Search results
Gandy dancer. A railroad section gang – including common workers sometimes called gandy dancers – responsible for maintenance of a particular section of railway. One man is holding a bar, while others are using rail tongs to position a rail. Photo published in 1917.
Jun 6, 2023 · 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.
Mar 6, 2024 · Last Modified Date: March 06, 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.
Sep 27, 2023 · The term “Gandy Dancer” finds its roots in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a time when manual labor was the backbone of railroad construction. Legend has it that the term originated from the rhythmic movements performed by these laborers.
Jun 10, 2021 · Section hands were called gandy dancers for the synchronized "dancing" movements of the men using a long "lining" bar, called a "gandy". The name is said to be based on the name of the company that manufactured them to lever track rails into alignment.