Nostalgia & History > These Nails?

I found this in a old Railroad tie.What were they used for? Does anyone know any information? Is there any history? thanks, Donner

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That would be a date nail. 1937.

Befor computer record keeping these nails recorded the date the tie was installed.

gwl
http://photosbygreg.us

Like was said above, date nails. Some people collect them. I have about 30 of them that I found over the years, killing time in a siding.

Nudge

My understanding is that they were used, at least in part, to determine the best woods and treating substances by observation over time.

When a young railfan in my teens, I would ride my bike down to the tracks (Santa Fe's Second District through Claremont, CA) and walk the line for a mile or two at a time with claw hammer in hand, trying to collect a complete set. Next time back, I would ride to where I left off, and resume, etc. Eventually covered the whole line from around Fontana to Glendora, in search of "those few missing numbers" (Set goes from 1924 to 1962, with only 3 or 4 missing in the '50's, which I heard from Santa Fe fans are very rare.)

One day, while while walking past the Pomona station with eyes on the ties and hammer in hand, I was shocked to hear the station agent call out over the loud speaker "Finding any good dates out there?" !!!

Mark

mwbridgwater Wrote:
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> My understanding is that they were used, at least
> in part, to determine the best woods and treating
> substances by observation over time.
>
> When a young railfan in my teens, I would ride my
> bike down to the tracks (Santa Fe's Second
> District through Claremont, CA) and walk the line
> for a mile or two at a time with claw hammer in
> hand, trying to collect a complete set. Next time
> back, I would ride to where I left off, and
> resume, etc. Eventually covered the whole line
> from around Fontana to Glendora, in search of
> "those few missing numbers" (Set goes from 1924 to
> 1962, with only 3 or 4 missing in the '50's, which
> I heard from Santa Fe fans are very rare.)
>
> One day, while while walking past the Pomona
> station with eyes on the ties and hammer in hand,
> I was shocked to hear the station agent call out
> over the loud speaker "Finding any good dates out
> there?" !!!
>
> Mark

Sadly, now you would hear, "Stay where you are with your hands in the air."

BaltoJoey

Date nails were common on the Santa Fe line between Richmond and Oakland, Calif.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/07/15 09:17 by goldcoast.