Gandy Dancer I

N.J.Pull

(Gandy dancer is a term for a railroad track worker. Teamwork was required to get the job done. A song often helped keep the team working in time. It would look as if the men were dancing with their tools. Gandy Manufacturing of Chicago made many of these tools. Over time, Gandy dancer became the nick name for these men.)

As the title partially indicates, This site is about railroad track work and track work equipment, including motor cars and motor coaches. It is not fancy, but I think the information may be of interest to some of you.

My interest in MOW (Maintenance Of Way) stems from the few years I worked for a company that manufactured MOW equipment and the vast majority of motor cars that any one of us will ever see (Fairmont Railway Motors). I have collected over 500 railroad books and another 800 motor car service, sales and parts manuals and brochures, dated from 1892 through the 1950s. I have written many motor car related articles for the Motor Car Collectors of America.

One type of motor car you will NOT find on the site is the "Galloping Goose" of the R.G.S. It seems that every time someone talks about a motor car, this is what they bring up. The "geese" were home made, "one offs", relatively crude expedients. They lasted a long time because the railroad saw no need to replace them. Some are still around and at least one is operable. Other railroads built their own cars and many bought the chassis from an established motor car maker and then added their own bodies. Many motor coaches that are considered home made actually have commercially made chassis.

My interest in model railroading leans toward what is commonly called "Large Scale" models.

The links below are to files I've made regarding the listed topics. I hope to be adding to them on a regular basis.

Latest update - 1/16/99 Visitors so far.

Motor Coaches Motor Coaches

Buda619 North Western 560

Edwards 10 Northwestern 561,563,565

Fairbanks Morse 24 Northwestern 555,561,565 (new 1/9/99)

Fairmont pt1 Mc Keen (new 1/16/99)

Fairmont pt 2 Wickham

Fairmont pt 3 (new 1/6/99)

FWD (new 1/6/99)

Kalamazoo 55

More motor coaches, historic maintenance of way equipment and large scale track work items can be found on Gandy Dancer II

Any questions or comments? E-mail me at NJPULL@ msn.com

Motor Coaches	Motor Coaches
Buda619	North Western 560
Edwards 10	Northwestern 561,563,565
Fairbanks Morse 24	Northwestern 555,561,565 (new 1/9/99)
Fairmont pt1	Mc Keen (new 1/16/99)
Fairmont pt 2	Wickham
Fairmont pt 3 (new 1/6/99)
FWD (new 1/6/99)
Kalamazoo 55