Track work. we bought an abandoned railroad.

[@kevinkennedy7702]

You guys are doing a lot more work than most of the viewers who complain about track work being halted in winter.

[@KG-xt4oq]

Good call on shutting it down. Nothing to gain trying to do something today that's nearly impossible if it can be done much easier by waiting a bit. Work smarter, not harder...

[@ericnilson4900]

Firm believer Smarter not Harder.

[@TheMilwaukieDan]

True…. However it makes really interesting ‘content’ that we armchair rail Roaders tune in for.

[@georgecarter838]

When I started railroading back in the mid 80's, that was my first introduction to track work. After digging out ties, putting in new ones, and spiking them as well as shoveling ballast and tamping them with hand tools, it gave me a great appreciation for the invention of automated track equipment...

[@sturnie1]

Most days it was bad others were worse lol. I used to run communications cables and conduits between the rails 4-5 feet below the ties. Sometimes it took 2 days to complete the job with 5 guys

[@mr7badass]

I always look at old/abandoned rail beds. Almost everyday. I have so much appreciation for what the folks went through in the late 1800’s early1900’s. It breaks my heart to see all that work going to nature, or worse yet, people wrecking it.

[@davidcoon4281]

I have done track work in spring, summer and fall but not in the winter. The museum I volunteer at we only did this when it was above 50 degrees. I am in Western New York where we have 17 inches of snow on the ground.

[@grosseileracingteam]

No matter what the job is, a supervisor will always say "that should only take you a few minutes".

[@rickkiefer5923]

Having worked in the large electric motor repair business, (yes I have repaired my fair share of traction motors) the statement made by supervisors in almost every job we went out on is, " All you got to do is... and it shouldn't take any longer than..." neither statement is a true statement because either they never actually assessed the job or took the customer at their word and bid the job with to few hours hoping we would get in get out.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

Changing out a standard gauge tie by hand in the winter? If it's that urgent, gauge bar it and call it good till spring. I don't even change ties on my 7-1/4" gauge farm railroad in the winter unless it keeps me from running. My quarter is on no -and I'm already on snow removal duty. Keep making videos. I've been watching from the first one.

[@petercruikshank2618]

I like the ying and yang between the MBRR and the ETR. No matter what the scale.... similar adventures with two birds of a feather.

[@MillBrookRailroad]

@@petercruikshank2618 The ETR is way more professional than the MLBK. My first railroad experience was at a transload on an industrial spur with three tracks and two crossings to flag. We ran paper in and empties out with a Farmall tractor with a knuckle coupler on the 3-point hitch. We had to hand brake 70 ton loads down a short 2-3% grade into the loading dock. I learned a lot in a short time and gained an appreciation for the shortest of shortlines.

[@mark351]

Graham, talk some sense into your dad when he wants to do things like this. Replace a frozen into the ground tie? No dad let's do it in the spring!

[@christophernorman684]

lol

[@chanwittwer2736]

Guys, I appreciate that you want to show everyone that work can be done outside, but it's not safe when it's cold, snowy and icy. Please wait to do this hard work when its warmer and sunny enough to see.

[@OldIronVideo]

Hay its me from the yard, it was nice to meet you today I will be uploading my pics from the yard soon.

[@HolyMackinaw]

I love this intro, no music, all work!!! I love your style, all work, true blue collar approach with a get it done attitude please post daily. Viewing from Hamilton Ontario, CP Kinnear rail yard

[@jtunnel]

Sydney Steel Corporation (SYSCO) of Nova Scotia, SYSCO went out of business in 2001 or so. "VT" is vacuum treated, the steel is poured from the ladle into the ingot mold under a vacuum to remove excess oxygen which can cause inclusions in the steel.

[@rickkiefer5923]

I worked for a RR museum, full time employee, we utilized community service workers to do the cleanup and work around the site. The museum had, based on appearances compared to yours about the same amount of trackage. Of course it wasn't enough for the amount of equipment we had and had coming. So, from spring, after ground dried out some until fall, we did all kinds of work around the grounds that included replacing ties and laying rail. We even built a switch from scratch, generously provided by NS. and laid something close to 500 feet of rail, by hand. The removal of bad ties was on going, and we at first removed every 5 ties to get the track aligned and ballasted at those points. We did do some hand work like you were trying to demonstrate, but for the most part the ties were yanked and replaced by a skid loader, work smarter not harder right? After being placed, the rest, ballast, alignment spiking, etc. was done by hand. Some of those guys came away with skills they didn't know were still being used. Keep up the excellent videos, I enjoy them very much.

[@Daddymouse-ny9cz]

Sooooo happy to see another video, but PLEASE stay where its warmer. We can wait for track work..... there are lots of other things to show us when you can. Take care of yourselves!'

[@huntsbychainsaw5986]

I've been pushing snow all week lol. Push, pile, load, repeat. Doing work like that with snow and frozen ground usually involves tiger torches, propane heaters and ground thaw equipment.

[@RobertWilliams-mk8pl]

You're the coolest insane guy on the internet. How do you keep warm being out of your mind. One word for you "CPR"

[@originalm3233]

*When you purchased these rails, did the railroad tell you when their last customer was active? The railroad never stored cars here (I assume) so the last time these tracks were in use would have to align with when their last customer was active. What year was that? I think more history about this stretch of track would be interesting. Thanks*

[@netdog713]

next auction you bid on, try and see if you can find one of those Boring Co, flamethrowers

[@GP9railfan]

VT Vacuum Treated. Sydney Rail is out of Nova Scotia. We have lots of it up here in Maine

[@sturnie1]

Company went belly up in 2001

[@GP9railfan]

@@sturnie1 Unfortunately

[@markwise9939]

Looking forward to your next video! I am so interested in seeing your progress.

[@tonyczuleger4591]

The Orange Empire Railway (New Name is now Southern Calif. Railway Museum) & has a project to remove some rail in Fullerton Calif. for the Museums use. The track, its about 30 years old rail and track hardware. Fortunately its not frozen in the ground and the Demo contractor is allowing the museum to remove the track, as the ties are hazardous waste and is a win win for both party's. We may even get to use the equipment on site to help with its removal. Each Tie is about 200 lbs and look like new. Keep the Faith!

[@anthonyelwick3600]

When I worked for Amtrak 25 years ago we dumped oil on switch point straight on the ground. When it snowed we burned the snow out of switches. Actually changing ties was pretty fun work. Digging and spiking the rial after you switched them. Hitting a spike with a maul is an art form.

[@kerry2368]

I don’t have a lazy boy, so I’m in the jacuzzi in Fort Lauderdale watching. You guys are very entertaining.

[@thumperjdm]

Frozen/cold/snow day: Graham: "Let's work in the heated shop today." Dad: "Nah, let's run a marathon while carrying a railroad tie!" Graham:

[@mlkesimmons758]

Hi. At 1:09 I stopped the video to make this comment. You have got to be kidding me. Why would anyone in their right mind decide to take a tie out in that weather? I like the idea of a hot chocolate and sitting around thinking about better conditions. Of course, it's your railroad. Now to see how it ends. ...... Edit. Suggest a bucket for all those spike you pulled. It would seem that if we devide all the no money by the number of folks who put in a quarter, each would get their quarter back. Learning has taken place. Now I know a little about Sidney. Thumbs up. We are having as much fun watching as you are doing. Don't let a little snow get you down.

[@pulaski1]

@ 5:13 I am not sure about the "Vermont" part of what you read from the rail, but if you saw "Sydney", I would assume you're looking at a rail from the Sydney Steel Corporation (SSC), based in NS, Canada, that used to be a major producer of railroad rails, but which finally went out of business in 2001. I can't find any reference to SSC having a mill or other location in Vermont, nor find _any_ steel mill in Vermont making rails, whether named Sydney or anything else, so I'm going to guess that when you said "Vermont" what you _actually saw_ on the rail was "VT". One of the process by which gases can be eliminated from the steel used to make rails, to stop them cracking and breaking, is "vacuum treating", which is marked on rails as "VT".

[@originalm3233]

You guys okay? Everything alright? I hope all is well.

[@generost5435]

I would wait til spring

[@clydemarkham7915]

Another great video. Thanks for sharing your adventures.

[@elsdp-4560]

THANK YOU...for sharing. Just think about the men of the past who have done this work for a living, all day long!

[@jjackomin]

It's about time you got to work. I've got the hot chocolate and the the recliner. Great video.

[@miltonhopper2932]

Much better in the winter to prepare equipment and tools along with supplies for the work spring through fall. P&P Planning and prep.

[@mattgiardina6533]

i just fond your chanal and love it keep the good vedios coming

[@Rolf-Dieter_Damm]

Replacing ties in Winter - only if there is a urgent need. This time is better for maintaining equipment, like power hammers, rail carts, dozers and such; everything you need to maintain your railroad if winter is gone. If you still plan to replacing ties in snow I suggest you to take a bottle of propane gas and a burner with you to warm up the ballast, so that a tie can be changed better.

[@steveburley3738]

Sound is great and what a task to undertake with the snow. You guys ROCK! Excuse me I have to warm up my cocoa. Blowtorch available?

[@altevwpolosgartengerateund709]

perfect weather for cutting trees down ;-)

[@stevematda976]

Only thing I could find about Sydney Rail was that there was a foundry owned by Sydney Steel Corporation in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

[@dmc2129]

You guys still give great videos

[@StephenCarlBaldwin]

Greatly enjoyed this video. Especially appreciate the rich quotient of wry humor.

[@saltleywsc]

You blokes need medals the size of dustbin lids for doing track work in that weather !

[@mischef18]

Well ya gave it a go so you have that in your favor. You guys are so lucky to be able to play in the snow as we never see any here. Safe travels

[@chenli9734]

I think even in a warm day, the tie is still difficult to move a little. The rail the wood the gravel always be heavy. They're solid. That's why a locomotive can move on them.

[@dmc2129]

I would be inside today, I make a list for when I'm on hometome, its a weather list. Raining I do shop work, or house work indoors, same as if it were cold and windy. So basically indoors list and outdoors list . Helps with my productivity

[@Tristan_S346]

Definitely appreciate the effort, and looking forward to you guys revisiting this tie in the Spring for a rematch!

[@michaelvandepeer212]

Hiya easy 2 jacks one on each rail remove the spikes and the bases plate dig out the crib each side and make a hole in the shoulder were the sleeper/ tie will come out with the use of a bar or sleeper shacks tongs a pick axe would be usefull to open the frozen cribs or your mini digger would be a tie removal asset. The manafaturer poundage date rail was made grade of steel to yours is 100 lb yard ours is 113lb yard.

[@kens.3729]

“Approximately” Mid-40’s or Upper 40’s. Now you’re trying out for an Open Comedy Club Gig. 😬👍

[@royo1450]

Awesome video I would wait til the weather is a little better too

[@thomaspinnick5796]

Anxiously awaiting your next video.

[@johnsmart964]

It would be tough to do anything in the rock solid, frozen conditions. It will not be that much longer before a thaw and better weather will be on its way. People will have to be a little bit more patient about things. Anything you do to do with reopening this railroad, no matter how apparently mundane it is, it is all important. I am very grateful that you kindly share this with the people. Thank you for doing so, it is much appreciated.

[@jmilton5842]

Hope that all is well with you guys. We miss you!

[@macjim]

Joint bar… we call them fish plates. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿I like your St Andrew’s Cross… 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Ties, we call them sleepers

[@hughroney6342]

I get why you stopped doing videos on the track, but there other things of interest that can be done around the line! Like for example with the snow on the ground, small fires of the trash could be done. Cleaning up can often be easier when the ground is frozen.

[@lxdesign1]

yeah.... even with machinery.. its not a fun time of year to try and remove ties. You also should get a set of tie tongs - if you're going to do it the old manual way... they make a world of different to removing the bad tie.

[@WALDRONDD699]

Wait a bit, 40 in Danville,Ill right now 8:00 am ,on west central border of Indiana & east central border of Illinois . Get a propane weed burner and rock salt. You will figure that 1 out.

[@steves2694]

If its Sydney with a Y, then the rail may have come from Sydney Steel Nova Scotia. What do others think?

[@stanpatterson5033]

Yes, I'd agree. VT - I believe means it was vacuum degassed, not Vermont. Sydney Steel.

[@jimc9399]

I, too, agree, Sydney Steel. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Steel_Corporation

[@erict5234]

Yep, Sydney steel (Canada) produced railroad products during that timeframe... also as others have stated VT doesn't mean vermont, it means Vacuum Treated.

[@georgew.5639]

This was how track gangs worked before the advent of mechanized equipment. Tie replacement was probably not done in winter. But rail replacement is done in all conditions. So spikes had to be pulled and hammered back in place this way.

[@erleclaire]

Days? Months... waiting for the thaw! Although a couple bags of charcoal might warm things up!

[@dmorgan28]

Well at least you gave it a whirl. That’s some pretty frozen ground. 👍👍👍❤️

[@tomroise9426]

You guys ok? Haven’t heard from you all week.

[@jd3497]

I believe that in those conditions, they would section the tie (three pieces) to make it easy to remove. Leaves you two short pieces to drive/pull out from under the rail.

[@shaneflickinger]

I don't do field work in the winter either. Cheers fellas!

[@Richardretirer]

Winter is the time to remove brush!

[@DieCastoms]

No videos in three weeks, i hope you all are ok!

[@ayourk1]

Just like farming, I understand that you have to pick your battles depending on the season.

[@kennethbean1587]

The “Rusty Spike Ceremony “ signifies the start of the tie replacement program. 😜

[@boomerdiorama]

I have a hot espresso sitting in a recliner ready to watch your video. Cheers - Boomer

[@digitalshackonthelane]

Whoo! More railroading!

[@deralte650]

Hi Folks, you better think before you work. ;-) Better cut Trees and Brush on freezy days with temperatures below 0° C because the wood is nice crispy then! But anyway make sure your saw chains are sharp! Better do the track and tie jobs with an excavator or your grab on the Volvo Truck on better, snow free weather. I'm in a railway club here in Germany and had to do some renovation work inside the Loco-shed 3 years ago because the work pit was broken an had to be removed completely. I bought a 1993 built ATLAS 1604 excavator (16 tons) long enough _before_ most of the work was done! (But of course after we had started.) A normal track on concrete ties was built in then. We have a deep work pit under the other track in the shed. :-) After the pit job was done I bought an additional narrow grab (30 cm) to be able to remove ballast between ties. Rotten wood-ties can simply be pulled and broken out after losening the screws if you have heavy Machinery. Btw: why are so many tracks still spiked in the US today? That was only done here ~100 years ago. Tracks are screwed here, independent of the tie type. So we simply need to turn the screws left and they come out. Ciao, Bernd

[@jackkreighbaum783]

I prefer the easy chair in Phoenix.

[@johnsadventures6783]

It was 80° today here in Houston! That would melt that snow.

[@jimikrentkowski4073]

Brian about the ADM locomotive in Chicago. They are wrecking the building and said they would talk to you about scrap price for the switcher. I gave the guy my name and they should be in touch with me shortly. FYI

[@flyingwithbrian3287]

What in the Sam Hill are you doing? Poor Graham.

[@teddelphia1542]

Hey Brian -- it wasn't that cold out, was it?? We were at 49-deg F up here in Detroit. Thanks for showing the spike puller in action (first time for me to see... you made it look easy!). So, I think I have an idea for your Cat 301.5 and tie work. I'm getting a Rhinox micro trenching bucket for my 302.5C. The bucket is designed to make a 3" wide trench down to 27", so it's a good shape for digging along the sides of the tie and then poking it out from under the rails. When I give it a try this spring I'll try making and posting a (how not to) video of it.

[@MorpheusMF]

I know from a Museum Railroad in Germany: Winterseason is mostly Season for cutting Trees and Spring/Summerseason is mostly used for Trackworking, Carrepair and such. Changing ties in the Snow and frozen Ground is just stupid and very hard work without Machines. I gave you a like for showing us how hard this under these Condutions is. But never do this again ;) Use your energy for repairing the Machines, like the dozer perhaps. Nice Greetings from Saxony/Germany P.S. I know, my english... Shame on me...

[@jncsnc2226]

I like your videos. Please post more often about any subject you'd like. It's always great to hear from you guys. Question: Is the woods at the end of the line part of the property?

[@steamdaysstoker]

Why would you bother in such conditions. Easy to fracture rail in chilly conditions particularly when using a Jim Crow (Rail Bending machine). Do you have track jacks to lift the rail and ties clear for despiking or rail clear of ties. I use a pick to drag out ties. I also used a tamping bar to detect unsound ties by tapping the top of the ties with a little force and listening for the return sound. Sound ties return a crisp sound while decaying ones return a mushy sound. I have found ties with good top faces but are decayed within the unseen faces.

[@stephenwissel7902]

At this rate, it will only take 50 years to do all of them.

[@randyclyde4939]

Well, at least you got some good "footage" of your boots! Just a terrible pun, but at least we have a better idea of your situation. Keep moving, we enjoy this!

[@Marks_Station]

If there's lines like tally marks, on the rail, then that's the month it was rolled in.

[@georgeanderson3754]

Leaf blower and 2nd shovel would have been good. 40 something seems generous!

[@richardmassoth8237]

It's just unsafe to try this in the cold with frozen ground. If you must to keep the trains running on the rail, then you'd have a warming tent with a propane or kerosene heater to thaw the area before pulling the tie. That's how I remember the track gang working on frozen switches or frogs when ties had to be replaced in the winter during the 1960s and 1970s.

[@sturnie1]

You did a lot of work to prove something you already knew. We never did any work between the gauge in the winter unless it was an absolute emergency. There is a lot of bar work to break up the ballast and material between and around the ties on a good day. Your site probably hasn't been ballast regulated for decades and add ice its like concrete. Good luck and rail on guys!

[@Denusa]

The only thing I could find was Progress Rail in St. Albans VT. They do manufacture rail. However I could not find any mention or record of a town named Sidney, Vermont.

[@TedNewkirk]

Since I didn't weigh in earlier, I like the music during times when there is otherwise no talking. And, speeding up the video during long periods of slow work.

[@crazyman762]

Fiddle with the bulldozer hopefully in a shop. Progress comes in many forms. i did not see any way you were getting a tie out in that frozen ground.

[@Ryanstumpie1]

I commend you guys for wanting to show us viewers about your operation, but in the grand scheme of things, safety is paramount and ultimately the entertainment to viewers is the last thing that should be relevant. Especially during inclement weather. But I love that guys are willing to battle the elements to explain these things to us! Thanks guys!

[@mollycaz1]

You should get a snowblower to clear the tracks so you can work.

[@TheDaf95xf]

Looked like hard work and that’s why it’s done in the spring 🤣 Lots of other things to be getting on with abs just ignore the bad comments. What your both doing is admirable especially as your son is involved 😀 Take care keep warm cheers Stevie 😎🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@FingersD]

4 hours! You can do it!

[@danmalloy6908]

Ya I guess it was difficult out there but I was able to drink my coffee from my recliner without any problem. Ha ha ha. Love the channel...and I would certainly drop down from Canada to volunteer for a couple of days if that is something that you are able to do.

[@justinnewman8326]

Miss you guys! When are you coming back with a new episode?

[@brianmccarthy714]

Really enjoy every episode! Do you have a safety plan in case of a serious injury? God forbid one of you goes down, can the other get him back to your vehicle? I had a friend suffered a heart attack and by most standard was very healthy. He was 51 and an avid athlete in Colorado. Do you have a plan? Med kit? Closest Trauma Center? Etc.

[@toddkress9379]

Use the opposite end of the claw bar between the rail and the spike to pry the spike up so you can get under the spike with the claw bar.

[@kevinkohler5140]

Missing you guys. Everything OK?

[@billmorris2613]

Good morning from SE Louisiana 23 Feb 21.

[@raydewley9796]

Yanking ties by hand is bad enough in the summer, if the ground is frozen, not gonna do it...

[@scotthibbs]

Scott in Accounting: Shocked you would listen to internet trolls boss. I'm not a rail guy, but think you need the dozer operational and a wood chipper going. I'll get the purchase orders ready.

[@curtisharlan9230]

Morning Jack

[@willyward722]

Give you an A for trying. At my old job I did this year round and during the winter it was much harder but it can be done it take longer. If you had two rail jack to raise the rail up a little and remove the rie plate and brake the tie free. However charging tie during spring and summer much netter. Alway be safe

[@Kerry70]

Can you replace a tie with hand tools in frozen ground? Sure. The real question is, SHOULD you? No, absolutely not.

[@pyleuniversityofminnesota9055]

If you wreck your back, you are done! Could you rent a tie machine to pull the ties?

[@ironmatic1]

Bringing a contractor there would cost tens of thousands of dollars