Report on the Use of Metal Railroad Ties and on Preservative Processes and Metal Tie-Plates for Wooden Ties

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 Excerpt: ... life of ties, it is absolutely necessary to have details of the soil, climate, and atmospheric conditions, curves, grades, and the number, weight, and speed of trains. The life of iron tics has been variously estimated by those in favor of the system at from thirty to fifty years; opponents place it at not more than twenty years, or the same as that of the best wood ties. This last estimate is, however, disproved by the more than twenty years' experience with longitudinal ties on the Brunswick railways. These were laid in 1864, and in 1882, on thorough inspection, were found but slightly affected by rust. In fact, iron ties suffer less from atmospheric influences than wooden ones. Ties on the Bergisch-Miirkisch lines, after being laid for eight years in a badly drained ballast, were found to be not more affected by rust than the rails. Mr. Kalff, at the convention in Brussels, stated that metal sleepers laid down twenty years ago were found in perfect condition. Only, for ties kept in reserve by the side of the line or in damp tunnels and similar localities, or if transported over the sea, a coat of tar or paint might be found advisable. With the better form and heavier sections now used, tho breaking of a tie is so unusual as not sensibly to affect the annual charge. Whatever the canse, steel rails and ties undoubtedly rust much faster than those made of iron. Mr. P. H. Dudley, c. E., an expert on railway matters, says: "So far as atmospheric agencies are concerned, the German experience would be a good guide here. The oxidation of rails at least shows in most localities no greater rapidity than in Germany. Failure in this country of metal ties, as far as I have seen them used, was due to their form not meeting the conditions required of a metal tie....