Syd Schofield

Editors note: Welcome to the eighth article of a series on narrow gauge by Syd Schofield. The previous article is available by clicking here, or by filtering with the category “Narrow Gauge”. Syd welcomes discussions and feedback, which can be made by clicking on the comment link at the bottom of the post.

Transportation for supporting human needs and wants has evolved from walking to rockets in space. In the not-too-distant past we managed to develop materials and technology to enhance this transportation. For the most part we move along the surface of the earth – land and water. Moving on water, once the buoyancy problems were solved, required an application of power. Wind and current were free if the direction of travel was favorable. Travelling on still water, going against the wind or moving upstream, required some extra effort.

Moving a barge on calm, flat water along a narrow channel could be powered by humans pushing with poles on the banks or bottom, or draft animals drawing with ropes along the bank. With the advent of steam power and development into a package efficient enough for powering ships and then rail travel, the low friction advantage of moving on water was almost matched by iron wheels on iron rails. The restrictions of proximity to water, whether natural or man-made canals, was relieved as long as the terrain was manageable for a roadbed with reasonably slight grades and diversions for obstacles.

While the railroads for major movers of people and material eventually settled on the “standard” gauge of four feet, eight and one-half inches, in more remote reaches of the land there was a need for a smaller, lighter, cheaper and more agile size. Private, dedicated lines as well as some common carriers adopted the smaller size of narrow gauge railroads. Small industrial railroads moving small amounts of cargo and people around population centers were pushed out by electric traction lines and interchange-capable metropolitan short lines. A curious exception to this practice occurred in Leadville, Colorado where there were three different narrow gauge railroads with one having dual narrow and standard gauge. They crisscrossed the city and its mines and mills tying in with extensive narrow gauge lines through western Colorado. A map of this “spaghetti bowl” is in the Mining Museum and at the Visitor’s Center in that town. The Leadville, Colorado, and Southern is an active tourist railroad for those visiting the area.