NS Track & Surface Team 2 surfacing a turnout in Harrisburg NC

RailFanning With Fasha - I had a half-day from work and was headed home and found Norfolk Southern Track & Surface Team 2 surfacing a turnout in Harrisburg (364) North of Charlotte NC between HAYDOCK (360.1) & JUNKER (372.2). Please click "LIKE" Button!!

[@QUIX4U]

52 people ? You have to be kidding, as even back in the day (over here in New Zealand) - on the NZR during my time with them in the 1970's - we only ever had a 17 man gang - (when it was at full strength - seldom was full strength), and we either used an old road services work bus to get to the closest station, or travelled the entire way to the jobs on open top B&S powered 2, 3, 4, or 6 man motor trolley's and towed all our (portable) track gear - as well as sleepers (50 max per trailer, and lengths of rail across / on flat-top trailers as well. Often tying two or three motor trollies together at the head, and towing two or three single trailers, plus some rail across a pair of trailers too.. not an easy option to cross a train - but when we had long hauls like that - we got a station entry key (woods key) to open the trackside turnouts, and enter the loop of small stations along the way. If just on a trolley with one trailer, it was tip the gear off, alongside the track & off-track the trolley & flat-top at a stand. Hard work, but we never had all the machinery and way too many men you have there, we simply did it slow & took a long time. (manually moving sleepers and rail into position). 1:34 "spike pullers" ? Ever heard of the claw on the end of a crow-bar, as have "pulled" many a dog-spike with a crowbar - plus the goose-neck (double sprung steel) hardwood spikes we had to pull with a special 3 pronged heavy head puller bar - which we 'pushed into the spikes from the L or the R depending on which way they "aligned" with the rail - as the outer leg would go over the goose-neck "bill end' and the middle finger would go UNDER the neck hoop withdrawing the sprung spikes by "bouncing" one or two men at the end of the long handles. We also - preferred to use more and better SCREW spikes, (the old original turnout screw-bolts had a triangular nut underneath that seldom if ever loosened when trying to remove the screw-bolt, as the sleeper that was near rotten would crumble around those nuts - leaving us with the only option for them, being a heavy duty cold chisel hit with a 10 LB sledge hammer, (to snap off the bolt heads) and then driving the snapped off bolt shaft - down into the track bed with a 3/4" diameter drift (also hammered with that 10LB sledge hammer. We always dug the ballast out, beside any sleepers needing to be replaced, so that we could knock them sideways into the hole, before hand pulling the sleepers out, and sliding a new sleeper in the same way - then lifted the rails with track-jacks to allow us to re-position the new sleepers on the old sleeper's bed. Dropping the rail down onto the sleepers, and if NOT drilled out, then we ONLY did - hand held drilling (with a long auger) using either a 7/16" bit, (for dog spikes) or a 9/16" auger bit, for screw spikes. Then we either used long head hammers (to hammer dogs beside & below the rail head), or we turned down the screw spikes - with a big T bar (with the screw head socket on it) - or sometimes had the delight of power driving them in, with a hydraulic PROLINE machine (a motorized hydraulic pump) and pulled that along by it's twin 3/4" hoses fitted to the power head, that we held (by hand) as we used it between our legs, and that pulse-banged the screws in with a hammer function of the head, as the machine turned the screws in. SLOW AS, noisy too - and really hard on the body - but we did it as there wasn't any fancy (multiple track machines) way We had none of those (38) fancy self-driven machines to do all the hard work for us, and thus - did it all by hand without needing half the USA population either - that you need there, to drive all that gear. A good well oiled 6 man (KIWI) NZR way & works track gang team, could replace all the sleepers in a turnout and re-tighten the rail down, hand (spade) packing the ballast underneath - and finish in a single 8hr day. We could (with about 6 - 8 men) usually do about 1/4 to 1/2 a mile of open track maintenance work, even if needing to be replacing the odd sleeper along the way - as we re-gauged a section. NOTE: Every piece of our NZR track maintenance gear (that we used every day) HAD to be light enough, to be off-tracked by at most four men, to allow us to work around the timetables of the normal daily trains Not any of this we hold the section and MUST go to a siding, to cross trains, oh hell no, we ONLY had the pleasure of using a couple of track DETS to warn the trains of our whereabouts, and us, of their approach, to get all the gear OFF (and onto the shoulder of the track corridor) - at our worksite.

[@tommyboy71]

Sure do miss those days working the Milwaukee Road. All we had was a Tie Machine, Tamper, and Wire liner. Everything else by hand.

[@alanblasczyk1779]

That was seriously interesting. very good to see what goes into keeping this infastructure up & running.

[@tuboring]

Thanks for taking the time to take all the video. Not to mention the dedication, all the time it takes editing, titling, and making this so interesting.

[@FNGFASHA]

+Tuba Ing Ty for the kind word and watching the video!!!!

[@CuthbertNibbles]

17:42 It is amazing how incredible violent and precise this process is.

[@gp3yt]

Awesome action, those old ties were TIRED. On a side note - the horn signal @19:11 sounded like the horn from the old James Brolin horror movie; "TheCar" - great share bud!

[@sonnyozeretnyjr5249]

I just watched your video. Nice to catch all the action. It's cool watching all the different machines performing there tasks. Nicely done.

[@cabolick]

I built that SLM machine, the magnet wheel machine, in Charlotte last year. Most of those machines are either rebuilt / overhauled or built new on site.

[@FNGFASHA]

Thats cool! I enjoyed watching how each machine did its job and all of them together made quick work of that track.

[@rickmunton2112]

I worked there from 1986 till 2009 when I retired. Great people.

[@FNGFASHA]

That's cool!! I enjoyed hanging out with the guys that day. Sorry for the slow reply. The whole landscape of this area has changed.....

[@royniemann4190]

This is the first video I Have Seen that actually has RR people talking and explaining things. Very nicely edited video.

[@MrDasher01]

What an awesome video!! I have always wondered what these little units did and I'm always intrigued when I see them. When you see them in action, they are marvelous.

[@dannycoker6439]

Edmund Thoroughgood ET would like to see a surfaceing gang in action.

[@FNGFASHA]

Another of my favorite videos. Kind of long, but lots of interaction with NS employees.

[@FNGFASHA]

Phil Bruce Thats crazy! This location is near my home. Im a people person. I walked up, asked where the foreman was, told him I would love to video what they were doing, he said fine. Before I knew it, crewman were walking over and talking with me.

[@FNGFASHA]

Thanks for watching and the kind words.

[@general5104]

KEWL...thanks so much for taking the time to get this wonderous footage!!! Bless you sir!!!

[@MrCsxtrain]

They sure do love blowing those horns!!

[@Stache987]

I caught the last sentence.. already had a dip of Copenhagen in. And saw the worker put a double pull in himself.

[@emildekoven4872]

Spiked timber roadbeds are so 'old-fashioned' and require half a battalion of people to accomplish very little....when it's time to "refresh" the ballast, swap out rails, etc.

[@littleblitz8239]

The UP northwest line runs past my home, literly 200 ft. from my door. I've seen this done live, it's pretty neat. wish I had a camera to film it but don't know what brand to get or what type.

[@jfreelan1964]

Wish I could catch stuff like that here in Fayetteville. Same for Aberdeen & Rockfish RR over the last year when they have been replacing there 85lb rail with 115-136lb rail.

[@gunsaway1]

That siding now gone and is getting the new second track installed.

[@rrich52806]

amazing,, there are some like these parked on an off track at CP -Nagant yard Davenport Ia wondered what they were.

[@jayjackson6967]

Good jobs keep up the good work.

[@gearshifterg9756]

Typical question from someone who is from North Carolina....."Does the magnet pull the spikes out of the ground?" I 'bout fell outta my chair!!!!!

[@TheFeuillesMortes]

Great Video Sir!

[@phamhanh1459]

TheFeuilles Mortes ông

[@markinocencio7394]

i like the first machine i saw wonder what the brand is the spike magnet

[@colliecandle]

I notice the lack of fluorescent 'safety' wear ! Over here, there would be a conference with everyone gathered around and having to sign forms for pc bullshit. Glad to see rail workers do a job where common sense and safe working doesn't involve all the nonsense we have here.

[@FNGFASHA]

True

[@FNGFASHA]

Phil Bruce Very rarely do I hear of any of them getting hurt.

[@jfreelan1964]

I would like to give a definitive answer on that one. Some time soon, I hope. How busy is that diamond under the over pass in Charlotte?

[@Bobrogers99]

Very interesting! It takes quite a few specialized machines (and perhaps an oversized crew) to accomplish this task. More modern rail-laying techniques and materials would, in the long run, make this complex process unnecessary, but that would require a big investment, and railroads don't get much Federal support.

[@normanmcgill9532]

Hi Fasha. You all still doing UP in HO? Great video. Thanks for posting.

[@FNGFASHA]

I have backed away from the modeling for a little while, it was taking up too much of my time. Thanks for watching the video!!!

[@haroldwilkes6608]

Imagine the crew size 70 years ago...

[@FNGFASHA]

Hi Sir! How have you been? Ever going to get back up this way?

[@ericchapman6251]

Isn't this location near where the Schnabel car derailed several years ago?

[@FNGFASHA]

Eric Chapman real close, maybe 2, 2.5 miles north of there

[@JawTooth]

How can there be 7 dislikes? This is an interesting video. They sure do blow their horns a lot.

[@FNGFASHA]

+Jaw Tooth thanks for viewing and liking the video !

[@JawTooth]

I have returned! lol

[@ljones121]

Active work zone have too

[@raymondcote6669]

Why did you move just as a tie was being inserted?

[@FNGFASHA]

Raymond Cote i think, and it has been awhile, one of the foreman that allowed me to video, indicated I was too close.

[@jestnessj3574]

All this technology but the u.s can't get high speed rail.

[@AndrewAMartin]

@PublicScoolFTW Not entirely true - Amtrak is profitable in the Northeast Corridor, and carries a considerable amount of passenger traffic. And passenger service was never a big moneymaker, it was just a requirement that they provide it in exchange for basically getting land for free.

[@raincoast2396]

Think some of those guys had best bring smaller lunch boxes to work!

[@bob39434]

All the big guys bid machines. If they had to walk and swing 16 pound spike mauls, throw tie plates, hand tamp crossties, etc as a track laborer, most of them couldn't hack it

[@lawrencegreer892]

Takes more people to do it this way than in the old days when it wa s done by "gandy dancers".

[@EveOnlineRanger002]

cool

[@joesmoe4022]

Lmao and I thought we had junk at CP.

[@franciscomontoya383]

una imagen vale mas que mil palabras ACCION

[@markthompsoncpa]

Did it show 52 men working on this, I saw a Swedish or Asian video doing everything with just automated equipment

[@FNGFASHA]

Mark Camaro there was a bunch of them

[@FNGFASHA]

Cool! Great! Very and going away in a year or so. NCDOT will tunnel the CSX line under the NS so no one has to wait on the other and will add additional Amtrak service. Its hard for me to get away from work during the week unless its a holiday. Let me know when your coming and I will see what I can do. Weekend traffic is hit of miss, you just never know. But there is always something :-)

[@Rekomeister]

They are all union , right ?

[@bob39434]

Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employees.

[@knightd12]

I can`t hear a thing.

[@suzannewilde4571]

What do they do with the old ties?

[@FNGFASHA]

Once they have enough of them bailed up, they set them off and a contractor comes by and pics them up. From there, Im not sure. Thanks for the view :-)

[@TmaxRadio1]

FNGFASHA Productions They are shredded and used to make steam to power turbines which gives electricity. The recycled materials metal wise are probably part of your new car.

[@FNGFASHA]

Tmax Weather Center Thanks for the info Tmax :-)

[@TmaxRadio1]

FNGFASHA Productions you're welcome

[@ArtR0001]

+Suzanne Wilde We used to use them for landscaping back about 40 years ago.

[@palmcoast26]

wood ties are old...use concrete

[@donharrus9994]

Why do all ns machine looks like a pos compared to csx

[@jacquesbaltazard9907]

beaucoup de bon à rien , moi j'ai vue du monde à rien faire 🛴🛴🛴🛴🚩🚩🚩🍗🥩🥩🥩🥩🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺🍺

[@anonnomus6070]

Typical out of ten workers 1 does the work, and 9 watch and get paid.

[@OOpSjm]

seems so inefficient

[@FNGFASHA]

They do it right!

[@pearlyhumbucker9065]

@@FNGFASHA ??? Less than 10 people. One sleeper every 2 min. kzbin.info/www/bejne/Zn7bc5eOlrimfNU kzbin.info/www/bejne/noSon2x5jLCqqKc

[@ragnarsbrother6049]

lot of standing around

[@gregorywilliams6771]

Ragnars Brother

[@davefuller9087]

Lol outdated machines no hi viz.

[@jimlove8144]

Happy bunch of guys off to work. No women thank God!