Railroad Forums 

  • Plastic railroad ties

  • General discussion about railroad operations, related facilities, maps, and other resources.
General discussion about railroad operations, related facilities, maps, and other resources.

Moderator: Robert Paniagua

 #461720  by nessman
 
Are there any railroads out there using plastic road ties? I'm looking for actual use - not evaluation, but in actual tie replacement.

 #468762  by scharnhorst
 
This looks like a neat idea.

Web Page for Tietek
http://www.tietek.com/product/process.html

Anouther company that makes Rubber and Plastic R.R. Ties.
http://www.rubberandplasticproducts.com ... dties.html

Chicago Transit Athority Press release on the useing of plastic railroad ties:
https://www.yourcta.com/news/archpress. ... eid=114358

 #484455  by Flat-Wheeler
 
Yeah, but it's gotta be a son-of-a-b@#% to bang home a spike in it !
Ever try pounding a nail into a hockey puck ? Imagine a spike !

 #484505  by Sir Ray
 
FlatWheeler wrote:Yeah, but it's gotta be a son-of-a-b@#% to bang home a spike in it !
Ever try pounding a nail into a hockey puck ? Imagine a spike!
Well, I suppose like plastic boards for your deck (which are suppose to take regular nails & screws, but some accounts differ), the texture and make-up of the plastic ties are different from other types of hard plastic or rubber (like hockey pucks).
The TieTek site gives this number for 'Spike Insertion Force': 4,000 Lbs.
Anyone know how that compares to standard wood ties?

 #484561  by pennsy
 
Hi All,

According to "Plastics Engineering" magazine, the technical publication of the Society of Plastics Engineers, these ties, essentially composite plastics, are gaining in popularity, and although they are somewhat pricey compared to lumber, they last longer and do not require replacement as often. As they become more popular, and less pricey, and hold up well compared to concrete ties, you will undoubtedly see more and more of them.

 #484953  by D.Carleton
 
A bunch of years ago I looked into the purchase of some composite ties for a railroad museum project/maintenance. It didn't happen but one of the stipulations of purchase was a tutorial on the tie installation. Unfortunately, I don't have any more information than that.

 #484997  by scharnhorst
 
this maybe a little off topic but I saw it once in British Columbia where Canadian Forest Products had a Steel Beam in place for every 4th tie. I would have to think that this was to help prevent the rail from spliting out under the loco?