Windmill Spiking and Driving Railroad Spikes
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- See how a Gandy Dancer Drives Railroad Spikes. Windmill Spiking
and driving spikes with a hydraulic spike driver.
Gandies take a lot of pride in how they drive spikes. It is one of the marks
of a good gandy. It's fun to drive spikes with a spike maul or track hammer.
But at the age I am, I've slowed down a considerable bit at driving spikes which
really does not sit well with me. But like Toby Keith sang, "I ain't as good as I once was,
I got a few years on me now. But there was a time, back in my prime,
When I could really lay it down."
Link to watch video on All About Railroad Spikes
• All about Railroad Spikes
I do apologize for the very last clip in this video. It was really cold and
it seemed like the camera goofed up and caused the clip to look and
sound like it was in slow motion. The driver actually did better and
sounded better than what was displayed. Thank you so much for watching,
we really do appreciate it.
Made December 2022
Disclaimer: I am an employee of Iron Synergy at Cumberland
Mine. My job is railroad track maintenance. I am very fortunate to
have this job and everyone at the mine is very fortunate to have
Iron Synergy as it's current owner. Our past owners had every
intention of shutting this mine down, but Iron Synergy took
over and have kept this mine alive.
Please understand: I am NOT in any way an official or unofficial
spokes person for Iron Synergy or Cumberland Mine. Any viewpoints,
opinions or anything that I show in the videos, or write in the video
descriptions or any answer to any comment, should NEVER be
misconstrued or interpreted as being in any way shape or form,
any kind of official or unofficial statement from Iron Synergy,
Cumberland Mine, any of the mine's management, any of the
contractors that may be shown in any video, nor of any of
my fellow co-wokers.
Any viewpoints or opinions I may make in the videos, in the descriptions,
or in any answer to a comment is strictly that of my own and NOT an
official or unofficial statement or viewpoint that Iron Synergy or
any one at Iron Synergy or Cumberland Mine necessarily has or makes.
Again, we are very fortunate to have Iron Synergy as our current owners.
Please, when making a comment be respectful of Iron Synergy, Cumberland
Mine, my fellow coworkers and also any contractors that may be
shown. Thank You, Dave
#GandyDancer#DriveSpikes#RailroadSpikes#WindmillSpiking
Dave great video, thanks for sharing. Another thing about setting and driving spikes straight up and down is you can change the track gauge with a spike. That was probably the most common method we used to adjust gauge.
Thanks Zach for the excellent point and one I neglected to mention.
You are right we can adjust gauge with spiking if it's not too far
out of gauge. Always is a pleasure to have you visit with me
my good friend.
Dave,have ya heard that song by Jonny cash,the legendary of John Henry hammer?
I heard it first time other night.
68 1/2 years old?? Shoot, Dave swings that hammer like a youngster. Pretty sure those spikes were begging for mercy.
LOL darnoldie, I was the one begging for mercy.... Back in my
prime tho might have been a different story. Thank you my friend
for the very kind words. We really appreciate all the wonderful
support you have given the channel.
Remember, under all those clothes is pure Perdue class 10 muscle.
@@ccrx6700I’m about to turn 59 in a few months.
I still split my own firewood for the SHOP, which requires about three face cord per week.
Interesting how the actual work is so easy when you have the physics down.
I always classed a perfect follow-through as when my axe (double bit, 8 lb head), goes through the splits, and sticks in the chopping block, ready for the next log to split!
I see no difference in the dynamics, save that the spiking is a bit lower to the ground.
@@dangeary2134 😊❤️👌💪
If you want to continue to age well, then keep doing what you do -- Make money, plus the money you save not having to join a spa
I laugh every time I see something like this. When I first started with u.p. I got the nickname lightning. Not because I was fast. I just couldn’t hit the same place twice! Best job I ever had.
I miss when I lose my focus, mostly when my hat starts to fall
off and that makes me think about my hat instead of the spike.
Thanks so much for taking the time to watch and write in my friend.
My dad has been doing railroad repairs for over 30 years and he still does it , hes one hard working man. Good video 👍👍
That's awesome to hear Gasper. I'm certain your dad is a very
hard working man. Kudos to him, we need more folks like him.
Thanks so much for writing in and for taking the time to check
out the video my friend.
Amen
Very nice to see a bit of manual spike driving.. my grandfather did this job with three other spike drivers and they always had a rhythmic cadence when working them…. It was a competition to see who would miss… and misses were RARE!!
Yes My Grandpa, worked the Rails a LONG time, 40 years, guess, and he did OK, hit by a truck, destroyed his back. He could not do much in the 60's and today he would have done much better, much better treatments.
Those guys back then that did everything by hand all day long
were tough as nails. Things are a lot easier nowadays thank
goodness, we still do some hand stuff but I do like hydraulics.
Thank you so much my friend for visiting with us
Yes, Dave is really good at windmilling the mall or in his case hammer. I never used a hammer as I worked a long time ago. Getting 2 or three guys windmilling on same spike was fun👍
No one else here can spike like that John so I have to wait
for a contractor come in to do a tag team, that's a lot of fun,
I've never done 3, that would be cool. it is fun to drive spikes
Dave, great video! Thanks for explaining all about the spikes and the tools. You still have it! Take care.
Thank you Tom for the very nice comment. Nice to hear you
enjoyed the spike show. We certainly appreciate your watching
my friend.
Not sure if you've seen it Dave, but years ago, Mike Rowe and his show Dirty Jobs went to the Modoc Railroad Academy where they were teaching him track working skills and spiking with a maul was one of the things, they were showing him. If I remember correctly, I think he ended up breaking the heads off of 2 spike mauls in 5 to 6 swings! Technique and practice and muscle memory evolve into this becoming an earned skill. Thanks, Dave. 👍
Cool Scotty I had not seen that one. I used to love Mike's Dirty Jobs
shows. I even wrote him many years ago and suggested he
come out and work with me, but never heard back from him.
Everyone breaks handles learning to spike, no exceptions. One of
the first things you learn when spiking is how to replace a handle!
Thanks so much for watching my friend.
@@ccrx6700 That's cool that you suggested that he and his crew come out there to work with you. I really wish now that he had. Maybe it was your suggestion about track work that got them to go and look into the Modoc Academy. Anyway, now you've got your own "show" and you are educating and entertaining many weekly viewers. Isn't that an awesome thing about RUclips, you can produce your own shows and meet people from all around the world in the process.
@@espeescotty 👍😊
@@ccrx6700 he's out again, give him a second try.
It's an old newfangled exercise machine. Gives you muscle, kills the flab. You railroaders have been hiding your secret weapon for flab reduction, Dave! 😊
If that's the case then it sounds like I need to do a lot more spiking....LOL Appreciate so much your checking the spike driving
video out today Shirley.
You always do an excellent job explaining everything. Thank you so much Dave. Have a Happy New Year!!! You always tell your viewers how much you appreciate us, but we REALLY APPRECIATE YOU!
Without great viewers like you Valerie this channel would be
nothing more than something for me to watch when I retire.
you're the best and I hope Steve had a smile on his face
tonight. :-) If nothing else, you beat Pappy tonight LOL
We did not spike over the rail
Dave, great images in your video. I worked for a railroad tool distributor for 47 years. Please allow me to help with your tool descriptions. Your 'track hammer' is actually an 8 pound 'standard pattern's spike maul. Still works great on rail of 115 lb. or less. Your 'spike maul' is a 10 pound 'bell pattern' spike maul. They were originally forged from a 'carbon' steel and today from grade "B" "S5" tool steel that is heat treated and liquid quenched to a specific Burnell hardness. These are useful on today's main line rail, usually 132 or 141 lb., which is much taller. Your 'B&O' punch is actually a 'Back Out' punch. It is used in conjunction with a sledge hammer to drive 'stuck' switch / track bolts and drift pins out of bolt holes in the rail. You might want to check out A.R.E.M.A. for guidelines on railroad tools and their usage. Hope it helps...
Thank you Lew for the awesome comment. Since this is a coal
mine, that's what the warehouse calls it a track hammer, but
have no idea where they buy them from. Coal mine terminology
and RR terminology are sometimes a bit different. We've used the
B&O many times to drive stubborn bolts out of joints, it's a
handy dandy little tool. Really appreciate your taking the time
to watch and write in my friend.
I think driving spikes has kept you a young man Dave! I always appreciate your informative videos showing things the non-railroader would never see.
Great video as always! Take care my friend!
🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃💯👍
Thanks for the very nice comment Jim. Sometimes I don't feel
like a young man tho.... :-) Really appreciate your joining in with
us to drive some spikes today my friend.
I use to be a locomotive crane operator at a steel mill. We would have an average of 3 derailments in an 8 hour shift. ( 1 derailment could be 4 cars in a train). I often worked with the track gang when equipment they needed wasn’t available. One time, after I set the rail down and they started spiking it down, I went over and told one of the guys, “that doesn’t look so hard”. He gave me a spike hammer and told me, have at it. My first 3 swings, I hit the spike, my 4th swing, I hit the rail with the wooden handle. As I went to swing again, he yanked the hammer from my hands, and told me to break someone else’s hammer. Another guy told me that they each had their own hammer. They would burn rings around the handle where they held it. It’s not as easy as it looks!
Do you ever use wooden plugs in the tie, where the tie is worn out? One of the Guys told me, they would have a speed swing, pull the tie out and flip it over, or use a plug.
I can see those derailments kept you pretty busy on your crane Paul!
Wow and I thought we had things bad here. Everyone breaks handles
learning how to spike, it takes a lot of practice. And a lot of railroads
won't allow you to spike over the rail because of the handles that
get broke. Yes we used to use wood plugs all the time, but now we
use what is called Sure Spike. It is a powder you pour down in the
spike hole, works very well and seals the hole better than a wood
plug. Thank you for taking the time to write in and for checking out the video my friend.
@@ccrx6700 if you ever get the chance, stop in at the Whistle Stop, in Monon, Indiana. It’s a restaurant and railroad museum. The best private collection I’ve ever seen. The original owner passed away, but I believe his daughter runs it now.
@@paulne1514 👍😊
Dave tricked me into thinking the B&O was going temporarily out of service and he’s talking about the tool. 😆
That acronym is fitting B&O now isn't it. Thanks so much
my friend for taking the time to watch and write in today.
amazing how many cross-overs there are in the rail industry. i do gold mining (small tracks), blacksmithing (track anvils and spikes for knives and other crafts) and vintage tool restoration (hammers and vintage spikes and other rail antiques.) and that's not counting the fact i love riding the rails. amtrack for fun and i used to hop box cars as a kid.
Sounds very interesting Fatherfox, like my dad used to say, variety is
the spice of life. Thank you for taking the time to visit with us and may you have a very good day my friend.
Hi Dave, first I want to say thanks for all the info on ties. Second I've learned more on track maintenance and machines in the last few months that I've been following you than in the last several years of following railroads. I watch another channel that has to do with watching trains and periodically see maintenance of way equipment. The person filming often asks if anyone knows what they are and what they do so in the comments I tell them to come here. As always keepem on the rails.
Thank you Gary for the very nice comment. I'm just happy I can
share with you guys some of my experiences and what i have
learned over the years. it's very special to me to be able to do that.
So glad you are enjoying and we really appreciate all your
wonderful support of the channel my friend.
I want to love a job as much as you do! I would love to work with someone like you! Your channel is one of a very few that makes problems into fun adventures! We need more folks like you! Keep up the good work!
Appreciate the nice comment Brian, that was very kind of you
to say that. Glad you could stop by to check out the video my friend.
I never saw this channel before, but i like the positivity. Great job.
Glad you enjoyed the show. Hope you can sometime check out
more of my videos and subscribe if you continue to like them.
Very much appreciate your taking the time to watch.
ruclips.net/user/ccrx6700
It doesn’t get much more positive and appreciative and humble and honest than Dave.
I have nothing to do with railroads but I watch the videos.
I remember watching the track gang on the Steelton and Highspire R.R. drive spikes . They worked so close together i though someone was going to get hit by a spike maul. Cool video learned something new on spikes.
It's always a special sight to see that kind of work isn't it Michael.
Really appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in
my friend.
Great video Dave! Thanks for explaining the tools and spikes.
Thank you Brian for the very nice comment. Nice to hear you
enjoyed the spike show. We certainly appreciate your watching
my friend.
My first memory of railroad spikes is taking one from a derelict section of railroad in a little park in Arlington, MA, when I was maybe 7. It was loose, so I plucked it out and carried it home!
That was obviously the appropriate thing to do for an inquisitive
young man. But I promise, your deeds will forever remain a secret
with me.... :-) Really appreciate your taking the time to watch
and write in my friend.
@@ccrx6700 Thank you! I appreciate taking the time to show us how it's done, and to make us all feel welcome in your comments!
Go get ‘em young man!! You are an inspiration my friend. Thank you for your service.
Thank you Paul for the very kind words. Sure wish I could have
made a video of me driving spikes back in my prime, I've slowed
down considerable since then. Really appreciate your taking the
time to watch and write in my friend.
I love these videos. I have always loved railroads since I was a little girl. I am older now and I still love them., especially how you repair things and such. Thanks Dave. Love these things you show.
Your very welcome Martir. Thank you very much for taking the time to visit with us and check out the video my friend.
In the railcar shop, we also used a B&O when knocking out coupler pins or keys. One guy positioned and B&O and the other swung the sledge.
Seems like they are a very useful tool halfinchholes.I have another
one that has a square instead of rounded head for driving down
spikes that have the heads broke off them. Really appreciate
your visiting with us and taking in the spike show my friend.
@@ccrx6700 Talk to the guys in the shop, they'll make you any style of B&O. Our's were shop made.
Apparently, there’s several names for it, but it’s basically a track punch !
I love how down to earth your videos are. Started watching for my 5 year old son and just kept watching. Keep them coming and thanks.
Thank you very much Daniel for the really kind words. Maybe
your son will grow up to be a railroader! Watch my videos give
him an early education.... LOL Hope Santa soon brings him
a train set. Really appreciate your watching and writing in my
friend. PS: that's how I got my start
in railroading with a Lionel Steam train set back in the early 1960's.
at 12:41, I think you hit the rail so hard my phone bell rang!! you are the best, Dave! remember, work smarter, not harder.
I sure can't do what I used to rearspeaker. If could have made this
video in my prime, you'd have seen a spike driving machine, instead
of an old man in slow motion, but that's getting older. Thanks so
much for watching the show my friend.
Hello from TEXAS!
Well JT G, looks like you got a hat trick for being the first one on
for 3 times now. Really appreciate all your wonderful support of
the channel and may you have a most blessed rest of the holiday
season my friend.
@@ccrx6700 I had not even counted to be honest with you. I will look at the content of the video with more detail later on. I enjoy your videos as you get into terms that I had never heard of. I just like to learn and especially when it deals with railroading! Happy Holidays all the way from San Antonio, TEXAS! God bless!
@@jtg2737 👍😊
neat to see the spiking process! it is neat how it is done, I saw a video of “gandy dancers”
on the clinchfiel RR just amazing watching them swing the hammers and how they used
long bars to adjust the track. the best part was they chanted as they did their job!
I could not believe how they swung the hammers like wind mills, thank you for sharing
you in site to how it is done! have a great day! good to be back barry
Thanks Barry for the very nice comment. I'm sorry you had to
see me as an old man in slow motion doing this, but it's where
I'm at now. Back in my prime if I could have videoed it, you'd
have seen a spike driving machine, but did what I could. Really
appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.
Very informative and entertaining Dave! Thanks for sharing your knowledge!
Wish you could have seen me in my prime driving spikes Fred,
I'm over the hill now.....:-) Appreciate your watching the show
my friend.
It looks like driving spikes is hard work even with a hydraulic hammer! You have to be young and strong like you are to work on the railroad! Thank you for another great video Dave!
Thank you Raymond for the very nice comment. Seems like
everything on the RR is hard work. Really appreciate all your
wonderful support of the channel my friend.
Your 68 ?
Dude
You look great brother
All the best and love the world of trains . I was born a B&O fan being in Baltimore but have no experience around them .
Its really neat when someone loves their profession and want to share it with others .
Stay safe
Thanks KC. Sometimes I feel like I'm 90 tho.... body does ache
much more than it used to, but that's the way it is. Really appreciate
your nice comment and for taking the time to watch my friend.
Sir, many thanks for sharing all this with us. I like trains since I'm a kid. I'm now 58 y.o. I'm modeling them in HO scale for the past 40 years. More seriously in the past 30. Even if we see and hear a lot of railrooad "terms" along the process, I'm telling you I learned a LOT in a short period of time watching you on the channel. I knew some but there's soooo much to learn in front ! Thanks again !
Your very welcome Luc. Thank you for the really nice comment
and for taking the time to watch. Happy rails to you until we
meet again my friend.
We mainly use the B&O for the stuborn bolts that wont come out of the joint bars after you hit them flush with the joint bars.
Yep that's a good use for it also. Handy dandy little tool. Really
appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.
They are also used to drive the spikes between the guard rails on switch frogs, combined with a sledge hammer!
That original video about spikes is what brought me to this channel for the first time a year go.
How cool is that NorthernChev. We certainly appreciate all the
wonderful support you have given the channel and for all
your nice comments my friend.
This channel is amazing. I wish I could have worked in the railroad business for a few years just to experience the job and learn new things. But this channel is the 2nd best way to experience it. Thank you Dave.
Thank you for the very kind words, we are glad you are enjoying the
home movies. Always appreciate your paying us a visit
and hearing from you my friend.
Please Accept my apology, As i said before I am recently New fan. I am going to watch all your videos. Today will be a Nice Relaxing day and will be watching a lot today. Thank you For a Great Channel.
Don't know why you would apologize James for being a new fan,
we all started out at one point being new. We really appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and watch. May you have a most blessed day my friend.
Thanks Dave my friend for the great video. It wore me out just watching you swing that hammer. I would hate to have to do that all day. Thanks again.
Wore me out too John....:-) I get winded quick anymore so have
to take some breaks. Really appreciate the very nice comment
and for your watching my friend.
Your accuracy was near spot on. I would've hit everything except the spikes 😁
Thanks Robert, but I miss once in awhile. Lose my focus when
my hat falls off! Believe this or not, but some transit track
the road masters if you miss a spike and hit a rail, they will
make you change the rail. Really appreciate all the wonderful
support you have given the channel my friend. Thank You.
Old memories Dave, I worked carpenter job when I was a kid many years ago. We did a lot of framing jobs with big spikes...some days ya can hit em and some days ya can't. Had this older wise guy we worked with, sooo on a bad day he would say "it goes every time ya hit it"! Then we would all crack up and miss almost every swing after! Sorry, I guess it's one of them "ya had to be there" things. Thanks for the great video! 👍
Same here bobblenuts, some days I can hit em pretty good and
some days I can't. Always lose my focus when my hat starts to
fall off tho. :-) Spike the same way, it goes every time you hit it!
I get where you're coming from. Really appreciate your watching
and writing in my friend.
@@ccrx6700 LLP
Bio hi
The gang on NJT would use wood plugs to fill in an over sized hole in the tie. The plug was the same shape as a spike shank. They'd tap in place, break it off to depth, then use the BO to set it in. Please don't over do the manual spiking but you still have it. Best wishes for a happy, healthy, safe, and prosperous New Year.
We used to use the tie plugs before we got the Sure
Spike Gary. We also had a BO that had a square end instead
of the rounded end to drive those plugs in. I still got a couple
of those old tie plugs in the sticks before they got broken off.
Will have to show that sometime. Thanks so much my friend
for watching my good friend.
Thanks for this great and informative video Dave! I musta driven a million spikes or more on the industrial copper mine railroad where I worked for 8 years. We had hundreds of miles of track. I strictly worked in the pit where our rail was all 90 lb rail and 133lb out on the main line. We used air hammers on long derailments and in the panel yard on new track panels. What some people may not know is that while hydronic and air hammers hammers are heavy beasts! Thanks again!
Thanks Bill for the awesome comment. At this age of my life, I
sure ain't the spike driver I used to be, but back in my prime.... alas.
From what we've used over the years the air drivers are better
than hydraulic and you are sure right, they are heavy. Really appreciate
your visiting with us and writing in my friend.
Hello from Queens NYC. I love your videos. You go into great detail and it is clear that you have the skills and knowledge that Only someone who works with their hands would know. Keep it up it's Fantastic.
Thank you John for the very kind words. I'm thrilled to hear you
are having a good time with us. We certainly appreciate all
your wonderful support of the channel my friend. I will keep it up,
got lot's more shows for you this coming year.
You put a lot of people to shame with your spike driving, knowing you are over 68 makes it even funnier. Most 20 and 30 somethings can't hang with you swinging that hammer! It is very clear you have the technique and aim down to a science.
Thanks for the knowledge, great video.
Thank you for the very nice comment. I'm a lot slower than once
was tho. Back in my prime was a spike driving machine. Really
appreciate your kind words and for watching my friend. Nice to hear
you enjoyed the video.
Just noticed you have busted 40k subscribed, well deserved for excellent content. Driving stakes like wack a mole!
Thank you Tom. it amazes me that many people watch these.
But, that's You Tubin....LOL Always is a pleasure to have you
visit with us my friend.
They throw the old spikes down and cover with new gravel. Yet you pick them up your in trouble. I leave arrow heads lying also. 🤣🤣🤣
Metal like spikes and old bolts mixed in with the ballast are
pretty hard on tamping tools, so we always pick up the OTM.
Thanks for taking the time to watch and write in my friend.
The job is never finished until the scrap has been picked up, the ties are tamped, and the ballast has been restored!
That was a great video. Its still hard work to replace or install spikes. Thanks sir. :)
Thank you so much mustraline, glad to hear you enjoyed.
We certainly appreciate your watching and for all your wonderful
support of the channel my friend.
Awesome video Dave great info, so enjoyable to watch.👍👍
Thank you Russell for the very kind words. We certainly appreciate
all the wonderful support you have given the channel for such
a long time now and for all your always positive and uplifting
comments my friend.
Dave you the man, great videos! 😃👍❤️🚂
Thank you for the really kind words trainchasersatwork. Very much appreciate your taking the time to write in and watch the windmill spiking video my friend.
Dave, you always show us all of the amazing work necessary to keep the trains running! Thank you -- and Happy New Year!
When you were here you should have gone with me and done
some spiking! That would have made a cool video for your
viewers. Thanks so much my friend for taking in the show.
I have a piece of rail my grandfather had on his workbench which I remember a little one in the early 50’s. It is 7.5 inches and weighs 11 pounds. I have no is how old it is. That comes
Out to about 53 pound rail? There was also an inter urban in our town a well as so many train tracks all over town. It’s been used or weight, bending metal, pounding. He used it all the time. Always on his work bench.
Awesome story Beverly. Old rail is found on a lot of guy's work
benches. I've given many a piece away over the years for
folks wanting rail as anvils. Really appreciate your watching
and for all the wonderful support you have given the channel my friend.
68.5 years old Dave...!!WOW!! That hard work has kept you in shape.
Thanks for the video Dave.
Thanks Terry, I don't know about in shape... I almost always
go home and spend 3 or more hours sitting on a heating pad
to ease my aching leg muscles. Plus use an electronic stimulus
device to try and keep my knee from aching so bad. Track work is
hard on a body and sometimes I have a hard time even walking,
so if that's the kind of shape you are talking about.....:-) Wish I
could have made this video in my prime, you would have seen
a spike driving machine instead of a guy who looks like he's in
slow motion. But still as much as I ache, I'm blessed to be
still our there doing something. Really appreciate your taking
the time to watch and write in today my friend.
Take care of yourself Dave.
Hi Dave. Another great video. I like your windmill technique. I train new hires how to spike all the time. I train them use axe 🪓 chop technique then slowly encourage them to use windmill technique. I tell them to go knock down “high spikes” to create hand and eye coordination. Look forward to more videos.
Thank you kindly for the very nice comment. I'm sure not the
spiker I used to be, wish I could have made a video back in
my prime, I've slowed down considerable since then driving.
Excellent advice on the training! Keep you eye on the head of
the spike. I do lose my focus every time my hat falls off tho...:-)
Really appreciate your paying us a visit and watching my friend.
That was very interesting and some hard work using only hand tools! I cannot imagine how hard a job that was before hydraulic tools came along. Thanks for sharing this.
A lot of gandies were "relieved" when the air spikers came out.
Can you imagine driving spikes with a maul all day long in new
ties. Those guys were tough as nails. Really appreciate your
watching and writing in my friend.
Your accuracy with that hammer is impressive!
Thank you for the kind words, I've driven a spike or two in the
past..... wish you could have seen me in my prime tho and not
at 69 years of age. Appreciate your stopping to watch my friend.
Nice dave, hope you had a nice Christmas
Thank you Kenn. Christmas was nice, I ate too much but no surprise
there....LOL May you and your family have a most blessed rest of
the holiday season my good friend.
Hay Dave:
yes we are all getting older, and slowing down a bit. things that we could easily
do, now are more difficult. but that is always better then the other option! you are about
8 years older then me. but you do things I could not any day. My physical condition
is not like it use to be. no muscle definition like I had, need to start working out to make
things better for me. always enjoy our conversation over utube. I am pleased to call
you a friend. some day I would like to come down with my wife some time to see
your area, people who live in an area, know all the great things to visit! have a
wonderful day keep safe, stay healthy
Yes sir, I sure can't do what I used to physically and when I try
then I spend all evening on the heating pad with my electronic
massager going....::-) Always a pleasure to hear from you
and hope sometime you can make it down here. Lot's of
railfanning around if you like that. Course we mostly get coal loads.
Thanks so much for watching my friend.
That's tough work! At the museum, we were assembling a track panel and three of our gandy dancers went after the spikes perfectly timing their blows so they would not hit each other's hammer. I had seen stuff like that in video, but never in person. It was super neat to see.
That would be awesome Matt. I've never seen that done. I can
two man spike with the right person. No one else here can
hand spike so I have to wait for a RR contractor to come in.
Gonna try and make a video of us both driving the same spike
when I can. 3 guys would take some pretty good coordination.
Thanks so much my friend for taking in the show.
@@ccrx6700 The one guy allegedly broke an arm at home, and had to lean to spike using his left arm only to keep a paycheck coming. He demonstrated so I have no doubt the story is true.
Ya know, I loved it when you explained about driving the spike in straight, showing what happens between spike and rail. Pretty neat! At the end, did you use a fire snake? There were flames along the rail. Thank you for the work you guys all do on the rails! Happy New Year!
Sure looks like his old friend the snake helping fix a pull-apart. I suspect they loosened those spikes so the ties would not be pushed out of alignment when the rail on one side of the track expanded from the heat. Then Dave wanted to re-spike the rail while it was still hot and expanded full length -- that's why there were a few flames still present.
Thank you Trena for the very nice comment. Yes we had to use
the snake to get the rail to expand so we could make a joint,
we had changed that rail and it wasn't quite long enough so
we made it grow. Always is a pleasure to have you join
in with me my friend.
always an interesting vid and Dave you are a great shot with that hammer ! thanks for sharing and very best wishes from NZ
Appreciate the nice comment Dave, glad you enjoyed. Thank
you very much for taking the time to visit with us and may you
have a very good day my friend.
@@ccrx6700 cheers and same to you thanks Dave.
@@davechapman7735 👍😊
When I was 10 back in the mid 50s my Dad and I went to a derailment at Bolingbroke, Georgia and they had a gang of Gandy Dancers repairing the tracks. Also had a rail car mounted steam crane to lift cars.
Cool Leland, that steam crane a memory that you'll never forget,
I sure would like to have seen one in action. Thanks so much
for taking the time to watch and write in my friend.
Just when you think you know stuff, Dave will teach you more info than you thought was out there. Man how did the early railroad guys shoulders and back make it thru their career. Yours has to be wore out as well, Great video Dave
Thanks Pappy for the very nice comment. Those guys back in
the day who drove spikes with a maul all day long were tough
as nails. And yes sir, many a guy got some crippling injuries
from all that hard work. Very much appreciate your watching
the show today my good friend.
Boy that brings back memories, looks like you're showing off there a we bit 😂. I still have my spike mal.I put a plastic ax handle on it,the guys laughed until they used it. Another great video Dave 👍 👍🚂
Glad you enjoyed Christopher. I'm sure you look at that maul
and it brings back so many good memories. Really appreciate
all the wonderful support you have given the channel my friend.
Thank You.
Great video Dave. Learned something new.
Thank you very much Chris for the very nice comment. Glad
you enjoyed. We certainly appreciate your stopping by my friend.
You are a good human being sir great job May Allah bless you with his countless blessings
Thank you Shaharyar for the kind words and for taking the time to watch the video. May you have a most blessed day my friend.
Worked on a machine that made rr spikes back in 70's. I enjoy your Vids.
I would love to see how spikes are made James! That would
be awesome to see. Really glad to hear you are having a good time
with us. We so much appreciate your wonderful support of the
channel my friend. Thank You.
Gee Dave, at 68 you must eat your Wheaties every day to drive those spikes. Your videos are always fun and interesting. Happy New Year..
At my age I need more than Wheaties.... LOL I'm very pleased to
hear you are enjoying the shows William. We certainly do appreciate
your watching my friend.
Dave your greatest love watching you and your helpers.
Thanks Margaret glad you are enjoying. We really appreciate your
taking the time to watch my friend.
Another good one Dave. You drive a mean spike for such a young man!
Thank you Bill for the kind words. Like someone else said tho,
I'm like lightening, never hit the same place twice....LOL Wish
I could have made a video back when I was in my prime,
but I'm sure you were the same way back then too. I get winded
much too quickly and have to take a breather too often. But
guess that's gettin old. Always is a pleasure to have you
visit with me my friend. Hope all is well in S. Africa.
I tried this the other day volunteering at a 2ft gauge museum. I hit the rail more often than the spike, and I was totally beat after just 1
Keep your eyes on the spike head instead of looking at the rail
That One Guy. Don';t feel bad it takes some practice to get good
at it. Everyone when they are learning breaks spike maul handles too. Thank you for paying us a visit and may you have a very good day my friend.
Very cool Dave, love watching these videos, can't stop watching them!
Thank you so much Dave for all your great comments. We
really appreciate your watching my friend.
Yes! Dave's a steel drivin' man! You rest, you rust, so good for you!! Probably would be easier to drive em if the spike heads were flat-
Thanks for the nice comment Jennifer. I didn't show but on the
hydraulic spikers the bottom of the spiker was concave so it
would fit nicely on the rounded spike head. Really appreciate
your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.
I am the same age people look at me running a electric hammer the hammer weights about fifty pounds two old grunts great video Dave very informative
Thanks Gary for the nice comment. I can appreciate what you
do! We're lucky we can still do it. Really appreciate your
visiting with us and checking out the show my friend.
OK Dave. Teasing in this video. You know how much I love spiking. We liked using our Stanley Hydraulic spiker. Great video once again and enjoyed watching and wishing. Have a nice rest of your evening.(Steve)
Well it could have been you I'd shown..... Too bad we didn't do
some tag team spiking when you were here, I never thought of doing
that until now. Let's make a date for next time and show folks
how it's really done! We really appreciate all your positive
comments and wonderful support of the channel my good friend.
@@ccrx6700 Yeah its too bad I cant do any of that anymore due to my restrictions and stuff. I would love to double spike again like I used to when I started. Your welcome on the share and have a nice rest of your Wednesday.
Excellent aim hitting those spikes! Hard work.
Thanks but I miss on occasion, everyone does. When my hard hat
falls off I lose my focus. Thanks so much for watching the show.
Ole John Henry ain’t got anything on Dave! Good education on spikes and proper driving. Thanks again!
Well thank you Wayne for the nice comment, but I think Mr. Henry
was much better than me. But back in my prime I would have
given him a run for his money... LOL I get winded quick now
and have to take a breather. Really appreciate your taking the
time to watch and write in my friend.
Another really awesome and educational video Dave. We're the same age I noticed. It's so cool to learn about all the equipment and tools you use to maintain the rails.
Thank you William for the very nice comment. Glad you enjoyed
the spike driving show. We certainly appreciate your watching
my friend.
Thanks Dave very interesting 👍
Your certainly welcome Frank. Glad you enjoyed. We appreciate
your coming out and driving some spikes with us my friend.
Nice job Dave! You know I was never the man I used to be.LOL
Thank you Michael. I don't like getting old, but what you gonna
do. Just do the best you can with what you got. Really appreciate
your coming out and driving some spikes with me my friend.
Wow Dave great work as always! That was a pretty awesome shot of you driving that spike near the end!
Thank you Eric for the nice comment. Believe me I have slowed
down driving spikes a lot from back in my prime. Really appreciate
all your wonderful support of the channel my friend.
@ccrx 6700 That's Railroadin! You're welcome Dave! You never cease to amaze!
Of course my grandfather maul still stands in the barn. He used it under ground too I think. When The Virginian got bought out he lost everything went into mines after 22 years on the MOW. became a mine track foreman, fire boss and eventually mine boss before he retired. Maybe 15 years ago he was approached to train new men on how to lay the narrow gauge track used in a mine local that had re opened. Due to health he had to decline and they eventually tore up the old track and replaced with more modern systems and mine runs still today.
When the company approached him they said he was one of 7 propel they found in the country who could Lay-out and lay that type of track. Need to find his old Bethlehem steel track book.
Awesome super taco. Might have to polish that maul up and hang
it over the fire place mantle. Your grandfather would probably
be horrified if he saw some of the horrendous track they have
under ground here. Every day something derails, all the equipment
carries track jacks on them to re rail the motors or cars. Really
appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.
@@ccrx6700 yes it’s a dying trade sadly with modern setup choosing belts and rubber wheeled equipment. Also no thank you sir for the amazing plethora of content to watch and learn more about what it was my grandfather did for the railroad before and after Korea.
Takes a certain timing to twirl a hammer or maul tight to the body and make a dime contact hit on a spike!! Go through a lot of handles spiking over the rails.
I've broken my share of handles but everyone learning to spike
does. I still miss too, lose my focus every time my hat falls off!
Thanks so much my friend for taking in the spike show.
@@ccrx6700 how many buckets of chicken and cases of beer for them handles!!
Awesome video Dave great info.
Thank you very much Derrick. Glad you liked the show.
We really appreciate your coming along to drive some spikes
my friend.
Good show Dave. Have a Happy New Year.
Thank you very much John, very glad you enjoyed the spike driving show. We certainly appreciate your taking the time to watch
and write in my friend.
Dave, hope you and the Mrs had great wonderful Christmas as we did!😂
Thank you Michael, yes we did, I ate too much, but no surprise
there, I can use the extra weight to drive more spikes...LOL Really
glad you had a good day, you've had it rough lately so very
glad you shared that with me my friend.
May you and the lady of your life have a wonderful new year!
Wow your good with that hammer. Thanks for sharing and have a great day my friend.
Thank you Lewis, but wish I could have made a video back in
my prime, I sure don't have the stamina I used to. But, that's
gettin older....:-) Cannot thank you enough for all your wonderful
support you have given us for such a long time now my friend.
We do appreciate all your great comments.
@@ccrx6700 lol. I understand the stamina problem. I am approximately 6 months younger than you.
That's railroadin' right there.
Yep Jim. LOL Thanks so much for taking the time to tune
in and check out the spike show my friend.
Interesting stuff Dave! The tracks we used to walk on when we were kids had spikes that fell out all over the place. It was nowhere near as well maintained as as your railroad! That pneumatic spike driver looks a lot easier, but I can imagine how sore you would be using that all day as well!
Thanks Mojo glad you enjoyed the show. I would be in heaven
going on those tracks driving spikes. We do spell each other off
when running the spiker, so all of us get some breaks. Really
appreciate your watching my friend.
Hey Dave Trademark "We bring the railroad to you." Excellent video young man.
Yep, just like That's Railroadin. Thank you George for the very
kind words. We certainly appreciate your watching the spike
driving show today my friend.
Enjoyed your show,you'd make a good railroad teacher and I'll catch ya on the next one.
Maybe when I retire bigmackstruckstop I can get a job
teaching RR school? :-) Thank you my friend for the very nice
words. We certainly appreciate all the wonderful support
you have given the channel.
@@ccrx6700 aw your very welcome my friend indeed,I sure will catch ya on the next one,looking forward.
I was a surveyor on a couple of large projects for Loram years ago(1980/1981, Texas & Florida), somebody above my grade-scale decided I should have something to do between surveying and calculations ...
I was sent to the track crew(?),. A group of all "Illegal", aliens(fun group), who wanted to see me drive spikes with a Maul ... after about an hour of trying and being splattered by that ungodly black stuff, to a lot of laughs, I was rescued and never experienced it again ... a 12lb sledge on a 2x2 hub, I was good, but a 1" diameter spike, with that long head ... no way ...
Thanks so much for sharing that nifty story, I enjoyed it. it does
take some time to learn how to drive spikes that way. I really
do appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check
out the presentation my friend.
Thanks for the video. I would think the taper end going into the railroad tie , would split the tie going in the tie , as to cutting the wood like a chisel. This would hold on to the grain of the tree. And not back out as easy. Understand. Just my thought. Later.
You are certainly welcome Dan. Spikes are driven against the grain,
not with the grain. If they were driven with the grain then yes you
are right it would tend to split the wood. Very much appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the video my friend.
Dave, I’m only a few years older, but my spike driving days are long gone! I learned quickly years ago that is a job for the young guys.
I'm sure not the driver I used to be Bill. I've slowed down considerable,
and it really upsets me, but I do what I can. I'm sure back in both
of our primes we would have had a great time driving spikes
together. Really appreciate all your wonderful support of the
channel and great comments my friend.
Great hand eye coordination
Thanks for the kind words, I'm not the spiker I used to be tho.
Really appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in
my friend.
Thanks for all the information on the equipment used for spiking plus that they were different grades of carbon. It seems every place m o w forces store scrap the piles of spikes and tie plates is separate and it must be there isn't much demand for that type of scrap due to the carbon count. Good old Jawn Henry would have a sore back trying to do that many by hand and even the machinery jostles ones innards. Got taken by surprise when I saw the 25 mph road sign but didn't see the road, forgot about the roadbed of the RR!
Your very welcome Paul, glad you had a good time. We certainly
appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.
Dave you had another really good video this evening I really enjoyed it . Dave I you and your family have a good new year .
Thank you so much Mike for the very kind comment. So glad
you liked the show. We certainly appreciate your taking the time
to watch and write in and for all you wonderful support you
have given the channel my friend.
Keep driving those spikes Dave cause that's railroading. I am 70.5 am still going also. If you don't use it you will lose it.
Will do Ray! You are so right in your comment. Wife is 72 and still
working with no end in sight. She is a professor and drives an
hour an half to work. An amazing woman. No end in sight for me
either, but I sure don't have the stamina I used to have and it
really gets to me some times. Drive a couple of spikes and I got
to take a breather. Very much appreciate your great comment
and for watching my friend.
I find everything about railroads interesting.
I do also linkbelt. You've come to the right channel to find out
more about RR! :-) We really appreciate your visiting with us
and taking in the spike driving show my friend.
I couldn't even think about doing this all day long
I sure couldn't do it all day long at this stage in my life
either MrJeep. But like Toby Keith sang in his country western
song, back in my prime, I could really lay it down. Thank
you so much for watching the spike driving video and writing
in my friend.
Awesome video Dave!
Thank you Rick. Very glad you enjoyed. We certainly appreciate your
taking the time to watch and write in my friend.
cheers from europe (lithuania), love the channel
Very glad you are enjoying the shows lolas bolas. We very much
appreciate all your wonderful support of the channel my friend.