Re: NNG: Norfolk Southern suing over millions of defective rail ties
| October 31, 2017 04:31PM |
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I am not a treated wood expert, and I don't know exactly what was done (or not done) in this specific instance, but its possible that Boatright did use some creosote in their "fake" process, but did not treat the ties to a "full" and proper creosote treatment.
Tie treatment is not a simple dip and go process, its involves first a vacuum chamber, and then pressure. Here is a page detailing power pole creosote treatment, which is similar to railroad tie treatment: [treatedpoles.co.za]
One could easily take treatment shortcuts that might not be immediately obvious in the field, but still left the ties with a creosote kind of odor, particularly if the manufacturer had compromised the NS inspector/consultant.
If you have ever used/purchased "treated" lumber, consider that there are various grades / levels of treatment:
If it were not for the label stapled on each board, how would you tell if that board you just bought at the box store was .25 pcf treated or .40 pcf treated? Its not easy. But it makes a big difference in performance if that board is in contact with the ground.
Then, there are so called " landscape timbers" that are also treated, but not to any specific concentration. These are often described as "treated to refusal", which sounds good, but that more or less just means they get "dipped", and whatever soaks in during that dip is what you are buying. No standards at all. But lots of buyers think they are buying "treated" wood and end up unhappy when those "landscape timbers" rot
in a few years of ground contact.
Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/2017 04:49PM by Rader Sidetrack.
Tie treatment is not a simple dip and go process, its involves first a vacuum chamber, and then pressure. Here is a page detailing power pole creosote treatment, which is similar to railroad tie treatment: [treatedpoles.co.za]
One could easily take treatment shortcuts that might not be immediately obvious in the field, but still left the ties with a creosote kind of odor, particularly if the manufacturer had compromised the NS inspector/consultant.
If you have ever used/purchased "treated" lumber, consider that there are various grades / levels of treatment:
Quote
American Pole & Timber
Most dimensional pressure treated lumber is treated to .25 or .40 pcf in ACQ. Larger dimensional lumber (2×8 and above) can be treated to .60 pcf with CCA but only for use in certain commercial construction applications. We usually recommend .60 pcf (CCA or ACQ) for freshwater use, ground contact, or extreme weather conditions, .80 CCA for government specifications or brackish (salty fresh) water, and 2.5 pcf CCA for projects in saltwater.
[www.americanpoleandtimber.com]
If it were not for the label stapled on each board, how would you tell if that board you just bought at the box store was .25 pcf treated or .40 pcf treated? Its not easy. But it makes a big difference in performance if that board is in contact with the ground.
Then, there are so called " landscape timbers" that are also treated, but not to any specific concentration. These are often described as "treated to refusal", which sounds good, but that more or less just means they get "dipped", and whatever soaks in during that dip is what you are buying. No standards at all. But lots of buyers think they are buying "treated" wood and end up unhappy when those "landscape timbers" rot
in a few years of ground contact.Edited 4 time(s). Last edit at 10/31/2017 04:49PM by Rader Sidetrack.
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488 stops for water at Los Pinos tank on closing day Oct. 1979. Photo courtesy Don Richter
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