How to Build a Railroad Tie Retaining Wall (Step by Step)

[@Hydro144]

Great work. Thank you for the video! Forget the haters… they’ve wanted to do this for years but can’t afford it

[@scrapyardchickens]

Thanks, I appreciate it. Sometimes it is easier to be a critic than a builder.

[@LauraMitchell-rt9ri]

it looks so good!!!

[@scrapyardchickens]

Thank you!

[@charlescorley5002]

Good job

[@scrapyardchickens]

Thank you

[@jallenlandscape752]

i would recommend addind a 2 ft tieback to tie in to the deadmen

[@kirkmitchell6650]

Looks great

[@scrapyardchickens]

Thank you!

[@mainesail3097]

YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE

[@TheSassydlynn]

11:51. Question. Did you put rebar behind the wall?

[@scrapyardchickens]

I put a 2 foot rebar through the back end of the deadman anchors.

[@GC83163]

Looks good, but I'm concerned about the rebar. Is that regular rebar, and if so how do you keep if from rusting out? Rebar is meant to be surrounded by concrete to protect from rusting. Is this specialized ground contact rebar?

[@scrapyardchickens]

Thank you! In hindsight I probably should have dipped the rebar in something. However, the amount of time it takes for rebar to corrode til failure is a very long time.

[@kristennajewski4128]

How long were the Deadman ties? And how long were your rebar pins?

[@scrapyardchickens]

My Deadman ties were a little over 4 foot. And rebar was 2 foot long.

[@TimothyMitchell01]

great build!

[@scrapyardchickens]

Thanks!

[@diverdave4056]

you could have easily installed the rebar using a Hilti Hammer drill set to hammer to pound them in FAST !

[@scrapyardchickens]

Yea I wish I woulda gotten me one of them!

[@diverdave4056]

@@scrapyardchickens you can always RENT one !

[@scrapyardchickens]

True!

[@TarzanTreeSolutions]

How much do you usually charge for this?

[@scrapyardchickens]

This was just a job I did for myself. I don't do this for a living so I can't give a good estimate.

[@dontlistentoanythingisay]

If you don’t have any embedment (concrete footings, rebar, piers) and also drainage, it isn’t a retaining wall. It’s basically a landscaping wall. Retaining walls have structural components necessary to actually retain.

[@dallasarnold8615]

This is always a BAD idea. Crossties are already old. They absolutely are going to rot out and you will be doing the wall all over again. Trust me, I learned this the hard way on my own and helping friends with theirs.

[@scrapyardchickens]

Guess ill have to give an update in a few years!

[@dallasarnold8615]

@@scrapyardchickens Right. BTW you did do a good job doing this wall. Not trying to be sarcastic here, but have you ever thought of why the railroad removes them. It's because they are deteriorated beyond their safety rating. Best wishes.

[@scrapyardchickens]

Fair enough. Thank you though!

[@Burnrate]

Some might be bad with rot or insects in the middle but most will probably last several decades just sitting there. It's still a big chunk of hardwood. Just have to make sure the creosote wont be draining down into your ground water and contaminating your well.

[@TheMrCheezlezombie]

@@Burnrate None of them will last decades. Guaranteed.

[@exploringnorthamerica1744]

These are so toxic that CN rail had to modify handling them to hazmat levels of protection.

[@CredibleHulk10]

😂 🤡

[@TheMrCheezlezombie]

HORRIBLE IDEA. Railroad ties only last a couple of seasons. Then you will have to constantly replace them. This is hard to do when the wall has been backfilled.

[@scrapyardchickens]

I guess I was willing to try my luck! I'll have to give an update in a few years on how it's going!

[@geuzeg]

So in a world where these railroad ties see thousands of tons a day for decades, some backfill is not going to do much harm very quickly. Just have to keep the backfill drained properly, which is necessary for any other material as well

[@jiml3922]

Have this kind of wall installed in the 80s. Has held up very well

[@kristennajewski4128]

It will last about 30 years. I have to replace a very tall RR tie wall and rebating RR ties again or stack blocks.

[@MrTuberguber]

@@jiml3922 Me as well. And if I had recoated them they'd have held up better.