battalion51 said:
I'm surprised the MTA hasn't switched to concrete ties by now.
Well first let me clarify something. The MTA includes the NYC Subways, Metro North, and the LIRR. The MTA is the parent company if you will.
Now the LIRR and Metro North are indeed switching over to concrete ties. They still have a ways to go, but each summer more wooden ties bite the dust.
As for the subways, they really can't use concrete ties. For the elevated lines, the concrete has two problems. One, they are to heavy. If they were placed on the metal girders, it's quite likely that the weight of a passing train along with the weight of the ties would be too much for the structure to support. It would probably lead to metal fatigue and eventually failure.
Second, I'm not real sure if there would be a way to anchor the ties. Currently metal straps that run around the girder and are then nailed into the tie hold the wooden ties in place.
Now when it comes to the underground portions of the subway, they can't use concrete ties because the roadbed is concrete. You can't put a concrete tie into a concrete roadbed. I'm not quite sure just why that won't work, but I do know that it doesn't.
However and coincidentally, the MTA just announced today that they are going to start buying plastic ties. These will be similar to the ones the Chicago is currently buying and using.
The company's composite railroad ties are made of recycled plastic and fiberglass for durability and strength. According to the company, benefits include a greater life expectancy over wood ties, no hazardous materials used or needed to have or maintain insect and rot resistance, no hazardous materials generated and no seepage of hazardous materials into the environment.
You can read the full story from
Trains.com
In another odd twist, the company is also located in your home state Battalion.