Building track in 1910

[John Kokas]

Now that would be the ultimate ROWMOW Mfg. project!

[Mike Fox]

I think that would take a lot more effort and expertise than currently employed at ROWMOW Mfg. I was thinking more of having to step up the grading efforts to get far enough ahead just to run that thing one day..

[Jason M Lamontagne]

I want to build one.

I waaaaaannnnnnnnttttttttt to build one...

[Bill Baskerville]

Jason,

Of course you would!!!!

Bill

[Jason M Lamontagne]

http://www.oil-electric.com/2011/04/april-7-1914-roberts-steam-tracklayer.html

Note in the required crew list the official position of "tie fiddler."

Why wouldn't we want this machine?

I also found the best description I've ever seen of how track was hand-laid, in this article on the CPRR's 10 mile in a day record. 

http://cprr.org/Museum/Southern_Pacific_Bulletin/Ten_Mile_Day.html

Who wants to be a tie fiddler?

see ya
Jason

[Bill Baskerville]

In reading the article Jason provided, it would appear that we lay track with 'square joints' as opposed to 'broken joints'.  Perhaps our method isn't so out of the ordinary after all.

Bill

[Bob Holmes]

I was also noticing the average height of the track gang vs the gauge width.  On the other hand, men were not as tall back then...

[Bill Baskerville]

BTW, I would be happy to be the Tie Fiddler.  I think I could handle that job if I studied hard........

Bill