Which is bigger, Space Shuttle or train carriage?

Space Shuttle is somewhat greater than train carriage on weight — about 1.2×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

How do Space Shuttles and train carriages compare on height?

Space Shuttle: 17.25 m. Train carriage: 3.7–5.2 m. Space Shuttle is 3.5× train carriage on height.

How do Space Shuttles and train carriages compare on length?

Space Shuttle: 37.24 m. Train carriage: 20–26.4 m. Space Shuttle is somewhat greater than train carriage on length — about 1.4×.

Space Shuttle vs Train carriage

Space Shuttle vs train carriage

Space Shuttle is larger on weight

Space Shuttle is somewhat greater than train carriage on weight — about 1.2×.

A Space Shuttle and a train carriage can be compared on 4 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.

Side by side

Larger value in bold. Ranges reflect genuine variation, not uncertainty.
	Space Shuttle	Train carriage
Weight	78–2,030 t	35–75 t
Height	17.25 m	3.7–5.2 m
Length	37.24 m	20–26.4 m
Width	23.79 m	2.7–3.2 m

What the numbers say

Space Shuttle is somewhat greater than train carriage on weight — about 1.2×.
Space Shuttle is 3.5× train carriage on height.
Space Shuttle is somewhat greater than train carriage on length — about 1.4×.
Space Shuttle is 7.7× train carriage on width.

Weight compared.

Space Shuttle 78–2,030 t

Train carriage 35–75 t

Space Shuttle

The reusable NASA orbiter flown on 135 missions between 1981 and 2011.

Train carriage

A single passenger railway vehicle; North American cars run longer and heavier than European ones.

This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.

Common questions

Which is bigger, Space Shuttle or train carriage?: Space Shuttle is somewhat greater than train carriage on weight — about 1.2×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
How do Space Shuttles and train carriages compare on height?: Space Shuttle: 17.25 m. Train carriage: 3.7–5.2 m. Space Shuttle is 3.5× train carriage on height.
How do Space Shuttles and train carriages compare on length?: Space Shuttle: 37.24 m. Train carriage: 20–26.4 m. Space Shuttle is somewhat greater than train carriage on length — about 1.4×.

Sources

NASA — National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Public domain (US Government))
Typical range compiled from manufacturer specifications — At One Place

How these figures are compiled and checked