Railworks America

Well this year was pretty sad for the Memorial season. We cut 489 stones since Feb 25. We got a late start because it was so cold we could not get any granite delivered. Then we got 3 to 4 trucks a week up to last week. Each truck had at least 20,000 lbs. Now with 489 stones cut you would think we were busy. We were not. The problem lies in that the population is not spending any money so they buy small stones. Mainly 2 x 1 foot and 4 inches thick which goes flat in the ground. We can knock out 20 of these a day. Then the people who do spend a little more, get 2 foot monuments or slant markers. At least 85% of everything we cut so far was only 2 foot long. A 3 foot by 20 inch by 6 inch monument on a base piece used to be our bread and butter unit. Those go for $2,000 to $4,000 depending on what color and what you get on it. The 2 footers go from $600 to $1400. I only cut 6 feature units this year so far, thats 5 foot or bigger. One was 9 foot.

But it is over, and I had to cut one inscription this morning, our only emergency cut... Usually this whole week was emergency cuts and I would be here til 8 or 9 even 1 am a few times. But I got my bonus in hand and my paycheck for 60 hours and I am done for 3 whole days.

Make sure you spell everything right. Believe me, it happens in my trade alot. Have a sparkling weekend.
Time to reflect on those who are past.

We do not misspell, the people do. I make them a print out of the unit, they check it. Has notifications all over, please check all spelling and dates this is the final double check before the unit is cut. Oh we made a mistake, his name is Kieth not Keith. Since when? I get 8 to 10 of these every year. so they either buy a new unit or I fill the mistake in with epoxy and granite chips, but it is not a perfect procedure, ever.

When I was working, if I had 3 days off in a row, I would have to be retrained! Being retired for a while now, don't know how I had time to have a job? Anyway, enjoy your Memorial Day weekend and be safe if you venture out.

That gives me a couple idea's for something I can build for RW, perhaps some vintage tomestones and head stones from the old days.


Chance that I'll be building it anytime soon though is unlikely though.

jpetersjr wrote:That gives me a couple idea's for something I can build for RW, perhaps some vintage tomestones and head stones from the old days.


Chance that I'll be building it anytime soon though is unlikely though.

Not just tombstones but a couple of mausoleums.