When the cowpokes were ‘belly-up to the bar’ there was a rail a few inches off the floor they could rest their foot on as they enjoyed their liquid libations.
Nab Perhaps you’re thinking of the crossties that support the steel rails of a railway. Rail spliting is better applied to making horizontal rails for fences.
“Nabuqwhosiwhatsis” is right.,…rail splitting refers to splitting of the railroad crossties…..which by the way, at that time weren’t treated, so they had to replace them a lot.
Being from the Land of Lincoln, I think x_Tech is correct - rather than railroad crosswise, I was always taught it referred to the rail fences that dotted the countryside there - and in fact, you can still see some, especially at the outdoor museums in central Illinois.
Oh, and Taft was the heaviest president we ever had - so I’m sure they were indeed suggesting he split rails (and probably a few other things) whenever he stepped on them. BTW, he’s also the only person to have served both as President and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, thus being sworn in as president and swearing in a president.
When it comes to Lincoln, x_tech is right. Lincoln was from Kentucky and Illinois. He spend much of his early life working on farms before he became a lawyer. The spliting rails he did was for split-rail fences. I have had to split a few rails myself and it isn’t easy.
The Gandy Dancers. Each chant used for a specific job on the railroad. laying the tie, laying the rail,spiking the rail. etc. Last time I saw was in the early fifties.
Actually, Pamlicorat, Lincoln was born in Kentucky but his family moved shortly after that and he did most of his growing up in Indiana. (I learned this during a long ten year exile in Indiana.) He moved to Illinois as a young man. So Indiana has a pretty fair claim on him even though most do not know this.
Went to seminary one semester in Lincoln, IL, where they have a Lincoln festival each year (with a rail-splitting contest). I can definitely confirm that the rails Lincoln split were for fences, not railroads. As for Taft, the rail-splitting is certainly a joke about his weight. As Woody157 points out, bar rails were for resting your feet on.
Splitting rails, in Lincoln’s case was definitely rails for a fence. the first railroad in Illinois and Kentucky was built in 1857 in the far north of the states (into Wisconsin, the lead mines). This was hundreds of miles from where Lincoln ever lived.
Of course it refers to split rail fence. Cedar was used because Cedar is naturally weather resistant due to its natural oils, and its ability to evenly split longitudinally.
Splitting rails is for splitting fence rails, usually into three splits, that are erected in a zig zag pattern. I have done it many years ago although it is still done mostly for ornamental fences today. Farmers who couldn’t afford barb wire done it up until the 80’s here in rural northern Arkansas, and I know where some still stand.
We didn’t even get electricity here until the mid 70’s and some people say that if we can ever get Hoover out of office we may even advance some more.
Splitting rails is for splitting fence rails, usually into three splits, that are erected in a zig zag pattern. I have done it many years ago although it is still done mostly for ornamental fences today. Farmers who couldn’t afford barb wire done it up until the 80’s here in rural northern Arkansas, and I know where some still stand.
We didn’t even get electricity here until the mid 70’s and some people say that if we can ever get Hoover out of office we may even advance some more.
Splitting rails is for splitting fence rails, usually into three splits, that are erected in a zig zag pattern. I have done it many years ago although it is still done mostly for ornamental fences today. Farmers who couldn’t afford barb wire done it up until the 80’s here in rural northern Arkansas, and I know where some still stand.
We didn’t even get electricity here until the mid 70’s and some people say that if we can ever get Hoover out of office we may even advance some more.
COWBOY7 almost 13 years ago
These guys aren’t as old as we thought. They just live way out there!
(Good Morning, Pamlicorat, Gweedo & all BCers!)
Woody157 almost 13 years ago
When the cowpokes were ‘belly-up to the bar’ there was a rail a few inches off the floor they could rest their foot on as they enjoyed their liquid libations.
x_Tech almost 13 years ago
Nab Perhaps you’re thinking of the crossties that support the steel rails of a railway. Rail spliting is better applied to making horizontal rails for fences.
lewisbower almost 13 years ago
My Dad used to take us to the Brass Rail but I wasn’t allowed to rest my foot on it. I had to sit with my sister and mother in a “Booths for Ladies”.
kreole almost 13 years ago
“Nabuqwhosiwhatsis” is right.,…rail splitting refers to splitting of the railroad crossties…..which by the way, at that time weren’t treated, so they had to replace them a lot.
Elaine Rosco Premium Member almost 13 years ago
I thought these guys were way before any president?
GROG Premium Member almost 13 years ago
Good Morning, Fellow Cave Dwellers.
cdward almost 13 years ago
Being from the Land of Lincoln, I think x_Tech is correct - rather than railroad crosswise, I was always taught it referred to the rail fences that dotted the countryside there - and in fact, you can still see some, especially at the outdoor museums in central Illinois.
cdward almost 13 years ago
Oh, and Taft was the heaviest president we ever had - so I’m sure they were indeed suggesting he split rails (and probably a few other things) whenever he stepped on them. BTW, he’s also the only person to have served both as President and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, thus being sworn in as president and swearing in a president.
pamlicorat almost 13 years ago
Good Morning Lonewolf, Gweedo, Grog, and Everyone
When it comes to Lincoln, x_tech is right. Lincoln was from Kentucky and Illinois. He spend much of his early life working on farms before he became a lawyer. The spliting rails he did was for split-rail fences. I have had to split a few rails myself and it isn’t easy.
Neanderthal almost 13 years ago
Split a gut. We’ll send bandaids.
Neanderthal almost 13 years ago
And what about those chants? The rail gangs would chant as a team. Lost foreverr.
snidely44 almost 13 years ago
The Gandy Dancers. Each chant used for a specific job on the railroad. laying the tie, laying the rail,spiking the rail. etc. Last time I saw was in the early fifties.
TexTech almost 13 years ago
Actually, Pamlicorat, Lincoln was born in Kentucky but his family moved shortly after that and he did most of his growing up in Indiana. (I learned this during a long ten year exile in Indiana.) He moved to Illinois as a young man. So Indiana has a pretty fair claim on him even though most do not know this.
gocomicsmember almost 13 years ago
Went to seminary one semester in Lincoln, IL, where they have a Lincoln festival each year (with a rail-splitting contest). I can definitely confirm that the rails Lincoln split were for fences, not railroads. As for Taft, the rail-splitting is certainly a joke about his weight. As Woody157 points out, bar rails were for resting your feet on.
comictator almost 13 years ago
I thought railroad rails were made of metal, even in the 19th century. Kind of hard to split.
;-)
So why would making railroad cross-ties be called “splitting rails”?
I’m voting for split-rail fences.
wcorvi almost 13 years ago
Splitting rails, in Lincoln’s case was definitely rails for a fence. the first railroad in Illinois and Kentucky was built in 1857 in the far north of the states (into Wisconsin, the lead mines). This was hundreds of miles from where Lincoln ever lived.
garysnorton almost 13 years ago
Of course it refers to split rail fence. Cedar was used because Cedar is naturally weather resistant due to its natural oils, and its ability to evenly split longitudinally.
Tsali-Queyi almost 13 years ago
Splitting rails is for splitting fence rails, usually into three splits, that are erected in a zig zag pattern. I have done it many years ago although it is still done mostly for ornamental fences today. Farmers who couldn’t afford barb wire done it up until the 80’s here in rural northern Arkansas, and I know where some still stand.
We didn’t even get electricity here until the mid 70’s and some people say that if we can ever get Hoover out of office we may even advance some more.
Tsali-Queyi almost 13 years ago
Splitting rails is for splitting fence rails, usually into three splits, that are erected in a zig zag pattern. I have done it many years ago although it is still done mostly for ornamental fences today. Farmers who couldn’t afford barb wire done it up until the 80’s here in rural northern Arkansas, and I know where some still stand.
We didn’t even get electricity here until the mid 70’s and some people say that if we can ever get Hoover out of office we may even advance some more.
Tsali-Queyi almost 13 years ago
Splitting rails is for splitting fence rails, usually into three splits, that are erected in a zig zag pattern. I have done it many years ago although it is still done mostly for ornamental fences today. Farmers who couldn’t afford barb wire done it up until the 80’s here in rural northern Arkansas, and I know where some still stand.
We didn’t even get electricity here until the mid 70’s and some people say that if we can ever get Hoover out of office we may even advance some more.