Gandy Dancer

A short answer is "no".  

There are many theories where the slang term came from, but no one knows for sure.

Apparently there was a Gandy Tool Co. that made tools used by railroad track workers, and one theory is that 100+ years back, the synchronized work of a couple of dozen men moving and repairing track in unison with Gandy tools reminded someone of a group of choreographed dancers.

Thanks, wjstix That is the beauty of American Folklore be it railroad related or not. Paul

Ton of info here...http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandy_dancer My Father and Grandfather both worked for the N&W. As long as I can remember, the Gandy Dancers are the guys on the track crew...

Gilly

Here's a great lesson on "Gandy Dancing." Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zb1qsVqjwg

(Warning - Mild coarse language)

Back in the 70's in Washington, D.C., the was a saloon called the 'Gandy Dancer' just behind Union Station. Cool little place as I recall. 

There is a Gandy Dancer Saloon in Pittsburgh in the old P&LE passenger terminal building in the Station Square complex.  There is also a fancy restaurant, the Grand Concourse, in the old terminal building, as well.  Nice places to go every once in a while...

Andy

Back in the 1950's while working my way through college I worked one summer as a gandy dancer for the C&O RR in Grand Rapids, MI. I was paid the huge sum of $1.48  per hour. It was hard dirty work. You could get seriously injured if you didn't keep your mind on what you were doing. I think that job had a lot to do with keeping me in college, as I figured out real quickly that I didn't want to do that kind of work for the rest of  my life.

Bob

While I was in the West Palm Airport, I came across this.