ITEM #1 SPECIFICATIONS FOR NEW 6” TIMBER INDUSTRIAL GRADE CROSSTIES Ties shall comply with Chapter 30 of the AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering. Kinds of Wood The following kinds of wood are suitable for crossties and will be accepted: Ash, Oak, Beech, Birch, Hickory, Cherry, Locust, Elm, Maple, Walnut Classification and Design Grade Dimensions Minimum Faces Allowed 6"x 8" x 8'6" The above minimum face requirements apply to the rail-bearing areas, which are the areas between 20" and 40" from the middle of the industrial grade crossties. Outside the rail-bearing areas, wane will be limited to half the face width on the top or bottom of the tie. The grade of each tie shall be determined at the point of most wane, on the top or bottom, within the rail bearing areas. (The top is defined as the horizontal face farthest from the heartwood or pith center). Dry or treated ties may be 1" narrower or 1/2" thinner than the specified sizes. Thickness and width may not vary more than 1" from end to end. The tie body may be out of square by no more than 1" throughout the length. Tie length may vary from +1" to -2" for the length specified. Definition of Defects Decay A decayed knot greater than 3/4" in diameter will be rejected within the rail-bearing area. Also, slight incipient decay may be allowed if the tie, as a whole, is basically of good quality. Decay is allowed outside the rail-bearing area if the decayed area does not exceed 2" in diameter. Ties with decay up to 2" in diameter appearing in both ends of the tie will be rejected. Holes Ties having holes on any surface within the rail-bearing areas that are greater than 1/2" in diameter or greater than 3" deep will be rejected. Holes on any surface outside the rail-bearing areas which are greater than 3" in diameter or deeper than 4" will be rejected. Knots A knot greater than 3" in diameter within the rail-bearing area will not be permitted. Shakes Seasoned or treated ties with shakes having a length on the cross-section greater than 5" or extending to within 1" of any surface shall be rejected. Splits A split is a separation of wood extending from one surface to an opposite or adjacent surface – not counting the ends as a surface. A seasoned or treated tie with a split greater than 1/2" wide or 11" long will be rejected with or without a nail plate. Checks A check is a separation of wood due to seasoning which appears on the surface only – not counting the end as a surface. Season checks greater than 2" deep or 3/4" wide shall be rejected as industrial grade ties. Bark Seams Bark seams are unacceptable if more than 2" deep or more than 10" long anywhere in the tie. Manufacturing Defects All ties must be straight and have top and bottom parallel. a. A tie will be considered straight when a straight line from a point on one end to a corresponding point on the other end is no more than 2" from the surface at all points. b. The top and bottom of a tie will be considered parallel if any difference at the sides or ends does not exceed 1". c. A tie is not well-sawn when its surfaces are cut with score marks more than 1" deep. d. For proper seating of nail plates, tie ends must be flat, and will be considered square with a sloped end of up to 1/2", which equals a 1 in 20 cant. Treatment Prior to treatment anti-splitting plates must be checked to ensure that plates are firmly imbedded in the tie. If plates are found to be loose or not flush against the end of the tie, plate shall be firmly pressed against the tie before treatment begins. Cross tie treatment shall be to retention of seven pounds or to refusal of 60/40 creosote coal tar solution per cubic foot of timber in accordance with the latest AREMA Manual, Chapter 3, Parts 7, 8, & 9. A minimum of 20 borings shall be taken per charge after treatment to determine proper penetration. Verified test results from borings shall be provided to MaineDOT project manager to assure proper penetration. ITEM #2 and #3 Specification For New Grade 3, 7” Timber Cross-ties. New Cross ties shall be manufactured of mixed hardwoods of the order consisting of Oak, Beech, Birch, Cherries and Hard Maples. Anti-splitting end plates shall be applied to 100% of ties and shall be galvanized steel plate gang nail type. (a) Design. Cross ties shall be 9’ to 16’ in length and shall be 7 inches by 9 inches in cross section with a maximum of 1 inch of wane allowed in the rail bearing areas. A maximum of 20 percent of the order may be 7 inches by 8 inches in cross section with no wane allowed in the rail bearing areas. The lengths and thicknesses specified are minimum dimensions. Ties over one inch wider or thicker, or over three inches longer, at any point, than the dimensions specified above, will be rejected. Anti-splitting gang nail end plates shall be 5 inches by 6 inches. It shall be manufactured from 18-gauge galvanized steel plate with teeth extending at least 3/8 inches beyond surface of plate. Plates shall be installed centered on end of tie and fully driven with no evidence of excessive bending or mashing of teeth. (b) Manufacture. Cross ties shall be manufactured from sound, live timber and must be free from any defects that may impair their strength or durability as cross ties as further described in this section. All ties shall be straight, well sawn on four sides, cut square at the ends, have top and bottom parallel and have bark completely removed. A tie will be considered straight when a straight line along the top, from the middle of one end to the middle of the other end, is entirely within the tie and when a straight line along a side, from the middle of one end to the middle of the other end, is everywhere more than 2 inches from the top and bottom of the tie. The top and bottom will be considered parallel when any difference in the thickness at the sides and ends is less than or equal to 1/2 inch. Cross ties shall be free from the following defects: 1. Decay - Ties that show decay of any nature and ties that show stain from being left in the log too long will be rejected. "Blue stain" is not decay and is permissible in any wood. 2. Holes - Ties will be rejected if a large hole, or numerous holes with the net effect of a large hole, is present. A large hole is one exceeding 1/2 inch in diameter and 3 inches deep within the RBA*, or more than one-fourth the width of the surface on which it appears and 3 inches deep outside the RBA*. 3. Knots - Ties with a large knot, or numerous knots with the net effect of a large knot within the RBA* will be rejected. A large knot is one whose average diameter is greater than one-fourth the width of the surface on which it appears. *RBA - Rail Bearing Area - the area of the top of tie between 20 inches and 40 inches from its middle. 4. Shake - Shake greater than one-third the width of the tie will be cause for rejection of the tie. 5. Split - A tie will be rejected if a split exceeds 5 inches long or 1/2 inch wide. 6. Slanting Grain - A tie will be rejected if a slant in grain in excess of 1:15 is present, except in the case of woods with interlocking grain. 7. Wane - Excessive wane will be cause for rejection of the tie. (c) Seasoning. Cross ties shall be air seasoned prior to treatment. Ties shall be stacked for seasoning in accordance with AREMA Specifications, Chapter 3, Part 5, Section 6. Seasoning shall continue for at least 12 months and no more than 18 months. In the absence of air seasoned cross ties, the Vapor or Boulton drying process may be used with the permission of MDOT, or their designee. If the Vapor or Boulton process is used, conditioning should continue until moisture removal rate indicates a percent moisture retained equal to a 12 month air dried cross tie, but not less than 45 percent by weight. A minimum of 20 borer cores per treatment charge shall be taken of seasoned ties to determine that adequate drying has taken place so that ties may be satisfactorily penetrated with preservative. On air seasoned ties the borer cores shall be taken mid-way between the ends and mid-way between the top and bottom faces of the tie. Three (3) inch borer cores shall be taken to determine moisture content. Prior to seasoning, selected ties shall have anti-splitting devices applied at each end of the tie. (d) Treatment. Prior to treatment anti-splitting plates must be checked to ensure that plates are firmly imbedded in the tie. If plates are found to be loose or not flush against the end of the tie, plate shall be firmly pressed against the tie before treatment begins. Cross tie treatment shall be to retention of seven pounds or to refusal of 60/40 creosote coal tar solution per cubic foot of timber in accordance with the latest AREMA Manual, Chapter 3, Parts 7, 8, & 9. A minimum of 20 borings shall be taken per charge after treatment to determine proper penetration. Verified test results from borings shall be provided to MaineDOT project manager to assure proper penetration.
