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The Gandy Dancer State Trail is a 47-mile rail trail for hiking, biking and other recreational uses, that follows the old Minneapolis, St. Paul and Sault Ste. Marie railroad grade from St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, through a bit of eastern Minnesota and terminating in Superior Wisconsin.
There are restaurants, theaters, rail/trails, bars, and even video game characters named for the gandy dancer. The gandy dancer was a slang term used to describe section gangs, railroad men who performed the physical task of the tracks maintained.
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.
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.”.
Sep 27, 2023 · To put it simply, a Gandy Dancer refers to the laborers who toiled tirelessly on the railroads, maintaining and constructing tracks in the early days of the industry. These skilled workers were responsible for the precise alignment of rails, ensuring a smooth and safe passage for locomotives and their precious cargo.
Mar 6, 2024 · A gandy dancer is someone who works on the maintenance crew of a railroad. Track crews are critical for a working railroad, as these men and women ensure that the tracks are in good working order, and they address situations on the tracks before they turn into problems.
