This hand operated drill was used to drill holes in the rails so that with fishplates (metal joiners) the rails could be bolted together to form a continuous length.Historic - Railways Permanent Way and Works - track equipment - Hand Operated Rail Drill Hand Operated Rail Drill made of cast Metalpuffing billy, hand operated rail drill

Hand Rail Drill Out on the track in the old days, it was sometimes required to drill some holes in a piece of rail so that two rails may be joined together by a metal joiner – called a fishplate. Before the use of generators and oxy cutting, the only way to do this was with a hand drill. This is the machine operated by two people, that would drill a hole in the rail. With two to three holes to be drilled in each rail end (ie 4 or 6 holes), it was a tiring, back breaking job. And then there was usually the rail on the other side of the track to be done! Historic - Railways Permanent Way and Works - track equipment - Hand Rail DrillHand Rail Drill made of metal puffing billy, hand rail drill

Hand Operated Rail Saw Out on the track in the old days, it was sometimes required to cut a piece of railway track. Before the use of generators and oxy cutting, the only way to do this was with a hand saw. This is the machine operated by two people, that would cut a piece of rail in half. And when the rail was cut, it was usually required to join it to another rail which required putting in 4 to 6 holes in the rail with a Hand Operated drill. Historic - Railways Permanent Way and Works - track equipment - Hand Operated Rail Saw Hand Operated Rail Saw made of cast metalpuffing billy, hand operated rail saw