Burning railway ties?

[longbeard]

I got a truckload of railway ties many years ago and have used them for all sorts of things around the sugar shack. But I have used all the good ones and am left with a dozen or so that I can't use. The question is would you guys cut them up and burn in the evaporator? I'm sure they will burn good with all the creosote but what is the downside if any?

[wmick]

Poisonous - Bad Idea, although lot of BTU, I expect....
I started burning some in a brush fire one time... Horrible black smoke and I was up half the night trying to put the fire out with a garden hose....
They do have some nasty stuff in them... Your neighbours would likely not appreciate it...

[DrTimPerkins]

In most places it is illegal to burn treated wood of any kind.

[Mead Maple]

I tried to get some from the railroad company down at the junction in Montpelier. One of the guys told me they are now classified as highly hazardous and are basically treated like biohazard waste. Have to be trucked by an approved company and brought to an incinerator and each load is documented.

All I wanted them for was to use for bridges in the woods. Guess that aint happening


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[TapTapTap]

https://www.rta.org/assets/docs/Research/EnvironmentalLiterature/mngt%20of%20%20used%20treated%20wood%20products.pd f

This link from the Railroad Tie Association (RTA) indicates that reuse of RR ties is acceptable as landscaping. It doesn't have standard dates, references, citations, authors, and credentials that I normally expect from a document I would rely upon. However, I think its generally correct but please don't take my word on it.

I understand that creosote treatment is only restricted on new timber products and railroads are allowed to use them in ties and bridges. So if you have any concerns about building a bridge, retaining wall, or corduroy road then you could always put down some rail and call it a railroad.

And I agree, don't try to burn ties.

[Mead Maple]

https://www.rta.org/assets/docs/Research/EnvironmentalLiterature/mngt%20of%20%20used%20treated%20wood%20products.pd f

This link from the Railroad Tie Association (RTA) indicates that reuse of RR ties is acceptable as landscaping. It doesn't have standard dates, references, citations, authors, and credentials that I normally expect from a document I would rely upon. However, I think its generally correct but please don't take my word on it.

I understand that creosote treatment is only restricted on new timber products and railroads are allowed to use them in ties and bridges. So if you have any concerns about building a bridge, retaining wall, or corduroy road then you could always put down some rail and call it a railroad.

And I agree, don't try to burn ties.

Well I saw it here and TapTalTap said it. It was on the internet so thats all I need for documentation haha!


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[TapTapTap]

Well I saw it here and TapTalTap said it. It was on the internet so thats all I need for documentation haha!


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I not sure i understand your humor. I admit I'm not a waste disposal engineer but I used to stay at the Holiday Inn Express!

But seriously, the RTA would be a good authority here - at least for a starting point to research an answer. If there's something from EPA or a state regulator then it should obviously be considered even more of an authority. And yes, i "believe it if i read it on the internet" when it comes to regulations published by the government. The next best thing is an analysis of a regulation posted on the internet at least for understanding how some people apply the regulations. As iI indicated in my previous response, I am concerned about the lack of credentials, authors, dates on the link. The RTA indicates that it is an older document (cira 1990) and by doing so impies that the reader should follow up on its own.

[TapTapTap]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://dec.vermont.gov/sites/dec/files/ead/documents/FactSheets/woodwaste_fs.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj3waSD4t3oAhW9lXIEHd1ODzQQFjAAegQIARAB&usg=AOvVaw2kbeErCNSKh5qFgCAuFDrJ

Here's another reference specific for VT and published by the state. It is consistent with the previous link I posted.

[Maple Time]

If you can't get them from the railroad, some home depots sell used railroad ties.

[Potters3]

The fumes and off gases created when burning them in a arch, will destroy your pans. I have seen fairly new pans that people used pressured treated scraps for wood, full of pin holes from the bottom up.

[longbeard]

Thanks for all the responses. You guys kind of verified what I figured - probably a regulation against it and probably not a good idea for many other reasons!

Among other things it would have been rough on my chainsaw too, with the grit, etc embedded in ties themselves. So, not going in the evaporator!

Who knew there was a Railroad Tie Association (RTA). LOL

[DrTimPerkins]

The fumes and off gases created when burning them in a arch, will destroy your pans. I have seen fairly new pans that people used pressured treated scraps for wood, full of pin holes from the bottom up.

I'd second that. Have seen it on a couple of occasions from people burning treated lumber and/or plastic tubing. The residues left on the underside of the pan can be quite corrosive. Makes for very unhappy maple producers the next season when they go to fill their pans with sap.

[Sugar Bear]

If you are going to burn your old railroad ties in your arch, I recommend throwing any of your old tires in as well.

You might as well go for it while your at it.

[bigschuss]

I had to check the date of the original post to be sure it wasn't April 1st.

Yeah, good idea not to burn railroad ties in your evaporator.