History of hewing RR ties

Some very interesting reading Peg. Thanks.

How did you get your name mate? Have you got a wooden leg? If so I suppose you go out into the bush and cut your own.

regards...Frank
 
Hi, Frank.

I gave myself the name. I do such a variety of things that I don't fit in to any stereotypical category. And when you don't fit, you're a 'square peg'.
I wear the name as a badge of honor. I like not fitting in. ;)
 
That's a good answer Peg.
I remember a few years back someone described me as being 'Rough around the edges'.
He thought he was insulting me but in fact he was paying me a compliment.

Good on yer mate. regards...Frank.
 
Great link Pegs, thanks. In 1900 they estimated that 60,000 to 70,000 men were making a living by hewing ties. It's amazing to think about how many skilled broad axe men there were back then. That's just tie hackers, there were probably thousands more using broad axes for other things.
 
Did anyone else notice that in that first picture the fellow is using a lefty broad axe, but using it right handed?
 
i never have been able to wrap my head a round a left handed hewing axe???
but i guess there had to be lefty tie hacks using them

buzz
 
It could be that he had worn the toe down so badly that he found it better to re-hang it lefty.
 
Frank-New Zealand said:
That's a good answer Peg.
I remember a few years back someone described me as being 'Rough around the edges'.
He thought he was insulting me but in fact he was paying me a compliment.

Good on yer mate. regards...Frank.
Click to expand...

"Diamond in the rough" has been coined to me by friends and employers a few times
 
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