Canadian Railroads > Current concrete ties on CN

Who is the current supplier for CN concrete ties?  What is the fastener?

Mike Root
Madras, OR



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/20/15 22:19 by shortlineboss.

Pandrol clips.

KG

Current main line cross tie at Barriere BC, Mile 104.4, Clearwater Sub, on the CN transcon main.  This is the second generation of concrete ties on the CN, replacing Costain ties placed in the 1980's.

CN still uses timber cross ties at grade crossings and turnouts, but screw the tie plates into the wood and use Pandrol or similar rail clips.  Live oak ties from the southern US are still preferred for switch ties, bridge timbers and other special applications.

The concrete tie fastenings include a plastic pad beneath the tie plate and another plastic pad between the rail clip and the rail.  By comparison, on the wooden tie plate, there is a spring steel clip between the Pandrol rail clip and the rail.

Two men with a shovel, spike puller and maul and a pinch bar can change a wooden tie in an hour, it takes a crane and several specialized power tools to change a concrete tie..

As CP pointed out to CN , many wooden ties have lasted longer than the first generation of concrete ties on CN.  CP has some concrete ties, and some steel ones from Australia, but is still mostly using wood. 

 



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 04/21/15 22:29 by eminence_grise.

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I am always curious as to why people want to know things like this? Curiosity is suppose? Interesting anyhow.

shortlineboss Wrote:
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> Who is the current supplier for CN concrete
> ties?  What is the fastener?

BNSF is always delivering cars of concrete ties to the CN that come from CXT in Spokane WA.

BC Rail experimented with steel ties, had nothing but grief with them. Used on curves with the thought that they would hold the gauge better. The ballast was difficult to pack under the hollow steel ties and were prone to sun kinks in the hot weather.
They also used a lot of hardwood ties on tight curves and they were successful in that application.
On the Squamish sub there was a test section of concrete ties and I don't know if it was a BC Rail idea or something CN did after the take over. Never heard the results of that test.
Years ago when I did a short stint with CN at Edmonton, there was a concrete tie manufacturing plant at Calder yard, don't know if it was a CN venture or private firm.
Doug

eminence_grise Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Current main line cross tie at Barriere BC, Mile
> 104.4, Clearwater Sub, on the CN transcon main. 
> This is the second generation of concrete ties on
> the CN, replacing Costain ties placed in the
> 1980's.
>
> CN still uses timber cross ties at grade crossings
> and turnouts, but screw the tie plates into the
> wood and use Pandrol or similar rail clips.  Live
> oak ties from the southern US are still preferred
> for switch ties, bridge timbers and other special
> applications.
>
> The concrete tie fastenings include a plastic pad
> beneath the tie plate and another plastic pad
> between the rail clip and the rail.  By
> comparison, on the wooden tie plate, there is a
> spring steel clip betwoeen the Pandrol rail clip
> and the rail.
>
> Two men with a shovel, spike puller and maul and a
> pinch bar can change a wooden tie in an hour, it
> takes a crane and several specialized power tools
> to change a concrete tie..
>
> As CP pointed out to CN , many wooden ties have
> lasted longer than the first generation of
> concrete ties on CN.  CP has some concrete ties,
> and some steel ones from Australia, but is still
> mostly using wood. 
>
>  

an insulator pad (to prevent shunting)between the clip and rail base is necessary on concrete ties because of the steel reinforcement rod in the concrete that is attached to both bolsters (what the clip is fastened to)for each rail ...

as for changing concrete ties, a crane isn't necessary, a backhoe with a decent opr can perform the job just as, if not more, effeciently ...

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