When did CRRNJ begin using and end using date spikes?
Where on the tie were they normally located?
Where on the tie were they normally located?
Bring back the Slumbercoaches!!
The CRRofNJ did NOT use date nails, however they did use 4 different CODE NAILS to distinguish classes of treated ties.
Group TA ties were Ashes, Hickories, Honey Locust or Red Oak
Group TC ties were Beech, Birches, Cherry, Gum or Hard Maple
The nail heads are the same size as "typical" nails, however the nails are only about 1 1/4 inch long, they are steel with indented characters type (07).
The four different types are 2 over TA; 2 over TC, 3 over TA and 4 over TC.
They are found in the ENDS of ties and there may have been only one or so per tie bundle, since they are so short, they tended to just fall out and the likelyhood of finding any today, even on track abandon long ago is slim.
The years that they were used is unknown.
Occasionally you may find L&NE nails in CNJ ties, since the CNJ controlled the LNE, these are probably re-used ties.
Let me know if you have any more date nail questions.