Many of the fans who discovered the Rio Grande narrow gauge and followed or rode the trains between 1966 to 1968 saw the 4th division covered with car load of new narrow gauge ties. There were hundred of car loads spaced along every siding on the line, it seemed. These were all 6" x 6" x 6'8" long. They were not 6'6" long as indicated, but may have been that size in earlier purchases. I remember it as the reverse of the numbers, as Standard gauge was 8'6", normally.
These car loads of ties were all of high quality, and would fit a tie grade of 1 or 2 out of a 5 scale. Fifth level was junk, bent or split, good only for low value sidings or industries. Ties with part of the bark or edge of tree, not full size were grade 4.
The point of this was the cost expended to buy, ship and store all these ties as the investment was used to explain the cost of running the narrow gauge lines that were going to be or were up for abandonment. It was called padding the expenses for the testimony. It worked. It was not honest as very few of these ties were ever installed. When the abandonment was approved for the Antonito to Farmington lines, the ties disappeared. I am not sure how many were rounded up in all the gondolas that were under load and moved to the Silverton Line. The train record kept by E. W. Robart did not capture all these cars moving to future use. If the abandonment was not approved, then it was a prudent purchase as they would have to be used to correct the deferred maintenance on the San Juan line. There for it was not considered padding the books. It is all the way you want to look at the situation.
What ever happened to all those new ties?
