MilesWestern said:
No, the Gauge was (and still is) 5feet 0 inches. It was a simple rebuild , they only had to widen the driver tires, and replace the tender trucks.
I stand corrected - I have no idea where I got that idea from. I went a dug up my copy of Steel Rails To Victory to remind myself of the correct gauge.
ops:
Great photos in it for modellers, BTW: a German "handcar" powered by two bicycles - one attached to each side, a crudely armored Kubelwagen converted to a rail recon car for a Pioneer Battalion, and a photo of Soviet POW's being used as human switch engines, justo n one page alone. Some terrific photos of the decapods too, which is really what I was looking for besides shocking my brain back into action. A very interesting one of a dec' pushing an entire consist of flatcars loaded with tanks towards the front lines. The accompanying explanation says this was to cut down on losses of locos to mines, and a special gondola with a T-34 with crew semi-permanently attaxched to the front of the loco provided a measure of defense just in case.
If I were a European modeller, the Eastern Front would be a great subject.
I have seen stnadard gauge locos converted to narrow gauge here in Colorado, and they do look like a narrow gauge on steroids. I imagine a decapod would look just a tad "husky".