The Gandy Dancers .... were a name for railroad section gangs in the days before modern mechanised track upkeep. The men were called dancers for their synchronised movements when repairing track under the direction of the ‘caller’ The name "gandy" supposedly came from a belief that their hand tools once came from the Gandy tool company in Chicago (though no researcher has ever turned up such a company that made railroad tools). More likely, name was derived from gander because the flat-footed steps of the workmen when lining track resembled the way that geese walk.  Read more (PDF)

The Gandy Dancers - Original Song

Jesse Fuller - Lining Up the Track & Railroad Blues

John Henry

Songs of the Black Florida Gandy Dancers