We have a long term project to upgrade all track panel ties from wood to plastic. All newly installed track panels use longer lasting plastic ties. As we perform track maintenance we upgrade existing panels to use new ties. We also upgrade active weathered sections of track periodically as time and manpower allows.
The first 3 photos show our older process of joining prebuilt panels built in the shop, transported to the field and then joined together.
The last 3 photos show our latest/greatest process of upgrading existing rail in place without using prebuilt panels. This process has been refined with more reliable results. At the same time we are shifting the offset between joints on opposing rails from 8” to 5’.
