I remember reading somewhere about a shortline or maybe museum railroad who had just bought plastic railroad ties (maybe it was a few months ago). There are a couple museums out here in California which might be interested in using these under crossings and in damp areas that don't drain well. Please advise, any information would be great.

Johnathon Kruger
Niles Canyon Railway

http://www.ncry.org

johnathon_kruger@hotmail.com

The Florida Gulf Coast RR Museum in Parrish, FL has just installed 165 plastic (composite) ties. They are larger and heavier than the wood ties used previously and we expect them to last a lot longer. A second truckload of an additional 165 ties has been ordered. We are installing them at joints to begin with and will fill in between as we get to it.

Our roadbed is in a wet area with largely sand sub base with poor drainage. It still has the original 85lb rail laid down when the line opened 100 years ago by Seaboard Air Line.
The received a lot of new ties about 12 years ago but these are failing steadily now so we looked for replacements that would stand the conditions better.

After considering wood and concrete (doesn't look good on a "vintage" railway), we discovered the plastic ties. They resemble wood in appearance and from a short distance, they look very much like creosoted wood. While the initial cost is high ($ 60 each, fob Texas), the extended life should make them economical. The manufacturer says they should last at least 25 years. Union Pacific is installing them in their wet areas.

Hope this gives you some help.
-Jim Herron

The Black River & Western in New Jersey has some plastic ties on their line. They pointed some out during a photo runby on their mixed freight day last year. Maybe one of their members will post here about how they feel about them.

> I remember reading somewhere about a
> shortline or maybe museum railroad who had
> just bought plastic railroad ties (maybe it
> was a few months ago). There are a couple
> museums out here in California which might
> be interested in using these under crossings
> and in damp areas that don't drain well.
> Please advise, any information would be
> great.

> Johnathon Kruger
> Niles Canyon Railway