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From: drockwel@CSNET-SH.ARPA (Dennis Rockwell)
Newsgroups: net.railroad
Subject: Re: Ties
Message-ID: <1608@brl-tgr.ARPA>
Date: Thu, 19-Sep-85 12:02:44 EDT
Article-I.D.: brl-tgr.1608
Posted: Thu Sep 19 12:02:44 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Sep-85 10:46:05 EDT
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	From: Nicholas.Spies@h.cs.cmu.edu
	Date: 18 Sep 1985 19:18-EST
	Subject: Ties

	 The interesting messages about rail technology prompts me to
	 ask whether any of you know what has happened to the idea of
	 using pre-stressed concrete for RR ties.

I can report on what I've seen recently.  AMTRAK is apparently using
concrete ties in the Washington area (specifically in the NE Corridor near
New Carrolton), but not in other places (like around DC Union Station). The
MBTA is using concrete base plates (each taking the place of about four
ties) in new tunnels (esp. in new areas of the Red Line subway), but is
still using wooden ties for new track outdoors, and in the reconstructed
areas of the Green Line (LRVs and PCCs).  The DC Metro follows the Red Line
scheme.  B&M, while laying all this new welded rail, is still using wooden
ties, at least in the places I've seen.