Narrow Gauge on the Net Index

The Winter Photographer's special works through some snow on the Silverton line. The recent special this month (February 10, 2008) found a fresh coat of the white stuff.

Narrow Gauge on the Net presents some history and background stories of a few of the American narrow gauge railroads. Compared with the standard gauge lines, these diminutive railroads seemed almost toy-like. Nevertheless, these operations hauled passengers and freight, serving towns and hamlets bypassed by the mainline railroads. These lines were often started on a shoestring and were plagued by interchange problems with standard gauge carriers. That many of them lasted as long as they did is a tribute to the people who ran them and the communities that they served. Read. Enjoy!

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A Durango & Silverton Winter
Photo Special

The Durango & Silverton N.G. recently ran a photographer's special. Check out the snow and steam special at this link. Those folks in the open car are hardier than this computer jockey. That's for sure! Rail-Videos.Net

Meanwhile At Chama, New Mexico
Winter Is Hitting Hard

The Cumbres & Toltec facilities are under many feet of snow after multiple storms have ravaged the area. The worst is now over but it was a major clean-up job for the entire area. See the C&TSRR News for the details. News from the C&TSRR

A Grant For C&TSRR No 463?

It has been reported that a grant has been given to the Cumbres & Toltec to work on the K-27 that has been out of service for the last few years. This is the smaller 2-8-2 type narrow gauge Mikado that was first used on the Denver & Rio Grande at the turn of the 20th Century. The grant would not nearly cover the costs of rehabilitation but would be a good start. This class of locomotive was originally built as compound locomotives. A sister K-27, No. 464, runs on the Huckleberry Railroad in Flint, Michigan. We will post any more news as we find it.

Restoring The Eureka:
The Story Behind The Locomotive.

The Sagebrush Headlight, the newsletter of the Friends of the Nevada State Railroad Museum features an article by Dan Markoff about his years of work and fun with the Eureka. The locomotive has been featured on television and videos. The 1875 steam engine has been a popular attraction at Durango and Chama in the past. Read about it at this pdf file located here. The Friends of the Museum homepage is here.

Northern California narrow gauge railroad North Pacific Coast worked this little red and gold painted freight locomotive. N.P.C. No. 13 was built in 1883.
Courtesy of Railfan & Railroad Magazine

The Lake Tahoe Railway & Transportation Co. Story

This short, but very interesting operation is being put into pixels as you read this. The Bliss family ran the railroad and everything else for a while. This was an incredible bunch of people. Logger barons, engineers, architects, philanthropists, you name it. Lake Tahoe as a destination for travelers, adventurers, tree huggers, etc. as a result of this family's endeavors. Start reading about the people and the railroad.

The "Official" Southern Pacific Version of the Carson and Colorado Railroad History

Yes it's dry. It's maybe even a bit boring, but it is history as of 1948. Click here for a view of the railroad before it became an icon for those pursuing the last narrow gauge lines. And this also shows that the SP had some sense of the importance of the little branch. Or maybe it was a really slow week and some flunky in the News Bureau was given this assignment!

Maps Are Here!

The map directory is becoming filled with new (old) maps. Antique maps and one hundred year old topographics are ready for your viewing. There are over fifty maps posted, many with great detail. Over thirty of these are topographic maps we posted online now. Did you ever wonder where that railroad actually ran? Click here to go to our new Narrow Gauge Maps page..

Logo Image of "Eureka" Used With Permission

Northern California narrow gauge railroad North Pacific Coast worked this little red and gold painted freight locomotive. N.P.C. No. 13 was built in 1883. Courtesy of Railfan & Railroad Magazine

Northern California narrow gauge railroad North Pacific Coast worked this little red and gold painted freight locomotive. N.P.C. No. 13 was built in 1883.
Courtesy of Railfan & Railroad Magazine