Just forty years ago, the last stretch of broad gauge (7 feet) tracks on the Great Western Railway of England was pulled up and replaced by 4ft. 8 ½in. track, similar to that employed by the other English lines. This event marked the turning point in what was known as the “Battle of the Gauges.” In his current Letter, our Special London Correspondent makes reference to this phase of early railway development, and relates an interesting story of the method adopted by a German railway guard, off duty, to secure increased traffic for his railway.