Track Work

[Steam Engine Dan]

Hi Everyone, I thought I would share my project that ive been working on. while I know most topics are of building locomotives and locomotive related topics. I thought I'd shift gears and talk about track work. so since having joined the track committee at NJLS a few years ago. I have been hard at work, 8 hours a day, two days a week. replacing old wooden ties with new plastic ones. our outside mainline has been replaced with plastic ties. and is almost finished. the new plastic ones are from accu tie. they are pre drilled and pre gauged, smaller in design and I can pack the ballast underneath them really well in the center which helps make the track more solid. attached in chronological order from oldest to newest are photos ive taken with my flip phone.

it is a gratifying feeling after im all done for the day, to stand back and look at it and say. I did that

[Steam Engine Dan]

part two

[Steam Engine Dan]

part three

[Steam Engine Dan]

part four

[Steam Engine Dan]

here's me at work

[SCBryan]

I have to agree, track work is very satisfying work. One gets to be out in the fresh air all day and although physically tired, it is a feeling of worthwhile labor. After working all day on our local track, after replacing old, rotted ties, leveling and tamping, and then spreading fresh ballast, I can look back at the day's work with pride. A freshly rebuilt section of track is a thing of beauty.

[Pontiacguy1]

Beautiful track work! I really hate doing track work... but you need to have somewhere to run your train. Without a functioning track, what's the point in building and maintaining these things? So I go help at my club whenever I can so that we can go play every once in a while. Love those ties, too. No matter what, at least you know that your track will stay in-gauge.

[mogul327]

Fantastic job! Our track just recently changed to these ties a few years ago. They work great is all I can say and no more rotten tie replacements.

[Benjamin Maggi]

Looks like you are doing a wonderful job. It can't be fun in the summer heat, but hopefully with the plastic ties you won't have to do it again!

[Steam Engine Dan]

thanks everyone, I appreciate the kind words and comments. I tell people, I cannot build a locomotive. but I can replace railroad ties. it will be awesome when it's all done. more to come.

[B&OBob]

It's encouraging to see that one club -- and a really engaged member -- have stopped burying wood ties, that are destined to rot, with long-lasting plastic. This is an expensive, labor intensive project, but sure to pay-off in the future. Great looking work, Dan!
There are still some unsung heros around!

B&OBob

[kcameron]

We've been seeing the price of good ground contact treated wood was getting more expensive and the difference between that and plastic has become much closer than a year or three ago. With the expected life issues, making the change to plastic feels fully justified now.