Why leave spikes on the ROW

[grampaw pettibone]

I have noticed that when a line is upgraded, rerailed or abandoned, that only the old rails and ties are hauled off and removed. It seems though that an awful lot of spikes are left on the ROW. For instance, CSX replaced the ties on the old SC Central several years ago. I walked down an adjacent public road and found a hundred or so spikes, some of them new in the first hundred yards. I know of several abandoned lines that will yield hundreds of spikes if you have a metal detector. Is there no value, even scrap value for the old spikes, and why would brand new spikes not be picked up. Thanks

[chad thomas]

Perhaps eventually they will come through with an electromagnet (boom mounted) and a gondola and gather up all the spikes.

[beaulieu]

They probably did come through with a Electro-magnet, and those were missed, either by accident, or because some employee didn't care to take the extra time to swing the magnet to where the spikes were located.

[alexweiihman]

So I can find them

[grampaw pettibone]

This is apparently not a new phenomenum. When the NorthWestern of South Carolina was abandoned in 1935, they took the time to gather a lot up and buried them in a pit in Summerton near the depot. I talked with a guy who found the pit while doing grading work and he said that there are literally thousands of spikes in it. He and co-workers took some and covered the rest back up, and it how has a parking lot over it. Another told me of finding hundreds of spikes on a long abandoned ROW behind his house. Others have told me the same. Apparently, these were  intentionally abandoned in place. It would seem that the scrap value alone would have been worth the effort to gather them when the rails were ripped up.

[spokyone]

This is apparently not a new phenomenum. When the NorthWestern of South Carolina was abandoned in 1935, they took the time to gather a lot up and buried them in a pit in Summerton near the depot. I talked with a guy who found the pit while doing grading work and he said that there are literally thousands of spikes in it. He and co-workers took some and covered the rest back up, and it how has a parking lot over it. Another told me of finding hundreds of spikes on a long abandoned ROW behind his house. Others have told me the same. Apparently, these were  intentionally abandoned in place. It would seem that the scrap value alone would have been worth the effort to gather them when the rails were ripped up.

I had never heard of this line until you mentioned it. I found this web page. Thanks GP P

http://abandonedrailroads.homestead.com/Sumter_Camden_SC.html

 

[CShaveRR]

How many extra people in a double-tie gang would it take to operate and/or guide a magnet crane to load scrap spikes into a gondola or some similar receptacle?

I've been lucky enough to see the tracks through here rehabbed twice with replacement ties.  Not only is the track surfaced, lined, and swept clean, but there is nothing left behind:  removal of old ties, spikes, tie banding, and the excess new tires is all handled by the gang as it goes through (complete with porta-potties on wheels--they wouldn't leave that behind, either!).

Fascinating to watch this thorough process!

[nbrodar]

They're also handy for:

1.) Rerailing cars (yup, I've done it with a spike).

2.) A quick fix for a run-thru switch (umm...no comment).

3.) Removing EOT batteries (the spring loaded ejectors never seen to work right).

4.) Removing foreign objects from switch points (not a place you want to stick your fingers).

Nick

[edblysard]

Now Nick...

Your telling on yourself...run through switch?

Had a guy run through one, then get scared, and backed up...needed the wood wedges for that one.

 They leave the old spikes there for all of the above reason, but also because the MOW guys might be on a tight schedule, and just dont have the time...often, but not always, they come back when they have the time and either police the area, or, if they are lucky and have a electormagnet, "sweep" the area.

 

Keep in mind to the MOW guys, spikes are like 16 penny nails to a carpenter...you got lots and lots of them, if you leave a few laying around, no big deal.

 

[jimrice4449]

I worked on work train on the Milw that was to salvage spikes and tie plates on a stretch that had some rail replaced (about 3 years before abandonment!).   It had snowed the night before and it was really wierd to see the spikes and tie plates magically erupt from the snow!

[Anonymous]

They're also handy for:
1.) Rerailing cars (yup, I've done it with a spike).
2.) A quick fix for a run-thru switch (umm...no comment).
3.) Removing EOT batteries (the spring loaded ejectors never seen to work right).
4.) Removing foreign objects from switch points (not a place you want to stick your fingers).
Nick

They are also handy for:
1.) DErailing cars (seen it happen).
2.) Breaking a spring switch (in the points).
3.) Throwing at train crews as they pass.
4.) BEING a foreign object in switch points (see #2).

[dldance]

A new spile weighs about 13 oz. and used spike weigh less (all the exercise they get from pumping rail :).  Thus, at $300 per ton scrap prices - a used spike is worth about 10 cents - if picked up, separated from other debris, and delivered to a scrapper. 

On the other hand, an old friend of mine started his railroad career during WWII by walking the track from Nampa to Mt. Home, ID, picking up leftover track jewlery.  He was too young for the Army (and too yong for the railroad - but they didn't ask as many questions in those days).  That was his first contribution to the war effort.

dd