“baby gauge”

In the Amagosa Valley, in the Death Valley area, three track gauges were used. The Tonopah & Tidewater used 4’8 ½” standard gauge while the Death Valley Railroad and the Ash Meadows clay railroad used 36”gauge, and the “Baby Gage*” "ore gathering railroad" at Ryan, and the Gerstley Mine tramway were 24” gauge. The term “baby gage” was used for both the “ore collecting” line at Ryan (24” gauge) the Gerstley tram way (24” gauge), the Ash Meadow clay railroad (36” gauge”) and the narrow gauge branch to the Lila C mine (presumed to be 36” gauge).

Local use spelled “gage” without a “u” as is more common elsewhere. Much of the 24” gauge “Baby Gage” equipment was transferred to Boron California for use there in the Pacific Borax mine. Some of that equipment was later returned to Ryan and Gerstley. Some is now found in the Death Valley Museum at the Furnace Creek Ranch.