Remember when MOW work was mostly done by section gangs? This picture was taken in front of the NYC/Big 4 depot in Vienna, Illinois in the mid 1950's, just before the section gangs were abolished in favor of mechanized track gangs. My memory is just strong enough to recall that two of these men were Bill Simmons and Dugan McCuan. CAPT Rex Settlemoir
The B&M had a similar section gang stationed at Hoosick, NY during the late '40s and early '50s. Great bunch of guys who occasionally let me ride with them 2-1/2 miles down to the Rutland Corkscrew Division diamond at Petersburg Jct. Never minded walking back.
I remember seeing them putt-putting past my grade school, which located along the Northern Pacific. The constant eyes watching, and labor of touching up weak spots sure kept things rolling smoothly.
