oh ok, so when they were done hiring last we were at like 2300 plus trackworkers, in my 20 years i never seen it that high. when i was new i started at 17xx. so track is very different than other departments in transit. if a gang has 8 ppl and 2 left they get along fine usually because the big jobs pool multiple gangs together. the smaller jobs dont usually make a difference when your down a man or two. sometimes if they are really short like in my department. they will offer am guys to work a double shift to cover the pm guys who are out sick or short handed and vice versa. if they are really really short they just pool the guys they got in each zone to get the important jobs done, so there maybe one to two gangs on a plate job. 3 to fourr gangs on a rail job etc etc. they will do less jobs a day . they will take it in order of the track in worse condition. unlike train operators , conductors , bus operators, cleaners, its not as important in track to have 100 percent work force. its way easier to get days off in track than those others . and summer vacations which ive had since my first year.