''Excavator''occupation in Aspatria 1841

[GalaxyJane]

Hello everyone
         I have just come across quite a few people listed with the above occupation when looking through a film of the Aspatria census for 1841.
Does anyone know what they may have been excavating?
                Any clue gratefully received
                                   Regards
                                            Jane

[Hackstaple]

Railway cuttings would have been about right for the time and the place.

[GalaxyJane]

Brilliant, Hackstaple! And quick as a flash. Thank you for this
                  I thought it couldn't be canals. Or motorways 
                        Regards
                                   Jane

[Geoff E]

"The Maryport and Carlisle Railway was the largest of the local lines. It ran along the edge of the plain, through Wigton and Aspatria. It was engineered by George Stephenson and opened in stages between 1840 and 1845."

http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/hstchg/railway2.htm

[GalaxyJane]

Better and better. You guys are genius. I am so pleased with this detail, as a couple of rellies may even have been working on this project --they were two of the many ''excavators''. Unusual-ish  surname in the area, but no known connection to tie them in with so far
                     Even if they are not mine, it is great local colour
     Many thanks to you both again
                                    Regards
                                            Jane