Where do you guys get railroad ties?

[Robert6401]

I'm not sure if this is in the correct section, but this forum seems to get a lot of attention and I need an answer kind of quickly. I need to get my hands on at least one, but possibly a few railroad ties. It seems like I have read of people on here getting their hands on some, but I can't figure out where to get them. Can you buy them at home improvement stores? I wouldn't think so, but I am often surprised at what you can buy there. Thanks or the help.

 

[brin]

I'm not sure if this is in the correct section, but this forum seems to get a lot of attention and I need an answer kind of quickly. I need to get my hands on at least one, but possibly a few railroad ties. It seems like I have read of people on here getting their hands on some, but I can't figure out where to get them. Can you buy them at home improvement stores? I wouldn't think so, but I am often surprised at what you can buy there. Thanks or the help.

I have seen railroad ties for sale at farm supply stores here in Ga and also at Home Depot here from time to time..but have you considered using landscape timbers in place of railroad ties..they are readily available at big box stores and they are cheap.

 

[weldingisfun]

McCoys and Ace Hardware carry them in this part of the country. You can also search Craigslist. Good luck.

 

[greg_g]

I used to pick them up for free off the railroad discard pile. But they're few and far between now, so the last four I obtained were purchased from a mulch yard. Besides mulch, they also sell stone/rock/gravel, landscape timbers, railroad ties, et cetera. See if there's one in your area.

After all those freebies, I hated like **** to actually pay money for them. But since I only needed four at the time, $12.50 each didn't break me.

//greg//

 

[wingbone]

Go Gamecocks. I see them for sale on craigslist pretty regularly but I couldn't tell you what people are asking for them because I haven't clicked any of the links.

 

[/pine]

You have to be careful when handling (especially old) rail road ties...

because of the creosote...it is very caustic...be very careful when sawing ties to avoid the sawdust making contact with your skin...it can cause severe reactions

creosote is also highly (causes cancer) it should not be used anywhere near potable water sources...
in many places creosote has been removed from the market...not sure about RR ties...

 

[ninefinger]

As already stated try a landscape supply. Creosote will burn some folks, others are not affected. Also if you cut them with your chainsaw replace the chain oil with transmission fluid, your bar will stay cleaner.

 

[scesnick]

Call the local rail yard. They will either have old ones for free or they will tell you where they buy theirs ( which is usually a local supplier. I get mine right at the rialyard. They are the old ones they replaced but usually still in good condition. Take a buddy or two with you though because tyhey are usually very long and very heavy.

I did buy a few non treated ones from the rail yards supplier to use as raised flower beds. I believe I paid $14 a piece for the 12 footers.

 

[spo307]

from work. i take the used ones lol

 

[spo307]

normal length in non electric territory are 8' 9" new weigh 350 lbs, beat up ones weigh less

 

[rdln]

If you cant find them retail, call these guys, they might have a project within a reasonable distance.

Midwest Railroad Tie Sales - Used Railroad Ties

 

[Gale Hawkins]

If you are planning to pick them up off of the side of the tracks be careful. Two years ago my BIL crushed himself when he rolled his 601 Ford tractor. Too bad he was not on his big tractor with a full cab.

 

[dragula]

Yesterday, I noticed that my local Tractor Supply had them. They were $12 each but some of them looked pretty rough.

 

[bigdad]

I would avoid RR ties as much as possible. 38 years experience with new and old ties not to mention creosoted telegraph poles, I can testify. New treated ones are dangerous to man and beast and the used ones aren't worth taking home. The RR doesn't remove them because they are in good shape. Very short lived and when they give up the ghost it's hard to dispose of them and burning them is disgusting not to mention unhealthy.

I know I have been on the soap box before on this subject, but ......... the RR frowns on non RR people salvaging their equipment as junky as it might seem. We get trespassers hit and killed every year. Do yourself a favor and avoid RR property. Thank you.

Big Dad, BNSF RR Signal Inspector

 

[spo307]

same here big dad, the RR I work 4 throws out alot of good junk...

 

[fluffhead31]

Where i come from there is a fencing supply company that always has them.

 

[clemsonfor]

I used to pick them up for free off the railroad discard pile. But they're few and far between now, so the last four I obtained were purchased from a mulch yard. Besides mulch, they also sell stone/rock/gravel, landscape timbers, railroad ties, et cetera. See if there's one in your area.

After all those freebies, I hated like **** to actually pay money for them. But since I only needed four at the time, $12.50 each didn't break me.

//greg//

They just redid miles of railroad track along the highway along the way to my work. I talked to a guy to ask who to talk to to take a couple of the old ones. He said that a contractor comes and pics them all up to resell them. Im not sure if the contractor pays for them or the RR just gives them to them to clean up and get rid of them i think the latter maybe, as they mostly seem to be in bad shape and they have to pick them all up and put on a rail car then pile them and band them and load them onto a trailer to take to places to sell, like landscape places.

You are technically stealling these ties out of a pile from a guy trying to make a living, and yes they are pretty rough almost 1/3 of them are falling apart or the center is rotted out of them.

 

[clemsonfor]

Call the local rail yard. They will either have old ones for free or they will tell you where they buy theirs ( which is usually a local supplier. I get mine right at the rialyard. They are the old ones they replaced but usually still in good condition. Take a buddy or two with you though because tyhey are usually very long and very heavy.

I did buy a few non treated ones from the rail yards supplier to use as raised flower beds. I believe I paid $14 a piece for the 12 footers.

Im not sure how long your non treated ones will last w/groundcontact in flower beds. They are sometimes made out of sweetgum which is not rot resistant, and Oak wont last verylong either in that situation.