gauge changing procedures

[NW Mailing List]

A number of years ago, there was a discussion on this mailing list about N&W RR’s conversion to standard gauge on June 1, 1886. Included in that discussion were copies of newspaper articles, etc., explaining how that was done and its planning and execution. If I remember correctly, N&W shut down the day before and the entire main line of 406 miles was converted over on June 1st to standard gauge. There was some preliminary work done on passing sidings and possibly yards so that standard gauge operation could begun at the end of the day on June 1st. 

 

Bud Jeffries

 

From: NW-Mailing-List <nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org> On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2023 11:09 AM
To: nw-mailing-list <nw-mailing-list at nwhs.org>
Subject: gauge changing procedures

 

Jim Nichols and the turnip pastor both pose a couple of intriguing thoughts, at least one of which I have seen some details from other gauge changing railroads in the years prior to the 1885 big one.

 

Specifically I am referring to the Lackawanna changing from 6' to 4' 8.5" or 4' 9" in 1876. In this one, which apparently served as a model for the later such similar events, some weeks ahead of the big day of the change-over, spikes were driven on one side, so that when the time came, it would just be a matter of removing one side of spikes and sliding the rail into its new location, obviously inside the older and wider gauge. As special work such as switches and frogs was encountered, those changes didn't always occur on one side or the other but depending upon where the new track was to be located/relocated.

 

Just think about the many miles of mainlines, sidings, roundhouses, etc. and you can imagine the degree of planning and implementation that had to go into it. I don't recall ever reading anything specifically about the N&W 1885 change but considering the success of the Lackawanna and others afterwards, it served as the model board for changing.

 

In addition I recall also reading details about the suspension of all trains at a specific hour and obviously because they would no longer fit on the new gauge, into various terminals. Section crew were spaced out in 5-mile increments in Lackawanna history and worked from one end of their section to the next and so forth until completed.

 

In addition, a certain number of spikes on the side of the rail to be slid over were also removed as the day got closer so as to make it easier to just remove a few spikes, unbolt rails, slide and then respike inside. I think there is a similar historical account on the Erie's change in 1883.

 

As previously stated, special work entailed a great amount shifting and depended upon how extensive.

 

Also, a certain amount of equipment was also modified to work on the new gauge/alignments as the older equipment, everything from locomotives, to work and freight and passenger cars would need to be re-gauged as well.

 

Look up one of those DL&W histories that exist for how they did it as it apparently provided a blue print for how to do it. At the time of the 1876 changes, it was supposedly a remarkably smooth transition with minimal discrepancies and screw ups..

 

Bob Cohen

 

 

 

Obviously points and frogs would need some adjustment, depending on which rail was shifted. I don't think any historian has ever made reference to this.

Jim Nichols

 Amongst the Old Wise Men on this List, is there a professional track person who might be able to help with a connundrum ?? 

 

Did the N&W's 1885 conversion from 5' gauge to the present standard gauge require any adjustments other than the shifting of one rail inwardly? Specifically, would any adjustment at the frogs have been required by that change? Would the adjustments have differed with stub switches vs pointed switches? I profess almost total ignorance with respect to track geometry. Shucks, I even struggled with the concept of under-balance in curve calculations. My greatest professional accomplish in the realm of railroading was pushing boxcars around in the darkness.

 Think Spring ! 
 abram burnett Our New Business Model : Turnip Vending Machines 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/nw-mailing-list/attachments/20230227/94bab6ef/attachment.htm>