Railway Sleepers

[Colin KC]

Local salvage Co. has them for @ £20.00, just wondered if that's any good & if they'd make good handles (they are oak aren't they?)

[Roger Gregory]

Don't know about handles but they are great for mounting your anvil on :) so worth picking up a couple (of dozen)

Roger

[Colin KC]

Thanks Roger, don' know about a doz tho', but I might pick up a few;)

Mike, our very own doomsayer:p seriously, don't ever hold back on the warnings (& tips) they're always welcome & you can take 'em to the bank:D

[Kevin]

Could make quite a few handles out of one.

Being covered with creosote (or whatever it is) could be a problem though like Mike says.

Maybe its worth buying one and cutting a slice to see what the middles like......

If its no good, I am sure you could find a use for it for something or other
:)

[Roger Gregory]

Personally it's not the creosote that would worry me...

"Please do not flush the toilet while the train is in the station"

Flush it onto the sleepers between stations instead :eek:

Roger

[howie]

Its not only the creosote or the don't flush in the station if they are used sleepers they will also have decades of oil spilled over them
you might find some "useable" wood right in the heart of them but it would probably be a lot of work to get to it in the first place
unless you knew a friendly saw mill

[Martyn]

I dont think they're coated in creosote, I think they're soaked in it. Penetration is virtually complete I think, like telegraph poles.

[helmar4578]

On this side of the pond they are called railroad ties and they are in great demand as landscape timbers. They are also used to shore up enbankments. They are creosoted or pressure treated with petroleum based chemicals. They generally sell from 8 to 15 dollars depending on the condition. I doubt if there is a saw mill anywhere that would let you lug it to the saw. There often is gravel imbedded in the cracks that could strip the teeth off the blade. As our rail system has deteriorated over the years and rights of way have been abandoned, these ties are readily available almost every where. Sandy