spike driving
Hammering rail fasteners
Spike driving is the act of hammering large iron spikes into railroad ties to secure the rails—the final step in laying track.
The task became iconic of railroad construction, requiring strength and precision.
A spike-driving contest tests who can drive spikes fastest, famously associated with the legend of John Henry, who raced a steam-powered hammer.
- hammerTool for striking nails
- hammer blowForceful tool strike
- railroadPermanent track for trains
- railroad constructionCreating train infrastructure
- steelCarbon-hardened iron alloy
track · maul · sledge · John Henry · work song · ballast · tie · rail · muscle · manual labor · swing · iron · mallet · pounding · labor · rhythm · sweat · gandy dancer