Old Railroad News Submitted by Debra Musgrove Source: The Fort Smith New Era Editor was Valentine Day JULY 2, 1879 The gauge of the St. Louis, Iron Mountian and Southern Railway was changed on the 28th from five feet to four feet eight inches. This piece of work from St. Louis to Texarkana, was accomplished from day light to 12:00 o'clock. About five thousand men were employed, and the entire work, that of changing the guage, cars, and engines, involved a cost of nearly $150,000. About three hundred cars and fifty locomotives have been changed already, but of course there are many more yet to undergo the drawing-in process.