Prototype Railroad Tie Dimensions

[JohnT14808]

I am working on an old style logging trestle and I am wondering if the ties on these old trestles are a different size than mainline ties? Any ideas? On the trestles around my neighborhood, the ties seem "squarer" and bigger than the normal ties. Just my impression, or am I correct?

[TheEdginator]

Thanks O.S.
i also needed that info for a project that i am working on in english...
I am so glad that i didnt have to spend hours looking that up
-TheEdge

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Big_Boy_4005

An 1/8" sawblade will remove more material than the width of a tie.

Yes, that is absolutely true. I will most likely buy them, or if I could find the proper cross section of stock wood, just cut them to length.

As for the danger, if you "tool-up" properly on the table saw, you could cut them in such a way that you're hands are nowhere near the blade. This is absolutely critical in my opinion. Having grown up with a Great Grandfather who was missing a couple fingers from a table saw, I'm extremely cautious).

In the end, it may very well be cheaper just to buy them. Interesting thought, however.

[Big_Boy_4005]

I would have to say that cutting ties for HO track on a table saw is a somewhat dangerous and wasteful proposition. An 1/8" sawblade will remove more material than the width of a tie. I'm not even sure if it is possible to put a spike into a properly dimensioned HO tie without splitting it. The commercially available ones may be slightly oversized, given what O.S. has said.

[Anonymous]

Common concrete ties are 8'-3" or 8'-6" long. Width varies from 10" to 11" and height at the end from 7" to 8", depending upon the exact design (there are many designs).

Common wood ties are 8'-0", 8'-6" or 9'-0" long. 7" Grade crossties are 7" high and 9" wide, 6" grade are 6" high and 8" wide. 7" grade is what is typically specified for main track use today, and usually 8'6" long. The 6" grade, 8' long is suitable for industrial spurs and light-use tracks.

OS

[Anonymous]

How about using strips of basswood and cutting them to the correct length with a knife (or Chopper)?

[IRONROOSTER]

Given that at some point you'll be trying to produce a 7" x 9" tie which is .08" x .10" in HO, I'm not sure a table saw is the right tool. I think a band saw would work better IMHO.

But hey, give it a few test shots and let us know how it works out.
Enjoy
Paul

[Anonymous]

Cutting them myself occurred to me as I was installing new floors in my house. I would often end up with thin strips of wood, 1/16" wide, etc. after "ripping" long boards.

Rip a few, then cut them to length. The downside is the amount of waste would be similar to the amount of produced ties, because the blade is about 1/8" thick.

I'd also need to start with stock that's the correct thickness.

But in an hour or so, I could crank out a ton of ties I'm sure.

Not sure I'll go down this road, but an interesting concept nonetheless. In the end, it may very well be cheaper to buy a bag of ties.

[Anonymous]

Do you have any flex track or snap track? Measure the ties on them and go from there. I'm not into power saws, so I wonder how you would cut the strips that are about 1/8" wide? Seems like a lot of effort to me, would be much simpler to buy some ready made ties!

But whatever turns your crank I guess!

Bob Boudreau

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know the dimensions of modern day ties?

The length varies, right?

Tempted to cut some myself on the table saw. I know, that sounds a little odd, but with a new table saw at home for recent remodeling projects, and a bag of ties not being the cheapest thing in the world, why not?

Also, if I cut them myself, I could have varied lengths, could have them be full profile (unlike the low-profile ties I've seen at hobby shops).