I was just watching a show on The Science Channel and a show called factory made showed a place in Texas that takes garbage and old tires and make plastic rail ties ? Has any one seen these out there anywhere because I only new of wood and concrete wow it is amazing what you can learn huh
Yep, I've seen samples, but don't recall any in service. They are supposed to be more durable than the wood, but the cost is greater than the wood. The other design that I have seen is steel crossties. CSX uses them in switches in the yards and I know some railroads prefer them in tunnels.
The bridge deck at the location of that fatal bridge fire in Alabama that occurred in January 2010 had plastic ties.
Chris