"Gunner Asch" wrote in message
...

On Fri, 22 Aug 2014 11:04:54 -0500, Ignoramus7070
wrote:

On 2014-08-22, wrote:
On Thursday, August 21, 2014 3:13:37 AM UTC, pyotr filipivich wrote:


Probably easier to pull the spikes out of the plates, then cut the

rails in place.

pyotr filipivich

"With Age comes Wisdom. Although more often, Age travels alone."

If you happen to have a ball joist tool ( See Harbor Freight item
1740 ) you might try using it to pull the spikes. It and a 2 to 4
lb hammer might be able to get the spikes out with a single blow.
So you might be able to get the rails free pretty rapidly. Knee
pads would be a good thing if you try that.

The rails are submerged up to the webs, digging out nails is cost
prohibitive.

How long is the stretch of rail you are wanting to pull? If you
have a mile or so to pull it would be worth trying several things to
see what is fastest.

There are some freely laying around disconnected rails and 160 yards
of rails with ties submerged to the webs.

i

Ill bet when you pull up on the rail..its gonna bring a surprising
number of ties with it.


--
"Living in the United States now is like being a Tampon.
We're in a great place, just at a bad time."
================================================== =============

If the ties come with the rail, that's not so bad - brush off the dirt and
it exposes the spike heads and he can torch them off on the outside side of
the rail, as you suggested. Or maybe drive the tie back down with a
sledgehammer, pulling the spikes. The risk is that enough spikes hold so
that the ground suction is acting on the ties plus the rails, so that he
can't lift them them up above the surface without digging. As for cutting,
I think using a torch in the field would be most portable and efficient,
then cut selected rails with a saw into anvils back at the shop.

Iggy gets into the most interesting projects, it's always fun to spectate
and kibbitz :-).

-----
Regards,
Carl Ijames