Re: Question about C19's

There is no way to Standard Gauge a Narrow Gauge locomotive without installing a new cylinder saddle and widening the frame. There isn't enough room between the side rods and the back of the crossheads to widen the gauge. I suppose it would have been possible to split the saddle apart and build a spacer block with the proper curve to fit the bottom of the smokebox and bolt the two saddle halves to it, but then the saddle/frame keys would not line up. It wuold be much simpler to cast up a new saddle. The driving boxes have to fit close against the back of the drivers to control the lateral motion in the driver set. Again I suppose spacer collars could have been put on the new longer axles, but you would then move the load bearing wheel away from the load supporting bearing. I would think this would cause bent and broken axles.

My guess is they got new saddles, and new frame crossties, keeping the main frame members.