Track dilemma

[kasskaboose]

I bought 15' of Code 83 flex track w/ concrete ties.  Caboose hobbies is kind enough to return it, but after I pay for shipping.  Wilson's book on tracklaying said that mainlines had concrete ties.   Should I put it on part of the mainline of my 80s VA layout or return them and pay for shipping to get track w/ wooden ties?  Yes, I know it's my layout, but wanted to have it somewhat realistic.  I will have the rest of the layout w/ wooden ties. 

Best,

Lee

 

[gandydancer19]

I'm not sure when concrete ties first went into use, but you could use it and make a small sign  at each end that designated the track as a test area.  I think that is something some railroads would have done before putting in a lot of it.  You could also add some kind of small building near it that would house a crew to keep an eye on it until testing was concluded.

[Texas Zepher]

Should I put it on part of the mainline of my 80s VA layout or return them and pay for shipping to get track w/ wooden ties?

I don't know when concrete came into common useage, but as I recall the first time I saw concrete ties on a main line was in the 90s.  Is there a hidden area where you could use the track or simply paint the concrete to a nice creasote brown?

[tomikawaTT]

Should I put it on part of the mainline of my 80s VA layout or return them and pay for shipping to get track w/ wooden ties?

I don't know when concrete came into common useage, but as I recall the first time I saw concrete ties on a main line was in the 90s.  Is there a hidden area where you could use the track or simply paint the concrete to a nice creasote brown?

My prototype began converting to concrete ties (and to welded, rather than jointed, rail) in the early 1960s.  By the 1980s even secondary lines were laid with concrete ties.

If part of your main is in a wetlands area, that would be a logical place to look for concrete ties on the Atlantic Coast.

EDIT:  Just Googled Norfolk and Western concrete ties.  One hit went to a report on the secinfo.com website which gives a good overview of 'right now' Norfolk Southern railway maintenance practices.  Apparently the use of concrete ties is considered somewhat experimental, being lumped in with steel and plastic (!) ties toward the bottom of the report.  All the earlier photos show wood ties, even on new construction.

OTOH, the ORIGINAL Norfolk Southern laid a new branch with concrete ties in 1964.  That road merged with SOU, and is now part NS, part other railways, part abandoned.  Whether the cited branch still existed and was still laid with concrete ties in the 1980s, deponent saith not.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - partially on concrete ties)

[CSXDixieLine]

First concrete ties I ever saw in person was when CSX converted the W&A Sub between Atlanta and Chattanooga around 1994. That is the prototype I am modeling, but the concrete tie track is so hard to find in N-scale I am just using wood ties instead (grrrrrrr!). Jamie

[g. gage]

I moved to south Florida around 1973 and to my surprise the Florida East Coast had a significant amount of concrete tie mainline. They must be quite heavy, they were hauled on bulkhead flats only about four of five tiers high. When the Western Pacific was merged into the Union Pacific in 1985, they began upgrading using a lot of concrete ties. A couple of things I noticed in both cases. Concrete and wood ties are never mixed, in other word it is a total change out to concrete, except for swicthes which are wood ties.

Hope this helps, Rob   

[dehusman]

In the 1980's concrete ties would have been more of a "specialty" application.  they would have been installed on territory with very high gross ton miles (lots of coal trains) or heavy rail wear (lots of sharp curves).  They are good for high rail wear because you can change out the rail frequently without spike-killing the ties.

Dave H.

[DSO17]

     By 1981 Amtrak had concrete ties on the NEC around Elkton MD and Northeast MD.

     If you haven't already done so, typing "concrete ties" into the search box will come up with a lot of info.

     The suggestion to have a concrete tie test section sounds like a pretty good idea. You could have a lot of officials standing there looking at it.

[BATMAN]

I would use them on passing sidings and put up the "Start of test section signs". It makes for more details for the eyes, and interest. People can ask questions about it. If you have any cement ties left over. Put them beside the track with work crews, trucks and company brass staring at them.

Brent