Handling railroad ties

[Alan W.]

I used these for a railroad tie project years ago. They are made in the USA so I know it was a long time ago. Used a chain and set one on each end.

 

[Tractor Seabee]

Tongs would work, but I suspect a choker chain would too.

Are there any large trees in the area? If so, you could use the tractor to place the RR ties on one side of the stream, more or less aimed in the right orientation, then setup a fairlead up in a tree on the opposite side of the stream to lift the end of each RR tie and drag it into place across the stream.

I use a logging block/pulley and short tree strap to setup fairleads up trees, and a 5/8" or 3/4" logging rope to do the pulling (with chain/choker on the business end). I move logs, but railroad ties would be a good application too, and easier. The nice thing about this is that you can setup the pulley so that you pull in any direction. Sometimes I pull 90 degrees to the motion of the log, sometimes I pull opposite of the direction of the log. Conceivably you could pull from the same exact side of the stream that the RR ties are delivered to.

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I would never buy used ties that are split or show rot. As I stated in my previous post, this thread, I spanned 12' with 3 16' ties and drove my 1 ton w/2 tons of gravel several times (close to 12,000# with no problem, no movement, no sagging. A ten yard truck or concrete mixer? NO way.

Used ties are graded as to condition: #1-one good side (avoid these they are considered culls), #2- 2 good sides, OK for landscaping, #3- 3 good sides (what I usually use structurally), #4- 4 good sides hard to find & most expensive they are almost new been in service short time. No matter the grade avoid ones with long splits are evident rotting. If they are not heavy preservative they are ready to rot. Heavier the better.

Ingenuity and common sense it is easy to handle ties with a SCUT. Let leverage do the work to cantilever them to push across a stream/ditch. I have had 16'ers cantilevered out of my FEL many times, remember rear counterweight and tie down the FEL end to prevent swinging sideways, and go slow. Come along from the outboard end from the center top of bucket helps stabilize.

RR ties are still an economic means of building sturdy stuff. I use them for the base of tent type garages/green house, storage buildings, always bedded in crushed gravel.

Ron