29. March 1951). The supervisory authority is delegated to the

Federal Railway Authority The German Federal Railway Authority (german: Eisenbahn-Bundesamt, ) has been the independent federal authority for the regulation of the railways in Germany since 1 January 1994. It is under the supervision and direction of the Federal Minist ...

of Germany. The ESBO is based directly on the provisions of the EBO main railway regulations referencing its definitions and regulations. While the EBO concentrates on standardization for transport on national and international level the ESBO allows more options for regional and local systems that are technically incompatible to other railways. Apart from giving an extended list of prescriptions it allows non-mentioned areas to follow the global envelope of ("Recognized Rules of Technology" roughly to follow "Established Technology Patterns") which is a legal term being more narrow than the "

state of the art The state of the art (sometimes cutting edge or leading edge) refers to the highest level of general development, as of a device, technique, or scientific field achieved at a particular time. However, in some contexts it can also refer to a level ...

in technology" (). While many of its systems would be governed by

Light Railways Act 1896 The Light Railways Act 1896 (59 & 60 Vict. c.48) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. History Before the Act each new railway line built in the country required a specific Act of Parliament to be ob ...

in the UK it has a different scope so that standard gauge and meter gauge systems in Germany are usually governed by BOStrab light railway regulations that is otherwise modelled for tramways as the operations instructions for BOStrab differ more from EBO than ESBO from EBO.

See also