actually once they did it a few times, it would become easier and faster over time, so at first it may be annoying but after a few times being done, its a regular non-hassle job.

I agree, yet another case where whoever designed it never stopped to think about those fixing it.

Not to mention a simple wooden block to hold rail against the chair, did they even think vibrations would eventually loosen the block? In another clip he puts some type of paste in the hole,he uses a rough thread then the actual screw but why not just use the actual screw

jacco nouwen (28-12-1968)

Maybe they didn’t become loose as the others did as much?

it's a stunt wheelbarrow

The wheelbarrow was a paid actor.

@@SteamCase i should hope all the actors were paid

I know, right! This video would have been so much more authentic had we gotten to witness gruelingly long period of idle time, while the waymen went and fetched the proper tools. What could the producer of this film have possibly been thinking, to deliver such a impossibly unrealistic and convenient situation?

@@grazzer1673 - It’s almost like they’ve cut the film into concise scenes which explain the process clearly.

Liz kay 2:20

it was very labour intensive - as we see here - or used a lot of chemicals. These costs and environmental harms aren't acceptable now.

I have no issue spraying things to keep them down. The alternative is you’ve just spent hundreds of millions building something and your not maintaining it and have to end up cutting back more than if you had done it the proper way in the first place.

Very poor excuses. Oh, and fuck the physical ground environment. Climate change matters more.

The same applies today as it will into the future. The Permanent way staff continue regardless

It’s danger was well known by the 1930’s/40’s.

Unsung heroes I reckon - none of the glamour for them. Tim

we don't use BR system question on Millionaire.

I personally like the hamlet or Romeo and Juliet spike.

Unless the train dispatcher had already given them a maintenance window in which to work, with traffic held until expiration of the window.

​@@whiteknightcatThat's a good point but I'd have thought the film would mention working whilst the line was under possession, usually taken locally with the local signal boxes, otherwise 'between trains' as there was probably a fair amount a slack between train movements back then. Either way, I love these films, partly because they illustrate what went into keeping things going and the people who were behind it all. They are carrying a fair amount of weight in that old wheelbarrow too and look how sharp the edge of the cess is along the track.

Ditto Peter although twas a temp job for me as I was earning £ to travel being a Kiwi on the OE gig. We definitely had lookouts especially on the mainline to Paddington with the 125s hurtling down the track! I remember seeing this Irish guy getting smacked in the face by a nylon rail insulator that had been flung in the air from the passage of the train - ouch!

Thank you for this interesting and educational film. Then it was a job for life; great in the summer but winter's another story I'm sure. Looking forward to more contributions. Bless you and yours. G

@@JoysinglionRichard-mr5us My family go back four generations on the railway my mum would leave me with two signalmen she knew while she went shopping if your dad was on the railway you were family they took care of their own

Probably a hangover from WW2 when it was used a uniform and was popular afterwards.

Asked myself the same. In the days of this film, early 1950's I think, it might be that the pattern of traffic on this line was so regular the gang worked within that. Though there is always the chance of a light engine or other train running in between the regular timetabled trains, hence need for a lookout at any time. Great piece of film and a fly-on-the-wall of the men who kept the tracks safely maintained, unnoticed by so many travellers.

remember this was Britain, it was not here in the USA. However I do believe some gangs wore steel toe shoes, but that was rather rare for BR gangs in those days.

..but all had their Frank Spencer berets.

Budget cuts, maintenance overspend, lol.

Looks like it in it's dry form

Possibly, but you definitely wouldn’t want it on your hands regardless

yes - it looks very similar to what used to be called rawlplug, a compund that you mied up and poked into drilled holes before the plastic plug was invented.

beeble2003, yes there is a slight cut, if the train had been there while he was examining the track the rail would’ve been vibrating

Thankfully, yes. Honestly this gave me a chuckle. Look closely and you can see a brief cut in the footage.

Probably would have done it if it was invented

yes, it looks just like rawlplug that was sold in the UK up until the mid 1970s

Indeed they would. “Lookouts” were a very responsible job, using a horn or whistle to make the gang aware of the approaching trains. Sometimes due to the speed of approaching trains or track layout (tight curvature, junctions and so on), multiple lookouts would be required to keep the worksite safe. These lookouts would communicate with one another using a large blue and white chequered flag and still do today! However it is being phased out in favour of more technologically advanced methods of warning and protection (such as arranging for complete stoppage of trains and possession of the line for a period of maintenance).

For those of us in the heritage Railway sector. This film is a great learning piece

Seems like they discussed a lot of fine details of track maintenance like checking screws that would be hard for a machine to handle and somehow must be no longer necessary.

@@32582657 yes track maintenance has changed beyond all recognition. Rail is now continuously welded and the fixings to the sleepers are all spring clips. The sleepers too are concrete and require very little attention

@@timwebster8122 then and now,, everything heavy,,, Except the Wages .lol. Did like the Free Rail travel passes though. 👍😎

at this time, around 300 railwaymen were killed per year in the course of their work