Why some Railroads use Concrete and some use Wood Cross Ties

Рет қаралды 157,466

Жыл бұрын

Both concrete and wood ties have their pros and cons and we will go over many
of those in the video. Find out the facts on why some railroads use concrete ties
and some use wood cross ties. Will also show you why we will never use concrete ties
on the Cumberland Mine RR.
We do not have any composite ties here and only a very few steel ties. The steel ties we do
have are underneath the concrete pad where they load the trains. PLEASE: do not
write in and ask me about composite or steel ties, the reply would be too long so
I will do a future video on those for you.
This is by far not a totally comprehensive review of the pros and cons between wood
and concrete ties. To go over every single thing would probably take a day's long seminar,
but we do go over many of the major high lights. However to add in something, concrete does lend itself exceptionally well to transit applications.
I also forgot to mention in the video, with concrete ties I can't do any windmill spiking
and I do love to drive spikes in a wood tie.... LOL
Cost difference between concrete and wood ties:
Being that there are 28 different profiles of concrete ties. Each different profile has
a different pricing. Wood ties here are $80. All concrete ties are higher than that and
heavier ones can be double or more the cost. Plus transportation costs to get them
to the job are much higher with concrete, because they are so much heavier than
wood, it requires more trucks to get them to the job site.
This video is the 4th in a 4 part mini series on Railroad Cross Ties
Part 1 Spreading Black Bananas on the Railroad:
• Spreading Black Banana...
Part 2 How Long Does a Wood Railroad Tie Last:
• How Long Does a Wood R...
Video 3 Stuffing Railroad Ties with a TRIPP Machine:
• Stuffing Railroad Ties...
Article on the ROI on concrete vs wood cross ties in RTS Magazine that I told you about
in the video:
www.rta.org/assets/docs/RTASp...
Video made April 30, 2023
Disclaimer: I am an employee of Iron Senergy at Cumberland
Mine. My job is railroad track maintenance. I am very fortunate to
have this job and everyone at the mine is very fortunate to have
Iron Senergy as it's current owner. Our past owners had every
intention of shutting this mine down, but Iron Senergy took
over and have kept this mine alive.
Please understand: I am NOT in any way an official or unofficial
spokes person for Iron Senergy or Cumberland Mine. Any viewpoints,
opinions or anything that I show in the videos, or write in the video
descriptions or any answer to any comment, should NEVER be
misconstrued or interpreted as being in any way shape or form,
any kind of official or unofficial statement from Iron Senergy,
Iron Cumberland, Cumberland Mine, any of the mine's management,
any of the contractors that may be shown in any video, nor of
any of my fellow co-workers.
Any viewpoints or opinions I may make in the videos, in the
descriptions, or in any answer to a comment is strictly that of my
own and NOT an official or unofficial statement or viewpoint that
Iron Synergy or any one at Iron Senergy or Cumberland Mine
necessarily has or makes.
Again, we are very fortunate to have Iron Senergy as our current
owners. Please, when making a comment be respectful of Iron Senergy,
Cumberland Mine, my fellow coworkers and also any contractors
that may be shown. Thank You, Dave
#ConcreteRailroadTies#WoodRailroadTies#RailroadCrossTies

Пікірлер: 1 300

@jasonbabila6006 Жыл бұрын

One thing about concrete ties in the curves is gauging, it can be troublesome with the lateral forces of the weight pushing against the high side of the curve wearing out the insulators thin causing wide gauge and rail canting, it can be high maintenance.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much Jason for sharing that. A point I would never even have thought of, but you would know! For those who may be reading this, Jason works BNSF MOW and is very knowledgeable about track maintenance. I have a lot of respect for what he knows and his help he has given me over the years.

@bain5872 Жыл бұрын

Such is American rail roads. These lines were laid by MEN. They did not give excuses, they did not ask questions ,they just did it. And still do. I admire these men. Wow!!!

@jasonbabila6006 Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 Thanks Dave, I’ll try to get some pictures and show you some details when I can.

@2xKTfc Жыл бұрын

We've had a big accident, unfortunately with fatalities, here in Germany a little while ago with failed concrete ties. Exactly like you say, the ties got beaten up, failed quickly after each other, and the train running over it pushed the gauge out of whack. They later determined that the plant that made the ties mixed bad concrete (wrong/chemically incompatible aggregate in it, I believe). That put the railroad in a real pickle, having to rip out about 200,000 ties with the same defect as soon as possible. Lots of slow orders all over the place for a while.

@douglasskaalrud6865 Жыл бұрын

@@bain5872. Drag those knuckles, boy!

@robt2151 Жыл бұрын

Interesting, with plenty of details. In some parts of the world the preference is for steel ties, particularly when the line is being constructed in remote territory. On the African savannah, for example, trees are scarce, wood is susceptible to termite attack and concrete ties are cumbersome to transport to the work site if there is no local batching plant. Steel ties are easy to make and can stacked for transport.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment and great info RO BT. I will do a future video on steel ties for you. Appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the tie show my friend.

@megache99 Жыл бұрын

Back in the '80s, we used old wood ties as posts for our corrals on the farm. Connected them with 2x10s and channel iron. Held up very well over the decades.

@ianmontgomery7534 Жыл бұрын

In Australia our State government (Victoria) won't let old railway sleepers from the suburban network be sold due to them having asbestos dust ingrained in them from the train brakes.

@lamwen03 Жыл бұрын

And the horses wouldn't nibble them because they were soaked in creosote.

@cliffterrell4876 Жыл бұрын

My grandfather built fences around the homestead in the 50s. They are still in good shape. To bad barbed wire didn't last as long as the ties have.

@PhilJonesIII Жыл бұрын

@@ianmontgomery7534 That's an example of what my first boss (Doctorate in Chemical Engineering) called "Locking the doors and leaving the windows open." A good deal of engine braking happens in railway stations and, by default, kicks out airborne particulates from the linings. It's also where many people congregate of course. The greatest danger would be from handling the bitumen surface itself (it contains carcinogens). But, after a few decades of use, most of the 'nasties' from the bitumen would have degraded or evaporated. Asbestos is now banned in most applications, such as brake-linings but, pre-1973 (ish) most car brake linings would have contained it. That meant that hanging around a road junction or anyplace where cars slowed down would guarantee you a dose of the deadly dust.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

I've got many an old tie here on our farm as posts 2 Many Fords. We used to give away a lot of old ties to farmers around here, but farmer numbers have dwindled a good bit, not too many folks even want them anymore. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@rtqii Жыл бұрын

Prestressed concrete is done by placing steel cable under extreme stress, pulling the steel tightly with a machine or tool, then pouring the cement on top. When the cement has set, the tension on the steel is released.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing that info Richard. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@brettany_renee_blatchley Жыл бұрын

The tension of the steel is not so much released as it is that the steel pulls the concrete into compression (where concrete is strong). This works better than simply reinforcing the lower third of the tie (beam) with rebar which takes-up the tensile force imposed on the lower section of the tie (beam) under load that the concrete by itself cannot significantly resist. I.e.: concrete is very strong in compression but very weak in tension. Steel is very strong in both, so steel reinforcement is used to make-up for concrete's weakness in tension.

@crappiemanhammond.9169 4 ай бұрын

This is why a post tension slab works so well in home construction with bad soil. Been used for decades now. @@brettany_renee_blatchley

@tombittikoffer412 Жыл бұрын

I appreciate how realistic you are about this.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Tom for the really kind words! That is about the kindest, most nicest comment I think anyone has ever said to me. I try so hard to make factual, yet interesting videos for being a railroader and not a professional videographer and what you just said really made me feel appreciated.

@rtqii Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 You are an awesome content creator.

@tzadik36 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for this video! The advantage of wood is in its fibers: a crack in one fiber does not easily propagate to the next. The problem is that wood, in spite of creosote, is degradeable. A relatively inexpensive nondegradeable fibrous material ain't around yet.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Your welcome Robin and thanks for sharing the info with us. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@brentgreen9364 Жыл бұрын

I’ve seen estimates about how many ties it takes per mile of track and it amazes me that there’s enough wood out there to keep railroads with a supply. Enjoyed the video.

@rtqii Жыл бұрын

The railroads demanded a lumber industry. The same lumber industry provided the timber for the Comstock Lode, in Nevada.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

You can figure out how many ties in a mile, wood ties are 19.5 inches on center Brent. Thank you for the nice comment and glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@fredburban8219 Жыл бұрын

3,252 per mile

@rtqii Жыл бұрын

@@fredburban8219 When they built the intercontinental railroad they had dedicated lumber companies and saw mills making the ties. Entire forests were cut down, and a lot of the land when into cultivation. This happened again in the Comstock Lode, which required enormous amounts of timber to shore up the mine, cities worth.

@bcmineresearch 4 ай бұрын

@fredburban8219 Buddy, you need a life if you sat down and figured that out! Lol. Come up and drink beer with us some time. We live in a math free zone.

@alanswafford9964 Жыл бұрын

Once again you have provided a highly educational video and I appreciate that very much. You are the “Professor of Railroading”. Thank you Dave.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Alan, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@clineshaunt Жыл бұрын

Always wondered about the pros and cons of concrete ties. Thanks for this video Dave! Hope all is well over there.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Your quite welcome clineshaunt. Lot's of folks have wanted to know the same thing, bout time I got around to making a video on that subject...:-) Always enjoy hearing from you my friend and thanks so much for watching.

@rtqii Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 We love your content.

@transmitterguy478 Жыл бұрын

Coal will decay the concrete. I used to work at a coal tipple and the coal being piled up against the concrete piers caused them to dissolve away where the coal touched them. YOU GO DAVE!

@billsimpson604 Жыл бұрын

Just a guess, but some coal has a lot of sulfur in it. Rain may have combined with the sulfur to form sulfuric acid which eats up concrete. In southern Louisiana the rain will eventually eat away at concrete, gradually exposing the gravel. Of course, it takes about 30 years to become obvious. That is probably one reason why they made refiners start selling super low sulfur diesel fuel. It produces less acid rain.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Transmitter Guy, yes sir I will go, keep on keepin on.... :-) Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@shirleymoore7700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you, Dave, for providing clear, concise reasons for sticking with wood ties.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Shirley and you are welcome. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@billmoran3812 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video, Dave! Some of the information you presented, I’ve not seen before. Well done! Those 😮concrete ties with the angle iron in the center, only place I’ve seen those is on transit systems where they were laid on top of a poured concrete roadbed. I think about 20 years ago, Amtrak experimented with concrete ties on the Northeast corridor. They eventually had to replace all of them and replace them with wood. Also about 20 years ago, I was involved in the construction of a power plant that burned scrap wood ties from Norfolk Southern railroad, about 1.2 million of them per year. They are ground up into chips and burned at high temperature to eliminate pollution from the creosote.

@earlysda Жыл бұрын

Pretty much all of Japan's rails in the cities are on concrete ties.

@garykuipers2696 Жыл бұрын

Is this power plant still in operation? NJ Transit also sent their scrap wood ties to this facility. I was conductor/flag for some of the contractors that picked up these ties and they told me about the power plant that you described.

@SeattlePioneer Жыл бұрын

@@earlysda I'm guessing that the ready availability of wood in the United States contributes to the use of wood ties, compared with Japan.

@earlysda Жыл бұрын

@@SeattlePioneer Seattle, maybe so, but after humans, Japan's biggest natural resources are sea-related and wood-related.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the excellent comment Bill, lot's of good info in there!. I've heard of power plants burning them but probably not enough used ties around here for a plant to be viable doing that even with NS and CSX here, just not that many track miles, but we could chip in our 2,000 a year to help out.... LOL Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@erict5234 Жыл бұрын

Hi Dave, excellent video describing the difference. We have a section of concrete ties, where a temporary track was created for a bridge project. The crews have reported "rough track" with our trains... The problem is that the concrete ties dont have "play". They are so stiff that all of the lateral motion is transferred to the locomotive instead of the wooden tie giving in. The locomotive truck then has to absorb the motion, causing the "rough ride". 70mph with a 40yr old locomotive will get your attention immediately when you have ties that don't flex.

@erict5234 Жыл бұрын

@made in the 80s Ironically, this is passenger operations... the F40s do not like this stretch of track!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the very interesting comment Eric. I've talked with an NS engineer who ran on concrete before I made this video, but he didn't mention anything about what you say, he said it was like running a car on pavement for concrete and on gravel road with wood. Great to hear about the motion being transferred to the loco, glad to find that out! Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@rogerphelps9939 Жыл бұрын

@made in the 80s Here in the UK some of our trains run at 150 mph, just like all of the TGVs in Europe. All sleepers are concrete. The ride is very smooth. It seems that you have not learnt how to install concrete properly over there.

@tbearrails9983 Жыл бұрын

Nice job getting this all to the people that like to know just what is what in RR work. 70 yrs on the tracks here and I know how much is involved, still learning, Thanks Dave

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Tbear, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@SuperiorWhiteKing Жыл бұрын

I've been watching you for a while now and you are just a fountain of knowledge! Thank you for sharing what you have learned. It takes years and decades to learn what you know and you share it in just minutes. You should be paid for your acquired knowledge, a LOT more than a railroad worker. You guys are the backbones of this country. Thank you for what you do.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Appreciate the nice comment SuperiorWhiteKing. I'm blushing. What a very kind thing for you so say. Thank you for taking the time to visit with us and check out the video my friend.

@jimthannum7151 Жыл бұрын

Excellent discussion on wood vs concrete ties, really interesting and informing. Especially your commentary on the eco issues with wood ties vs concrete. Great video!! 👍

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Jim, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@cameronmccreary4758 Жыл бұрын

Yes, Dave I have learned a lot tonight on the economic aspect as well as longevity of the concrete sleepers. Thank you for explaining it all and in language we oldies can understand. 😊

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Cameron, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@beverlymichael5830 Жыл бұрын

Great video. Amazing how long the wood ties last. Back in 60’s a d 60’s my home town had so many trains running through the town. There were so many old ties available for people to re purpose. On my property some fencing had old ties used and they are still standing. Several on the ground and still not falling apart. Back then everyone used old toes for landscape and fencing. Still around 70-80 years later

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Beverly, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@user-uh7ft8kp4f Ай бұрын

Yes, but they don't have heavy trains running over them when they're in a fence!

@The4Crawler Жыл бұрын

Great video. One summer vacation, when I was in high school, I worked with a friend who had a business putting in landscape ties. We had to drive about 30-40 miles to a yard where they sold the used ties and picked up a large truck load. The biggest project was a steep backyard where we put in several terraces of ties, maybe 3 ft. high each, with stairways up the middle and sides. That was all done by hand except for an old TroyBilt tiller the homeowner had. We used that to loosen up the soil before shoveling it into a wheel barrow to cut the trenches to sink the bottom row of ties into.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment R Brown. We've never had a landscaper approach us about getting old ties here. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@The4Crawler Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 I don't recall who we purchased the ties from back in the '70s. It was a large industrial yard and they had stacks and stacks of used ties on pallets. Looking on Google maps today, there's a large recycling place there, so not sure if they were there back then or if it was associated with the local railroad. I see now that the big box stores sell used ties for $20 - $30 a piece.

@charleshaggard4341 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Dave. I was looking forward to seeing this video. Here in my town, UP crosses KCS and when UP had a derailment in a curve, they used concrete and when KCS had one, they used wood and that is what made me ask you about this.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Your welcome Charles, glad you enjoyed. That's way to cool to hear about KCS and UP doing that, I love it. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@bettycordova1068 Жыл бұрын

❤great teacher as always...👍thanks 👏👏

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Your welcome Betty. Thank you for the kind words. Always is a pleasure to have you pay us a visit and write in my friend.

@Oldscudrunner Жыл бұрын

Good video. I have always wonder why concrete ties were not used near me.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Red. Glad you enjoyed. Certainly appreciate your taking the time to visit and write in tonight my friend.

@fireballxl-5748 Жыл бұрын

Love to see you again Dave! And.......more great content!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Fireball. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and take in the RR tie video my friend.

@ldc71960 Жыл бұрын

Great video As usual Dave..I'd nearly bet youve got some of my crossties under your rails.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

All of our ties come from Appalachian Timber in Sutton WV. They were all sawn from WV trees, however some time ago Appalachian merged with another tie plant in Beverly WV. At Beverly they get rough sawn ties and bridge timbers in by rail. I do not know where all those come from, so yes we could have some of your timber. Wouldn't that be so cool to find out! I toured the tie plant last year and what I do know for a fact is that they reject very, very few rough sawn ties. Thanks for the kind words and for checking out the video tonight my friend.

@bain5872 Жыл бұрын

You are doing the best job I've seen of keeping the rail open. My hat off to you my friend. America needs more like you . God bless you!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment bain5872. That was very thoughtful of you to say that. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@bain5872 Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 It was my pleasure. Rail road maintenance is one of the hardest most demanding jobs. My hats off to anyone who does it. Thanks for videos. I really enjoy your watching.

@paulrosa6762 4 ай бұрын

My wife asked me about the difference in the ties. Thanks for the info.

@ccrx6700 4 ай бұрын

And now she knows. What a great wife to want to learn about ties Paul! Very much appreciate your taking the time to check out the video on concrete vs wood ties my friend.

@jasonbabila6006 Жыл бұрын

We have both CXT and Rockla concrete ties with the McKay clips and Vossloh fasteners. We do have concrete ties in lots of the curves.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing that info with us Jason. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the video my friend

@Hyrev1 Жыл бұрын

Another very informative video Dave! It all comes down to what is correct and makes sense for the application, doesn't it? Thanks for taking the time to share all the insight you have into railroadin! Have a great rest of the weekend! 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃💯👍🇺🇸

@lamwen03 Жыл бұрын

Maybe not. His point about the height of the roadbed struck home to me, as I've seen Swedish track and tie replacement train systems, and it's only when I watched this vid that I noticed that, yes indeed, the concrete tie roadbeds are at least twice the height of his. Farther north, higher snow, whatever, but that struck home.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Jim. Yes, you are right all RR's have their own unique track problems/weather/economics, etc. There is no one tie out there that is ideally suited for every single RR going. Each RR has to use what is the best option for them, and often use different options for different sections of track. Concrete, steel, composite or wood all have their pros and cons. It is a good thing that there are options available to suit each RR's particular needs. Appreciate your taking the time to watch the video and write in my friend.

@captainkeyboard1007 8 күн бұрын

Your forum about track ties is just what I needed the most. I like concrete ties, also called by some railroads in the world, "Slippers," because more concrete ties may be made than wooden ties. Wooden ties still have their places in the railroad. Concrete ties cannot be placed on every kind of railroad structure. In the interim, wooden ties and slippers have advantages and disadvantages. This show is the best one I have ever watched.

@ccrx6700 4 күн бұрын

Thank you for the very nice comment, best show you've ever watched, wow that's quite a compliment Captain Keyboard. I'm very glad you enjoyed it. Can't thank you enough for watching and may you have a very good day my friend.

@captainkeyboard1007 4 күн бұрын

@@ccrx6700 You are welcome. I wish that if push comes to shove when someone speaks of trouble against you, I would have your back. Happy Railroading!💙⭐

@Nerd3Ddotcom Жыл бұрын

It's amazing just how complicated a stick of wood can be. I remember when UP switched out the Tehachapi Loop of concrete ties. I actually got to work on that project ... No, not the way you'd think. I'm a computer nerd. I did on site service back then. I helped them get their computers up and running in the bunk train. I was actually surprised that with in about 10 years they were replacing ties on the loop. I'd expected concrete ties to last longer. I guess the loop is really hard on the equipment.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Nerd3Ddotcom, that's very interesting to find that info out about them replacing the ties so quick. And yep railroads need qualified tech guys like you now more than ever. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@jacquesblaque7728 Жыл бұрын

Thanks, Dave for the in-depth seminar on rail ties. So many interesting facets there. Best wishes for getting mud and fines out of your cribs.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Jacques and the well wishes. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@chaddentandt9868 Жыл бұрын

Good video and thanks for the explanation of the differences.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Chad. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and take in the RR tie video my friend.

@JasperFromMS Жыл бұрын

I have been dying to ask that very question. I knew there was a reason, I just didn't know what it was. But watching this, I had several thoughts. If a concrete tie weighs 700lbs, the an 18 wheeler could haul less than 60, whereas he could haul over 200 wood ties. So your transportation cost would rise significantly. You mentioned about the difference in maintenance equipment. But I'm sure the installation equipment would be different and more expensive. As for carbon footprint, wood may not be as bad as you think. Concrete requires lime that is fired in a kiln after the limestone is mined. The mining itself will have a carbon footprint. As you pointed out, trees remove carbon from the air. When treated ties go back in the landfill, the carbon is locked up forever and the carbon cycle is broken. Perhaps you and I could getva grant to study this...😅

@cannack Жыл бұрын

yeah even if you consider the local effects of creosote the effect on the environment from concrete is absolutely gigantic in comparison, 400 million cubic yd per year in the US alone!!

@earlysda Жыл бұрын

Jasper, that's right. If the point is to reduce the carbon footprint, wood ties are probably much better for the environment than concrete ones.

@PhilJonesIII Жыл бұрын

Same could be said for harvesting the wood which has to be transported from the (hopefully) managed forest to the sawmills. There is no formula to fit all scenarios for this kind of thing because your source of material is always changing. As for the wood being buried forever, well, even the creosote degrades and there are plenty of microorganisms that will happily digest it before fungi makes short work of the wood itself. Once exposed, it starts to rot. The byproduct of that process is mostly methane.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Jasper. You are absolutely right in the triple the amount of trucks it takes to bring in concrete ties. We can get a grant as long as we state: concrete ties vs wood ties and the effects on global warming. GW in there and we got the money for sure! :-) Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@fredburban8219 Жыл бұрын

Hard to calculate the carbon footprint of the saw mill, in Arkansas small 3 man mills cut a lot of ties & send them to the creosote plant.

@fredcarlson5775 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for informing us the differences between wood and concrete ties it helped me understand how railroads decide.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Your very welcome Fred. Glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@cedarcam Жыл бұрын

Great presentation Dave. You covered a lot in this one. You are right about concrete being easier to make than it is to get timber. You have lots of it and have used it to build houses while we used stone for ours. Concrete is not as good as wood where the track bed is poor, as you said, but on high speed well maintained deep ballast they are better which is why we are only slowly changing to concrete on secondary lines. It is very costly to dig out all the old ballast and replace it with new deeper ballast needed for the concrete so in your case it would not be just a simple take out the wood and put in the concrete on the old ballast. An interesting comment by Jason, I was going to say we had the same problem here on a severe curve, and they blamed it on the use of steam locomotives on our charter trains putting so much pressure on the insulations it crushed them. These days some heavy freight goes round there as well so they cannot blame steam locomotives alone now. Creosote was banned here some years ago so possibly a reason why we use more concrete now. In York they have just relaid the track in a yard and the track looks better than on the main now with welded rails on concrete. We also tried the blocks with a rod or angle between them. They did not last long here either. I bet the cross level was hard to maintain as well as the rod bent rather than a solid support across the track

@earlysda Жыл бұрын

Concrete probably has a higher carbon footprint than wood (if you believe too much carbon is a problem) and is non-renewable.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment cedarcam. Yes I did notice on many of our videos the large number of stone houses, did not realize why until you shared that, makes sense now. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@mrfrenzy. 11 ай бұрын

@@earlysda Yes the trees have a zero carbon footprint when replanted, however the big downside of wood sleepers is the use of Creosote. It is worth the higher carbon footprint to avoid spreading lots of Creosote in the environment.

@drockjr Жыл бұрын

What an interesting topic. Thanks for sharing . I was on some rails today and saw I tie plate stamped 1937. So cool. Edit: thanks for sharing the article with Franke

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Seems like a ton of folks found this to be interesting also drockjr. Was swell of your to stop by and take in the presentation my friend.

@wtfbuddy1 Жыл бұрын

Really informative Dave, thanks for sharing your knowledge and wood is the way to go, hug a logger. Cheers and stay safe

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Pete. I'm a big advocate for the logging industry too. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the RR tie video my friend.

@alanwasserman868 Жыл бұрын

A great analysis Dave. Thanks again for another informative video.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Your very welcome Alan, glad to hear that. Appreciate your kind comment. Thank you for taking the time to watch and may you have a very good day my friend.

@alanwasserman868 Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 👍

@ericjensen9375 Жыл бұрын

This guy is great. Love the channel!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words Eric, glad you are enjoying. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@logdog8920 Жыл бұрын

As a Wisconsin logger, we cut and sell to local sawmills, what we call "Tie Logs", which are hardwood logs. They are usually Oak, Maple, Ash or Hickory. The logs are a minimum of 11" and up on the small end, and 8'8'' long so that they will square up your 7''x9'' x8'6'' long RR tie. These logs also must be sound, with no hollowness, rot, ot severe end checking, cracks or splits. Every tie is sawed out of the center of theses logs, even if the log is a large diameter over 12" and up they usually saw 1" lumber off the outside of the log untill they get down to your finished 7x9 inch tie. if the logs are more #1 and Veneer grade logs they wont saw a tie, instead they will keep sawing the log down for better grade lumber, more so in the Oaks and Maples. So not every log will yield a tie. As far as "Save a Tree" for the environment, the trees we are cutting/logging are at or near the end of their usuful life, where over the next few years they will degrade and start to die/rot/decompose. Or a storm might uproot or bust them down. So in cutting these older trees we are opening up the woods so the younger trees can grow more efficiently, and reach an older age before they too can be harvested. Nice RR vidjas U R an experianced knowedgeable Rail Roader. Thank U.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Wow Log dog what a really awesome comment! Excellent explanation and very interesting. I learned a few things tonight from that. Ties from the plant we get them are graded at the plant and they reject very few. I got to tour that place last year, it was really cool. I further did not realize about the trees being at the end of their life, yes you are right in your ideas after reading your comment I now see much better about that. Thank you for taking the time to watch and write in my friend

@logdog8920 Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 Hi, CCRX 6700, UR welcome, and thank U 2 4 the neat RR vidjas. As I have just reciently found your channel, I will keep a close eye on U. The closest I get to railroads here in west/central Wisconsin, is with the old Burlington Northern which runs along the Mississippi River. I mostly see or run next to the trains hauling logs to a sawmill along the river. Thanks again.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

@@logdog8920 👍😊

@Christiane069 Ай бұрын

As far as cutting and clearing old trees you say it help new grows. Well, when the trees dies and then fall back to the ground they provide for the natural renewal of the forest and also help natural fauna to trive. So, cutting and clearing old trees help destroy the forest. What do you care if profit is the prime motive, right.

@logdog8920 Ай бұрын

@@Christiane069 Hi, You are right in your comment about letting mother nature take care of her forest by herself, She will, The Natural Way. But this will also includes slow tree growth, Invasive species encroachment, loss of lumber and wood products, beetle and bug infestation leading to tree stress and mortality, and high increase in devastating forest fires causing loss of human and wildlife, not to mention homes, buildings and infrastructure, with high costs. In short, most of us rely on renewable wood products in our day ley lives. Thank You

@retrozmachine1189 Жыл бұрын

For a bit of colour, there is a lot of coal mining in my area, Central Queensland, Australia. The coal rail system here carries around 100 million tonnes of coal a year so you can appreciate that's a lot of wagons, and multiple locos, per train running all day, every day. It's all carried on concrete sleepers. I'm pretty sure it was wood when the rails went in initially in the late 60s and early 70s but they didn't last taking local conditions into consideration. Horses for courses, as they say.

@retrozmachine1189 Жыл бұрын

@WDHIII When I see the vast output of coal mines and the ever increasing amount of coal being shipped I can't help but wonder what sort of real impact all the green measures are really having.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing that info with us retro machine. Guess they found out what works best for them. That's nice. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@charlesseymour1482 Жыл бұрын

Very good detail on wood vs concrete ties

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Glad you liked it Charles. Appreciate your kind comment. Thank you for taking the time to watch and may you have a very good day my friend.

@bobparsons77 Жыл бұрын

Good job Dave..very informative.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words Bob. Glad you enjoyed. Please write me back and let me know what kind of ties are used in your frigid conditions. I would guess wood, just wondering how if concrete ties are used they hold up in the frigid temps you guys experience. Always is a pleasure to have you visit and write in my old friend.

@chucksdesk Жыл бұрын

I would like to make a little comment concerning trees and their contribution to taking in CO2 and releasing O2. This data is from my days at school where I got my degree in biology. I love trees and have many on my property. If you compare what trees vs other plants do in there ability to convert CO2 to O2, a grass field the same size of a field of trees, the grass field does more. The algae in the oceans convert vastly more than all the land plants. This was the data when I was in school and I doubt this has changed. Dave, thanks for your videos, I always look forward to seeing them.

@peteheyde7999 Жыл бұрын

So...should we cut more trees and don't mow our lawns so much?

@markantony3875 Жыл бұрын

Using wood is carbon neutral. Concrete plants put out vast amounts of C02 in the process of making the concrete.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the very interesting comment Charles. Great stuff you presented! Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@user-uh7ft8kp4f Ай бұрын

Trees are 24/7, grass not!

@aldonco Жыл бұрын

Not to mention if the concrete ties are cut. You may not find out until the next train comes and derails. Sometimes you use what is tried and true. The old timers had it right . Instead of fancy rf date tags an old date nail works just fine. A very informative video Dave and thank you.

@PhilJonesIII Жыл бұрын

Yea, I sat up when he started to talk about putting chips in them. The date of manufacture could be embossed on the tie easily enough. My grandfather's farmhouse had the year embossed on one of its keystones above an external arch. It's still there and reads '1733'.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment aldonco, and you are certainly right in not finding the ties until it may be too late. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@gregeconomeier1476 Жыл бұрын

Excellent video. Thanks.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Appreciate the nice comment Greg, glad you enjoyed. Thank You for taking the time to visit with us and check out the video my friend.

@morse2795 Жыл бұрын

This was a really interesting topic you hit on Dave. Your knowledge of trains and all the things associated with them always amazes me. I enjoy you taking the time to share it with us.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment William, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@steveross129 Жыл бұрын

I appreciate an analysis where the presenter presents pros and cons without editorial commentary. Good job!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Steve. That was very kind of you to say that. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and may you have a most blessed day my friend.

@ianhughes7805 Жыл бұрын

Another excellent video Dave in the UK we tend to use concrete sleepers nowadays with Pandrol style fixings fastclip is becoming the norm. Most points and switches are timber but recycled plastic sleepers are becoming more popular too

@neiloflongbeck5705 Жыл бұрын

Lots points and switches are becoming concrete sleepered/tied on replacement.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Ian, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@michaelimbesi2314 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for this extremely informative video! I learned more about railroad ties today than I ever knew there was to know. Also, I saw a South Coast Rail video that mentioned that a railroad in Massachusetts is actually recycling Amtrak’s rejected concrete ties because, since they don’t rot, they can still be used for low speed freight lines.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Michael, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@FrogandFlangeVideo Жыл бұрын

Thank you Dave. Another super informative and interesting video !!! James.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Appreciate the nice comment James, glad you enjoyed. Thank you very much for taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@lawrietaber657 Жыл бұрын

Excellent vid Dave fantastic documentary thanks.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Appreciate the kind words Lawrie, glad you had a good time. Thank you very much for taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@rtqii Жыл бұрын

I love this channel.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Richard for the very kind words. Great to hear you are having a good time with us. We certainly appreciate having you around my friend.

@rtqii Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 I have watched a lot of your videos and your content is first class. I have learned so much about railroading and your energy and enthusiasm is downright contagious.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

@@rtqii thank you 😊👍

@rtqii Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 I think you are truly a major asset to the railroad industry in general, and for the rails you work on. Your knowledge, experience, and understanding of the system is impeccable in my opinion. I sincerely want to see better pay and benefits for railroad workers like yourself, and better rail safety precautions for the industry in general.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

@@rtqii what a kind comment Richard. Thank you

@rodchallis8031 Жыл бұрын

Visiting England when I was young made me wonder about concrete vs. wood ties. I figured it was due to resources. Fewer trees in England would make wooden ties more expensive than concrete was my guess. On the environmental end of things, I do have to wonder about the carbon accounting. Making cement requires limestone to be cooked at high temperatures, and I don't think they use electricity from windmills and solar panels for that. When that limestone is cooked until it is quick lime, it's slaked with water to convert it to cement. The slaking process releases the carbon dioxide that's been sequestered for (in our general area) anywhere between 200 and 400 million years. While the burning of fossil fuels is the main culprit for carbon dioxide increase, cement manufacture is a significant player also. While trees capture carbon dioxide, it's released fairly quickly as the tree rots. Landfills are capped with clay that restricts water penetration, and while those old ties will eventually rot, that process would be slowed quite significantly, delaying that re-entry of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Assuming every tree is replaced as it's cut, I don't know if concrete ties are better for the environment over all.

@mbvoelker8448 Жыл бұрын

I don't know about hardwoods, but in the US softwoods are grown as a crop, both pulp and lumber. It's a longer cycle than corn, but farming nonetheless.

@TheEulerID Жыл бұрын

Modern railways in Europe are all now continuously welded rail and using wooden ties (called sleepers in the UK) isn't really up to that job as the rail has to be held very firmly. That has a longer life too and is quieter but it does require a very good and stable trackbed maintained to a high standard. European mainlines also tend to have higher running speeds than US ones and they are much more passenger orientated. That makes CWR and a very smooth trackbed essential. Also, those concrete ties are much more durable, especially in a wet environment.

@rodchallis8031 Жыл бұрын

@@TheEulerID Our Class 1 railways are continuous weld on wooden ties here. What's key is the underlying road bed. Dave's really up against it on his line, what with the fines escaping the old rolling stock, and I'm guessing the topography doesn't help either. But I've seen the road bed on the CN mainline here in SW Ontario, and it's immaculate. Continuous welded rail, all on wooden ties.

@rodchallis8031 Жыл бұрын

@@mbvoelker8448 People here in SW Ontario will plant hardwoods as a "crop". Most farms have a woodlot of a few acres. I have a friend with 60 acres of woodlot on an almost 200 acre farm. They told me years ago they could pay off the remaining mortgage if they let a logger in. (They opted not to) I was rather skeptical, as the woodlot was a very mature forest, probably "old growth" (there's ways to tell) that had never been cut and the land never put to the plow. So the trees were tall, yes, but skinny. Not even the diameter of a phone pole in most cases. But I ran into someone else who knew more than me and they said they take those hardwoods for making veneer, and it's very profitable. So we may look at an Oak and think it just takes too long from planting to harvest, but it's not nearly as long as one thinks before it has market value. And even if it extends beyond the lifespan of the landowner, such trees enhance property value.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Rod for sharing your thoughts with us, very interesting comment. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@mmmyykkee 9 ай бұрын

Loved the Video! been railroadin for awhile. im 35. ive worked on locomotives for years. learned how to build bridges over at Brink engineering services. then i came back and learned track maintance!

@ccrx6700 9 ай бұрын

Thank you mmmyykkee, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate very much your taking the time to check out the video. Keep on railroading my friend!

@dennisb-trains23 Жыл бұрын

Great video Dave! I love these. So much valuable learning information. Wonderful explanations. 👍

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Dennis, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@keithjurena9319 Жыл бұрын

Quite a few cement kilns use shredded ties as additional fuel. Other alternative kiln fuels are shredded tires and plastic medical waste.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing that Keith, we sell coal to a cement plant somewhere in Florida. Some power plants in other parts of the country use ties as fuel also. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@SuperAWaC Жыл бұрын

one thing that people don't realize is that concrete and wood ties also provide a very different ride, especially in steam locomotives, because the ties are much more rigid

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

You are absolutely right in that SuperAWaC. Much stiffer ride on concrete. Thank you for sharing that. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@Milepost1965 Жыл бұрын

Hello from Dallas Texas, God bless you Dave thank you for everything you do.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Donnie, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@garykuipers2696 Жыл бұрын

Once again you outdid yourself on this presentation. Well presented facts, thanks Dave.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the very kind words Gary. Could have talked for a whole day on the differences. Always is a pleasure to have you visit and hear from you my good friend.

@williamswindle5445 Жыл бұрын

I've never seen those with the angle iron. The rr still uses the solid concrete ties in the town where I live.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

They are very old style and no one makes them anymore Bill as you can see why. Thank you for dropping by and taking in tonight's video on ties my friend.

@RodUding Жыл бұрын

I've seen some interesting track that has plastic ties and steel ties also. It's the spur that runs from the BNSF main to Fort Leonard Wood

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing that with us Rod. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and take in the RR tie video my friend.

@RodUding Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 Thanks. It was quite fascinating. It came out at a time also where the BNSF is getting ready to replace ties on a main line that I drive over every day. Rather neat to see all the ties laid out along the track

@hugodesrosiers-plaisance3156 Жыл бұрын

Hey Dave! I know nothing about trains but I've always loved the sound of them. Your amazing enthusiasm won me over and I'll be learning a lot from your channel, I think. Cheers!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the very nice comment Hugo. Appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the tie show my friend.

@stephaniesinger1159 Жыл бұрын

I enjoy you're videos, you're very knowledgeable and funny.....! Makes me smile..!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the very nice comment Stephanie, that was really thoughtful of you to say that. We appreciate your taking the time to check out the video my friend.

@kenharbin3440 Жыл бұрын

For light weight, high speed passenger service concrete provides superior ride performance over wood. Conversely, slower, heavier, longer trains need the endurance and flexibility of wood. Creosote is a generic term than can reference any one of 2000 wood preserving chemical mixtures and is not always carcinogenic. Personally I prefer good old fashioned coal tar. Nothing but mostly long carbon chains that create a great water and insect barrier. I don't like some of the new tie treatments as they smell of pure insecticide. Oh, and Alco the Railroad Dog approves of this video. I enjoyed also.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Ken and Alco, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@jonass9347 Жыл бұрын

European countries have enough wood for wooden sleepers. I mean, it was common until the 1960s. Wooden sleepers are mainly used in low speed areas. Low frequency of trains. Mainly in marshalling yards, still to be found. Since the damage in the event of a derailment is significantly lower. important for the extent of the damage is the weight per axle (and speed), we have only max 48501 pounds per axle. yes the concrete sleeper gets a damage, usually at 15 mp/h (shunting speed) not enough to damage the gauge. Witnessed the aftermath of 3 those derailments, because people are stupid. None higher speed so far. Rarely still used on lines that are neither dead nor alive at slower speeds. However, when going faster than 80-100 mp/h, I prefer concrete sleepers. Everything around 40-50 mp/h, wood is fine. Without wanting to offend you, your ballast looks more like mud with sprinkles. So far i didnt notice a difference between wooden and concrete sleepers in bad ballast, i will keep an eye on it. The most important thing is of course numbers, most accidents happen us during shunting. Everything has advantages and disadvantages, old wooden sleepers are disposed of separately as hazardous material here - huge cost. Sleepers that are not prestressed are useless. I get behind that. American train lines are usually only for freight, with freight trains usually only an "economic" damage. Therefore, it can be offset, from a certain point, regular but not frequent accidents are cheaper than maintenance to prevent this. (Tracks and cars) At least in the short term - thats my take away. Safety first, it costs and takes time - not the best for the CEO but the right thing to do. imo. Bonus point for concrete sleepers, usually u get machine to install em. Wooden are done way to often only with hand tools - thats gets rough if a crew mate is sick. best wishes

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the excellent comment Jonas. I don't know how anyone could put concrete ties in by hand, it's hard enough with wood. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@KWMeikle Жыл бұрын

Very concise and informative video. Thanks for posting.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Kevin for the very nice comment. Always is a pleasure to have you visit and hear from you my friend.

@briankemp5206 Жыл бұрын

Very informative Dave! Thanks for sharing.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words Brian. Always a pleasure to have you pay us a visit and write in my friend. We do appreciate all the great support you have given the channel for such a long time now.

@Sven_Okas1967 Жыл бұрын

Hello Dave, I'll link you to a video of how concrete sleepers of the type B-70 are manufactured in Germany. The concrete sleepers, which you saw in my linked video with the cleaning machine, had been in place since about 1996. The well-preserved concrete sleepers are still good for any side tracks or or branch lines. A very well-made concrete sleeper will last about 30-40 years in Europe. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/epmbpq-qyODJZIE.html Thanks for that video and greetings from Berlin/ Germany. Sven

@rtqii Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your post. I checked out your link.

@Sven_Okas1967 Жыл бұрын

@@rtqii Thanks

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing that with us Sven. Appreciate your taking the time to pay a visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@lawless201 Жыл бұрын

I watched your link, gotta admire those German engineers, they sure know how to make machines. It's impressive just how automated they got the process. Thanx for the link.

@jimpokorny4598 Жыл бұрын

Well Dave now I see and heard all the answers to the questions I had for you on ties a few videos back. I'm amazed on the difference between wood and concrete. WOOD IS THE Winner !! Thanks again Dave for lots of great information and time well spent doing these videos for everyone. 👍👍

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Jim, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@rogerphelps9939 Жыл бұрын

No it isn't. In parts of the world where they take their railways seriously, it is all concrete. Here in the UK wood was ditched years ago.

@mugendrewable Жыл бұрын

Perfect timing! I was going to start looking into this this week👍

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words MugenDrew. This video is a good place to start, there is a whole lot more than what I could cover in such a short video. Every RR has it's own unique situations and environment and tonnage rates, so there is no one tie does it all. Each RR has to choose what is best for their own situations on each different sections of track they have. Thank you for taking the time to check out the video and write in my friend.

@mugendrewable Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 Thank you for all of your video content! Great railroading channel 👍!

@johnathanlewis2049 Жыл бұрын

Hi Dave. Great video and a lot of good information. Have a great day!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Johnathan, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@johnnycee5179 Жыл бұрын

Has it been determined that the type of ballast you use is the best for the various reasons that a ballast type is chosen for any particular area? I don't know but imagine the type of tie you use would have some bearing on the ballast you use as well correct? I'm pretty ignorant concerning such things and try to have some kind reasonability behind such questions. I really like you Dave, your a good man and I very much appreciate the opportunities presented you to teach what I see as a greater appreciation for the work involved in such an important form if transportation.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Johnny. The ballast we have is limestone because it's what is available here to us from a local quarry. We cannot afford granite. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and take in the RR tie video my friend.

@paulsmith5398 Жыл бұрын

Some years ago, the Monticello Railway Museum, in conjunction with the University Of Illinois Railroad Engineering Division, did an experiment with some concrete ties to test their durability next to some wood ties at a crossing in the museum's small railroad yard. Its been quite a few years since ive been there, so i dont know how the experiment turned out.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Paul, I would love to know the answer if you ever do find it out. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@faisal_lhim Жыл бұрын

A very good information. I gained more knowledge now. Thanks.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Appreciate the kind words Faisal Aziz, glad you had a good time. Thank you very much for taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@peterjhillier7659 Жыл бұрын

What a very good Video, back along before I retired I was a PW Engineer in SW Britain, although the Branch I worked on during the Week had mainly Timber Sleepers at weekend I worked on the Mainline where different types of Concrete Sleepers were used. On the our Branch which was jointed Track we did all the maintenance , eg packing, realignment, Sleeper/Rail changing by hand but on the Mainline where it was CWR Concrete Track we had Tampers and Stone Blowers to pack and align the Track. Rail changing and stressing was done by hand, and we’d bar in 600 foots of Rail by hand and clip it up by hand too after stressing. I remember one night I spent 10 Hours on the wrong end of a Key Hammer (Spike Maul) knocking out rusted rail Clips for replacement. Good old Days.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Peter for taking the time to watch the video and write in with your thoughts. May you have a most blessed day my friend.

@clarklindquist8137 Жыл бұрын

Why would some use steel

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

I will do a future video on steel ties at some point Clark and answer all your questions in that one. Thank you for visiting with us tonight and writing in my friend.

@clarklindquist8137 Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 Thank you very much. I saw a video where they was replacing wood with steel in a tunnel. If anyone would know the pros and cons you would. Thanks again my friend

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

@@clarklindquist8137 👍😊

@lynnkramer1211 Жыл бұрын

I would point out that wood is a renewable resource. while concrete must be manufactured through mining and baking with petrochemicals. Creosote and specifically pentathol is an environmental nightmare and a carcinogen.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing that info with us Lynn. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and take in the RR tie video my friend.

@graydenmacleod4838 7 ай бұрын

Wood rail road ties are soaked in creasote

@graydenmacleod4838 7 ай бұрын

Concrete is not manufactured by the chemicals or bs listed

@russelltrupia4479 Жыл бұрын

Wow Dave excellent class on concrete ties, answered all my questions and then some.👍👍

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Russell. All RR's have their own unique track problems/weather/economics, etc. There is no one tie out there that is ideally suited for every single RR going. Each RR has to use what is the best option for them, and often use different options for different sections of track. Concrete, steel, composite or wood all have their pros and cons. Appreciate your taking the time to watch the video and write in my friend.

@russelltrupia4479 Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 Thanks Dave

@misha4422 Жыл бұрын

Thank you. I learned a lot of things I did not know. Always a good day when that happens.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Mike, glad you enjoyed. We appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@canyonpast Жыл бұрын

Great video, lots of mind blowing information. I enjoy your videos.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Canyonpast. All RR's have their own unique track problems/weather/economics, etc. There is no one tie out there that is ideally suited for every single RR going. Each RR has to use what is the best option for them, and often use different options for different sections of track. Concrete, steel, composite or wood all have their pros and cons. It is a good thing that there are options available to suit each RR's particular needs. Appreciate your taking the time to watch the video and write in my friend.

@wbwarren57 Жыл бұрын

Great video! I never in my wildest dreams, imagined that I needed to know about the difference between wood and concrete ties, but the depth of your knowledge and your clear explanation convinced me to watch all the way to the end of this video and actually learn something that I now know that I did, indeed need to know! Thank you!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment and yes, everyone needs to know the difference in those 2 types of ties William..... LOL Appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and check out the tie show my friend.

@wbwarren57 Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 Love your videos! Stumbled on them and am now hooked. Some questions: 1. How many miles of track do you oversee? 2. How many 39 foot rail sticks per mile? 250 or so? 3. How many ties per mile? 2600 or so? 4. You seem to work alone a lot handling powerful tools and operating big machines. Is that dangerous? Thank you for making the videos - they are great and really give me a real appreciation of how tough and important your work is.

@texaswonderer5564 Жыл бұрын

Good video as always.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the kind words Wondering Lens. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and take in the RR tie video my friend.

@johncloar1692 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Dave for another informative video.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Your always welcome John, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@cranstonwilliamsworth9644 Жыл бұрын

Lots of good info, thanks for sharing again!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Cranston, glad you enjoyed. We appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@mikelockhart1827 Жыл бұрын

Dave you had another really good video this evening I really enjoyed it . Dave i have been watching some of your older videos witch i like watch i to look back some ones that really haven't looked at yet.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the very nice comment Mike, glad you are enjoying all the home movies. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video and write in my friend

@2xKTfc Жыл бұрын

Eight miles of chewed up track! That would be "fun" to clean up with concrete ties... sheesh. I really appreciate all the info in your video, including the material in the end. You'd never know just how complex the railroad is from just looking at a section of track!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment 2xKTfc, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@SashaXXY Жыл бұрын

Very interesting! Thank you for the upload!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Sasha for the nice comment, glad you enjoyed. We certainly appreciate your taking the time to watch and write in my friend.

@SashaXXY Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 Stay awesome! 🙂

@andrewthacker114 Жыл бұрын

Very interesting, thanks Dave

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Nice to hear you had a good time Andrew. Always is a pleasure to have you stop by and write in my friend.

@4everdc302 Жыл бұрын

Schools in. Fantastic overview Dave👍👷‍♂️⛏️🚂🇨🇦🇺🇲 always checked in.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Doug, always a great night when I hear from you. Edison is fine with wood ties, concrete not needed. Appreciate always your paying us a visit my friend.

@PlanetMojo Жыл бұрын

Very interesting information Dave! I never thought about all of the different places a tie can be used, and how they can customize them to match that - I always pictured just one variety!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Mojo. All RR's have their own unique track problems/weather/economics, etc. There is no one tie out there that is ideally suited for every single RR going. Each RR has to use what is the best option for them, and often use different options for different sections of track. Concrete, steel, composite or wood all have their pros and cons. It is a good thing that there are options available to suit each RR's particular needs. Appreciate your taking the time to watch the video and write in my friend.

@wilburroth5150 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Dave, I found that info very interesting. Always wondered about concrete ties.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Wilbur, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@llapmsp Жыл бұрын

Great video and content. Keep the great stuff coming.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Mike. Glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@valeriebassett3107 Жыл бұрын

Boy this video had a lot of info to chew on. Haha We are going to watch this at least one more time, maybe more. Great video as always. We have learned a lot from you and others that commented. Just fantastic from everyone! Thanks for sharing.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Valerie, glad you enjoyed. Hope you got a big bowl of pop corn handy if you're going to watch more than once.... :-) Extra butter too..... Appreciate your taking the time to visit and check out the railroad tie video my friend

@rikardlalic7275 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the information you provide. I learned a lot from you.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Rikard for the really nice comment and for taking the time to watch. Happy rails to you until we meet again my friend.

@benjaminpettis5468 Жыл бұрын

Great Video on Railroad Ties.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the very nice comment Benjamin, glad you enjoyed. Appreciate your taking the time to visit with us and watch my friend.

@TriGogglin Жыл бұрын

Definitely an education in thus video.. wow lots of great info Dave. In my ravels, the only place I see concrete is passenger service areas but freight runs on the same line. Never seen the angle iron type, definitely a bad idea. And never knew the 1 wheel derailment would crack a solid tie in half. Make me think twice when railfanning those areas.. Great video today Dave.. Great great stuff. Keep up the great work. Be safe out there..

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Pappy. All RR's have their own unique track problems/weather/economics, etc. There is no one tie out there that is ideally suited for every single RR going. Each RR has to use what is the best option for them, and often use different options for different sections of track. Concrete, steel, composite or wood all have their pros and cons. It is a good thing that there are options available to suit each RR's particular needs. Appreciate your taking the time to watch the video and write in my friend.

@gmhard Жыл бұрын

I stumbled up on this channel and for the life of me can’t remember how! Your channel has become one of my favorites! Keep up the fun content!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment George, glad you are enjoying the home movies and we are pleased to have you with us. Appreciate your taking the time to check out the video my friend.

@gmhard Жыл бұрын

@@ccrx6700 thank you for the great reply!! Your demeanor is addicting my friend!! Thanks again! Be safe buddy!

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

@georgeh75 thank you 👍😊

@dorothycole8611 Жыл бұрын

Lot of interesting information, and well presented.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Appreciate the kind words , glad you had a good time. Thank you very much for taking the time to watch and write in.

@lewistodd9242 Жыл бұрын

Good morning Dave. This is a very interesting video. I like how you show the positive vs negative aspects of the different types of ties. Have a great day my friend.

@ccrx6700 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for the nice comment Lewis. All RR's have their own unique track problems/weather/economics, etc. There is no one tie out there that is ideally suited for every single RR going. Each RR has to use what is the best option for them, and often use different options for different sections of track. Concrete, steel, composite or wood all have their pros and cons. It is a good thing that there are options available to suit each RR's particular needs. Appreciate your taking the time to watch the video and write in my friend.