The U.S. economy is growing and using less and less stuff to do so

Re:The U.S. economy is growing and using less and less stuff... by imtringued on Friday September 20, 2019 @05:19AM (#21024719)

There is an abundance of sand away from the construction sites but transportation is too expensive so regional suppliers are preferred.

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Re:The U.S. economy is growing and using less and less stuff... by logfromblammo on Friday September 20, 2019 @10:52AM (#21027329)

Though it seems like it might be easier to ship sand for pre-stressed concrete crossties, given that all the materials must necessarily be connected to the rail network.

Also, I wonder why concrete crossties don't use neoprene bearing pads under the rails to reduce the abrasion problem.

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Re:The U.S. economy is growing and using less and less stuff... by simonrobb on Friday September 20, 2019 @11:26AM (#21027737)

Are concrete crossties pre-stressed? It makes sense now I think about it, but I'm just surprised more effort than "pour concrete into a mold" goes into such an unassuming structural member.

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Re:The U.S. economy is growing and using less and less stuff... by logfromblammo on Friday September 20, 2019 @04:20PM (#21030834)

I'd guess that poured concrete is not cost-competitive with timber crossties, and pre-stressing is the only way to make them cheaply enough to compete.

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