Re: Tracklaying at the WW&F

Yes, I had, a now departed, friend who owned a tent rental business and that was along the lines of what I had bodged together to conduct experiments and tests. The cup has to have an opened-front, horseshoe shape to keep the alignment of the spike, but not so deep that it interferes with the side of the rail. I almost have to grind a profile into the sides of the horsehoe cup that will match the profile of the shoulders of the rail.

Can a 4'11", 98lb person use the electric hammer? - No
Do you have to be Hercules? - No

Some say it's hard to lug the hammer around on ballast. Nigger diameter wheelbarrow tires on a modified handcart works wonders.

The new WW&F gantry crane and either 2 or 4 hammers with 3-4 person crews could lay a serious amount of rail over a 4-day weekend. I'd rather see locomotives run on track. The beauty is that you can rent a hammer for $75.00 a day from your local rental place - the only cash outlay is in the spiking heads.

We're all not getting any younger. I spent 10+ years of my life hand-splitting hardwood to heat the house with my grandfather's 20lb sledge and a cold steel chisel. I got smart and bought a hydraulic splitter for the big tractor and now spend my time on better things - like electric rail spikers!

I love what you guys are doing in Como, it is absolutely awesome. Ya'all are showing what can be done with a little ingenuity. I'm looking forward to see Klondike Kate stretch her pistons. I wish I wasn't half a continent away, I'd be there in a heartbeat with my electric spike hammer in my hands. No, I can't check my electric spike hammer as luggage.