No script, no polish just a real railroad man (no museum guide) showing us around. Being a working man myself, I appreciate a man’s work, knowledge and skill. Thank you sir for your time to make this video.

I worked for the railroad in the engineering department and no person told me this. Thank you for this information. I am 83 years old. To late for me. Young men listen. The slicks hold the gauge.

You SIR! Are a GREAT teacher! I noticed that in your speech you realize the power of; "The Silent Pause" rather than; "a", "hum", "but".....ect.... Very well spoken and easy to understand and learn! THANK YOU !!!

It's cool that you are willing to share your knowledge on track maintenance. Railroad companies should be using your videos to train their track maintenance workers.

Excellent video, thank you. In New Zealand, the special spike pulling tool introduced at 10.00 minutes was called a "Dentist". The Dentist also had a 2 inch loose ring of 1/4 diameter rod forged into its top end and about four feet of sash cord was tied to the ring. This enabled the dentist to be used to pull the spikes on the outside of the rails on a bridge by levering the spike pulling bar over the rail and the track worker using the bar stood between the rails. A junior worker held on to the cord. When the spike, and the dentist came free, the cord ensured the dentist was not lost into the river below. I have worked on the railways 46 years and I have never seen spikes being installed because for years our timber sleeper track fastenings have been 6 or 8 inch screws.

This brings back good memories, when I started working out of high school I worked at Atlantic Creosote in Port Wentworth Ga, and operated the switch engine moving trams, and rail cars around the yard, and loading the treatment cylinders, we had tracks all over the yard and each section according where it was had a name, the Hotel track, the REA yard, the incoming lead, the outgoing, one track used to go out over the river and back, When I'd push a rail car or tram across the road to the office I'd blow the air horn with a half blow for a few seconds then a couple of short toots, I really enjoyed running it. I finally went to work in the shop and later could weld a switch point back up to where it was shaped as good as a new one and just as thin and tight to the rail on the end,.. I'd close the switch after grinding it to get it to close like original, then use a stainless 1/8 rod and lay the welds on top of each other and the flux kept the point from welding to the track,

Love railroad talk. Always lived within earshot of trains and often raced to the tracks to watch. Even lived on a farm once where there was a side track that marked the property line. Spikes were always a curiosity. Thanks for explaining.

Been a train lover since I was a little boy back in the 50’s. Love your videos and all of the information. Thank you.

Thank you for taking the time to explain all of this, much appreciated! Questions that were always in the back of my mind but never knew anyone to ask!

Most educational 15 minutes of my life. Learned so much. Keep up the great work boss.

Working with some railroad ties for landscaping and I became really curious about railroad spikes. This video hit the spot. Great work.

My father was a painter for The CB&Q for almost 30 years. I was always interested in rail- roads, still am to this day. Thank you for that tidbit of information.

I never thought there would be so much to a railroad spike.

Trip down memory lane. My first summer on the section gang was a real eye opener. I had just graduated from high school. I would ride to work with my mom who was a nurse. I took two lunches as one was gone by 10:00 am. Despite two lunches I lost 30 pounds in three months. I was so tired at the end of the day I would fall asleep in a wooden rocker still in my nasty work clothes. Mom felt sorry for me and woke me just in time for the next days work..one pair of work gloves per week. The old timers got tired of hanging spike mall handles for me and said learn to swing it or hang your own. The rail jacks were unbelievably heavy. It was said the softies of the. Soo Line got the aluminum ones while we on the Northern Pacific got the heaviest ones. There were some fun moments Icing down reefers, refrigerated cars, when it plus 90 degrees outside. Long runs in the speeder. They wouldn’t let me drive. Said I might get lost. We would have to changeout a section of rail. 6 guys with two to a set of tongs of 130 pound per yard rail. My partner Barney would say” College boy I don’t mind you riding along but quit dragging your feet. I was lifting with all my might accomplishing nothing. The short guys were the best at tamping ties, pushing dirt under tie with a short flat shovel. I was too tall to do much good. Good times when heavy rain forced us into line shack with pinochle around the coal fired pot belly stove. If called out on holidays we received double pay and if on your birthday also double pay. One time I hit it big with a sun kink repair call out on my birthday which is July 4. Big check that week. At the end of my first year I asked the foreman how I did over the summer. Nate replied. You go to college I’ll take care of the railroad. Two more summers then into Army fall of 1966. Basic Army training physical training a piece of cake. Real characters on the section gangs. One guy carried a large wad of cash and several uncashed paychecks in his thrashed work shirt pocket. Another foreman I worked for could align a switch frog on his knees. I think it was the 1/2 pint of Corbys brandy he consumed most mornings was why the on his knees alignment technique. I Tried snuff once. Sick puppy as I chewed and swallowed it. Thanks for the Memory Jogger. I’ve been smiling for days.

Outstanding demonstration! Thanks!

Thank you for sharing a small sliver of your world as you so elegantly put it .

Your enthusiasm and love of your work makes your great videos even greater! You just made a video about spikes very interesting! Thank you for your work. I wish everyone had your great attitude!

Thank you so much for taking the time to share these things with us! I am fascinated!

In ancient (and not so ancient) archeology they are puzzled how things were made. There were no recordings because people thought such processes were so mundane everyone knew about them. That is obviously not so. Thank you for teaching us.

That was interesting, thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge of the RR trade.

You have an ability to make learning about your job very easy to understand! It makes the viewer want to know more! Well done on another great video 👍🏻😁

Thank you for the education ! I am 72 years old and still enjoy learning. I have been interested in Railroading all my life since we studied them in grade school which is sadly not a subject in todays schools. I now live half a block south of an abandened UP line in the middle of Kansas that used to have a coal train run every 17 minutes. Now it is a 2 mile long storage line. I have a collection of spikes that I have found laying along side the track as well as in gravel that was taken from the abandened line bed. I have also found in my travels several smaller gauge spikes. I even have a new un driven spike that I found at a crossing that just didn't get used. I even worked several years for a company that refurbished passanger cars and a few kitchen cars. When I worked there I operated for a while the two trackmobiles they owned. One had a big Cummins Diesel engine, while the other had a little Willy's 4 banger and Old Ford 3/4 ton road axles. I moved the cars around in the yard to allow the truck crew to change out trucks for repair. I could go on and on about the jobs I had with that company but this is supposed to be a comment section, not my story. Be Safe and Well

I'm an English guy that loves the blues and I've got to know everything I can to appreciate where it came from Great clip.. These guys worked hard.

Love these old-timers, they surely know how to get the job done! Tks for this valuable insight!

That was extremely interesting and very informative. I learned a lot. You sound like a great person to work with.

I actually found one of those big claw bars laying against a bridge abutment. It now resides in the back of my car. Didn't think it would be as heavy as it was when I picked it up, but it makes a great prying tool for general use (I have not used it on an actual spike, nor do I intend to). I also found a lining bar (a diamond-point one). I'm not actually sure what that's for, but also pretty useful

I like this guy's way of "freestyling" his video with no editing.. he still gets info in and it's more like your standing there.

Most educational 15 minutes of my life. Thanks for posting. Cool world.

I've been railroading 33 years, never heard about the DD 🐕 !! Lol I'm going to ask my guys about it today 😂 great video !👍

The Sure Spike hole filling powder is activated by the intense heat from the driven spike. The heat is the catalyst.

Thanks for taking the time to share your knowledge.

Now when I walk the tracks I'll be check'n out the spike patterns 👍🏻, thanks for sharing this!

Wisconsin Southern runs along my backyard. I usually go up and watch when Canadian National (they own the tracks) performs maintenance. Thanks for the edjamacation, it was a fun watch (-:

There's a phrase you don't hear of any more, a "Gandy Dancer." In the very early days of railroad building, the labor force was mostly either Irish or Chinese. I'm talking Golden Spike era. They used a ballast shovel made by the Gandy Company because it was tremendously strong. After work, the Irish track men would jam the shovel between the rail and the tie, then climb on the handle and dance a jig for entertainment. Hence the name Gandy Dancer. Most people don't know that. Amazing what you can find in early history books. Thanks for the video. Jon

I am so happy to find this corner of the Internet. Thanks!!!

That was a great seminar about RR spikes. You are an excellent instructor. TY4 posting.

I love videos like this that explain the 'why' something is done the way it is! Thank you :-)

Love the class. Keep them coming. I wanna be a trainman.

Great video. Love the history and information that you always share. Amazing!

Another great, informative video! Thanks, Dave!

This was GREAT, Dave. I love the minutiae of things like this. Crazy good my friend. Again, your knowledge shines through.

Spikes are always driven so that the chisel point cuts the grain of the tie. Driving them in with the chisel parallel to the grain will split the tie. Also a properly driven spike ends up about 1/8" above the rail, it does not actually 'pinch' the rail tight to the tie plate. That is not desirable. The rail needs to be able 'run' or slide through the plates as it expands and contracts. To anchor the rail and control this sliding we use rail anchors, those are the roughly 'C' shaped things that are driven onto the base of the rails and bear against the edge of the ties.

Thanks for the explanation of spikes and their patterns.

Once again, an excellent lesson! THANKS!

I worked on a track crew as a 'gandy-dancer' for a brief period in the New York Central's Englewood Yard in Chicago, c.1964 right out of high school. There was one tool that I encountered frequently which was called a 'Car Mover' and we used them to move cars around the yard to provide rail access without requiring an engine to be summoned to move a car a relatively short distance. It was a cost/efficiency measure. Perhaps you could demonstrate one of these hand-held devices that enable a single man, or woman to move an entire car with ease. Impressive physics at work. Mike Kirwan - Kenmore, WA

Several years ago a track crew was replacing a short section ( 5 yards long) of main line rail. I walked up to the white hat and said , if I pick up carry away that peace of cracked main line rail can I keep it? His replay, yes you can ! One of the youngest gang members said you can't let him take that rail . The crew boss said whil laughing if he can pick it up and carry it away I am not going to try to stop him ! You can if you like. At that point everyone was laughing , except the kid.

*EXTREMELY* Intriguing And Wholesome!

Learned a lot and I enjoyed the coverage about the specialty tools.

Wife left me. She says I didn't know shit about railroad spikes, and she needs a "real man". Who's the real man now, Karen?

In Ny we call the spike puller an old man. Nobody knows how that came to be 🤣

Thank you for giving us this information. I look forward to your future videos.

You are a world of information about the railroad and I find it most interesting. Thank you for sharing.

Herein is part of the problem of modern society: There are hundreds of specialized industries that require specialized knowledge that most people have absolutely no clue about. The "ancient" industries like railroads, electricity generation and distribution, potable water and sewage disposal that underpins our high standard of living doesn't run itself and requires a certain level of maintenance. But too many of today's young people want a business degree so that they can be a drone in an air conditioned building and never get their hands dirty.

I’ve got the big nail puller We affectionately call it the camel toe

Our cops are always eyeing our tracks. I do get a lot of spikes in my yard, and been caught picking them off my property. Still got a ticket for theft of federal property. Case was thrown out, even pissed the farm rail company off so much, they now switch and bump cars in my yard, blocking the road for hours so cops can't harass the rail foamers. God bless our crew here!!! Love seeing them get out and have a bite with fans

Fascinating. Thanks for showing.

U didnt tell about that notch in th claw bar , dont hold th bar rit there ,? why ? U will get ur finger , mashed ,, That dog thing is a GRANNY puller Where is ur spike lifter,,?

I'm really amazed that the rest of the world is using concrete ties and we're still in the 1800's with rail technology. Sad.

Thank you for the great video. I always enjoy learning new things. Especially all things railroad. Cheers

Who would have thought there would be so much to know about a spike! Very informative!

Oh,no. My subscription list is already unwieldy. Oh,well...

Good Infomation we never think of., thank you for keeping us safe.

Fascinating stuff! You are preserving history through your knowledge and experience. SALUTE!

Thank you for sharing this parr of your world. I will need to review a couple of times to remember it. You do such a great job, Dave!

Thanks for these awesome videos. I enjoy learning about railroads.

Really appreciate your videos,I’ve always been fascinated with railroad tracks

Another informative video. Very enjoyable!

Fascinating. Well done.

Very good explanation and a lot of fun to watch - Hope to see more of your videos!!

Incredibly informative post.

Glad I found your channel. Your very passionate an your videos are educational an relaxing to watch. Thankyou.

Great teaching about the railroad spike.

outrageous video! Keep em coming!

super job. I found this really interesting. This kind of knowledge is fading from our heritage. I worked for US Steel in the valley in the 80s and always found the most talented and intelligent folks working the trades. Really appreciate the lessons. Keep up the good work.

You sir are a wealth of information. Thank you, keep up the great work and stay safe. 👍🏻

Worked on a R.R. spike making mechine in 1980. Was a challenge keep it working. Some of the tools we had were bigger than me. Good Vid.

Fascinating information. I really enjoyed the video. So much to know about railroading. Thanks for making the videos.

I worked on the Railroad and never knew any of this! Most interesting and very informative! I have subscribed to your site.

Thanks for taking the time to share!

Thank you for a very informative presentation. It was something so important to society that we don't normally think about.

Your are an excellent teacher, sir!

Nothing better than a man who is master of his craft. Years of knowledge and skills. Most folks now a days have the "fake it till you make it" mentality, which just rubs me the wrong way.

such a valuable channel for this information. Thank-you

Thank you. Very educational.

Thanks for the education I learned something I didn't know till today, love your videos.

Fantastic, keep up the good and informative work! You have a great descriptive style, thank you.....

I really love learning about the railroad.

Excellent explanations, well done!👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

Thank you so much for this candid video! We spound a railroad spike today and my son and I loved learning from you! This was fantastic!

Thanks. I learned a lot of things I didn't know i wanted to know. Very cool. Keep the videos coming.

Wonderful. Thanks for making this video.

Neat information I never knew about how the railroad was done.

This is very important information for my DIY track building.

101 Things I never knew I wanted to know about railroads ! Loving your videos and personality.

Thank you sir for such a great video. I always like knowing about railroads and all the associated parts and pieces and how they are used.

Awesome spike video!

LOVED THE VIDEO!! Thanks so much for taking your time to share your experience with us. It was fun hearing your stories and sharing your excitement for the knowledge you know. Many years ago I was a switchman for the long past WP and the road way was always fascinating to me but I didn't know anything about it. I always thought it would be a cool job to be a "gandy dancer" too. My father was in the railroad business as a machinest back at the turn from steam to diesel so it's in my blood too. Thanks again for taking your time to share your knowledge.

This was great, thank you!

You enjoy making these videos and I enjoy watching them. So it’s a win win

I love how much YOU love your job brother, it makes it even more interesting to learn from someone like that!! Great video, you "nailed" all the finer points with precision.... :))))