Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/08/20
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Thanks Matt for the explanation. After i sent my email I looked on Wiki myself and saw the explanation which referred back to the English word ?Navvy? which I remember people using when I was a kid, but haven?t heard for a long time now we live in a supposedly more affluent society. Gerry Gerry Walden LRPS www.gwpics.com +44 (0)23 8046 3076 or +44 (0)797 287 7932 > On 20 Aug 2015, at 09:46, Matt Kollasch <narbutta17 at gmail.com> wrote: > > Thanks Gerry. Baku does provide some interesting photo ops. > > G*andy dancer* is a slang term for a rail worker... one who works on the > tracks toting ties and rails, shoveling rock, aligning track, tamping-up > ties, and pounding spikes. On the rails, wearing sequins might have been a > problem with my fellow "dancers." But you never know. I didn't test those > waters. > > Here's some more info: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandy_dancer > > Also, here's a great song that refers this rail work: "Tamp 'em up Solid" a > traditional song performed by Ry Cooder: > https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPCYBtx39EE > > /matt > > On Thu, Aug 20, 2015 at 1:19 PM, Gerry Walden <gerry.walden at icloud.com> > wrote: > >> Nice one Matt, and I envy your opportunity. Please explain what a ?gandy >> dancer? is because I now have visions of a Leica-toting guy in a sequinned >> and lurex jump suit, which isn?t great! >> >> Gerry >> >> Gerry Walden LRPS >> www.gwpics.com >> +44 (0)23 8046 3076 or >> +44 (0)797 287 7932 >> >> >> >> >> >> >>> On 20 Aug 2015, at 08:58, Matt Kollasch <narbutta17 at gmail.com> wrote: >>> >>> On a recent walk I ended up on the back side of Baku rail yard where they >>> maintain and clean the wagons that are dispatched, for example, with the >>> night train to Tbilisi. I like rail stations, trains, and rail yards >>> despite (or because?) having working three stints as a gandy dancer when >> I >>> was a young man. I wanted to see what it was like in that rail yard so I >>> walked in. >>> >>> With those first steps I wondered how long it will take them to kick me >>> out. I immediately met a "chief" who spoke German so we talked despite my >>> meager German. I stopped to take a photo and he walked on so I was then >>> without an escort. I soon passed two police officers and kept walking. So >>> far so good. I then met a woman cleaning the wagons who wanted her photo >>> taken and then she took me over to her friend where I took some more >> shots >>> (I will return to give them prints). >>> >>> Soon the same two cops I had met before we there telling me to leave the >>> rail yard. They were friendly about my expulsion and didn't have me >> delete >>> photos. I was in the rail yard for twenty minutes. >>> >>> In addition to the shots of the workers, I managed to get this shot: >>> http://www.kollarfoto.com/azerbaijan/ ::: M240 | 35 Summarit >>> >>> /matt >>> >>> . >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Leica Users Group. >>> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information