"Crank Hand"

[Eagle One]

If someone used the words "Crank Hand," who or what were they referring to? This term was widely used around Hamlet. And it wasn't a drug user as the word "crank" is sometimes referred to.

[sigmore]

I think it refers to the right hand which is the one used to crank a car. I believe the right hand was also used to crank an older car with the crank handle. Did I win???

[Eagle One]

No, you didn't win yet sigmore. You're warm though. They did crank something, but not as in starting a car and either hand could have been used.

[lynnsteen]

Could you possibly be referring to those individuals who got selected to hand crank the old homemade ice cream churns? If so, I have been one!
They were much in demand about this time of year, every year, back in the good ol' days.

[Eagle One]

Sorry Lynn. That's not the answer but you brought back some fond memories. I always was the one who got to crank the hand churn. I cranked extra fast so I could get my share sooner.

[tiz garner]

Secretary to a road master with railroad..

[Eagle One]

Tiz has come close to answering my question but a "crank hand" did something more important and back breaking. Tell me what they did.

[sigmore]

Dang! I couldn't imagine hand cranking a diesel train engine. I'm quite sure that would be quite important and back cracking!!

[Bruce Osburn]

How about something to do with hand-cars before they became motorized, sort of like the ones we used to see Charlie Chaplin hand pumping to get out of the way of a runaway engine?

[Eagle One]

Sorry Bruce, but you are a long way off. The job involved cranking alright but not diesel engines or hand cars. Pumping and cranking are two dogs of a different color.

[Eagle One]

How about something to do with hand-cars before they became motorized, sort of like the ones we used to see Charlie Chaplin hand pumping to get out of the way of a runaway engine?

Bruce is close enough on the answer. What I was referring to was the section worker who rode with a section foreman or roadmaster and helped in cranking the high rail vehicle, usually a pick up, onto the rails. He could have also been involved in the old hand cranked motor cars and in the early days, the old hand cars,

[freddie hassler]

I've heard that term on the RR but ever knew what it meant, so I'm quessing Tiz came close if not right

[freddie hassler]

and just maybe Eagle one was right with his answer