Quite a few years ago, I had an opportunity to watch a demonstration by a group of fine gentlemen calling themselves the Buckingham Lining Bar Gang. The members of the group are all former track workers or "gandy dancers" as they were known at one time. These are the railroaders who kept the track in shape prior to the implementation of mechanized equipment. As they labored, they sang songs to keep their spirits lively - after all, this was extremely physical labor performed under a variety of weather conditions - and the singing helped them keep time as far as coordinating their motions were concerned. The group traveled often to various railroading events - I believe my opportunity to see them came during a layover on a Southern Railway excursion; however, as they've aged with the passage of time, such opportunities are very infrequent now. That said, these gentlemen are a true gift to those of us interested in railroading and I wanted to post this video I came across as a tribute to them:
Bob
