I respectJoe's opinions, and agree that worrying about track gauge, boiler bellies, and brake shoes ought to rank extremely low in the global scheme of things, but:
Joe is correct that one cannot simply look at the track and see whether or not it is the correct width. He is also correct that you need a reference - like the end-on view of a caboose or locomotive - to tell whether the fat Russian gauge bothers you.
It bothers me, but just enough for me to do something about it. That is why I have 1 1/8" gauge O Scale stuff, and why mostly I model in 17/64. I simply take action, and let the rest of the world enjoy whatever they want. Do I wish they had fixed it in 1935? Sure. Do I lose sleep over it? Nah . . .
