A friendly introduction to what gauge widening is, why miniature railways use it, and how the PNP Railways track system makes it simple to build smooth-running curves. Gauge widening might sound like a specialist railway engineering term, but the principle is simple: trains run more smoothly through curves when the rails are set slightly further apart. On miniature railways, especially 5" and 7¼" gauge, locomotives often have limited side-play and relatively rigid wheelbases.