[Leica] Baku Rail Yard

[Gerry Walden]

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
>>> 
>>> .
>>> 
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>> 
>> 
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