Does anyone have any experience with the use of Azobe wood as a crosstie? If you're like me and had never heard of this type of wood, go to

www.azobe.com

for more information.

G. Mark Ray - TVRM

TVRM Shop Updates by Steve Freer
aw90h@cs.com

Mark - I believe Nawlins Public Transit uses this wood - or something very like it - when renewing crossties in the trolley line. Termites break their teeth on it and saws and drills dull very quickly.

Dave

irondave@bellsouth.net

The $64 question is, how much do these ties cost, compared to traditional treated crossties?

hi_plain@yahoo.com

These ties have been available for about 10 years now, but shortlines are only recently discovering them. I think Strasburg has been using them for several years.

The big roads convert to concrete where tie life is short, rather than going to a more expensive, even if more durable, wood tie. That's not usually cost effective for shortlines and tourist operations, but these things might be.

They last a lot longer than treated softwood or hardwood ties.

If I recall the NPS Alternatives Study correctly, I believe the EBT used/uses Azobe ties.

Glenn


christenseng@altavista.com

They are used at the Strasburg Rail Road on the mainline. They are advertised to have 3 times the life and holding power of a creosoted oak tie. They are completely untreated so there isn't, and there won't be any hazardous waste issues in disposing of them, not that IÂ’ll have to worry about that. They are heavy and hard to work with. Two men can hardly pick one up. Spike holes must be drilled, and even then it takes Hulk Hogan to drive one by hand, and a pneumatic spike driver is a must. And donÂ’t even think of pulling a spike, you'll just pull the head off. Our standard practice with azobes is to burn the spikes off flush with the surface of the tie, and slide the tie over an inch or two to respike, after drilling, of course.


kelly@strasburgrailroad.com