How much is the cost of new 8ft treated ties?Last night, a group of young adults tried to take a truck load of new ties from our trolley barn facility. Fortunately for us, some ties began to spill out of their truck...in front of a passing police car! The ties have been returned, the question is this a misdemeanor or something more serious. Ken MiddlebrookCalifornia Trolley and Railroad Corporation

The last load of new 6" x 8" x 8 1/2 foot long ties we obtained were about $26 each (a year ago) and we are anticipating the next order will be about $28-30 each tie. That's for full truckloads (280 ties), delivered to our site.So, how many ties went for a ride (fortunately, a brief ride)?We always keep ties (new and relay) in areas that are secured by gates and/or fences. We once surprised a Boy Scout group, complete with scoutmaster, at 10:30 on a Saturday night, loading a tag-along trailer wih relay ties... "so-and-so said we could take these". Yeah, and late Saturday night was the ONLY time you guys could come and get them?

Unknown, but enough to start spilling out of the truck after a few blocks. Nonetheless after making the theives return the ties, SJPD impounded their truck.These guys knew what they wanted since they had left alone our nearby stack of relay ties.

If the value of the theft is under 100 dollars it is a misdemeaner. if it is over the felony. This was a few years ago in California. i don't know what inflation has done to the numbers.

What we've done to keep ties from growing legs is put a stick of bent-up rail over the pile, or stack a few of the concrete ties we got from a power plant on top of the bundles of wood ties. Amazing how effective this is! :o)The quote of $25-30 per tie seems about right to me. BTW, Acme Tie Co. is our supplier of choice and have been real good to work with.

We have access to some ties about 2 hours away. What is the most efficient way for two people to move these ties?

Having moved a lot of ties in the past, I've found that a Bobcat with forks and a flatbed dump truck work real well for even just one person to move them.

Hi One of the Professors at the university works with a company that takes recycled plastic and produces ties from it. It is actually looking to be a good product for rail use since it is resistant to all the things that treated wooden ties are not. And they are not as harsh on the rail or roadbed as Concrete ties are. The life expanctcy is around 100 years for each tie. Whether this holds true or not I dont know. Ther is a test bed in Pueblo Colorado where a train is running 24/7 testing them.At this point in time the cost of Plastic ties are around $100 each, I think but I can find out for sure. So at that price wooden ties are a more cost effective source right now.Just an added thought for tie talk.Andrew

We had a fair quantity of ties donated to us on a U-pick basis. We dragged them about with a Bobcat and tie tongs, and then loaded them on a logging truck that had its own crane. If there is any logging in your territory there should be contractors with these trucks available.

In talking to some of the Strasburg guys, I found out they're using Azobe (sp?) ties. These are an exotic hardwood from Africa. Maybe one of those guys can elaborate?I've been trying to convince the Powers That Be at SCRM to try some of these more durable ties, but the higher initial cost means our track work money won't go as far.