They dumped about a hundred ,brand new wooden ties in the general vicinity .

look to be about 5x5 or 6x6.

If they can not use creosote anymore does anyone know what they are coating them with, for preservative?

Why can't they user creosote? Is the Himalayan miniature jumping tree frog allergic to it?

last I heard ( many years ago .
The creosote that they were treating phone poles and ties had a half a dozen cancer causing chemicals in it.

perhaps they have found a way to make New and Improved creosote w/o the cancer causing agents.

Those are pretty small rr ties. They should be more like 8x8's.

Para, yes, creosote is an EPA regulated chemical that requires special clean up. And, it attracts the spotted owl to the tracks where they splat against the speeding train

https://www3.epa.gov/pesticide...025004_25-Sep-08.pdf

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Why can't they user creosote? Is the Himalayan miniature jumping tree frog allergic to it?

It's allegedly fairly carcinogenic. There is also concern about aquatic contamination when used for marine pilings.

Chromated copper arsenate (CCA) is the chemical that is used now, but there are concerns with it due to the arsenic content. Are the ties greenish?

There are some other non-CCA chemicals as well, but I'm not really familiar with them. Don't believe they are greenish.

they could very well be 8x8's.

I was guesstimating from the car window, too lazy to walk the 250 feet to measure

I doubt they are "dumped", if by that you mean they are free for the taking. The RR doesn't give away even used, creosote ties hereabouts. They sell them.

I seriously doubt they dumped them, probably staging them to replace existing ties.

Pensacola has two superfund sites that were old treating plants: one arsenic and one creosote. Bendable, the new ties will replace old ties. I know a man who made a LARGE fortune salvaging used railroad ties. Go get the old ties. Kern S

quote:

Originally posted by stoic-one:
I seriously doubt they dumped them, probably staging them to replace existing ties.

My thoughts as well. I saw the same thing at a track near my home. Lots of piles of ties appeared one day along the track. Over time each pile disappeared. I assumed they were used, though I guess bendable could have stolen them

Is there a new rail line being installed?

Ties aren't treated with creosote anymore, but a similar treatment using more eco friendly substances is still applied. Depending on traffic volume/tonnage for the line they may be replaced by new wooden ties (which mostly likely originated from my rail yard in Springfield, MO) or the newer concrete ties. Knowing where you're at bendable it's likely to be wooden ties.

The old ties are stacked until a contractor comes along to collect and dispose of them.

*Fun fact: On Indian reservations in the state of Montana the tribe automatically owns any ties pulled up once they're replaced.

yes they are staged for replacement.

from silvis to galesburg

Ties only last so long and have to be replaced periodically (assuming it's a line that's well maintained). So likely they're doing some upgrades to the line and piled them until they're ready to do the work.

Creosote is pretty bad stuff.

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Creosote is pretty bad stuff.

As are many things that work well for their purpose. Always a balance between doing the job and minimizing other trauma caused...

I take the subway into downtown San francisco every day. It runs above ground until it hits the tunnel under the bay and underground in downtown. There was a small track fire once a few years back in the tunnel between stations, good god it reeked something nasty for months. So don't set them on fire !

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
Creosote is pretty bad stuff.

Yes it is. Worked highway and bridge construction many years, so many older small rural wooden bridges decking was cresoted..never ever be around burning cresote.

quote:

they may be replaced by new wooden ties (which mostly likely originated from my rail yard in Springfield, MO) or the newer concrete ties.

I have been seeing a lot of concrete ties lately.

Main line Nashville to Chattanooga got upgraded with concrete ties several years ago. Look down the rails now and they are absolutely perfectly smooth and straight. Allowed them to raise the train speed limit ~ 10 MPH to 65 IIRC. Man those trains look like they are hauling ass when they go through now!

No more Creosote treated power poles either now.
Two amazing products put out to pasture... Creosote and Asbestos, with nothing comparable in performance or cost to replace them. What a shame they couldn't find a safe way to continue making and using them.