Reclaimed Railway Sleepers

[ryder72]

We need to built a retainer that runs along our neighbours property (boundary) at a height of about 2.5ft. We have chosen to use reclaimed hardwood railway sleepers at a quick and cost effective way to get the job done.

 

Our neighbour who is a constant moaner is now asked if we can change these for untreated sleepers as he smells creosote and tar. As it  happens there is no tar used on these but we couldnt smell either. Regardless, their use is perfectly legitimate.

 

Any thoughts on dealing with this?

[Triassic]

Just ignore him, give an inch and he’ll take a mile. 

[Jeremy Harris]

I agree with @Triassic, ignore him, after pointing out that these are HARDWOOD sleepers, so have not, and cannot realistically, have ever been treated with creosote or tar.  We have oak sleepers as part of a low retaining wall and there's no detectable smell from them at all.

[RichS]

9 minutes ago, Triassic said:

Just ignore him, give an inch and he’ll take a mile. 

 

+2

[ToughButterCup]

I agree with the above comments.

And add; do be sure to wash your hands thoroughly after handling them. I'll explain why if you like: just trust me.

[Russell griffiths]

Do not be tempted to use the softwood sleepers sold in most BM or garden centres they will rot away as soon as your back is turned. 

[jamiehamy]

1 hour ago, RichS said:

 

+2

+3  

[CC45]

We are doing EXACTLY the same.  Reclaimed railway sleepers is the only option, rest just rot within a few years.  What are you using to hold the sleepers?

[nod]

5 hours ago, ryder72 said:

We need to built a retainer that runs along our neighbours property (boundary) at a height of about 2.5ft. We have chosen to use reclaimed hardwood railway sleepers at a quick and cost effective way to get the job done.

 

Our neighbour who is a constant moaner is now asked if we can change these for untreated sleepers as he smells creosote and tar. As it  happens there is no tar used on these but we couldnt smell either. Regardless, their use is perfectly legitimate.

 

Any thoughts on dealing with this?

You have my deepest sympathy

Do what I should have done 

Ignore him and your own thing

My neighbor can moan for England

No pleasing some people

[ryder72]

Oh if it were up to me I would stick him in the trench with the type 1 and get on with it. He has been a real nuisance.

[Jeremy Harris]

Wait until Openreach or the DNO come along and replace an old pole with a new one near him!  They smeech of creosote for at least a year or so.  We have two that were put in around 3 years ago, and even now they smell on a hot day.

[Temp]

Go to the yard where the sleepers are stored and see if you can smell them. Some do some don't. Some will be in worse condition than others, very variable.

 

Don't put them where people are likely to sit during a garden party or BBQ. Ours still leak something black and sticky ten years after they went in.

[Jeremy Harris]

24 minutes ago, Temp said:

Go to the yard where the sleepers are stored and see if you can smell them. Some do some don't. Some will be in worse condition than others, very variable.

 

Don't put them where people are likely to sit during a garden party or BBQ. Ours still leak something black and sticky ten years after they went in.

 

But these are hardwood sleepers, so I'm guessing they are very similar to the oak ones we used as a retaining wall.  They don't smell at all, because they aren't treated, and, AFAIK, creosote/tar etc just doesn't penetrate hardwoods well, which is why they don't bother to treat them.

 

We bought new oak sleepers, rather than reclaimed ones, but only because around our way the new ones were both easier to get hold of and around the same price as the reclaimed ones.

[ProDave]

I think creosote does soak into hardwood.

 

I have been chopping up some old "rotten" oak fence posts for fierwood.  It is only the outer half inch that is rotten and in the middle they are solid. I suspect they were soaked in a vat of creosote as it seems to have penetrated a long way in.

 

As an aside, I had to drill some floor joists in an old cottage, and by the smell as you drilled them, they were soaked in creosote. First time I have seen it used indoors.

[Triassic]

Regarding pining railway sleepers together, we use a long 1/2 inch drill bit and 1/2 inch reinforcing bars driven through the holes. 

[ryder72]

We have had 2-3 gone in and he has complained of a smell.

 

These are hardwood sleepers from the polish railways, I assume put in during communist times with a generous coating of whatever. 

 

I have checked prevailing regulation and nothing stops me from using them so I am going to go ahead with it.

 

Looked into new sleepers - pine, chestnut and oak. All about the same price  or more but the guy I got them of recommended the reclaimed sleepers for longevity.

 

 

[curlewhouse]

I rather like the smell of real creosote actually.