by F-line to Dudley via Park
BandA wrote:If some of the stone cars derail, just tip them over and spread it on the tracks - they probably need the ballast. Use duct tape to mend the ties. If that is not possible, replace the ties with overgrown trees cut along the ROW.CNZR redid a large portion of the Armory Branch with salvage concrete ties from Amtrak. When the defective Rocla ties were replaced CDOT sifted through the good-condition ones and made a donation. They're perfectly fine for a minimal-maintenance Class 1 line, and the price certainly can't be beat. I haven't heard of the MBTA doing anything similar with their concrete tie replacements, so I don't think there's a supply of them remaining.
On a serious note, would cement ties work better than wooden ties in swampy areas?
Of course, CNZR operates on CDOT-owned track so they would be natural recipients. The privately-owned Maybrook--especially the unused west end--isn't going to get any grants until HRCC sells it to the state. And the state, of course, pulled all its grant apps for Housy because past awards of ties and rail outright disappeared (suspected snuck across the border onto their derailment-happy, privately-owned MA track).