I bought a camper (kinda)

[steamjam]

I agree, the sooner you can get away from that, the better. Don't like swingin in the breeze at 300 feet goin 10 feet this way and then 10 feet thatta way....no way joezay

dodge'in pitches

What is dodgen pitches?

Its when your spiking a piece of rail to the tie, and you don't hit the spike with your 50lb spike hammer just nearly perfectly square, the spike LAUNCHES in random directions. You, and whoever else is with you DODGE, DUCK, JUMP, or do whatever else you can in order to not get hit by that 2lb MISSILE that's headed right for your face...

[zelph]

Thanks for the explanation. Yes, you need to get a new occupation Wonder why they don't make battery powered spike hammers that load like a nail gun only one spike at a time....baaammmmmm!!!! one shot and it's in

Geee, you should get hazardous duty pay

[steamjam]

Thanks for the explanation. Yes, you need to get a new occupation Wonder why they don't make battery powered spike hammers that load like a nail gun only one spike at a time....baaammmmmm!!!! one shot and it's in

Geee, you should get hazardous duty pay

I personally believe it should be LAW that all boys who reach the age of 16 should be required to spend a day spiking rail. If they walk out of that day not knowing what an honest days work is...... They are beyond encouragement!

[zelph]

I remember seeing young boys in the western movies swinging a spike hammer. Them were the days!!!!

Only one man per spike nowadays? I remember seeing 2 guys taking turns at spiking one spike. that had to be dangerous

[steamjam]

I remember seeing young boys in the western movies swinging a spike hammer. Them were the days!!!!

Only one man per spike nowadays? I remember seeing 2 guys taking turns at spiking one spike. that had to be dangerous

Yeah that's when it gets sketchy.. I cannot imagine doing it 8 hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week.

[zelph]

I remember seeing young boys in the western movies swinging a spike hammer. Them were the days!!!!

Only one man per spike nowadays? I remember seeing 2 guys taking turns at spiking one spike. that had to be dangerous

Yeah that's when it gets sketchy.. I cannot imagine doing it 8 hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week.

My grandfather help build one of the first railroads in Minnesota. It was his first job once he got off the boat. He came all the way from Lithuania to work as a spiker

In your many travels oalong the rails, have you ever come across any remnants of old railroad batteries? The porcelain jar type used at railroad crossings and other places where dc electricity was needed. I have 2 batteries that I purchased at a flea market long ago. 3 were needed to produce the 6V that was common at the time.

Ever find the "dating" nails in old railroad ties?

[steamjam]

I remember seeing young boys in the western movies swinging a spike hammer. Them were the days!!!!

Only one man per spike nowadays? I remember seeing 2 guys taking turns at spiking one spike. that had to be dangerous

Yeah that's when it gets sketchy.. I cannot imagine doing it 8 hours a day, 5 or 6 days a week.

My grandfather help build one of the first railroads in Minnesota. It was his first job once he got off the boat. He came all the way from Lithuania to work as a spiker

In your many travels oalong the rails, have you ever come across any remnants of old railroad batteries? The porcelain jar type used at railroad crossings and other places where dc electricity was needed. I have 2 batteries that I purchased at a flea market long ago. 3 were needed to produce the 6V that was common at the time.

Ever find the "dating" nails in old railroad ties?

Way back in the day men who wielded spike hammers were called "pickers" or "road boys". Do I come across those pickle jar batteries? Yep. We still use a version a 12v version. Spikes usually don't come dated, but ties usually have metal date tags, or as you put it date nails. I have about two dozen floating around ranging from 1909 to 1939.

[steamjam]

I also use, as a key fob a 1890's steam lever to a B&M wooden coach.. Always gets curious questions..

[zelph]

Ok!!! my grandfather was a "road boy"

I found a few railroad tie date nails when I used to walk the tracks hunting wabbits.

I also found an empty and full bottle of oil that was used in the battery jars to prevent evaporization of the acid.

sounds like a pretty heavy key fob

[steamjam]

sounds like a pretty heavy key fob

How'dya think I keep from losing my keys?...