Narrow-gauge railroads of various sizes existed across the US, especially during the late 1800s, with the most popular gauge being 3 ft gauge.[1][2] Some of the more famous 3 ft gauge railroad networks in the US were based in California, Colorado, and Hawaii. These narrow-gauge lines were easier to build than standard gauge and cost significantly less to construct. Some of the lines of these former networks still exist in the present day and continue to use 3 ft gauge track, while the rest were either widened to standard gauge or abandoned (see table below).
Alaska Railroad (standard gauge lines also present) (dual gauge lines with standard gauge track previously present) (defunct - standard gauge lines still operating)
California State Railroad Museum (standard gauge lines and dual gauge lines with standard gauge track also present) (all 3 ft gauge trackage is dual-gauged with standard gauge trackage) (operating)
Northwestern Pacific Railroad (standard gauge lines also present) (dual gauge lines with standard gauge track previously present) (defunct - standard gauge lines still operating)
Southern California Railway Museum (standard gauge lines, 3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm) gauge lines, and dual gauge lines with standard gauge track and 3 ft 6 in gauge track also present) (operating)
Denver & Rio Grande Railroad (crossed into New Mexico) (standard gauge lines and dual gauge lines with standard gauge track also present) (partially converted to standard gauge) (defunct)
Gilpin Railroad (2 ft (610 mm) gauge lines and dual gauge lines with 2 ft gauge track also present) (all 3 ft (914 mm) gauge trackage was dual-gauged with 2 ft gauge trackage) (defunct)
Hesston Steam Museum (2 ft (610 mm) gauge lines and dual gauge lines with 2 ft gauge track also present) (all 3 ft (914 mm) gauge trackage is dual-gauged with 2 ft gauge trackage) (separate 14 in (356 mm) gauge railway and separate 7+1⁄2 in (190.5 mm) gauge railway also present) (operating)
Iron Railroad (4 ft 10 in (1,473 mm) Ohio gauge lines and dual gauge lines with 4 ft 10 in track also present) (all 3 ft (914 mm) gauge trackage was dual-gauged with 4 ft 10 in trackage) (defunct)
Little Saw Mill Run Railroad (dual gauge lines with standard gauge track previously present) (all 3 ft (914 mm) gauge trackage was dual-gauged with standard gauge trackage) (defunct)
Utah & Northern Railway (crossed into Idaho and Montana) (dual gauge lines with standard gauge track previously present) (partially converted to standard gauge) (defunct)
Oregon Short Line Railway (crossed into Idaho and Oregon) (dual gauge lines with standard gauge track previously present) (all 3 ft (914 mm) gauge trackage was dual-gauged with standard gauge trackage) (defunct)