At 11:50 AM 06/05/05 -0400, Maru wrote:
snip
He was referring to the popular legends/tall tales (not sure which; both seem to apply) of Henry; not the historical facts. Every popular depiction, cartoons, videos, shows, childrens' books, etc I've seen, they all depict it as driving spikes into the ground to fasten down rails.
Anyone who has ever paid the slightest attention when walking near a railroad track knows that spikes are driven into the wooden ties rather than into the ground.
"Track laying machines" might exist today, but they certainly did not for a *long* time after the early building of railroads.
Not, though the truth is otherwise, as making holes for explosives. Artistic license, anyone?
Can you go on Google and point out a few places where John Henry is up against a "track laying machine" or driving spikes to hold down the rails?
I have *never* seen this, but your might be right. It has been a really long time since I was a kid.
Keith Henson
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