What kind of chemicals is used on railroad ties?

Question

What kind of chemicals is used on railroad ties?

Answer 1

If you are talking about the real railroad ties, not the type commonly used in landscaping....that would be Coal tar creosote.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Creosote

If you are talking about landscaping railroad ties.  It is a pressure treated lumber.  

http://home.howstuffworks.com/question27...

Answer 2

CREE -O-SOTE !!

Answer 3

just oil

Answer 4

Here in Northern Ontario they are still using Creosote railway ties. They last for years up here and to the best of my knowledge they still use them on wooden trestles. Take the Agawa Canyon tour this summer and check out the ties on the trestle crossing over the River.

Answer 5

In the old days, Creosote was used. There was a major train bridge fire a few years(?) ago, it was pictured on Yahoo somewhere, a coal train brake caught fire, the train engineer happened to stop the burning car right ON the old 100-year old bridge, which had creosote ties and wood, and the whole thing burned down, taking some 10 cars with it. Not sure what they use now, it's not creosote, which burns really well once started. Some other form of chemical , pressure-sealed in the wood I believe, and may have fire-retardant properties, too.

Answer 6

Creosote, and yes, we lose bridges every year.

The experts on tie and bridge maintenance are here:

http://www.osmose.com/home.asp

Trestle fire

http://www.nbc11.com/news/11422146/detai...

(300 foot trestle is totally destroyed; rebuilt from scratch and reopened in 12 days.  Now THAT's civil engineering!)

Another one

http://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/mor...

Answer 7

Creosote!

Answer 8

A lot of ties are still soaked in creosote. Spotted a cut of cars a month or two ago with ties that were freshly soaked in creosote, very very strong smell.