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Gandy dancer is a slang term used for early railroad workers in the United States, more formally referred to as section hands, who laid and maintained railroad tracks in the years before the work was done by machines.
Oct 17, 2023 · Gandy Dancers “Gandy dancers” was a nickname for railroad section gangs in the days before modern mechanized track upkeep. The men were called dancers for their synchronized movements when repairing track under the direction of a lead workman known as the “caller” or “call man.”
Jun 6, 2023 · The gandy dancer term has blossomed into folklore over the years, celebrated in several songs, books, and other mainstream mediums. Despite its near mythical status it described a once very common job on the railroad, hard labor.
Sep 14, 2023 · The song “The Gandy Dancer’s Ball” by Frankie Laine is a classic piece that holds deep meaning for many. It tells the story of the hardworking men who built the railroads in America during the early 20th century.
Jan 22, 2018 · The term “gandy dancers” may have come from the odd gait of the tracklayers, who walked in straight lines like a gaggle of ganders (male geese) as they carried the rails to their last resting place on the ties.
Sep 7, 2022 · A "Gandy Dancer" was a person who kept railroad tracks in line before there was machinery to do the job. One crew member sang songs with rhythms that coordinated the...
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Jul 3, 2023 · Gandy Dancers were laborers who laid and maintained railroad tracks, using rhythmic movements while working, resembling a well-choreographed dance. The song captures the essence of the Gandy Dancers’ hard work, their camaraderie, and their struggles.
