Railroad Ties Made From Recycled Plastics??!!

[BaltACD]

The rail industry has always looked at new materials for old products in an effort to improve their performance.  Plastic ties is just another foray of the investigation. 

[tree68]

The cost factor may be a much wider area than acquisition cost.  Assuming that they prove to have a reasonable durability they may actually be cheaper than wood in the long run. 

A few considerations that may or may not be accurate - just my thoughts:

Won't Rot.  Assuming they are durable (no warping, delaminating, they still hold an anchor device, etc) they could last quite a long time

No Creosote, as mentioned, meaning less local pollution and lowered disposal costs.  They may be recyclable again, too.

May be more (no pun intended) plastic than concrete ties.  We've discussed here before that wheels running across concrete ties can destroy them.  Wood and plastic tend to be more resilient.

Could be the thing of the future, or just another idea that didn't pan out as hoped.

[spokyone]

They are starting to do plastic ties on a large scale because unlike wooden ties that need toxic creosote soaking to prevent wood rot, plastic ties won't cause groundwater pollution problems. Given the huge amount of plastic waste out there there will be plentiful material around to make these ties.

I have heard that plastic ties are much more costlier than wood. Maybe Mudchicken can help us out here.

[cordon]

Hm.  They could even put rocks and steel in them to give them greater weight and strength.

 

 

 

[SactoGuy188]

They are starting to do plastic ties on a large scale because unlike wooden ties that need toxic creosote soaking to prevent wood rot, plastic ties won't cause groundwater pollution problems. Given the huge amount of plastic waste out there there will be plentiful material around to make these ties.

[pmsteamman]

I have heard of plastic ties in live steam (1/8th scale), but not in 12in to the foot.

[Railfan1]

[spokyone]

Reply. I have heard about them as well. Seems like a scant few have been placed but interspersed with wooden ties. I think just to study the feasability. CN already said. "NO" Well maybe a few in Louisiana

[CANADIANPACIFIC2816]

Yesterday morning I was paying my utilitY bills, and there was a little flyer that was enclosed with my water & sewer bill, "Reasons to Recycle!"

* "Five recycled plastic bottles make enough fiber fill to stuff a ski jacket. Other items made from recycled plastic are paint brush handles, railroad ties, and park benches."

I've never heard of railroad ties being manufactured from recycled plastics, and when I read this, I thought "You've gotta be kidding!!" I've had the impression that concrete ties were state of the art in this day and age. I once toured a concrete tie manufacturing plant in Edmonton, Alberta Canada while attending an NMRA convention in Calgary in July of 1979, and what I saw was very interesting.

To me the idea of railroad ties being made from recycled plastics is a little far-fetched. Does anyone out there know something that I don't know?

CANADIANPACIFIC2816