Why have a "quick and dirty" two-foot track system. Don't if you have time to do it right because sooner or later you will want it right. But I didn't have a choice. You see I had been happy with Aristo-Craft Track and LGB Turnouts (switches) until I subscribed to the 7/8" Guild email list and learned what other modelers have been doing with their track. Being the only railway I knew of in 7/8n2 I had not seen what the correct spacing could do to transform 3' narrow gauge track into 2' narrow gauge. Why didn't I have a choice? I had just a few months until our railroad would be on display, with many others from Portland Oregon to Western Washington, at the National Garden Railway Convention, held this past August of 2001. I had to scratch build the buildings and build two 7/8n2 engines and several cars. But I just could not show off my Mint & Thyme Short Line without some of the track looking like two-foot narrow gauge!

My decision was to take apart the Aristo-Craft Track, cut the ties, and reassemble it with 3/4" tie spacing. Aristo Craft track rail is held on the ties by five sets of small screws. I took the screws out of the sections but left the middle section secured to the rails. With the sections of track removed and each end I then cut the ties, mid centers, leaving some of the plastic to support the rail foot. The center section was cut by hacksaw and ties spaced. When a tie came to a place where the small screws had been into the rail I replaced screws into the cut ties. This way the gauge was maintained by more than just the plastic slots on the ties. This is not as simple with LGB track since it has rail connecters. These have ears that are bent into the ties. I only had a few pieces, thank goodness!

As for the turnouts, I left them alone. I really wanted my turnouts to work. Half of them are powered by switches run from the Switching Tower. I wanted the railroad to work with out problems when the visitors came. And it did. And it still does.

But now it is time to do the right thing. I'm ready to start making wooden ties and to replace the quick and dirty track work with track that accurately reflects 7/8" scale.

Clint Rigg