PRR 7/29/1955 PRR at Anderson Indiana

PRR track gang replacing ties on the Richmond Branch

 

Those 60 year old machines look tiny compared to the giant automatons used today. Though certainly a well cared-for line for being just a branch.

 

Try to not wear hardhat and safety gasses today.

 

As well as a high-visibility vest.

That type of work is still done the old-fashioned way in some places.
http://tramconstructioninc.com/2015/05/recent-track-improvements-made/

 

Woolery Weed Burner on the Richmond Branch (PRR)
Photo by Maynard Krug - Bob Krug Collection

 

This would make an interesting piece to model.

 

There was a Charles Kuralt special done on the Mississippi Export Railroad aired in the 1970's where he showed a team of 12 or so Gandy Dancers aligning a curve by hand using 6-8 foot crowbars in singing cadence led by the foreman. The curve was realigned by about six feet purely by hand. It was beautiful to see. I've searched for that footage, but have never found it on the Net. Does anyone have a way to find that show?

 

This isn't the Charles Kuralt piece I was referring to, but the end result was the same. Gandy Dancers before the machines.......

 

Step #2 of weed control