What did they call the people who worked on the railroads?

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What were the names of the people who built the railroads? The people who put down the tracks and then hammered the nail. Can I please have this answer A.S.A.P. Thanks!!

-- Jenna Novak (Catsmeow2401@yahoo.com), April 14, 2000

Answers

The first words that come to mind are "gandy dancer". Is this what you were thinking of?

-- Tom Underwood (tlunder@attglobal.net), April 15, 2000.

You are right about the name gandy dancer because I am one and have been for 28 years...12-26-72.We still drive spikes by hand but now the new tools have about put a end to this practice but once in awhile we still do it. I myself can still roll one like a fan...ha..ha

-- frecrick wayne eason (aa4oz@home.com), February 01, 2001.

I forgot to ad one thing sometimes they called the person who led the calls such as picking up rail the gandydancer but all the men were gandy dancers themselves.

-- frecrick wayne eason (aa4oz@home.com), February 02, 2001.

The words I had in mind were maybe lining bar gangs or track foreman (don't quote me on this though).

-- Hayes Smith Jr. (drummerdude125@yahoo.com), February 03, 2001.

There is no better music to an old "Rail" than two Gandydancers on one spike! Being an ex SOUTHERN/NORFOLKSOUTHERN brake and con. I've heard that sweet, sweet tune many times.

-- Carroll Suther (p080@conninc.com), August 24, 2001.


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