Tie Gang is in and we have 2500 Ties to Change Out

A lot of good action in the video of the railroad tie gang, specially the
scarifier. We will also show the spike puller, tie inserter remover and
tie crane working. On this morning I will be tamping behind the tie gang but
have to wait a bit before I can get started so they can put in the new ties
for me to tamp.
Check out my other You Tube channel with more cool railroad and
rail fanning videos along with other adventures Dave has:
/ @thatsdavesotherdoings
Disclaimer: I am an employee of Iron Senergy at Cumberland
Mine. My job is railroad track maintenance. I am very fortunate to
have this job and everyone at the mine is very fortunate to have
Iron Senergy as it's current owner. Our past owners had every
intention of shutting this mine down, but Iron Senergy took
over and have kept this mine alive.
Please understand: I am NOT in any way an official or unofficial
spokes person for Iron Senergy or Cumberland Mine. Any viewpoints,
opinions or anything that I show in the videos, or write in the video
descriptions or any answer to any comment, should NEVER be
misconstrued or interpreted as being in any way shape or form,
any kind of official or unofficial statement from Iron Senergy,
Iron Cumberland, Cumberland Mine, any of the mine's management,
any of the contractors that may be shown in any video, nor of
any of my fellow co-workers.
Any viewpoints or opinions I may make in the videos, in the
descriptions, or in any answer to a comment is strictly that of my
own and NOT an official or unofficial statement or viewpoint that
Iron Synergy or any one at Iron Senergy or Cumberland Mine
necessarily has or makes.
Again, we are very fortunate to have Iron Senergy as our current
owners. Please, when making a comment be respectful of Iron Senergy,
Cumberland Mine, my fellow coworkers and also any contractors
that may be shown. Thank You, Dave
#tiegang#railroadtiegang#railroadtie

[@ccrx6700]

Check out my other You Tube channel with more cool railroad and rail fanning videos along with other adventures Dave has: www.youtube.com/@ThatsDavesOtherDoings

[@kh3612]

@ccrx6700 I have no ties (no pun intended) to railroading, but am always fascinated by all the different pieces of MOW equipment. Everything is so micro-specialized to each individual task. There must have been many talented engineers to design all these different machines. Thanks for sharing with us! I always enjoy your videos!

[@ccrx6700]

@@kh3612 👍😊

[@campy9712]

I have to say that I really love your channel, it’s nice to see all the machines doing their intended job with your descriptions of what they are doing. Thanks for another great video!

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Campy and glad to hear you enjoyed. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@schadowolf]

Another great video! I'm always amazed at the ingenuity and engineering to create the equipment to do this type of work as well as in other industries.

[@ccrx6700]

Glad to hear you enjoyed Schadowolf. Yep these machines are amazing, can you imagine trying to put in 2500 ties by hand! Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@fredeisen7401]

Thanks Dave for showing all of us what it takes to maintain track. As always informative and interesting!

[@ceciltrane5418]

Seems like it would be a long day to accomplish all those tasks mentioned.

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Fred, glad you enjoyed. Very much appreciate your taking the time to watch the video and may you have a most blessed day my friend.

[@jerrysolinas3162]

I'm a retired Machinist Erie-Lackawanna ConRail NS You know what ? Your one great guy.

[@ccrx6700]

Appreciate the kind words Jerry! Did you happen to know a Gary Kuipers? He worked EL and CR, then went to New Jersey Transit. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@jerrysolinas3162]

Nope...

[@jerrysolinas3162]

Hornell, N.Y. EL .. Enola,Pennsylvania ConRail N.S.and Harrisburg

[@ccrx6700]

@@jerrysolinas3162 👍😊

[@user-jq2rf4nf3o]

Was child hasn't dreamed working a rail road , You're living the dream

[@ccrx6700]

Yes I certainly am Hongya Ma. Some guys have all the luck....:-) Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@christopherleenknecht920]

Thanks Dave for sharing, it's always a pleasure to watch your videos

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Christopher and glad to hear you enjoyed. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@larrylong6268]

Years back I was the Infrastructure Team Lead for the Coors Brewing Company in Golden CO. One of my programs was the on campus rail system. When we could get the budget we replaced our timber ties with either metal or concrete. In the long term we had less maintenance with the ties.

[@ccrx6700]

Concrete ties are great for some applications Larry. For others they may not be so. I made a video some time ago on the pros and cons of concrete and wood ties and why we don't use them here you may enjoy watching: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i6XchYefn9iqrck Thank you very much for writing in and for watching the video on the tie gang. May you have a most blessed day my friend.

[@GMCGUY-]

I LOVE YOUR PERSONALITY YOUR LIKE NOBODY I HAVE EVER KNOW. WHICH IS DEFINITELY A GOOD THING MY FREIND. HOPE ALL IS WELL HOPE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IS HEALTHY AND DOUBG WELL. CANT WAIT TO OTHER UPLOAD. BE SAFE MY FREIND.

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you for the very nice comment GMC Guy. So pleased to hear you have enjoying. All is well here and the same to you my friend.

[@davenitsch6094]

Great seeing these specialty machines running Dave, appreciate your describing them!

[@ccrx6700]

Your very welcome Dave. Glad you could stop by to watch the tie gang in action my friend.

[@SteveMikre44]

Dave, I enjoyed every minute watching the Tie Gang demonstrating their craft. Thank you very much for sharing this video...

[@ccrx6700]

Really glad you liked this one Steve. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@robinroberts3335]

Hello Dave . Wow 2500 that a pile of sticks 👍🏻cool manhines just think years ago All manual labour crazy. Great job boys 👍🏻😎Robin out .

[@ccrx6700]

Yes can you imagine putting in 2500 ties by hand Robin! We certainly appreciate the machinery they now have to do all this heavy track work. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@beverlymichael5830]

Amazing the machines being able to do so much and think how back breaking that work was done before the machines. Good to see track maintenance being done to prevent accidents. Thanks for taking us along.

[@ccrx6700]

Yes can you imagine putting in 2500 ties by hand Beverly! We certainly appreciate the machinery they now have to do all this heavy track work. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@Hyrev1]

I think thats the first time I've seen a scarifier in action. Quite a machine!..looks like its probably a pretty high wear unit, for all the ballast it churns up. Thanks for another informative/ interesting video Dave! 🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃🚃💯👍🇺🇸

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Jim, glad you enjoyed. Yes that scarifier is quite a machine and sure makes getting ties back in easier. Very much appreciate your taking the time to watch the video and may you have a most blessed day my friend.

[@TriGogglin]

Another great action video Dave.. love seeing the MOW equipment in action. I've not seen a tiller before. That thing is wicked.. 👍👍

[@ccrx6700]

It certainly is and sure makes putting the ties back in a lot easier Pappy. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@edwarddavis507]

Thank you for sharing Dave! You are inspiring a whole new generation of railroaders. I hope you can get a little more sleep at night since you’re doing all this upkeep thanks to your company’s management.

[@ccrx6700]

Appreciate the nice comment Edward. Always a good thing to get new tie in the track and fortunate the company spends the money to do it. Thank you very much for taking the time to check out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@ianhughes7805]

That was a very well organised, very well executed, efficient and safe job Dave. Very impressive you should be proud of you and your teams work on this scheme

[@ccrx6700]

You are right about that Ian and yes it is very good that the company spent the money on putting in all those new ties making our track safer. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@artillerest43rdva7]

having the proper tool makes any job go so much smoother! grate video let the professionals go and do it, they are so much faster at the task. that is all they do, day in and out!

[@ccrx6700]

Yes can you imagine putting in 2500 ties by hand Barry! We certainly appreciate the machinery they now have to do all this heavy track work. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@tzadik36]

Thank you for the video. A well-organized work party with the various tasks done in sequence to accomplish track maintenance.

[@ccrx6700]

Yes can you imagine putting in 2500 ties by hand Robin! We certainly appreciate the machinery they now have to do all this heavy track work and you are right, they are well organized. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@dorothycole8611]

I am constantly amazed at what these machines can do. Especially that "scarifier". It would sure scare me! lol

[@ccrx6700]

Appreciate the nice comment. Thank you very much for taking the time to check out the video. May you have a very good day.

[@jimamccracken5783]

Dave I do believe you really love your job. Your face smiling and your eye twinkling just makes me happy. by the way where is the Fresh Buttered Popcorn.

[@ccrx6700]

What? you mean You Tube didn't supply you with the tub of popcorn when you clicked on this video....???? :-) I'll have to email their corporate head quarters and find out what the heck is up with that..... I do love my job and am very blessed to be able to have it and still do what I do out here.

[@mikedee8876]

being a maintenance type myself, its satisfying to see the crews at work shoring up the infrastructure.....but I guess the powers that be have to grin and bear the downtime..... The scarifier is new to me....always like seeing the tripp machine in action too....missed it this time....

[@ccrx6700]

There will be a video on the TRIPP coming out soon, I did not get a lot of footage of it working tho Mike. The down time was planned so they could move the long wall machinery under ground to a new panel. It's just a part of mining that like you say, they have to grin and bear it. Very much appreciate your taking the time to watch the video and may you have a most blessed day my friend.

[@PatrickSBellSr]

I can imagine the smell of creosote and diesel - brings me back 50 years to watching the C&NW as a kid. Love it!!😀👍

[@1208bug]

Me too!

[@doughuffman5790]

Me too! But differently. My mother used a creosote based cough medicine when I was a child. As an adult I served on nuclear submarines with diesel emergency generators, and my Island power house has three pairs DG AND I have driven diesel autos for 25 years. I like the smell of diesel. Oh, and my diesel Welsbach mantel lamp in its niche in the great room.

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed Patrick. Nothing like the smell of fresh creosote on a hot summer day! Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@lawrietaber657]

That’s a hell of a lot of work thank god for the machines hate to think I was doing all that manually lol excellent vid Dave thanks .

[@ccrx6700]

oh for sure on what a blessing it is to have these machines to do all that work Lawrie. I would be wore out after 1 tie if I had to do it by hand.....:-) Very much appreciate your taking the time out of your day to watch the video. May you have a most blessed day my friend.

[@russelltrupia4479]

Wow Dave that is a lot of work but the finished job will look awesome.👍👍

[@ccrx6700]

Yes can you imagine putting in 2500 ties by hand Russell! We certainly appreciate the machinery they now have to do all this heavy track work. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@Arkay315]

I guess you could say that they are "tied" down with responsibilities.

[@ccrx6700]

You are right about that Arkay! 2,500 responsibilities.....:-) We are very fortunate indeed the company has spent the money to put in so many new ties to help keep our track safe. Really glad you could stop by tonight and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@williamralph5442]

Sure make life easy. Thanks Dave

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome William and you are so right in that, can you imagine trying to put in 2500 ties by hand! Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@morse2795]

This was a very cool video Dave. I enjoy watching all the different machines and what each of them do. You do an awesome job narrating for us.

[@ccrx6700]

Glad to hear you enjoyed William and appreciate the kind words. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@REDbear200]

I love watching overseas trains because they're cool. from japan @ HOKKAIDO

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed REDbear. Very much appreciate your taking the time to watch the video and may you have a most blessed day my Japanese friend.

[@richardaustin2640]

Love those machines Dave! It sure makes life a good deal easier for track gangs. Bad luck about the broken rail but those things happen and you'll soon have it sorted! Stay safe out there 🙂

[@ccrx6700]

Broken rails, that's railroading Richard and it got replaced no big deal. You are right, those machines sure make life easier. Can you imagine trying to put in 2500 ties by hand! Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@NoewerrATall]

Lovely video! It's very satisfying watching each machine do its job. Appropriate day to be showing some love to the track.

[@ccrx6700]

Great to hear you enjoyed Erin. You are right putting new ties in is showing love to the track! Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@michaelball760]

The scarifier i run here is from the early 1970's. Open cab so no a/c or heat, but it is a back saver.

[@ccrx6700]

I can't imagine running that machine where you are with no AC Michael! Wow. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@theBounder98]

As always, thank you for the video and the information that goes with all the operations very few people know about when involved with a railroad

[@ccrx6700]

Great to hear you enjoyed Bounder and you are welcome. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@ssweeps]

In Fullerton CA i got to see a crew pull out a section of rails and ties and replace them IN THE RAIN! The crew member said the trains have to run 24/7...pouring rain or 120 degrees for BNSF!

[@ccrx6700]

If we have a broken rail and trains have to run, it doesn't matter what the weather is, we have to fix it, just like BNSF. Only thing about them, they have a lot more guys and better equipment!

[@Southernshaker]

Use to work at a sawmill, barked and stacked many a tie. Thanks for the video.

[@ccrx6700]

If you were in WV then perhaps some of those ties had come to us eventually? Wouldn't that be pretty cool. Your welcome and thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@terrywitt5543]

That Shure would make a good garden tiller chew threw roots clay and what ever gets in the way

[@ccrx6700]

You are right it sure would Terry. All you gotta do is build a RR track across your garden to get it in there, easy peasy.....:-) And hey, you can ship all your produce you grow out by box car in trains then..... Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@raymondsprengelmeyer1278]

What a busy place! Thank you for sharing Dave!

[@ccrx6700]

Yep a lot going on here Raymond. But it's a very good thing that the company has spent the money on track maintenance and in keeping our track safe. And I am very pleased to be able to say that. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@s16100]

And all of this used to be done by hand. Good video my friend! :)

[@ccrx6700]

Can you imagine trying to put in 2500 ties by hand Bryan, thank goodness for the tie gang and their machines. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@BILLBADASHAW2011]

OUTSTANDING DAVE !!!!

[@ccrx6700]

Appreciate the nice comment Bill and glad to hear you enjoyed. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@wilburroth5150]

Most satisfying video. I like watching those machines at work. Thanks Dave!

[@ccrx6700]

Glad to hear you enjoyed Wilbur and I will have a few other videos coming out on the tie gang at work for you. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@harpintn]

Thank you for showing that process. I haven't seen that done since sometime in the 1970's. I was thinking that the would take one out and imminently put the new one in, but I may be mistaken.

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome harpintn and glad you enjoyed. If they would have had 2 TRIPP machines working then they would have took one out and put a new one in right away. Thanks so very much for taking time to write in and to watch the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@randydobson1863]

hello Dave & it's is Randy and i like yours video is cool & Thanks Dave & Friends Randy

[@ccrx6700]

Appreciate that Randy. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

Ah yes this brings back a ton of memories Dave. Cool video and have a wonderful upcoming Friday.(Steve)

[@ccrx6700]

Glad to hear you enjoyed Steve. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@StormySkyRailProductions]

@@ccrx6700 Your very welcome.

[@metro143]

I used to work on tie units and rail gangs for CSX back in the 80's. I loved the job, but to many furloughs. My family had that nasty habit of eating three times a day.

[@ccrx6700]

Yes that's the problem with doing that kind of work, it's often seasonal plus you're away from home a lot spending your evenings in a hotel room or camp car. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@rebelrailroader]

Thanks for sharing Dave. With all the coal fines I'm surprised you don"t have a mud hole there.

[@ccrx6700]

Your welcome Zach and you are right, that ballast is full of coal fines..... sigh.... Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@4everdc302]

A bunch of effort👷‍♂️👷‍♂️👷‍♂️👷‍♂️⛏️🪨🚂. But let it bring green lights🟢& no slow orders the rest of the year🇺🇲🇨🇦🙋

[@ccrx6700]

Yes can you imagine putting in 2500 ties by hand Doug! We certainly appreciate the machinery they now have to do all this heavy track work. You are right, let's hope no more slow orders! Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@danielrongo2367]

Very cool awesome job

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed Daniel. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@richardbrobeck2384]

another great video !

[@ccrx6700]

Really glad you enjoyed Richard. Very much appreciate your taking time out of your day to watch the video and may you have a most blessed day my friend.

[@kevinaurandt6280]

Can’t imagine how much these guys charge, don’t know if it’s hourly or “total job” bids, but I imagine it’s a significant amount.

[@ccrx6700]

They have bid the jobs in the past both by per tie and also per job. I'm not sure what they charged this time Kevin. Many years ago it was figure on $100 a tie to buy the tie and have it installed and the old ties picked up. I'm sure that is more now, but again I do not know what the cost was to put in the ties this time. Whatever the cost, it was a very good thing that the company spent the money on new ties, derailments cost big bucks and new ties help prevent derailments. Thanks so much for watching and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@MusicByWinston]

I enjoyed this video. That scarifier machine looks like it is working counterproductive to laying the new ties. The rotor tines pick up all that ballast and pour it into the last hole it dug out. I would think that would impede the ability to place the new ties in the holes. Just curious how they compensate for the filled-in holes. Or does that tie placement crane just push right through all that gravel? Thanks for always showing us something interesting! Have a great day.

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed MusicByWinston. Scarifier's job is to break up the hard ballast so it is loose enough material that the tie inserter machine can push the ties through the loose ballast. In hard ballast it is often difficult to get new ties back in without the use of a scarifier. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@jamesberg3106]

Morning DAVE!

[@ccrx6700]

Good morning James. Thank you very much for checking out the video and may you have a really good day my friend.

[@jasonoliver5388]

Dave we used to call the tie crane your talking about a tie handler. And i used to run one for a really long time.

[@ccrx6700]

Nice to find that out Jason. I would love to run a tie crane, I like throwing ties around....:-) Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@jasonoliver5388]

@@ccrx6700 Dave the are fun to run.

[@ccrx6700]

@@jasonoliver5388 😊👍

[@cedarcam]

Great to see all those machines working. I have not seen a video of a scarifier working close up before, was just thinking OK till it hits something buried then it found he tie rod, didn't do it any harm though. It looks strongly made.

[@ccrx6700]

He was lucky nothing broke when he hit it Cedarcam. Those rods are pretty tough steel, I think he just grazed it. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@cedarcam]

@@ccrx6700 Yea that would of really messed things up the rods are tough as you say

[@eduardoben7106]

Excelente trabajo saludos desde Argentina 👍

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed Eduardo. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@skywatcherca]

Yes, yes - landscaping companies will KILL for railway ties...your company should be able to make a few dollars from each tie... Even the slightly rotted ones have value...glad to see that your company recycles as much as possible. GREAT videos davo.

[@ccrx6700]

We sold a bunch to landscapers last year Skywatcherca. This year they didn't, and I don't know why. NS and CSX sells their used ties also. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@trainchasersatwork]

As always 😃👍❤️🚂💨💨💨💨💨

[@ccrx6700]

Glad you enjoyed Train Chasers at Work. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@Bassotronics]

2500 black bananas!

[@ccrx6700]

Can you imagine putting all of those in by hand Bassotronics! We sure do love our hydraulics on the RR. Thank you very much for taking the time to write in and to check out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@ssweeps]

They should have a vacuum truck to pick up all the bits of coal...

[@ccrx6700]

On occasion we contract with Hulcher to bring in their vacuum truck to clean up the loose coal fines from the track Steve. We used to do it on a quarterly basis but after our last company filed bankruptcy that stopped so now they just come in once in awhile. Here's a video of their vac truck in action: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYrCXoqVeaegl7c

[@jedrek1521]

It's always sunny at Cumberland Mine

[@ccrx6700]

LOL I like that Jedrek. SantaFe used to say it never rains on the RR. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@OldcampRanch]

Interesting video 👍🏻

[@ccrx6700]

Glad to hear you enjoyed Old Camp Ranch. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@lewistodd9242]

Good morning Dave. It's amazing the different types of machinery that has been designed and built to make the job of working on the rails easier. Have a great day and weekend my friend.

[@ccrx6700]

Yes it is and what a blessing those machines are Lewis. Can you imagine trying to put in 2500 ties by hand..... no way. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@danherrmann8755]

Railroad ties made from white oak , red oak . Hickory. Or a certain Type. Of hard wood. EPA does not like The toxic chemicals. Great video thanks.

[@ccrx6700]

Creosote for RR ties is the only application they allow Dan. What is really surprising is they allow it for bridge timbers to be put over streams. Glad you enjoyed. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@bradolsen8629]

You’re truly talking about the tie gang as opposed to the Apple dumpling gang Disney

[@ccrx6700]

You're right about that Brad and sure glad the tie gang was in to do these and not the AD gang, I'd like to see them try and put in 2500 ties! :-) Very much appreciate your taking time out of your day to watch the video and may you have a most blessed day my friend.

[@derrickanderson4932]

Cool Video.

[@ccrx6700]

Glad to hear you enjoyed Derrick. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@kristyskirt9015]

Hi Dave , now that’s Railroading, without getting all “Tied up” I have suggestion for the ties pulled out . The good ones could be used to build retaining walls and terrace steps to keep the right of way next to the tracks safe From mud and gravel slides. And to make any trail near the tracks be boarded by the ties, even the old rail plates and spikes could also be used as n construction of terrace steps or retaining walls. To me that’s Railroading. PS July 12 and 13, 2024 Friday and Saturday in Roseville CA AMTRAC station oh ya Heavy Metal on the mainline Union Pacific will be railroading and stop with Steam locomotive Big Boy 4014, and yes I will be there wooo hooo.. great track work Dave and Team keep it Safe. Thanks for all you do.

[@ccrx6700]

Appreciate the suggestion Kristy. We have used a lot of old ties and bridge timbers in the past to build retaining walls and used old rail as pilings to hold those in place. Last year we sold a bunch of used ties to landscapers. I don't know why we didn't do that this time. have a great time with 4014, that's just awesome you will be there! I'm jealous. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@kevinkennedy7702]

Id so love to do that job!!

[@ccrx6700]

If you're around here the contractor is Frontier Railroad Services and they are hiring Kevin. Your dream can come true. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@lorenwillis425]

A lot of coal dust mixed in with that ballast.

[@ccrx6700]

You are right Loren, this area gets a lot of spillage as the cars are being dumped out below this area and the cars get a lot of banging around. Thank you very much for taking the time to check out the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@briankemp5206]

Great video Dave. Its relaxing watching them replace ties!

[@ccrx6700]

Glad to hear you enjoyed Brian. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@opieshomeshop]

Thats a lot of ties. The weather looks like it's good working weather though. And I don't think I can be your valentine. Im going to have to keep you in the friend zone.. LOL. 😆🤣

[@ccrx6700]

Yes can you imagine putting in 2500 ties by hand David! We certainly appreciate the machinery they now have to do all this heavy track work. And now that you've broken my heart..... guess I will have to be satisfied with just friends....:-) Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@RFMCabooseNP1713]

Very coo

[@ccrx6700]

Glad to hear you enjoyed RFMCaboose. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@clarklindquist8137]

What a cool video. Thanks so much Dave. Keep up the awesome work

[@ccrx6700]

Great to hear you enjoyed Clark. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@clarklindquist8137]

@ccrx6700 You as well Dave. Stay safe and blessed

[@ccrx6700]

@@clarklindquist8137 😊👍

[@geonerd]

That whole section looks like it could use a complete rework of the foundation and ballast to improve drainage.

[@ccrx6700]

Yes there is a lot of coal spillage here Geonerd. It's where they are running the train to dump it and a lot of banging of the cars and coal fines seep down thru cracks in the car doors. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@Paw95]

Very nice!! Keeping that track in good shape!!

[@ccrx6700]

Appreciate that Preston. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@Xetta_Mode]

2,500 ties! WOAH!!! 😮

[@ccrx6700]

It's a really good thing that the company is spending the money to keep our track in good shape and safe for trains to run. And I am very pleased to be able to say that. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@chucklynch5505]

There's a lot of coal in that ballast. I see more work in your future

[@ccrx6700]

Always a lot of work in my future here Chuck....:-) This are does get a lot of coal spillage, but that's railroading here. Very much appreciate your taking the time to watch the video and may you have a most blessed day my friend.

[@ralphnorris-vk8ff]

Our local farm store bought a bunch of ties from CSX and still has most of them. People won't pay 20 dollars a piece for fence post!

[@ccrx6700]

20 bucks for a used tie seems pretty steep Ralph, can't blame folks for that. Used ties around here go for between 5 and 10 bucks apiece. Thank you very much for taking the time to check out the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@mikelockhart1827]

Dave was wearing my hard hat and a reflective vest while i was watching your video this evening . Dave this very interesting video for me.

[@ccrx6700]

Excellent Mike, safety first! Glad you enjoyed this one. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@GMCGUY-]

YOU DO A GREAT JOB BROTHER Absolutely Great Video Dave Awesome 👌 ❤❤❤❤ Your Videos are So Interesting 👌 Hope all is well with your Family Dave Wish them and you the Best 👌 🎉🎉🎉🎉🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳

[@ccrx6700]

Appreciate the very nice comment GMCGuy. All is well here. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@robertf3479]

I deeply enjoy these looks at the job you are doing, the how and why. While I can find ballast cars, high rail trucks and such including a regulator in "N" scale, some other pieces like the scarifier, spike puller, tie inserter / remover I will have to scratch build. Actually should be fun!

[@ccrx6700]

Wow if you do build some of those hope you will put up a video on them Robert and let me know, I would really like to see something like that. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@mikeorahood9867]

Looks like a new machine here.

[@ccrx6700]

We've had the scarifier in here before but it's been several years since I made a video on it Mike and I didn't show it actually working in that video. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@dennisb-trains23]

Happy Thursday Dave! 🚂😃 stay warm😁

[@ccrx6700]

Thank you Dennis and we do appreciate your tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@thomascardinal6192]

Always interesting Dave!

[@ccrx6700]

Glad to hear you enjoyed Thomas. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@michaelcase8574]

Looks like fun running that machine...for about 6 houre. Then it becomes a job.LOL Great eork, Dave!!

[@ccrx6700]

Your right about that on the scarifier Michael! I would like to run the tie crane tho, that would be a lot of fun, like running my excavator. I like to throw ties around. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@sbgMike1]

we in austria haf one macine for all the work making this in 5 minits

[@ccrx6700]

That would be cool to see Mike. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@peterp1158]

6:13 Scarifier filled the first hole that was just dug out. Should rotate in the opposite direction.

[@ccrx6700]

Some of those he dug out with the tines rotating so the debris was thrown back and some he did the opposite throwing it out forward. I believe it was around 8:30 mark where he did it the opposite way Peter. I have no clue why he did some one way and some the other way. Thank you very much for taking the time to write in and to check out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@1208bug]

👍😊

[@ccrx6700]

Glad to hear you enjoyed 1208Bug. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@JG40061]

Great video Dave 👍

[@ccrx6700]

Really glad you enjoyed JG. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@jasonoliver5388]

Dave thats looks like a big job. But i am sure you and that tie gang will get it done in no time.

[@ccrx6700]

They were here for about 10 days Jason but the tie gang also had other work to do replacing some rail. All got done and it's great that we do have a pretty robust tie replacement program here. The company never balks at spending the money to put new ties in. And I am very pleased to be able to say that.

[@jasonoliver5388]

@@ccrx6700 the company I work for when it was owned by the old owners were the same as your company they never batted an eyelash at spending money for tire replacement track work. And once we got sold the first time to rail America they sort of started letting things go and they only let us do spot work and that was it. Then we were sold to an investment company for the for the second buyout and they did not spend any money for track work all they were worried about was making money and all the railroads went downhill from there. Then we were sold to railtech switch is not around anymore and they did nothing track work wise. And then again we were sold to another investment group for the third time and again they spent no money at all on track work. then we were sold to the Genesee and Wyoming and they are slowly getting some track work done so hopefully once everything is said and done my railroad will be back up to 25 mph.

[@stanpatterson5033]

Dave, about the ties. I see the ones you are installing (the new ones) are beautifully square on all sides. How long since you saw the kind of ties that are only square on 2 sides, and the other 2 (sides) still look like the outer edge of the tree? If they have names for styles of ties, I'm sorry, I'm not aware of the names. And as for the ties coming out (the old ones), some of the footage is shot far enough away that I can't tell what style they were when they were put in, but I'm positive that they're in rough shape and basically worthless (for holding rails, anyways) at this point. Yes, as for used railway ties.... Many years ago when I was just a young labor source for the parental units, I remember Dad bringing home used ties, bought for a dollar each, and using them to make a border for a sunken garden. They hung in for maybe 8 or so years, wasn't really paying much attention, but then they disappeared, broke down into fertilizer I guess. We just sloped the rise and let grass grow there at that point. They did their second job for long enough. Never tasted any vegetables that tasted like creosote, so no complaints. Interesting that the machine is called a scarifier. It really does look like a tiller. Just a specialized-use tiller. The big machines that mill down (or up) old asphalt from paved surfaces is also known as a scarifier . I have a lot of miles behind garden tillers, and some of those miles, it felt like the garden tiller was finding material that was more like impacted ballast. Oh well, one hell of a workout. Builds character, too.

[@ccrx6700]

Yes they are nice ties Stan. All of our ties are graded at the tie plant before they get creosoted so only the good ones pass thru the grading process. You are right the old ties that came out will no longer hold spikes tight, which is why they got replaced. Sine you got so much experience with a garden tiller, sounds like you would make a good scarifier operator! Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@Stefan_Boerjesson]

As usual, it's late, the clock is too much, 02.15 AM, but resisting Your video, no... It was certainly worth watching! That machine pulling out spikes, impressive. In the old days we changed 800 ties during one week. One tie handler pulled out old ties and a hired one installed new ties. A team of some 20 people did the track nailing. All due to a threatening creosote denial that is still not mandated. How long did You have to work tampering all those new ties? Thanks Dave! Had a good day here.

[@ccrx6700]

Took me several days to tamp behind them Stefan, but I had a lot of waiting to do, it's easy to catch up to them. Glad you stayed up and watched. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@PlanetMojo]

Thanks Dave, that was pretty interesting! Unbelievable how much coal dust there is between the ballast! Have you ever estimated how many ties are in your entire track? That would be interesting to know 😊

[@ccrx6700]

Lot of coal spillage in this section for sure. Glad you liked the tie gang show Mojo. Depending on the tie spacing most generally 21 ties per 39 foot stick of rail. So figure around 2,850 ties per mile, then multiply that by 16 miles of track. But to get a totally accurate figure you would have to subtract the lengths of the bridges which have bridge timbers, not ties. But we have somewhere around 45,500 ties in the whole main line, then you would also need to figure in the ties for the run around tracks and the sidings. Thanks so much for watching and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@wtfbuddy1]

Nice video Dave, scarifier sure loosens up the ballast, tie gangs never have any roots, always moving around from place to place. Cheers and have a great weekend.

[@ccrx6700]

You are right Pete, being on a tie gang they move around the country a lot. I would love to be on a tie gang tho, but I like coming home every night and not spending all week in a hotel or camp car. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@fountainvalley100]

I’m guessing the scarifiers blades wear out pretty quickly.

[@ccrx6700]

Yes I rather imagine they do Kent, like your lawn mower blades hitting stones. But this machine sure makes putting the ties back in a lot easier for the tie inserter machine. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@ljs6446]

Dave on my railroad we called the KERSHAW ..BTC bridge tie crane because it had an articulating boom !! The fixed boom was TC tie crane i ran the BTC off and on over my 42 year career !!!

[@ccrx6700]

Awesome LJS, they are a lot of fun to run, I love to throw ties around....:-) Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@daveadock2874]

Another great video with a very good explanation of what is going on. Are the old tie plates and spikes recycled? I was wondering what happens to them. I hope the big storm that hit yesterday didn't do any damage.

[@ccrx6700]

We had some flooding here but no damages to the track Dave. Old tie plates and old spikes are put in the dumpster, we do not re use them which I'm very pleased to be able to tell you that. Some railroads do re use them, but they buy us new materials here and that is fantastic. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@shopshop144]

Dave, You are in charge with the upkeep of the train, plus maybe some other things, and there's probably a division that's in charge of the rolling stock/equipment, and you've got all the mining side of the business, are there other big pieces to the day-to-day operation?

[@ccrx6700]

The maintenance on the cars is done by our mechanics here shopshop. We do not have a dedicated car repair crew sadly, we desperately need on here. Small loco maintenance is also done by them with the big stuff going to contract loco mechanics. Big pieces of the operation are underground, the prep plant, the outside yard which handles all the supplies for underground, the raw coal operations which handle the flow of coal from underground to the prep plant, the RR and the barge loading at the harbor, plus another huge piece is the slate dump at the prep plant. The only thing I'm responsible for is the track maintenance, but I do help out with other stuff around the harbor area. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@csterett]

You guys really need to figure out a way to get a ballast cleaner in there. From what I'm seeing, you have a really big problem with coal dust in your ballast. I know you try to keep you ballast cleaned out via excavator, but having a ballast cleaner come in would probably save money in the long term.

[@ccrx6700]

You are right Chris, we surely could use one here. Don't know if it will ever happen or not since we do not interchange with another RR it would be most difficult to get one of those big machines in here. Very much appreciate your taking the time to watch the video and may you have a most blessed day my friend.

[@csterett]

@@ccrx6700 You know the old saying, “where there’s a will, there’s a way”!

[@mr.lynnrosaasen8218]

Love your vlogs, very informative. You do have lots of work ahead of you! How long time-wise to install those ties?

[@mr.lynnrosaasen8218]

A lumber yard I worked at sold used ties. I was able to find several short nails with a date stamped in on the head. One was stamped 1922!

[@ccrx6700]

Tie gang was in here for 10 days but the guys also had some other work to do replacing some rail Lynn. Probably took them about 8 days to do 2500 ties. Thanks so much for stopping by tonight to check out the tie gang show and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@keithjurena9319]

I would much rather work on the railway than longwall move. Something spooky about removing the supports and letting the mined out area collapse.

[@ccrx6700]

Oh for sure on that Keith, those guys have a lot of courage to work under ground. They tell it's a very scary experience when that roof falls behind the long wall and I can imagine it is. Thank you very much for visiting with us and checking out the video. May you have a very good day my friend.

[@zztechs]

Howdy!

[@ccrx6700]

Howdy to you also zztechs. Thank you very much for tuning in and watching the video and may you have a very good day my friend.

[@zztechs]

@@ccrx6700 Thank you, and you have a good one too.

[@ccrx6700]

@@zztechs 😊👍