Railroad ties are a popular fixture in landscape design. After all, it is a good way to prevent old materials from being wasted. If the railroad is no longer being used, many homeowners think it might be good to take the materials and use them to edge your garden beds or to support retaining walls.
What are railroad ties treated with?
Wooden railroad ties are treated with toxic and non-toxic preservatives, while some of them are not treated at all. One of the most used preservatives to treat the wood railroad ties against rotting, insect infestation and few other timber diseases, is Creosote. Some of the other toxic preservatives used to treat railroad ties are pentachlorophenol and chromated copper arsenate.
Where to buy railroad ties?
Zebra was the last stop along the Osage River before reaching the railroad spur at Bagnell, where most of the ties were sold to be taken by train to other markets.
Are used railroad ties safe?
While older railroad ties that no longer have a strong smell or ooze creosote should be safe, it's still a risk, especially if you're using the wood in garden areas or where people will come into contact with the wood. Better Homes & Gardens: Are Railroad Ties OK to Use to Construct Vegetable Gardens?
What are the dangers of treated railroad ties?
- Wood treated with other preservatives approved by EPA;
- Wood-alternative and composite materials (including steel, fiberglass-reinforced concrete, laminated wood); and
- Species of wood that are resistant to pests.
What can you make out of old railroad ties?
Railroad ties are effective for various creative uses, such as lining plant beds, walkways, driveways, and fences. They can also be used to landscape timbers and retain walls. By reusing railroad ties in this manner, you can ensure that they do not end up burnt or in landfills.
Are railroad ties still used?
There are several reasons why railroads continue to use wooden ties to support their steel rails. Originally, back in the pre- and early 1900s, wood was the only option, as well as being readily available in North America, economical, and flexible.
How much is a railroad tie worth?
With hardwood ties, you pay about $12 for a log. The tie is worth about $20. The sideboards may be $3-4 per log if it's junky, maybe more if they are red oak #1 com or better. So if you can do 100 ties a day you can earn maybe $1100 a day before expenses.
Can I use railroad ties for a retaining wall?
A Deadman railroad tie is a railroad tie that runs perpendicular to the retaining wall and into the hill that you are building the retaining wall against. Deadman ties are great for ensuring the retaining wall is as solid as possible. We recommend using a deadman railroad tie every 20 feet of your retaining wall.
Is it OK to cut railroad ties with a chainsaw?
1:044:34Cutting Railroad Ties with a Chainsaw vs Reciprocating Saw - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what you'll find is as you're cutting with your nice chainsaw you'll hit one of those rocks andMoreSo what you'll find is as you're cutting with your nice chainsaw you'll hit one of those rocks and it'll instantly dull the chain on your chainsaw.
Is it OK to use railroad ties for garden?
Gases released from creosote are also harmful in a closed space, so railroad ties should not be used in a greenhouse or indoors. Many other materials can be used for constructing a raised bed, so there is no reason to give up the idea.
How much does an 8ft railroad tie weigh?
They range from 100 to 300 pounds. Railroad ties can weigh as much as 200 pounds.
Why do railroad nails have numbers?
They are used, much like the railroads did, to indicate when a utility pole is set or when it is treated. Utilities, like the railroads, also use code and letter nails for the same purposes as did the railroads.
How heavy is a railroad tie?
200 poundsThe weight of a railroad tie depends on their size and specifications. They can range anywhere from 100 to 300 pounds. The majority of railroad ties weigh close to 200 pounds.
What is the cheapest material for a retaining wall?
The cheapest type of retaining wall is poured concrete. Prices start at $4.30 per square foot for poured concrete, $5.65 for interlocking concrete block, $6.15 for pressure-treated pine, and about $11 for stone. Installation or supplies, such as drainage stone or filter fabric, are not included.
How do you anchor a railroad tie to the ground?
4:3210:37How to Landscape with Railroad Ties - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn through the other one as well locking the two together and then hammering it down a couple feetMoreIn through the other one as well locking the two together and then hammering it down a couple feet into the ground as well so this really holds nicely.
What is a Deadman retaining wall?
The deadman anchor consists of a timber tie installed perpendicular to the wall face and attached to both the wall face and a timber cross plate. The length of the deadman anchor should equal the height of your wall. So a 4-ft tall wall would require 4-ft long deadman anchors.
What do railroad companies do with old ties?
Many of the used ties, which on average are 30 years old, are burned to produce heat and electricity, and the remainder are recycled as landscaping timbers or disposed of in landfills, according to Nicole Labbé, Pyoungchung Kim, and their colleagues at the University of Tennessee's Center for Renewable Carbon.
What can I use instead of railroad ties?
A better choice would be Pecky Cedar and Alaskan Yellow Cedar. You'll get the same gorgeous look, without the high cost. While many landscape timbers are resistant to rot, they are not as resistant as pressure-treated lumber or railroad ties.
Why are railroad ties replaced?
Railway ties regularly need replacing for track maintenance. The machine uses a tie changer, which is capable of removing ballast on the tracks.
Is creosote still used in railroad ties?
The railroad industry has more than a century of experience using creosote- treated railroad ties. The vast majority of ties currently purchased are creosote and creosote/borate treated wood. Experience and testing continue to support the use of creosote preservation for wood ties.
What is a railroad tie?
Railroad ties, also known as crossties or sleepers are the primary lateral support for the rails themselves, anchoring the track and giving it a solid, sound base upon which trains can pass over. Throughout the years crosstie technology has improved to the point that today, the common hardwood tie which has been properly treated with creosote can ...
What is the most common component of a railroad tie?
There are also important components that hold railroad ties firmly to the rails. The most common of these in the simple spike, which is a basic anchor that is driven into the tie. However, there is also the tie plate, in which the spikes are driven into.
What is ballast in railroads?
Ballast (usually crushed stone), as it is known, is another important part of railroad infrastructure.
Why were strap rails used in railroads?
Due to weight and cost large, heavy stone blocks soon lost their luster (not to mention that they offered little flexibility) and when strap rail became widely used in the early 19th century simple wooden planks were used as railroad ties to hold the entire track structure together.
Why do railroads use wood?
First, of course, is that they provide sufficient strength and can firmly hold railroad spikes in place . However, wood is also relatively inexpensive compared to other materials such as concrete and composite ties.
What wood is used for railroad ties?
Some of these woods include cherry, chestnut, elm, hemlock, hickory, and walnut.
How thick are railroad tie ties?
However, as technologies improved so did railroad tie construction and today they have a uniform size and thickness, usually at least 8-10 inches thick and about 8-10 feet in length, depending on what they are being used for (i.e., for switch outs or along a main line).
What is a railroad tie?
A railroad tie also called a crosstie is a rectangular piece of wood (prestressed concrete, stone and plastics in some situations) which supports the railroad tracks. As any other wood product exposed to the outdoors environment, in order to stay preserved for extended periods of time, it needs to be treated.
What is used to treat railroad ties?
Wooden railroad ties are treated with toxic and non-toxic preservatives, while some of them are not treated at all. One of the most used preservatives to treat the wood railroad ties against rotting, insect infestation and few other timber diseases, is Creosote.
What are the toxic preservatives used to treat railroad ties?
Some of the other toxic preservatives used to treat railroad ties are pentachlorophenol and chromated copper arsenate . As mentioned above, there are few non-toxic treatments for railroad ties, which are copper azole or micronized copper.
What kind of wood is used to make railroad ties?
There are two types of wood used for making the railroad ties, softwood and hardwood. Softwood railroad ties are easier to be produced, cheaper and lighter, largely available but also more susceptible to wear. Examples of softwood used to make railroad ties are douglas fir and juniper.
How long does a railroad tie last?
If a piece of hardwood railroad tie is treated, it can last for over 30 years, out surviving the other materials used for this purpose. It is environmentally friendly. Performs great under heavy weight of a train, trepidation which simply makes it a great material for this purpose.
What is creosote used for?
The product resulting with this active ingredient is used to treat wood against termites, fungi and few other pests. Creosote used for treating railroad ties is oil based, where the oil also acts like a lubricant between the wooden tie and the plate, reducing the friction.
What is railroad tie?
Railroad ties are thick, durable, cheap, recycled wood that forms long-lasting barriers for beds, paths, and retaining walls. You see them everywhere and many consider their distressed appearance naturally attractive. The wood is preserved by soaking it in creosote, which is composed of over 300 chemicals, many of them toxic and persistent in soil.
What to do if wood ties break?
Wear long sleeves and pants, a mask, eye protection, and thick gloves. If the wood is likely to break apart, consult with a professional team that can ensure removal of all the pieces safely. Once the ties are out, they should be disposed of. Whatever you do, don’t burn the ties!
Is railroad ties safe for gardening?
Image by PaulMaguire. Railroad ties are common in older landscapes, but are old railroad ties safe for gardening? Railroad ties are treated wood , steeped in a toxic stew of chemicals, chief of which is creosote. You can find old railroad ties for sale even at garden centers, which makes the question confusing.
Do you burn railroad ties?
Whatever you do, don’t burn the ties! This releases toxic gases that can be even more dangerous than simple topical contamination. The railroad ties in vegetable gardens that are so common as raised bed barriers pose the worst threat. In these areas, the soil should definitely be removed to a depth of several inches.
How to make a railroad ties garden?
Make sure it’s level. Cut the railroad ties to the desired length using a saw. Lay the ties in the trench in a row, making sure there’s no space between each tie end and the one next to it.
What is railroad tie made of?
The problem with railroad ties is that they’re often made from treated wood. That type of wood has been used for railroad tracks since John Stevens, the father of American railroads, went into business.
What is CCA in railroad ties?
Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) As if creosote in railroad ties was not enough to deter insects and give the wood ties durability, another chemical compound was added while processing the wood ties. That compound is chromated copper arsenate.
Can you grow fruit trees in railroad ties?
Not so fast. Before you consider growing any edible fruit trees or veggies in your garden, you should have the soil tested first. The tests would indicate how much contamination is still in the soil. According to the EPA guidelines, you should never plant anything in soil that had railroad ties planted in it before.
Is it safe to use old railroad ties?
And since they’re made of elements that occur in nature and pose no health risk to humans or animals, they’re by far a safer option to old railroad ties. Barn Beams: The main attraction that old railroad ties offered to gardeners and developers alike were that they were cheap and ready for recycling.
Can you burn railroad ties?
Also, the sawdust resulting from cutting the ties off is too dangerous to inhale. Another thing you should never do with the pile of railroad ties in your garden is burn them.
Can railroad ties be used in garden beds?
Railroad Ties For Garden Beds – Safety Concerns And Alternatives. The question of the safety of railroad ties in garden beds has been raised many times. So much so that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued directives to ban their use not just in gardens but near residential areas in general. Does that mean that railroad ties ...
Is it illegal to use old railroad ties?
So it's actually illegal to use old railroad ties in a home landscape.
Is railroad ties legal in Maryland?
Railroad Ties are NOT Legal for Home Landscape Use. Q: Pattie writes: "I recently bought a house just over the Pennsylvania border in Maryland. The previous owner had many garden beds, and the one he used for vegetables had old timbers surrounding it that looked questionable.
What are railroad ties treated with?
Railroad ties are treated with chemical preservatives, such as creosote and chromated copper arsenate . Both of these chemicals are banned for residential use, and they're potentially harmful to humans and plants. Make sure you understand the risks of using creosote railroad ties in your landscaping. Advertisement.
Do railroad ties cause cancer?
Long-term, direct skin exposure to the coal tar creosote in railroad ties, as with all forms of creosote, has been linked to cancer of the skin and scrotum. While railroad ties have weathered by the time they are retired by the railroads, it's recommended to wear long sleeves, pants and work gloves when handling them and washing these separately ...
Can you burn railroad ties in a fireplace?
You should avoid inhaling creosote vapors, which can be released by heat. The vapors of creosote tars can build up, as in chimneys. Railroad ties should never be burned in fireplaces or outdoors. Advertisement.
Can railroad ties be used to build raised beds?
Railroad ties seem like an inexpensive way to build raised beds or garden borders , but the dangers of treated railroad ties can outweigh the cost savings. The chemicals can seep into the ground and cause issues, especially if you see creosote leaking out of the wood. Contamination of the ground can cause the plants to die.
Can railroad ties cause water contamination?
Water Contamination Dangers. The dangers of treated railroad ties aren't limited to you and your family. Railroad ties can leach creosote into soil and water systems. Eating food or drinking water with high levels of creosote may cause burning in the mouth and throat, stomach pains, severe skin irritation, convulsions, ...
Can you burn treated railroad ties?
Another one of the dangers of treated railroad ties is inhalation. If you have old railroad ties on your property that you want to get rid of, you should never burn them. Burning can release toxins in the air, which can be dangerous to respiratory health. You should also avoid inhaling sawdust from creosote treated wood.
Can railroad ties cause skin blisters?
Treated railroad ties can cause skin blistering with prolonged contact or respiratory damage when inhaled during burning or cutting. Chemicals can seep into soil and groundwater, contaminating local ecosystems.