All About Railroad Track Anchors - Sometimes they are Called Anti-Creepers

We show you the different types of rail anchors, anchor wrenches, how to put rail anchors on and take them off, why they are used, anchor pattern, and a bit of history of rail anchors.
Forgot to say in the video, but the first spring type of rail anchor is called a unit wrench on.
Also some have called the unit channel and the improved fair anchors as J anchors, but they are not marketed as having that name.
For another video where you can watch how to install drive on anchors along
with a better discussion of how anchors actually work to mitigate rail creep:
• Driving Anchors On at ...
Made Spring of 2021
#RailroadTrackAnchors

[@bluemax439]

I worked eight years on the RR and never knew any of this info. Off course, I was an electrician on the locomotives (F units, GP's, etc.) In late 1950's and early 60's in the Round House and back shop. I cut a couple of pieces off a length of rail to make book-ends. That was the closest to knowing anything about the rails.....so I find your videos very interesting. TKS.

[@ccrx6700]

Blue Max! Good to see you sir. I knew you were retired but did not know you were a loco electrician, very cool! We sure could use your expertise here at times, we don't have anybody that understands the electrical system on our locos, all SD's, probably not much different from the GP's. We have to get a contractor to come in and diagnose those kind of issues, not a cheap adventure when that happens. We have chatted at Belen in the past, although it been awhile, I haven't been on there much lately. Really appreciate your watching and glad you are enjoying them

[@bluemax439]

I really do appreciate yours and other's videos. I would be happy to contribute anything I can on the operation and function of the locomotives, electrically. I am at present continuing to rehab from open-heart surgery so I have to be a little careful about the Covid stuff. If you like, have someone email me at [e-mail] and we could chat. Thank you so much. I would have to turn back to my RR days memories but I believe I could help. Take care and be safe. Thanks a bunch, again...!!!!

[@ccrx6700]

@@bluemax439 well thank you very much for your generous offer, i will pass it on. I have your contact info now, you prob should go back and edit it out so no one else gets it. Really hope your recovery goes quickly and all tirns out well for you

[@curtyanok6878]

I've seen those anchors laying near the tracks and always wondered what they were for. Now I know. Thank you for the lesson today.

[@ccrx6700]

Curt, you are welcome, really appreciate your comment and for watching

[@TempoDrift1480]

Yep, me too and me too. I always figured they went under the rail but never knew the purpose.

[@manicmechanic448]

I've wondered since I was a kid, what those things were. Now I know, and I wasn't disappointed.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you, really glad you enjoyed and found it to be of value. Appreciate your watching

[@waynewayne9693]

Most literate humans if they were that curious they would have found the information either via a library, docu, phone call, conversation...... nope not you. You seem like the kind of person who would swim across a River rather that using a bridge six feet away.

[@mercoid]

@@waynewayne9693 .... That’s how some of us old timers still do it (learn things). The pace of people’s lives these days has picked up, wether real or illusionary, due to technology. So.., he never got around to any kind of serious analog investigation as to what these things are. It’s not a big deal and he is certainly not deserving of being lambasted for it by some stranger on the internet. I will also add that you too, are here using KZbin for informational/entertainment purposes. Lighten up.

[@monteman700]

@@waynewayne9693 wow you're so insightful. Thank you for your two cents. It's so wonderful how helpful you are. So please, keep helping everyone and go jump off that bridge that is 6 feet away. Now you take care pookie.

[@lethargicmotorsport2025]

@@waynewayne9693 ???

[@Number-oo8xq]

Easy wrench? Nothing with the railroads is easy, that is all some back breaking work. I have mad respect for you workers!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you, anything that makes our job easier is really appreciated specially the older we get, I love hydraulics, what a blessing. Really do appreciate your watching and writing in

[@tomedgar4375]

Huge respect for maintenance of way folks, unsung behind the scenes heroes

[@ccrx6700]

I see you found it Tom! Thanks for the very kind words my friend.

[@rebelrailroader]

Another great video. I've used the spring type and two other types of drive-on anchors, one you showed that you don't like. When installing the spring I used a rail fork/rail turner. To remove all anchors placed one foot over the end that was liable to go flying and used a sledgehammer. The drive-on anchors place your foot over the part that would pop up on the outside of the rail. Often there's a small sliver of metal you don't want to find flying into your body, face, etc. You bring back many memories for this old railroader. Hope you have a great day. Remember safety, fun, safety are the only rules in railroading.

[@ccrx6700]

Excellent comment! I learned 3 new things from that. Very good tips sir, they will be implemented. Thats why I love comments like this, can help make my job safer and easier 👍👍👍

[@rebelrailroader]

@@ccrx6700 you are very welcome sir. Also on those drive-on anchors sometimes there's a small metal shim under the "head" of the anchor where it clips on the the running side of the rail base. Don't lose it! That anchor will never fit onto the rail tightly.

[@ccrx6700]

@@rebelrailroader Yes Sir!

[@mikeznel6048]

Man its nice to see someone who loves what they do. Not many people like that anymore they all want everything handed to them and don't wanna put the work in learning or working.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Mike, I am pretty lucky. Really do appreciate your watching again sir and glad you are enjoying

[@mikeznel6048]

@@ccrx6700 Love em buddy. Its awesome to see the real deal stuff, not just a bumchnof talking about something that isn't even relevant. You're the real deal man, I do appreciate you taking the time to share it with us all.

[@ccrx6700]

@@mikeznel6048 Thank you Mike, your kind words are very much appreciated. Actually I am very humbled and in awe by you tube going nuts with these videos. It's really unbelievable to me. The cool thing is i've met a lot of really excellent folks like yourself out of it. You have been so very kind and positive in all your comments.

[@jimmyb1559]

Thank you for such an interesting video. I remember playing near the railroad tracks when I was a kid and I think I saw a few anchors laying around. But I never new what they were. Always loved trains. To me hearing a freight train off in the distance through the bedroom window on a summer night is one of the greatest sounds ever. Thanks again.

[@DownsouthMan]

They have sang me to sleep many of nights when I was a kid. Time has changed, the line is shorter, and the train doesn’t come thru late very often. As a kid in school I would hear the train coming from miles away. I would ask mama if I could turn the window out above my bed and hearing the clank clank of the wheels rolling over the joints would put me to sleep pretty quick. Mama would come in later on and close the window. Can’t beat that huh

[@jimmyb1559]

@@DownsouthMan You’ve got some great memories Stan. It’s nice to know someone who enjoyed the night train sounds too. Probably a favorite memory for more than I realized. I moved from Illinois to Arizona and just happened to be near some train tracks but like you say they are very short. And not nearly as many as back home.

[@JOHNMORIN100]

When it's late where is IT ???? what has happened TO IT ???? 1am ? 2am?? 3am???

[@alec4672]

This has really turned into one hell of a channel. To think you just wanted to post some videos of some trains online one day and here we are. I've learned lots that I would have never considered. This is like the AvE of railroading and I hope it continues to grow! 🤙

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you, appreciate the nice comment and am happy your enjoying 😊

[@mikkey246]

First follower?

[@MrMitchellw16]

Thanks for the video ccrx6700, I was rail fanning with my pops yesterday and we were wondering about the function of the anchors. I told him all about the knowledge you've shared with us about ties, plates, rails, tools, and more. He asked me about the anchors and I replied, "I don't know, haven't seen a video about that yet." Your timing couldn't have been better. Cheers, thanks again for all your knowledge and positivity

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Mitchell, really appreciate yor neat comment and for watching

[@HWPcville]

Its unfathomable the amount of steel involved in a railroad track. In addition to the rails there's tie plates (2 for each tie), spikes (6 or more per tie), anti creepers (4 per tie where used and on continuous rail its every tie), rail connectors for the joints, bolts for the connectors, etc, etc. And they go on for miles and miles, and miles, and thousands of more miles and on and on. And that's no even considering the steel for engines, cars, axels, wheels, couplings..... It's truly mind boggling. Thanks for posting.

[@ccrx6700]

It certainly is mind boggling! Imagine having to buy all that for new rail construction! Used to be many years ago cost for 1 mile new construction was around 1 million, can't imagine what it is now. Thanks for writing in and for watching the video my friend.

[@jonfoisy1237]

I learned something from the video. For years I've wondered what the purpose of those things are. And now I know and what they're called. Thanks again Dave!

[@ccrx6700]

Jon you are welcome sir, really do appreciate you watching and am glad you enjoyed it, was fun making it. Cannot thank you enough for your comments and viewing of these

[@officially-ROB]

I'm from the UK down near London and I love watching your videos they are so informative and entertaining. Always a smile when I see you've got a new video. I can't wait to visit your beautiful country once the Rona has gone. Thank you!

[@ccrx6700]

Rob, Awesome! thank you so much for watching sir. Really happy that you are enjoying watching. Really appreciate your nice comment. If you do get over here, would be cool if you could come visit us, would be honored to show you around

[@steveevans7170]

Very informative. Hung around rail roads all the time when I was a kid. The groan & pop of the rails & ties under the weight of a train was like music. I could listen all day👌👍

[@ccrx6700]

Steve, yes sir, the railroad has it's own unique sounds, it is neat to listen to. Good memories for you. Thank you sir for watching, it is appreciated

[@dakotabebo2024]

We are back again for more information on railroadin'! THANK YOU so much for this awesome, descriptive video!! We will be back for more! My son, J, says - "I think your videos are outstanding and I am also glad that you enjoy your job and hope that you enjoy it for the rest of your time at the railroad. Once again, thank you for these amazing videos. :) "

[@ccrx6700]

Your very welcome. We certainly appreciate your very nice comment and for taking the time to write in today my friend's. Tell you son, I like how he thinks!

[@s0nnyburnett]

Yet another thing I've seen since I was a kid, didn't know what the heck it was and no one else has mentioned before. Thank you happy railroad man.

[@ccrx6700]

Very glad I could finally solve one of life's mysteries for you...lol Really glad you enjoyed the show

[@ryanrohauer5940]

im from WNY and walked alot of RR tracks in my life and i have never seen jointed rail in my life. dident even know that was a thing. our rails up here are in amazing shape them guys do a good job.

[@ccrx6700]

On CWR track every tie has rail holding anchors on them, unlike jointed track that we have here Ryan. CWR is much nicer track than jointed you are right about that. But it's what we got so we have to deal with it. Thank you for checking out the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@3rdTrickGang]

I spent about four months on the Track gang ripping out about 13 miles of abandoned track old school. We knocked out 4 miles of anchors by hand, 12 hours a day, until we welded up a track pulling sled that knocked anchors and ripped track at same time. Hard work, but gratifying. Stay safe happy railroading!

[@ccrx6700]

For sure you earned your pay there Brandon! appreciate your sharing and for watching today my railroadin friend.

[@perkristianstrand6419]

Good morning from Norway! Here 99,9% of all the working railroad is continues welded, and lays on concreate ties(?), and are held in place by the Pandrol clips system, with insuletor under the rail, and between the clips and the foot of the rail! We dont need that sort of equalizer spring/ clips any more, but we still have them in case of derailment, or in case of an emergency when we need to use wood ties/ slippers, Just like oure type, until we can replace them with concreate again! Thank you for a wery good show!! I would love more about how you and the Company handle Brake calculation when a train are different in weight and lenght, and other technical safety issues you might have!

[@ccrx6700]

Wow, Awesome comment there sir! Really appreciate hearing what guys from other parts of the world are doing. We have a very unique RR here, nothing like the big Railroads of the country. We only haul coal from a mine to a harbor facility where it is loaded on barges, only 17 miles of track. So all our trains are 38 cars, we have a single loco on the head and a single on the end of train in a push pull type of system. There are no calculations like you are requesting here. Have a lot of other RR vids on my channel about what we do here if you would sometime be interested in viewing them. Am glad you enjoyed watching sir. PS I have a good bit of Swedish blood in me, am proud of that heritage. Also would love to hear anything you would care to share about how your RR system does things in Norway, get a good many from UK and Australia write in, but you're the first from Scandinavia. Thank you

[@kens.3729]

Very Interesting Episode on what keeps the Rails in check on the Railroad. Thanks for sharing. 👍

[@ccrx6700]

Ken, thank you I;m really glad you like what you saw. I do appreciate your watching sir

[@bluefj-wc3vz]

I’ve always called them anti creepers as well. First time I think I’ve ever seen someone give the masses a lesson on them though. Good job. 👍

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Blue, glad you enjoyed watching. I do appreciate that

[@rakasome]

Very informative, Dave. I had no idea rail creeped. Thanks so much.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Ray, appreciate your watching, you been one of my very first subscribers and always have nice things to say. I miss chatting with you, been hard time trying keep up with all these comments folks send in. Really hope all is well with you and family my friend.

[@jimhammer2012]

I've studied trains all my life but I never knew what they were for! Thanks!

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Jim and pleased to hear you learned something new in the video. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@jjxtwo1]

What a great topic. I really enjoyed this. I could definitely see one of those go flying when you are removing them. That would leave an impression on you, literally. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge.

[@capttom7772]

LMBO ! You funny Jeff !

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you again Jeff, really do appreciate your very nice comments you send in and for watching these, it is special to me. You have been an excellent supporter of these videos, I am humbled and in awe that so many of you really excellent folks write in and express their gratitude. It is a lot of fun to make these, but without viewers like you they ain't worth a plug nickel. KZbin has taken these vids and gone nuts with them and I have no clue why. It is totally unbelievable to me. PS my friend, I am Dave, thank you so much for watching

[@jjxtwo1]

@@ccrx6700 Well Dave your personality comes through very well in your videos and folks can see that you are a great guy who knows his railroading. I noticed that your subscribers numbers were going up, up, up. I couldn't be happier for you. But after watching your channel the growth is not all that surprising. You really opened up a window to railroading with your channel that many people had been looking for and hungry for, myself included. The fact that you are a good person and teacher delivering this information makes it all the better. ccrx 6700 passed 6700 subs. Over 7000 now, awesome.

[@ccrx6700]

@@jjxtwo1 Jeff, wow what a very nice comment, really do appreciate your watching and your comments sir. I'm Dave and it has been a pleasure for me to meet you. Honestly, you tube has gone nuts with these videos and I have no clue why, I am totally humbled and in awe and amazed by it.

[@colliecandle]

i can smell those creosoted sleepers ! Love your videos. ( We used 'Pandrol' clips for rail fixing on most track and the tool used is called a 'pan puller' - on old 'bullhead' rail it was bolts and wrench onto the 'chairs' also used spikes, but not like the ones you folks use )

[@ccrx6700]

Yep on a really hot day there nothing like the smell of newly creosoted ties, really opens up the sinuses.... Can't remember if when we chatted before if I said, we call them ties and you guys call them sleepers? these are 10 foot bridge approach timbers, do you guys have a special name for the long timbers like for bridge approaches or turnouts? or are they still called timbers ?

[@cedarcam]

@@ccrx6700 Yes here in UK we call the ties sleepers The area between them we call a bay , so when you are cribbing out we would say digging out the sleeper bays, the ground under the ballast we call the track bed, Sometimes we get water or clay seeping up into the ballast causing a dip in the track, these have to be dug out and re ballasted. We say digging out a wet bed for that job. Where we have turnouts with longer ties we call them crossing timbers and bridges are bridge timbers so some names are common to both sides of the pond.

[@cesargallo7424]

Hi! I'm from Argentina and I'm looking all of your videos right now. Here for wood ties we do not use plates, the rails are just above the ties, but we use square headed screws instead of spikes. Now, since about 10 years ago, most of the high traffic lines use concrete ties wich seem to be stronger and also use some kind of spring loaded locking thing to hold the rails down.

[@ccrx6700]

Hi Cesar, thanks for sharing with us, I'm always interested in how other countries operate their railroads, I know almost nothing about S. American RR, so appreciate your info sir

[@PlanetMojo]

I could use some of that anti-creep technology for my shorts 😉 I saw a zillion of those when I was younger and had no idea what they were. Thanks for the info!

[@ccrx6700]

hmmmm maybe you can invent an anti shorts creeping device. It would be a huge seller, market on Ebay and Amazon, you'd make a killing. With your skills and knowledge would be a piece of cake for you...lol

[@PlanetMojo]

@@ccrx6700 Thanks Dave. I could be the 'Anti-Creep King'. Plumbers everywhere would love me 😉

[@johnd2042]

I learned something new from your video. Never knew the amount of maintenance you have to do on this railroad. I love your videos an are very informative. Your very passionate about what you do. Looking forward to learning an watching your videos.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you John, I really do appreciate your watching and am glad you are enjoying them, your comment means a lot to me

[@alro2434]

He has to be passionate, as it seems they lowest bid on building the line & cheaped out on its maintenance for years, leaving MR ccrx 6700 with plenty to do! It took a while for mgmt to realize that PMpreventive maintenance costs less then derails.

[@2nddancervadventures643]

In the summer of 1978 I worked on a “Tie Crew” for Duluth, Winnipeg & Pacific RR (we said DW&P stood for “Drink Whiskey & Puke”). We replaced old, rotting ties, and our best day was 1,800 new ties. My job was swinging a 10-lb sledge-in the morning I was at the front of the gang, knocking all the anchors off, so they didn’t get in the way. After lunch I went back to the beginning, Behind everyone else & knocked the anchors back on. We put 2x as money on north side of ties because Trains would travel south loaded with iron ore pellets & then back north empty.

[@milwaukeeroadjim9253]

Always knew they were anchors and what they did but never knew how they were installed and removed. Always understood that weight of wheels meant train was always climbing the rail but never thought about creep. Thanks for the information

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Jim and glad to hear you enjoyed the show my friend. We do appreciate your writing in and for watching sir.

[@Madonsteamrailways]

As an Englishman, I had never heard the term grade for a slight slope. We think of it as a GRADIENT.

[@ccrx6700]

Grade and Gradient both pretty much mean the same thing to me, I'm just used to using grade. Grade means two things on RR here, 1. to prepare a roadbed for track installation, 2. the amount of rise or fall in a track per 100 feet expressed as a percentage. Gradient refers to the rate of inclination in relation to the horizontal. I'm not a mechanical engineer with a degree, they both mean pretty much the same to me. Gradient also has another use as a term here. When an engineer does a brake pipe continuity test he is checking for gradient. In this case, gradient is a fancy term simply meaning brake pipe pressure must be no less than 75 pounds on the rear of train with a 90 pound reading on head end. Thank you for watching and for your comment sir

[@millvalleynorthernrailroad2998]

I've also wondered what those were my whole life. I just found your videos a few days ago and I'm now subscribed! Love all this great info! Thank you for taking the time to share your knowledge!

[@ccrx6700]

Perry, thank you very much sir. Really glad you enjoyed the show. If you care, got a lot more RR videos on my channel if sometime you have time and would like to watch them. Got a lot more planned for the coming year. Do appreciate your viewing

[@irongoatrocky2343]

when your happy doing what you do that's a good life! attitude makes all the difference as well....be safe out there on there on the rails!

[@ccrx6700]

You are absolutely right sir, if there's one thing I've learned in life it's the energy you give off, is the energy you get back. I really do thank you for watching and sending in your comment

[@budd1814]

I worked for UPRR ..I've installed/removed a few anchors, spikes, ties, tie plates, switch points, frogs, ballast, rail, welded 50,0000 or so chipped rail ends, lost count of how many thermite welds on mainline and in the switchyards. Never ever,,, used a wrench to install anchors.. The best tool for installing anchors? 10lb sledgehammer (one hit). They won't fly off if you stand on them while installing or removing them. FYI If you were caught letting the anchors fly (safety violation) You would be the steel Foreman's #1 anchor mover.

[@rwnelson51]

Thank you Dave for sharing your RR knowledge!! Many of "us" fans and hobbyists never get the "real deal" as to the reasons for all the details and devices for good RR track installation and maintenance. Best of all watching your passion, your laughter and smiles -- too bad it seems that so many folk have little or no joy in their work as you do my friend!! Got any old "Speeders" sitting around??? LOL Thanks!!!

[@ccrx6700]

We've never had a speeder here RW, would be fun if we did. Thank you for the very nice comment, glad you are enjoying the shows. We do appreciate your taking the time to write in and watch the RR track anchor video my friend.

[@stevesmyth4982]

Brings to mind an old favourite tune by Genesis titled Driving the Last Spike. Thanks for the videos, helps me appreciate the engineering involved in railways.

[@ccrx6700]

Interesting Steve, had never heard of that song so listened to it, pretty neat, appreciate your writing in with that. Great to hear you are enjoying the videos

[@dock_yard1149]

Really enjoy learning from you and hearing how much you love what you do. So many pro's are caught up in bragging that no one knows what they know, because they haven't had the experience. It is so refreshing to hear positive vibes from real RR pro's! Keep it up! (subscriber for 3 weeks now).

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you, I do appreciate your watching and for the very nice comment. I'm really glad you are enjoying these, it's so many wonderful comments like yours that motivates me to want to make more. Plus they're fun to do...Lol Am very lucky I work for a pretty good company that supplies me with all kinds of toys to play with and a train for me to watch every day

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Great video. Channel Locks were always the easiest for my co workers and I to put on, We had a few bags of over crimped fare anchors one time and they would not go on unless we used a 16 lb maul. Spiking was my favorite thing to do and winmilled very well.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. I can fully understand having to use some muscle for those. If you liked spiking then sir you are a real railroader!

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

@@ccrx6700 You are very welcome.

[@JOHNMORIN100]

You are a BLESSING AND SO HELPFULLLLLL YOU DESERVE AN AWARD (USA TRAIN & TRACK CIRTIFICATE OF THE YEAR)

[@ccrx6700]

Appreciate the very kind words John. Thank you very much for taking the time to visit with us to watch the video my friend.

[@jackdawg4579]

I've been watching your channel for a few weeks now, A recent video where you replaced a length of rail showed some of these laying on the ground, reminding me that I wanted to know what they were, as I use them in my blacksmithing activities as they are good high carbon steel. So reminded, a quick Google search and what pops up - another video by you! Should have just searched your channel in the first place! So cheers for having this video which explained all about anchors for me.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Jack for the nice comment. Google seems to like me! Really appreciate your visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a most blessed day my friend.

[@t.r.campbell6585]

I never realized this was an issue. I learned something today. Thanks for the information and thanks for your enthusiasm.

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome, glad you enjoyed and found out something new TR. Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on track anchors and also write in my friend.

[@b-rad33101]

Great video, Dave! I’ve always wondered about those, and now I know. Also- we want to put a face with the great story teller, so flip your phone around one time so we can see the man, the myth, the legend of Cumberland Mine RR!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Brad, I do appreciate your watching and your comments. Will do some experimenting on flipping, see if I can do it respectably, but I am shy.... and sure don't look like Britney Spears or Tom Hanks...LOL

[@BlueAgaveStudios]

Thanks Bud I automated the Unit plant in Atchison in the nineties, some great people. We did the press automation and annealing ovens. Couldn't believe the volume of production, I had to switch over the old system to the new controls virtually without shutting the lines down. You never saw anybody so relieved to see that press line not missing a beat as there would have been a bunch of workers taking a long break! Also got the best chicken wing recipe this side of KC at the sports bar by the river!

[@ccrx6700]

Now that's pretty cool to find out Alan. Good for you and thanks for sharing with us. We do appreciate your writing in and for watching the video today my friend.

[@beardedswordsman2901]

I used to work there. In the 3 years I worked there it went from ok to horrible. The press that you probably automated was re done after their last huge fire (they had 3 in less than a year) it never made the production it used to at least when I was there. They added a safelock line which is still there as far as I know but they had a e clip line which has now been torn out because the machine they bought from Germany was junk and made to be in a clean room but yeah they've been sold twice first to amsted then later to progress rail and that's the straw that broke the camel's back. That place slowly went downhill by bad management and never hired from within to do anything and just fell apart.

[@steelem422]

You have such great information I am learning something new almost every week thanks for taking the time

[@capttom7772]

AGREED ! This information should be made "MANDATORY" viewing for all up and coming apprentices on the RAILROAD !

[@ccrx6700]

Golly, Thank You, I'm am very grateful for excellent viewers like yourself! Really do appreciate your watching and your comments sir

[@ccrx6700]

Captain, thank you. I've gotten some comments from other railroaders, one was from a Canadian National Roadmaster who told me he uses these videos as training vids for his new hires. I was totally amazed and humbled by that, it just boggles me to no end. I started doing these as something fun to show some of my friends. KZbin has taken some of these and gone nuts with them. It really is unbelievable to me. But without great folks like you watching they wouldn't be worth a plug nickel

[@ronhelman3985]

Great video!!!! Always wanted to work on the railroad but God had a different idea!!!! Really enjoy your videos, thank you for sharing!!!!

[@ccrx6700]

You are welcome Ron, understand, got to follow where the Big Guy leads, always better off that way. I do appreciate your watching

[@briandunn1610]

Trains Magazine has a nice article about you Railroad this month.

[@ccrx6700]

Brian, that was a really good article. here's a link to a video I made about it if you would like to watch; kzbin.info/www/bejne/hqLVZ5SupdNlfqc

[@stevedrake2031]

I am so impressed by your enthusiasm for your job and life in general. All your commentors can see and hear it in your videos. The world of 'railroadin' is very interesting. Most of us just see a train go by without much thought about the hidden world of 'railroadin'. Thanks so much🤗

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Steve for the heartfelt comment, I very much have appreciated it. I am lucky to have a great job and a lot of great folks like you who write in with wonderful comments

[@natwooding9394]

As a Wooding, I was interested to see that someone in the family was involved in railroading. I looked up the anchor wrench and the site on which I landed listed it for 1052.27 plus some addons. Thanks for explaining the purpose of anchors. I've seen them on ballast but never knew their function.

[@ccrx6700]

Your very welcome Nat, so glad to hear your enjoyed the video. We certainly appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

[@marktaylor9975]

Those high efficiency anchors, lot are still on the old C&NW in NW Wisconsin. Right on man, well thought out.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Mark, glad you enjoyed the show sir

[@patricklarkin9666]

Love your videos! I had worked in a demolition/recycle yard in proviso Illinois. Watching your videos brings back memories!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Patrick, really glad you liked it. Nice to have old memories like that. So many wonderful folks like yourself write in saying these bring back the memories. Wish I could meet everyone and listen to their stories, that would be really neat. Do appreciate your watching

[@Slide164]

I worked for CN on a section gang in the mid 80s. All manual. Spike pulling, tie pulling, Spiking number one and 2 ties, tamping with shovels and etc. Wrenching angle bars etc. Hard work. Best shape of my life.

[@dd1862]

I use to find those all the time when I was a kid laying alongside the C&NW (Now UP) tracks behind my house. My dad told me what they were, but now I've learned how they work...Thanks!

[@ccrx6700]

You are welcome, glad you enjoyed. Love the old C & NW logo!!! It's so colorful and nice to look at

[@GDLarcade]

Very informative video, Dave! Finally, after 45 years or so, I know what my brother dropped on my head while I was trying to get into our treehouse at home! I'm glad it has a real and important use other than giving me a headache. I grew up in a small town where a train would stop a couple of times a week to load grain, which meant the rest of the week no one was around. So of course we kids would explore and see what we could find. One of the things we found was a pretty heavy piece of metal that looked a lot like the rail anchor you said you don't like except it had no channel. I just did a google search and the closest to what I could remember is a rail anchor with "FR50" stamped on it. Anyway, of course we absconded with the obviously used and discarded stuff and it ended up at the treehouse. Evidently my brother didn't want me up there that day so he dropped one on me, haha. Nailed me right on the forehead. Somehow there was no blood. As far as I know, there was no permanent damage to me or the rail anchor. Another fun thing was they had this used perforated steel strapping laying around so we would take about a 3 inch piece of that and fold it in half, which made for a great whistle, really high pitched. Of course we washed them first. I don't how many we had confiscated by teachers. They hated them. Ah, the dumb things people do when they are kids. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way and hope you survive.

[@ccrx6700]

Thanks for sharing the really cool story GDL, I liked it. Sure glad that anchor that hit you didn't break....LOL Reminds me of the 3 Stooges when they ran a saw across the top of Curly's head and all the teeth were ruined....:-) But at least I now know a new use for rail anchors!!! Wow how neat is that a kid living near a rail yard, I bet you guys had a blast exploring back then. Appreciate your checking out the video and writing in my friend. May you have a most blessed day and next time you go near a tree house, consider wearing a hard hat, safety first..... :-)

[@stlfomoco]

I had no clue what the purpose of these were for Makes perfect sense now. I am really enjoying your videos and I am learning something new every time I view one. Thanks again for sharing your time and knowledge with us.

[@ccrx6700]

Mark, thank you appreciate your nice comment and for watching

[@Birdsfly11]

Thanks for the education on track hardware ccrx much appreciated. I travel back to my childhood home an hour and 40 minutes to walk the tracks once in awhile and watch trains roll on by. Yes you do see a lot of hardware littering the railways. Boy if I could haul all that steel out I'd make a killing at the scrap yard lol but we know its CSX property. I took diesel mechanics back in high school hoping to get a job on the railroad but life took me in another direction. Still love the railroad though and enjoy yours and other youtubers dedication to educating us wanna bees lol. Stay safe and God bless!

[@arindamdas1075]

Very helpful video for Civil Engineering students to get practical knowledge 😊 thank you brother ❤

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you for the nice comment Arindam, glad you enjoyed it. Appreciate very much your taking the time to write in and to check out the rail anchor video my friend.

[@lawrenwimberly7311]

those anchors make great knives, as do the rails... I live 20 feet from the railway... the RR guys are in a building 3 blocks away, and have been good to me... they throw me some scraps, and I make them knives...

[@ccrx6700]

That's pretty cool! I've heard that some kinds of old RR materials do make really good knives, there even a couple vid on tube about that. Appreciate your watching and hope you enjoyed

[@lawrenwimberly7311]

@@ccrx6700 Grandpa was a railroad man... he's still remembered in these parts

[@Number-oo8xq]

Yes they do, I've seen some awesome pieces and people will make I quess what you would call art. I like to walk the track around here I find some really cool brackets and spikes and different things, is it theft or stealing to take that stuff? Or can they pick them up and reuses them?

[@mikeznel6048]

Back in the day it was high grade steel. Now its good but not nearly as good as it used to be.

[@s0nnyburnett]

Make sense since it's some kind of spring steel.

[@billsmith3195]

Once again. A good one Dave. Have fun out there.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Bill, pleased that you liked it.

[@jonathanhasnip3700]

I'm also from the UK and it is fascinating to see the different methods and equipment of track maintenance, I've often helped with the track on the Tanfield Railway, so a very big thank you for your all your videos I absolutely love watching them, they are very educational and interesting, thanks again Sir 👍👌

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Jason and we do appreciate your tuning in and checking out the show today my friend and glad to hear you are enjoying. I too love learning about what other countries are doing,, always something new to learn.

[@bart2546]

Thank you for the videos! They're always interesting and entertaining but even more so they're informative! I appreciate you sharing your vast amount of knowledge.

[@ccrx6700]

Brandon, thank you very much for the nice comment. I do also appreciate your watching sir along with your very nice comment

[@sergioulloa524]

I have learned a lot from your vids, I always wanted to work for a railroad co. but destiny took me to another career. Still enjoy the rail road system. Howdy from Texas.

[@ccrx6700]

Sergio, thank you glad you are enjoying. Appreciate the nice comment 😊

[@leslane4421]

Love learning something new every time I watch one of your videos.

[@ccrx6700]

Les, thank you, really glad you like these and I do appreciate your viewing them, it's a blessing and honor to me to be able to share a part of railroading with you and the other viewers

[@PDLM1221]

Thank you! My Fathers , Father my Grandfather and uncles all worked for the railroad ( Erie Lackawanna) and I wish I had the chance to meet them , they all pasted away before I could meet them . My uncle on my Mom’s side worked for CSX . I find railroading fascinating thanks for the stories and videos of why and how things are done ! I Like. A guy who loves what their doing!

[@thomasdupee1440]

I am old enough to have seen the Yardley, Stead and Ericson anchors in service on main lines in North Central Ohio. When I worked a summer job on a tie gang way back in my distant youth, the only "creeper wrenches" that we had were those heavy bars shown at 7:08 .... If you used those heavy bars correctly, they worked well, but the new anchor installers utilize mechanical leverage which is far superior. Back in the bad-old-days when the eastern railroads were bleeding customers and cash, the NYC through my hometown was suffering from deferred maintenance. The ties were badly spike-killed and all of the rail anchors were so worn as to be ineffective. The double track was TCS and trains ran in both directions on both tracks by signal indication. Most movements tended to move on the right-hand track, but whenever a train ran the opposite direction, the (jointed 127 lb.) rail would move 2 to 3 inches. Yikes!

[@ccrx6700]

Very interesting comment Thomas, thank you for sharing with us. You gotta be a strong young guy to carry one of those old wrenches around all day. When they bring a tie gang in here, the last guy is one who is walking behind everything and putting anchors on with a wrench. I've heard some railroads have a machine that installs the drive ons, but don't know if it can do the wrench ons? Since you were around the NYC, were you ever around the Dudley Rail they sometimes used? I'm looking for more info on Dudley. Appreciate your watching and your comments sir.

[@thomasdupee1440]

@@ccrx6700 I'm sorry. No experience with Dudley. And yes, CSX had a machine that could install spring anchors. They are out there!

[@ccrx6700]

@@thomasdupee1440 okay thanks. Sure would like to see that anchor putter onner in live action!

[@johnniewelbornjr.8940]

Very interesting... I, too, wondered for years what these were for. It wasn't until I was around the jointed rail, especially the old ICG line that was our interchange connection to CSX in Hopkinsville, KY, that I better understood the purpose behind these anchors. This is the first time I've seen the tools, though... The original looks like a good way to have a long day. lol I don't blame you for directing it to a better home... It reminds me of using a ratchet bar on snap binders on a truck (I don't even keep such binders around these days). Not that it has much to do with the anchor subject, you mentioned the expansion and contraction along with the rail creep and it reminds me of a summer of intense heat when our rail expansion was sufficient to push rails and ties both a good three or four feet out of alignment (hanging out over the edge of the roadbed)... I wish I had gotten a copy of the photo hanging in our office at the engine house. lol The contract maintenance crew out of Wheeling hadn't left enough expansion space or some such, as I recall. Catching up on some of these vids while in the region. I hauled a new wind generator main shaft to the Stony Creek wind farm and am waiting at a Somerset motel for the crew on site to finish up so I can reload the old one for rebuild in Sioux Falls. You could've scheduled better crane operating weather for the region, ya know? lol 😆

[@ccrx6700]

Cool comment Johnnie! Somerset only a few hours away, too bad you couldn't make it by this way. Wow 3 to 4 feet out of whack, that sure must have been a sight! Probably needed to cut some rail out to get that back together. Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for watching

[@collector7993]

28 pound sledge hammer, one shovel, spacing sleepers, adjusting clips all part of my job in the 80s right up to 2000. Qld Rail.

[@ccrx6700]

A real gandy dancer at work your were collector. Hard work even for a young man. Thanks so much for checking out the video and writing in my friend.

[@SmallMartingale]

Awesome, thanks for making these great videos for us. Super interesting stuff!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you David, was fun. Really glad you enjoyed watching, do appreciate your watching sir

[@ThePaulv12]

"Don't anchor one side and not the other," like as if we're maintaining a railroad. I for one wouldn't know where to begin if I had a job as a laborer helping you, though I would learn as I'm a qualified tradesman. Anyhow as usual this was a fantastic vid - at least the forth of yours I've watched today.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you, really glad you are enjoying watching the home movies 🎥

[@steveshoemaker6347]

That is called a compound anchor wrench.....That is why it is easier to use....Thanks my friend.....!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Steve, glad you enjoyed

[@alainacollom1348]

Thanks for the explanation Dave. Love your videos.

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Alaina and we are pleased to hear you are enjoying the home movies my friend.

[@PRRGG1]

Good stuff Dave! I looked up Woodings and it appears they made all sorts of tools for industrial application back in the day. Thanks for making these videos. Steve

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Steve, you got better search skills than me, i couldnt find much on them. Post a link if you,d like

[@joshbenton4080]

Those "C.R.S" anti-creepers shown in one of the drawings looks like non adjustable turnout rail braces that are used in "my neck of the woods". These appeared to be used when the nearby rail line near me still had 100 pound "stick rail" before the mid 1990s. Do any of the switches / turnouts on your railroad have turnout rail braces? I happen to know a lot about turnouts because I'm into model railroading, have been 30+years actually. I've even came within damn near inches of working for the New York City Transit Authority / MTA as a track man. I 've even hand built some #6 turnouts for my "three rail" trains from scratch, using code 205 nickel silver "G scale" rail with real wooden switch ties and spikes and all. Very time consuming though and a little bit of a pain in the ass! But it is worth it, I'm actually very satisfied with the results of hand building tracks for my Lionel trains. I can even run these outdoors if I wanted to.

[@ccrx6700]

Josh, we do have adjustable and rigid braces on our switches. Really awesome you can build those! I'm impressed, that certainly would make a man feel pretty good about himself, excellent sir!

[@magnuscharette1132]

Wow this is awesome! I’ve got to walk the rails by my place and take a look at what types of anchors they have 😂

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed the show, we do appreciate your viewing 👍

[@allanfields2987]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge. Your effort is appreciated.

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome glad you enjoyed 👍

[@jjsgarage3634]

Such great info! Now I want to work for a railroad!

[@purplealice]

I knew a blacksmith who lived in the FInger Lakes area of New York State. He used to like to wander along the railroad tracks, picking up spikes and other random bits of steel. He found a few of those anchors, and didn't really know what they were for - but they were an interesting shape, and could be forged into different things.

[@ccrx6700]

Well now you can tell him what they were! Appreciate your writing in and for watching Ace Lightning. And also I've had many metal workers write in several times on the stuff they make out of RR materials, it's some pretty good steel.

[@purplealice]

@@ccrx6700 He used to be on KZbin, Chandler Dickinson - I hope he's okay. He used old spikes to make knives to sell at ren faires. He lived right near some railroad tracks, and once he found a bucket full of spikes abandoned in the weeds.

[@malcolmmarzo2461]

In making my videos about the Central Pacific Railroad I have come across rail hardware from the nineteenth century. They didn't use rail anchors on that 40 pound rail. They did use tie plates that are small and thin compared to current ones. They have an underside that is corrugated with sharp ridges that bite into the tie. Perhaps an 1880's method of anchoring.

[@ccrx6700]

Some tie plates were made with those ridges and yes because they were believed to help increase grip, I'm not sure if some are still made like that or not. They would be valuable on the lighter rail like you mention using the single should tie plates. Anchors are made according to the size rail, but I'm not informed enough to know all the sizes, gonna have to check that out.

[@stretchlimo7275]

Wow I knew nothing about rail anchors or what they did, learn something new everyday! The track creep all makes sense, weather conditions, dynamic forces of the train, never really considered what that does to the rail linearly. Excellent video as always my friend, keep em coming👍🏼😎

[@ccrx6700]

You are certainly welcome. I'm really happy that you are liking them and I do appreciate your watching and your comments. Wonder if Binford makes a rail anchor, if so it's probably called the Binford 6100...lol

[@eugenetswong]

Thanks again for sharing all your knowledge.

[@ccrx6700]

You are very welcome Eugene. Thank you for stopping by and watching my friend.

[@gutterguru7158]

Great video Dave. You are building a loyal following. Anchors are very important. At Canadian National we box anchors 200 ft each way of road crossing and 200 ft each way of frogs. Keep up the good work. We service BP Amoco here in Indiana found 100# with ericson anchors rusted on. Had a hard time getting them off

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you! Forgot to mention we also do the bridge approaches heavy and the turnouts. That had to be a neat find on those old anchors, hope you kept some for memorabilia. What do you think of the CP /KCS merger?

[@gutterguru7158]

@@ccrx6700 I’m not to sure what to think of the merger between CP and KCS other than it makes sense for investors. What’s your opinion on the merger?

[@ccrx6700]

@@gutterguru7158 surely has some advantages, but I think you hit the nail on the head being a good bit about the investors, we'll see is STB approves it

[@abbeyjane1306]

Thanks for the excellent video. I see those pieces in New Brighton PA...now I know what they are for.

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome, glad you enjoyed and thank you for watching

[@cowbdave99]

45 years of walking the tracks always wondered what they did. Never knew about creep makes total since.

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed the video my friend. Thanks for watching.

[@MikeL-vu7jo]

They say if you love what you do you'll never work a day in you life and it sure looks like that's how your putting in your days thanks .

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Mike for the very nice comment. Railroading is the central preoccupation of my life, yes sir. I do love doing it. Very much appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

[@dennisb-trains23]

Thats some cool information. The unseen parts of the railroad 👍👍

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Dennis, glad you enjoyed

[@sc1784]

Thanks for solving that mystery. My office is a few yards from a Norfolk Southern mainline and siding that runs through East Memphis (best office location I have ever had), and I had wondered what those were and why they were on the tracks. The rail they use is ribbon rail so those anchors are on every tie. Amazing the amount of work and components that go into railroad track.

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome, very glad to hear you enjoyed and we do appreciate your watching

[@valeriebassett3107]

Thank you for sharing this great video. I will add this to my educational file on trains. I look forward to your next video.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Valerie, really do appreciate your watching and your very nice comments. glad you are enjoying the show. Stay tuned, there's more to come

[@briankemp5206]

Great lesson on rail anchor!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Brian, really glad you are liking these, I do appreciate your watching sir and for your nice comments you always send me., it means a lot to me, really does.

[@andrewavvenire116]

There it is! That's rail roading indeed!! I never got involved in it, always loved it. Life took my a few different other directions instead. Love the videos though

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Andrew, really glad you are enjoying the show sir. Understand about how life directions go, but I'm sure what you did was important and you made a difference in what you did. Appreciate your watching

[@michaelsmodelrailroading7665]

Thanks for another informative video.

[@ccrx6700]

You're welcome Michael, glad you enjoyed it, thank you very much for watching, I do appreciate that and for your comments sir

[@davidperry970]

Sted type was used on the Southern line behind my childhood home.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you for the nice comment David. We really appreciate your taking the time to pay us a visit and write in my friend.

[@russelltrupia4479]

Great info.and demo very interesting thanks

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Russell, really glad you liked it, appreciate your watching

[@raymondsprengelmeyer1278]

I have always wondered what those things were too, thank you for explaining, I really enjoy your videos!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Raymond, glad you liked the home movie

[@steve83333]

You're a first class guy. Been watching all your videos

[@ccrx6700]

Well thank you Stephen, really appreciate your nice comment and very glad to hear you are enjoying sir

[@rwheatley0206]

Thank you for this info. It is so interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you very much Crime Alley Comics for the very kind words. We do appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

[@lindseysturkie2205]

I figured the days of manual labor on railroad construction and maintenance were over and everything was automated what with the trucks zipping up and down the line and those peculiar looking maintenance vehicles. My deepest apologies and profound respect to you sir.

[@ccrx6700]

There sure is a lot of machines that do it faster, but still not every RR can afford to have all those machines, such as us, so hello more hand work. Thanks Lindsey for watching

[@csxchicagoline5523]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome, I appreciate your saying so and for watching

[@catman7153]

Another interesting and informative video! Thanks!

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you very much, really glad you liked it, was fun making it. Appreciate your watching

[@290wayne]

Interesting. Thanks Dave

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Wayne, glad you liked the entertainment tonight.

[@shirleyharrington-moore9657]

These remind me of clamps/clips we used to hold barbed wire to steel t-posts.

[@ccrx6700]

Interesting Shirley. Barbed wire went out the window here in Greene County many years ago when Kiwi Fencing came in. Guy from New Zealand owned it and he introduced high tensile fencing, the sheep farmers here loved it. His company was about 10 minutes from my house. John Wall was his name. US Steel made the wire for the fencing.

[@thefutureisretirement]

Thanks so much Dave for this very informative Video I have seen a Huge Pile of these at the Freight Train Yard here that I walk over to most every Morning. I had no Idea what they were for. Now I do. Very Interesting.

[@ccrx6700]

You are certainly welcome, they also make good paper weights The Future Is Retirement.....:-) Thanks so much for stopping by to check out the track anchor show my friend.