The good news is that there is actually money on the table for high-speed rail. So, returning to the original question, precast concrete or wood ties? It appears that the pendulum is swinging toward increased use of concrete ties for both environmental and economic reasons. John Borchardt is a freelance writer who covers science, technology , career and business.
Michael, we encourage you to contact NPCA members in your area that manufacture this product to get up-to-date information. Thank you for the comment! Thank you for your comment, James. We are focused on precast concrete products and the advantages they offer. Anthony, our technical department has reached out to some experts on this topic and here is the response we have received regarding the first use of precast concrete railroad ties as standard. It was much earlier elsewhere in the world.
They are standard for some of the railroads e. BNSF but never used in any instance by other railroads e. Thank you for your comment Dan. In the meantime, Coming Untied is another recent article about railroad ties if you want more information about the subject. You can search by location or by precast product to narrow search results.
If you have any more questions, please let me know. I wander what about the elasticity of the ties which affects the rolling equipment.
Concrete is more rigid material than wood. To make an analogy think about your natural teeth and implants. Your email address will not be published.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. It is also possible to buy pressure-treated wood or to buy clear wood and treat the timbers yourself.
The chemicals in old railroad ties has been shown to leak into the soil and be absorbed by plants. Block retaining walls are safe for children, pets , and edible or decorative plants. Repair the damage. If there is surface splintering on the tie , sand or grind it off.
If there is rot , sand it away or saw it off. If there are holes in the tie , fill them with spike-hole filler compound, which is specifically meant to fill up holes in railroad ties. Using railroad ties for garden beds can pose a threat to your soil, pets and children, as well as the food you grow.
Railroad ties are thick, durable, cheap, recycled wood that forms long-lasting barriers for beds, paths and retaining walls. The best idea if you already have the wood in your landscape is to remove it. Yes, all landfills accept railroad ties. However, they must be permitted into each facility and can not be longer than 8 feet. The European Commission has banned the sale of creosote -treated wood after it was found that there could be a cancer risk.
Scientists carrying out a study for the commission have found that creosote is much more hazardous than originally thought. The ban takes effect from June 30, Every EPA site said the same thing about the main preservative in old railroad ties : "Creosote is a possible human carcinogen and has no registered residential use.
Dangers to People Short-term exposure to creosote can cause skin, eye and respiratory irritation; longer-term exposure may cause organ damage or cancer. Burying the first row of ties and pounding ample steel spikes or lengths of rebar to hold levels of ties together effectively anchors the ties. Excavate a trench to accommodate the bottom layer of railroad ties. Tamp the soil at the bottom of the trench to compact it.
The rails are connected to each other by railroad ties called sleepers in Europe , which may be made of wood or concrete. The rails are usually bolted to the ties. The ties " float " on the ballast and the weight of the track keeps them stabilized. When you asked whether "they" are safe to eat now, I'm not sure you are referring to the strawberries, the blueberries or both. However, this Extension article suggests that fruiting plants except cucumbers and squash are less likely to have absorbed contaminants than root crops.
Sorry I can't provide you with a simple, black-and-white answer, but environmental science research as it relates to us and our gardens is still in its infancy. What's the best way to start over with a bird feeder? Q: I saw Dana Sanchez's article about backyard bird feeding in or local newspaper. I have been doing it wrong and want to buy new feeders and start over.
Does she have any suggestions about brands of bird feeders or bird seed? A: Select bird feeders for the type of food you want to offer and to minimize spillage — which can unintentionally attract and support populations of rats, raccoons, and other species you might not want to have hanging around your house. Offering high-quality seeds, such as black oil sunflower, will help you attract and support a broad range of native bird species.
Basic bird feeder designs can dispense sunflower seeds that don't have shells, which are used by a number of desirable bird species. Some birds are well-adapted to cracking open the sunflower seed shell. For those there are wire-tube feeders: Be aware when you offer the seeds with shells however that the shells get dropped and can form a little waste heap under the feeder. Commercially sold "wild bird seed" mixes often contain a lot of fillers, such as milo and cracked corn, that many native wild birds just don't use so a lot of it gets kicked out on the ground.
On the ground, the discarded seed can grow into weeds and also ends up supporting non-native, invasive birds such as house sparrows and starlings, which actually compete with native birds and negatively impact their populations. The discard also can turn into a food opportunity for rats, etc.
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