HNWR023

HNWR023

A foreman gauges track to make certain the distance between the rails is exactly 4 feet, 8 inches. In 1883, the N&W operated primarily on a 5-foot gauge; however, on June 1, 1886, the N&W and other southern railroads adopted the now-standard gauge of 4 feet, 8 1/2 inces. At daybreak on June 1, the N&W ceased all freight and passenger train operations and labor gangs began respiking the rails. By early afternoon, the job was complete. It is estimated that the N&W and other southern railroads changed 11,000 miles of track that day. One N&W historian noted that this was the single, greatest one-day change ever to occur in the history of the railroad.

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Nelson Harris; Virginia Museum of Transportation

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HNWR023