Re: January 31, 1951

Well Guys, it is indeed a time to fondly remember the good ole days when things came to a lamented halt. But, there is enormous reason to rejoice! It is an astounding miracle that the narrow gauge still runs anywhere at all!!!! In fact, it seems that while it will probably never be as extensive as it once was, there is some growth to the industry. In many cases it is restoration of equipment, and in others it is the rebuilding of some lines, or at least part of them. This month's TRAINS magazine has an article about a couple miles of the Tweetsie that is now operating. Up at Silverwood, Idaho, a few years back Gary Norton built 3 or 4 miles of narrow gauge through some beautiful country. The U.S. Gypsum railroad is a full fledged business hauling minerals, with modern equipment. The White Pass is working on much of its line, and I have heard that they are trying to get it open to White Horse one of these
years.
Lets face it, narrow gauge railroading may not be what it used to be, but it is high visibility and, dare I say, maybe even growing back here and there. The narrow gauge and square rigged sailing ships have a couple things in common.....they are historic, beautiful and unforgetable! People absolutely love them when they are exposed to them.
So, what's the point of all this? It is simply that it is up to all of us to make our own nitch in history memorable. When people look back on us from 2051 let them remember us for preserving, running and expanding our narrow gauge railroad heritage. Hopefully they will toast us with a smile and not a tear.
Dan Markoff