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914World.com _ 914World Garage _ OT - Railroad Ties

Posted by: seanery Jun 17 2005, 08:24 AM

just curious, does anyone know the weight of a RailRoad Tie?

Posted by: GWN7 Jun 17 2005, 08:29 AM

From "Ask Jeeves" ..."Each railroad tie weighs and uses about 200 pounds of recyclable material. ... Polywood ties weigh 200 pounds, about the same weight of a wood tie."

But I don't think so...mabey 50 lbs

Posted by: trekkor Jun 17 2005, 08:31 AM

You talking about the little bow ties that the conductor might wear or the kerchief of the engineer?

What?...Oh, nevermind.

KT

( call a landscape supply )

Posted by: meares Jun 17 2005, 08:32 AM

i'm in the garbage business.......they're HEAVY, and at least in georgia, they have to be manifested........they are considered special waste

Posted by: Part Pricer Jun 17 2005, 08:33 AM

It depends upon the material (wood) that the tie is made from. These weights are for treated ties.

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Posted by: spare time toys Jun 17 2005, 08:33 AM

I helped a friend whose brother works for the rail road load some up on his trailer. I wish they only were 200 pounds We need a smile holding its side where it got a hernia

Posted by: rhodyguy Jun 17 2005, 08:36 AM

my guess would be around 70 lbs sean. what do you plan to do with them? they leach out chemicals like you wouldn't believe. disposing of them is a big hassle. in wa they're considered hazzardous waste. exspensive to get rid of. they have to be shipped to a special repository(dump). they contaminate soil they come in contact with. wear old clothes you can just throw away after handling them.

k

Posted by: tat2dphreak Jun 17 2005, 08:38 AM

200 I think is a little high, for the ones you get at the lumber yards and such... maybe 100#, but even that's pushing it...

Posted by: seanery Jun 17 2005, 08:38 AM

I ask because I bought 10 of them on Wednesday. The guy said they weighed about 100 pounds each, but I figured about twice that. I think I have either the hemlock or the oak ones...when I ran a sawzall through them they were a bit red.

thanks guys!

Posted by: tat2dphreak Jun 17 2005, 08:42 AM

QUOTE (seanery @ Jun 17 2005, 09:38 AM)
I ask because I bought 10 of them on Wednesday. The guy said they weighed about 100 pounds each, but I figured about twice that. I think I have either the hemlock or the oak ones...when I ran a sawzall through them they were a bit red.

thanks guys!

yea, I dunno about up there... I didn't think about the different woods... they are messy bastards... I used to work in a couple lumber yards and they will wear you out... but I still think a sack of concrete(100lbs) is heavier than the ones down here... anyone who's seen me KNOWS I'm not moving 200# of anything unless it's tied to the back of a truck...

Posted by: andys Jun 17 2005, 09:36 AM

I needed to make a heavy sled to level the drit in my yard to lay some sod.......Driving close to some RR tracks, I see a stack of about 6 ties in a field. Thought I'd help myself to one or two until I tried to load one by myself onto my truck.....forget it!

Andy

Posted by: J P Stein Jun 17 2005, 12:36 PM

I've never weighed one but picked up one end several times.....they are pop your gizzard heavy.

BTW, NEVER use used RR ties for anything on your property. The creosote (sp) penetrates about an inch in. The spike holes make glorius housing for critters....the ones with 6-8 legs, carpenter ants, termites...yada. They build an easy colony in there then start eyeballin' your house.

Posted by: tat2dphreak Jun 17 2005, 12:45 PM

QUOTE (J P Stein @ Jun 17 2005, 01:36 PM)
The spike holes make glorius housing

so are those 'glory holes' ?

Posted by: Duffster Jun 17 2005, 02:38 PM

Range is 208 to 240, fresh from the treater. Older they are, the lighter they get. (opposite of us!) that is a standard straight track tie. Switches and such require longer ties, and they get REALLY heavy!

Posted by: tdgray Jun 17 2005, 02:54 PM

QUOTE (seanery @ Jun 17 2005, 10:24 AM)
just curious, does anyone know the weight of a RailRoad Tie?

I don't know.... what is the air speed velocity of an African Swallow