What happens to old wood railroad ties?

[53' Stude]

Good evening folks. Never thought of this til recently. Imagine they get shredded and burned for fuel in on site power stations but what do I know.

 

[BC1]

Some landscape supply places sell them. I bought a few from there to put my shipping containers on.

 

[Pablo]

Good evening folks. Never thought of this til recently. Imagine they get shredded and burned for fuel in on site power stations but what do I know.

Often used for low retaining walls and such. People used to love them, to reuse them. Sold at various stores. Not so much anymore

 

[The_Jeff]

The preservatives in old ties aren't great for a garden you want to eat out of, if you landscape with them.

Sometimes they just put them in a pile on the railroad's ROW and just walk away from them. Railroads don't seem to have to answer to anybody.

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

I love the smell of creosote. Since a few of the houses on my street used them for landscaping, it reminds me of when I was a kid. That smell takes me back immediately.

 

[GI_GRIFF]

In my state people buy them for landscaping projects.

 

[4wd]

They are selling them for landscaping here …

 

[mrsilv04]

 

[53' Stude]

The preservatives in old ties aren't great for a garden you want to eat out of, if you landscape with them.

Sometimes they just put them in a pile on the railroad's ROW and just walk away from them. Railroads don't seem to have to answer to anybody.

The few we had growing up on farm we used for bonfire one snowy winter. They burned for like 7 days.

 

[Nessism1]

Back in the late 1980's, a neighbor's dad, paid me and his son to haul salvage railroad ties from place of purchase to the homestead, for landscaping purposes. Many loads hauled. I was the driver, using a Toyota Truck. Rear load against the rubber buggy bumpers. Front end, light steering. Great fun, after living to discuss. Might have been different otherwise.

 

[Klutch9]

They are selling them for landscaping here …

Same here. My BIL bought some as ‘curbs’ for parking in his gravel driveway, and our backyard had them along the rear property line before we put a fence in.

A friend of ours bought them to use as treads on a staircase. Looked awesome and was super solid.

 

[4wd]

Same here. My BIL bought some as ‘curbs’ for parking in his gravel driveway, and our backyard had them along the rear property line before we put a fence in.

A friend of ours bought them to use as treads on a staircase. Looked awesome and was super solid.

Yep, had a friend recover land too steep to build on - leveled it to make a small wood shop …

 

[SC Maintenance]

I remember when they used to be used for landscaping, etc. There now considered toxic due to the creosote so I don't think there still used, or there not supposed to be.

 

[Chris142]

My wife buys them and expects me to dig holes to stick them in.

 

[Sumboodie]

We got TONS of them one year. Used the junk ones to heat the shop.

 

[53' Stude]

We got TONS of them one year. Used the junk ones to heat the shop.

Awful smoky but I guess decent heat.

 

[wings&wheels]

I love the smell of creosote. Since a few of the houses on my street used them for landscaping, it reminds me of when I was a kid. That smell takes me back immediately.

I thought I was the only weirdo!

The smell reminds me of summertime walking with Dad on old rarely used spur going plinking.....

 

[CarLuver]

have not seen them for sale in a while . they get replaced now with concrete ties so the supply will disappear sooner or later

 

[loneryder]

The preservatives in old ties aren't great for a garden you want to eat out of, if you landscape with them.

Sometimes they just put them in a pile on the railroad's ROW and just walk away from them. Railroads don't seem to have to answer to anybody.

They are soaked in creosote.

 

[ripcord]

My wife buys them and expects me to dig holes to stick them in.

At least she's not sticking you in the hole she made you dig, lol