The more things change...

[Brakie]

Funny, in a way, because originally the railroads kept track crews stationed at close intervals to immediately deal with the problems that arose. The real problem was wages for those crews, not a shortage of labor, and since 1929 was the year of the Stock Market Crash and The Great Depression, it seems that that should not have been a problem, either.

Indeed..

However..

That was mighty costly maintaining that many track and B&B gangs-PRR had one track and B&B gangs for every 50 miles not including upkeep on camp cars and meals for these men while they was away from home on extended track projects.The crash of '29 brought a hiring freeze because nobody was throwing down their tools and walking off the job since jobs was scarce -1 in every 3 factory worker was laid off-then there was the downturn in freight car loadings.