The love of Trains

[Mikado463]

I'm surprised there is not wider adoption of composite ties from recycled plastic.

They are in fact in various stages of development and testing as we write.

They don't know what to do with the stuff and making railway ties is better than shipping it to Southeast Asia.

It's my understanding that the scrap plastic biz to Asia has dried up considerably, sadly much is now going into landfills.

 

[Mikado463]

Amtrak ridership exceeds expectation..........

Rail News - Amtrak's year-old Borealis route exceeds ridership expectations. For Railroad Career Professionals

www.progressiverailroading.com

 

[Eppie]

They are in fact in various stages of development and testing as we write.

It's my understanding that the scrap plastic biz to Asia has dried up considerably, sadly much is now going into landfills.

My surprise is due to my reading about plastic based ties a good 20 years ago. I thought that it would have been a mature technology but apparently the use of glass fibre reinforcement is a more recent development which produces a tie that has similar durability to wood.

 

[Mikado463]

My surprise is due to my reading about plastic based ties a good 20 years ago. I thought that it would have been a mature technology but apparently the use of glass fibre reinforcement is a more recent development which produces a tie that has similar durability to wood.

Correct, as we are on second and third generational concrete ties. But regardless of how good the cross tie is, it's underlying foundation is the key to longevity.

 

[Out-Of-Phase]

Lots of rocks