BIKEPGH MESSAGE BOARD ARCHIVE

April 22nd 9 am to 7 pm

On a weekday, I cannot help, as I cannot afford to take a day off. If this was a weekend day, I would be more able to participate.

This reminds me... I noticed CSX has dumped a bunch of wooden railroad ties alongside the river, essentially just into the forest a bit between the bike trail and the river. From what I read, those wooden ties have a bunch of toxic chemicals in them to act as preservatives and keep insects out Anybody else noticed this?

I actually could potentially use some of those. I have a retaining wall made of similar, but deeply rotted ties (to the point I have to assume these would be better). I also have a place I really ought to build a retaining wall. Where are they more precisely?

Earth day falls on a different day every year , Tuesday April 22nd this year Just thought i would throw it out there if there is anyone with free time .

@byogman I too could probably use a few beyond what you need, assuming of course that any at all are salvageable.

If I recall correctly, they're between the last of those metal siding buildings along the trail and the old gate that says "trail ends here," which was put up before the trail went through sandcastle FWIW, I think the ties are like 150lb a piece, and as mentioned, have bad chemicals in them. I think gardeners eschew them for that reason

I won't be growing vegetables for consumption in adjacent dirt. They're just there to be big, heavy, and decay very, very slowly. Stu, do you have a fairly clear idea of the closest roadway access?Having two guys per tie is going to be a whole lot more practical than one, I've handled them solo before... but it only works when they're very dry. They certainly weren't 150 pounds then, but it still sucked. I know your motto is "anything but the car", but I'm going to make an exception here :) Going to take some measurements to see if my wife's Jeep can handle these or I need to get my hands on a truck. Depends on how many we're hauling probably... let me know your parameters. I won't be able to do this for a while with passover coming up (which sadly means I won't be able to make the cleanup day), but I assume they'll still be there and I'll be able to contribute a little this way.

Pierce wrote:have bad chemicals in them

It used to be creosote. And it has its medical applications too. I used it.

My wife informs me that blocks, not ties, will be used for the project I had in mind. But I can still help you load them. Let me know when you might make the trip. Also, I'm not entirely anti-car. I am just anti-car-100%-of-the-time. Needing to cart large, heavy loads calls for a car or truck.

I rode by on Friday and there's actually a pile of them stacked up near where you'd break through the fence/cross the tracks if you were going to that ice cream place. Probably about 100 right there. Some have moss growing on them