Rail tie inscriptions

LAST EDITED ON Oct-23-02 AT 12:35 PM (EDT)

I was walking out by the train yard, watching an intermodal train pull up to the tower...There's a small spur that extends about 100 meters, with a rusted up itsy bitsy grain elevator (i think; it has a conveyor belt goin up, and a small round chute goin down)....Hasn't been used in a while, except for storing the winter snow-clearing machines.. and other than the rust on top, it appeared to be in 100% peak condition, aside from the 1/2"-3/4" gaps between the individual ties...and better than what I can say for the mainline (Rock 'n Roll Railroad anyone?)... On one of the ties, I noticed something engraved on the side..."1928 100 - A.R.A. - A"..
I don't know much about railroad abbreviations, but I can assume the '1928' indicates that the rail hasn't been replaced in over 70 years??

"Be Excellent To Each Other."

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RE: Rail tie inscriptions, darkfyre, Oct-23-02, 12:54 PM, (2) RE: Rail tie inscriptions, PHOENIX to_the WORLD, Oct-23-02, 12:58 PM, (3) RE: Rail tie inscriptions, chucksc, Oct-23-02, 01:13 PM, (4) RE: Rail tie inscriptions, calr, Oct-23-02, 01:50 PM, (5) RE: Rail tie inscriptions, EdtheGNGuy, Oct-28-02, 00:36 AM, (6) RE: Rail tie inscriptions, sooner, Oct-28-02, 01:10 AM, (7) RE: Rail tie inscriptions, EdtheGNGuy, Oct-28-02, 01:52 AM, (8) RE: Rail tie inscriptions, sooner, Oct-28-02, 02:28 AM, (9) RE: Rail tie inscriptions, EdtheGNGuy, Oct-28-02, 03:01 AM, (10) RE: Rail tie inscriptions, sn00py, Oct-28-02, 05:47 PM, (11) RE: Rail tie inscriptions, darkfyre, Oct-29-02, 02:51 PM, (12) RE: Rail tie inscriptions, chucksc, Oct-29-02, 03:21 PM, (13) RE: Rail tie inscriptions, I_totally_love_trains, Oct-29-02, 03:21 PM, (14)

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Well, I've seen spikes/pins driven into the tie/sleeper that had dates on them..However that could also mean (up here, at least) that the date on the spike/pin meant that was when the spike/pin itself was made..I dunno.. Could the '100' mean that it's 100lb rail? Mainly used for heavy mainline traffic? If so, whats it doing on a short siding/spur?

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Yes, I was thinking that the 100 could mean 100lb rail but then, that seems to heavy for a short little siding. Seeing that mainline down here only has 107lb per yard rail, that is some sorta strange siding.

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Actually guys 100lb rail in North America is fairly light duty...
some old short lines used 90lb rail and some narrow guage and logging roads used 60lb rail...
However most mainline rail is 130lb (look at the specs for the Guilford upgrades to support downeaster service from Boston to Portland)... Heavily traveled Mainline track using 160lb rail is not that unusual (PRR standard) and the NEC electrified zone is largely 200lb rail....Chuck Schneider
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
North American Locomotive Works

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I have a couple of those date nails "borrowed" from an abandoned section of UP track in Southeast Idaho. They are about 2" long and have a head that is about 1/2" in diameter with the last two digits of the year embossed on them.Cal Rasmussen
Beaverton, ORColumbia Gorge Route (TDB problems fixed, continuing to lay track westward.)

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Yes Sir that is correct, the '1928' is the foundary's casting date mark on the rail.
'l00' is the weight of the rail. Weight is based on the running yard of a piece of rail, thus '100' is l00 lbs, per three feet.
"ARA-A" is the American Railroad Engineering Association designation for standardization of sections, varying by 10 lbs, from 60-100 lbs, being known as 'ARA-A' or 'ARA-B' sections. 'A' or Type A was intended to fit conditions in territory of comparatively light grade and little curvature, with light tonnage, and Type 'B' conditions in territory of crooked alighment, steep grades, and heavy tonnage. This was adopted by the AREA in 1909. Following this, in 1919 the AREA adopted a new sections weight standards of 100, 110, and 120 pds. And in 1920, 130 and 140 pds was added. These were called 'R.E. Section'. In 1924, AREA adopted a 150 pd section. On the NYC and Pennsy, they ran what was called "Dudley rail", which was based upon stiffness requirements of New York Central and Pennsylvania's P.S. sections. Weights are from 110-152 pds, for these.
Spikes normally have a date and/or manufacturer casting someplace on the head. I've never encounted one with the data along the shank area, however. The "Goldie" or sharpen-pointed tip spike is the new and improved version, came about in the 40's. Spikes were shipped in kegs, weighing 200lbs.
Besides the weight, other nomeclature would be the foundary name, and sometimes the railroad's.
'Date Nails' are getting to be far and in-between, out here in the Pacific NW. I have collected some form the AT&SF, the Milwaukee, and another unnamed railroad. These were used in the railroad's tie-renewal programs. I don't know how many railroads used them. Out this way the NP and GN simply stamped the end of the ties with a date and sometimes a mill name or location.
I hope this helps out some, Darkfyre.
Sincerely, Ed -

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That's a lot of really interesting dope on rails and nails, Ed. When I was a kid growing up on the farm, my Dad had a short piece of rail he used as a portable anvil. It was useful for straightening nails, riveting sickle bars, etc. And he told me once not to ever mention to anyone that we had railroad iron because it was illegal to own it! Anyone else ever heard this old canard, and is there any basis to it?

bud

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Dang it...
Does it mean the rr cops are gonna come looking for me now, jeez its kids, 'we' better dump that stuff then.
Naw, only kidding there.
I've still got my two pieces of rail from my granddad, and they're still used to straighten out metal and what-not's around the homestead, out my way.
No, I far as I know one can legally own the stuff now and not get in trouble with the feds or locals. As long as it is legitimately acquired.

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Thanks, Ed. As the 'GNGuy,' you might know this. I know the government resisted the merger of the Hill Roads for decades, and required them to operate as separate companies. But was CB&Q or NP power ever used over GN track, or vice versa, pre-merger?

bud

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Hey Bud,
I'll get back with you alittle later on the CB&Q and GN trackage use, okay.
Ed -

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I have a bit of 100lb rail (bout a foot long) that my grandfather used for an anvil for years. However, near where I live, I know of several feet of 20 lb rail (no kidding, the stuff is TINY) and have permission to get as much as I want from the rr owner. As he said, it had once been part of the original trackage of the line, long since abandoned.

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-02 AT 02:55 PM (EST)

Hmm..Up here, Guilford is tryin to tell Amtrak that the 115-lb rail is 'too light' for fast passenger traffic..So they set the speed limit at 59mph..Until they upgrade to 150lb. rail; then it'll be 79mph...However, Amtrak says the 115lb rail is more than adequate for high-speed passenger runs...I also hear Guilford is ogling '200lb' rail..

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-02 AT 03:22 PM (EST)

115 would probably be too light for heavy freight and passenger traffic like we have down here on the lower end of the NEC and below... At speeds above 40 for Freight and 80 for passenger...
However IIRC IC and CNW and a bunch of Souuthern Roads used it all the time...
One of the reasons for the preference of some roads of E units vice F units is that the per axle load for an E-unit is lower than it is for a F unit....
My take on the Guilford/Amtrak argument is that Guilford was paid for an ungrade suitable for passenger service and they "sold" 115lb rail to Amtrak and the States of Maine, NH and Mass.... After the fact they now think it is too light.... Amtrak is just holding them to their original proposal... Which they have already been paid for! If Guilford wants 130lb rail or 150lb rail or even 200 lb rail it is because their freight traffic needs it! Otherwise they are going to be constantly "maintaining" that 115lb rail so Amtrak doesn't go on the ground.... IMHO, It sounds like they either misrepresented the condition of their physical plant and their ability to maintain it given existing/expected traffic conditions or they are trying to get a "free upgrade" from the various agencies...
AAR and USDOT have stated for the record that 115lb Rail, Properly Maintained to AAR Standards, is suitable for passenger service at 79mph.... Now wether or not that means working on the darn thing every day, tamping and realigning and what not, or embargoing freight on that line is tough to say from the information publically available....Chuck Schneider
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer
North American Locomotive Works

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LAST EDITED ON Oct-29-02 AT 03:22 PM (EST)

What's the piece of mesh like material on the one end of railroad ties for?Also what's the hook/rod looking hook under a rail for that's resting up against the tie?Adam-------------------------------Operation Lifesaver Organization -- http://www.oli.org/
Striving to save lives at railroad crossings
Have a safe and Happy Halloween

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