Fence post installation

[nberrington]

I have a goofy question.

The Southern Railway installed thousands of concrete fence posts along the permanent way.
While considering the diorama challenge, I got thinking more along the lines of a vignette (i.e. a really tiny diorama I can put in my carry-on luggage.)

A crew inserting said fencing was a thought - I nice opportunity to model some departmental wagons and paint some of those lovely Modelu figures.
Now this might sound like Eccles speaking - but "how did they dig the holes?" I imagine a hole digging device like one uses to plant poles? ( A pole with two rounded blades on it ) - Something akin to the gizmo they use on the golf green to cut a hole? Or did some poor sod literally use a shovel?

Like these:

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/ ... -pro-tips/

Any thoughts?

[bécasse]

Surely the classic method was to dig a generously sized hole using a combination of pick-axe and shovel, lower the foot of the post into the hole (making sure the depth and orientation are correct and that the post is upright) and then back fill the hole surrounding the post with wet concrete, holding it upright until the concrete sets.

That is certainly the method used today by the "ouvriers" in my commune when installing either wooden or steel posts - and, perhaps unlike today in the UK, they would have been trained to do the job the proper way.

[jon price]

Surely the classic method was to dig a generously sized hole using a combination of pick-axe and shovel,

This is of course a sloppy approach, with more digging than is necessary, and un-necessary use of concrete. Since early times (trust me, I'm an archaeologist ) You dig a hole only slightly larger than your post (the post hole). You could use spades, but if the post is not too big you could use an auger (the spiral thing). You put the post in and then push in a couple of suitable sized stones (the post packing) acting as wedges to hold it upright, and then you ram earth back into what is left of the hole (the fill).

Once you get mechanisation (or easily accesible land, don't try this on a steep incline) You can use one of these to just drill your hole. The SR probably didn't use e-bay, but I wouldn't be surprised if these portable drill rigs weren't available https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364461170423?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=7101533165274578&mkcid=2&itemid=364461170423&targetid=4585169654799855&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=&poi=&campaignid=412354547&mkgroupid=1305120599331881&rlsatarget=pla-4585169654799855&abcId=9300541&merchantid=87779&msclkid=f57489cda67910097416ec18bdb0ccdd

[40C]

When I was on S&T at Grimsby in the 1970's all post holes were dug by hand using pick, shovel and bar. My late father spent some time on the Pway fencing gang at Louth in the 1950's and they had a hand turned auger device for post holes. Everything carried to site by hand, also.

[Phil O]

When I was on the ESR track gang we used an auger to plant fence posts. Don't forget that the wire doesn't go through the holes, the wires run on the none railway side of the post and is held in place by a wire staple that goes through the holes in the post, the ends are then flared out against the post.

Cheers

Phil.