What???

[Ed Lecuyer]

There is a fiasco in Boston where the newly opened extension to the Green Line was built to improper track geometry. Of course hearing the news media trying to explain something like this is always entertaining, I found this quote from a Boston TV station rather, um, interesting...

[James Patten]

Did some narrow gauge aficionados infiltrate the working crews and influence the track gauge?

[Mike Fox]

On a serious note, two words..low bidder...

[Benjamin Richards]

Urgent narrow gauge, superfluous gauge...what will they think up next? 

It's obvious this contract was cooked up by non-rail folk. The gauge specification is tighter than even FRA track class 9 standard. 

[Ed Lecuyer]

This whole thing just confirms the rumor that the MBTA is restoring the Boston, Revere Beach, and Lynn.

(Who wants to tell the EBT the T wants their coaches back?)

[Mike Fox]

Doesn't Europe or someplace over that way use 4' 8"? If so, there is some track ready around Boston.

[Mark Hendrickson]

Actually the gauge at Mount Washington Cog is 4ft. 8in.

[john d Stone]

Primitive form of PTC. Narrowing gauge acts as a retarder, ensuring that trains won't overshoot the stations. The class 1's spent billions on this stuff. MBTA should be applauded for their economic solution!

[Ed Lecuyer]

Update from a MBTA press release:
"[T]he MBTA is committed to accomplishing the GLX narrow-gauge repairs as efficiently as possible while minimizing impacts to riders. The MBTA is committed to [...] progress and will [...] complete this narrow-gauge work."