15 September 2011

CP Railroaders to Show Off Spike Driving Skills in Minneapolis

Minneapolis Minisota USA - Canadian Pacific (CP) is bringing a unique competition to Minneapolis as the railroad's annual Spike Driving Competition is being held in the United States for the first time.
 
Following district "spike offs", the top 16 men and women across CP's 15,300-mile network in Canada and the United States will meet at the railroad's Humboldt Yard on Sunday, 18 Sep 2011, to compete for fastest man and woman spike driver in the company.
 
"While there is so much modern technology that goes into track building and track maintenance, including special spike driving machines or hydraulic spike drivers, manual spike driving is still done for small jobs or for general clean-up work," said CP General Manager of Track Renewal and Work Equipment, Brent Szafron. "Track workers still need to be able to drive spikes. This competition showcases that special skill, which goes back to the building of the original railroad."
 
Participants will get two tries to hammer three spikes into softwood ties with winners receiving cash prizes and bragging rights until the next year's spike driving competition.
 
Spike driving is part of the railroad industry's roots, and since 1998, the CP Spike Driving contest has celebrated this distinctive skill.
 
Spike Driving Fast Facts:
 
·  A spike maul or hammer weighs about 11 1/2 pounds;
 
·  The head of a spike is about 2 square inches, but the actual contact area is about 1/2 the size of a dime;
 
·  Manual spike driving is still done for small jobs of 30 spikes or less or for general clean-up work. For extensive track work, hand-held hydraulic spikers or spike driving machines are used;
 
·  A champion spike driver can drive a spike into a softwood tie in as little as 11 seconds.