Track tender
Track tenders were responsible for ensuring that trains could safely travel along the track. When the railways came into use in Sweden, they needed to be maintained and monitored. Special staff were hired to do this, called track tenders.
The track tender’s duty was to inspect an assigned stretch of track, fix any problems and report any deficiencies to the nearest line overseer. Problems that could arise included frost heave, broken rails or sun kinks. Obstacles such as fallen trees or boulders also had to be dealt with. The track tender also inspected telegraph lines and signals along the track.
Maintenance, ballasting, wedging and tamping
In addition to inspecting the track, the track tender was also responsible for a great deal of maintenance work. During the summer, the track tender replaced sleepers, replaced broken rail joiners, and repaired gates and fences along the track. To ensure the rails were properly positioned, the track tender performed what was known as ballasting, wedging and tamping. The track tender was also responsible for keeping unauthorised people away from the track. Only those who were issued a “track-walking ticket” (gångbiljett) were allowed to walk along the track. This was done at one’s own risk, as explicitly stated on the ticket.
SJ’s regulations from 1858 included something known as posting, which involved giving an all-clear signal at a predetermined location. To give this signal, the track tender held a rolled-up signal flag in his hand vertically along his upper body.
Day and night watch
Track inspection took place before and after the passing of each train. The track tender also had to watch the trains as they passed. If he noticed any problem, the track tender signalled the train to stop using his signal flag, or a signal lamp if it was dark.
Night watch was introduced in 1873 when Statens Järnvägar began running night trains between Stockholm and Malmö and between Stockholm and Gothenburg.
The various regulations issued over the years changed the number of inspections, how posting was to be done and the length of the stretch that each track tender was responsible for.
Posting for each train ceased as of the 1916 regulations. The track tender then only had to give the all-clear signal if he was at the track when the train passed. As of 1923, posting was no longer included in the regulations.
Track tender system ends
The track tender system existed until the early 1960s. The name track tender (banvakt) was changed to trackman (banbiträde) and then later to track worker (banarbetare). Instead of track tenders being posted along the line, track workers were posted in major areas and set out from there to perform inspections and maintenance work along the track.
Trackman's cabin, 1870's model.