Railway Track & Structures - October 2007 - (Page 26)

RTS1007 p25-36-Crossties 9/26/07 2:28 PM Page 26 wood ties are identified for replacement as part of a railroad’s ongoing tie maintenance program. This year, RTA is continuing its commitment to research. “We are certainly not resting on our laurels,” said Gauntt. “2007 will see another major research initiative into alternative wood preservation technologies. In conjunction with the Class 1 railroads and Mississippi State University, we will be starting a comparative test on several alternative wood preservatives designed to determine efficacy of these systems in both Formosan Subterranean Termite (FST)-infested and non-FST locations. “Another notable, recently-completed study was presented at AREMA this year,” said Gauntt. “Funded by FRA, the study was designed to evaluate and identify optimal tie maintenance strategies. CSXT, ZETA-TECH Associates and RTA worked together to learn that by using GRMS measurements of the strength for the tie, more effective tie installation strategies can be developed, which would result in reduced tie installation requirements while maintaining and, in fact, improving track strength. We believe that this study and the quantified results it produced will allow railroads to see significant increased economic benefit in the use of the wood tie in years to come.” RTA will present a white paper at the AREMA Committee 30 meeting this month outlining research describing the “non-effect” of borate pretreatments on the electrical impedance properties of wood ties. “The two major additions to the wood tie preservation toolbox for railroads we have talked about over the past two years, borate pretreatments and copper naphthenate, continue to increase in application. There are other possibilities that are being investigated in the research I outlined above, including addressing the question of whether or not creosote retentions can be reduced by employing certain wood preserving strategies,” said Gauntt. Wood Burke-Parsons-Bowlby Corporation offers treated-wood products from crossties and switch ties to bridge timbers and crossing timbers to tie plugs. The company’s new treating plant in Fulton, Ken., began operations in February. This plant produces creosote-treated crossties and switch ties, which, the company points out, have served the industry for more than 100 years, as well as new borate/creosote-treated crossties and switch ties for use in high-decay areas. This plant was built as a result of a contract with the CN/IC Railway, but will also serve other Class 1s, shortlines and railroad contractors. BPB Corp. notes that overall demand for ties and timbers has been up because of the higher demand from Class 1 railroads and also higher demand from the shortline railroads due to the effects of the tax credit and other funding opportunities. Gross & Janes Co. specializes in the procurement of untreated hardwood and softwood crossties and switch ties. The company has continued its efforts towards performing as much preinspection out of certain plants as possible. Matt Clarke, president and chief executive officer of Gross & Janes, says these efforts provide a faster turnaround in transportation; deliver a higher quality product (at no additional cost to the customer); contribute towards increasing the productivity and efficiency of the treating plants the company’s ties are shipped to and allows the company to match production more closely to the customer’s quality requirements. “In doing so, we have the ability to merchandise our products and serve all customers to a greater degree during times of lower production. Additional plant capacity has been added through mechanization as slower production at times has opened more 26 Railway Track & Structures October 2007 www.rtands.com http://www.rtands.com

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Railway Track & Structures - October 2007 Contents On Track Industry Today Supplier News AREMA News NRC News TTCI R&D Crossties by the Billions Provide Essentials for Full Support Modern Tools Manage Risk M/W Challenges: Better Management of Thermal Forces in CWR TTCI Celebrates 25 Years as Facility, 10 as Part of AAR Products and Literature People Calendar Sales Representatives Website Directory Advertisers Index Professional Directory Classified Advertising Chicago Perspective

Railway Track & Structures - October 2007

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