When was CofGa standard gauged ?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Central of Georgia Railway Historical Soc : One Thread

I believe that most of what became the Central of Georgia was laid to "southern standard gauge" of 5 foot gauge. Sometime in the 1870's or 1880's there was a big regauging of "southern standard gauges" to the present day 4'8 1/2"(56 1/2") gauge. When did this happen to the CofGa? While on this question, has there ever been an article written/published about this large regauging effort? If my memory is correct, most if not all railroads changed their gauge on the same day. Can anyone confirm this? Thanks, Rick Perry Rail's End Hurtsboro, Ala.

-- Rick Perry (railsend@mindspring.com), December 08, 1998

Answers

OK thanks Bob!!! Does this make our CRR&B #2 a narrow gauge car then? Rick Perry

-- Rick Perry (railsend@mindspring.com), December 17, 1998.

According to the Annual Report for 1886, the gauge of the Central was changed from 5' 0" to 4' 9" on the days surrounding Tuesday, June 1, 1886. On that date, the line from Savannah to Atlanta was changed. The gauge of the other lines was changed on the days preceding and following that date. Half the locomotives and cars were changed before that time, and the remainder were changed between the time of the track gauge change and the annual report (September 1, 1886). The cost, according to the report, was $218,000.

Bob Hanson

-- Robert H. Hanson (RHanson669@aol.com), December 11, 1998.


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