Concrete Sleepers

[railway0man]

Hi all, I know its a long shot but I'm having real trouble finding some used concrete sleepers in kent/east sussex, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[SussexMan]

Might that be because unless a concrete sleeper is damaged it doesn't need replacing so the number of used concrete sleepers is negligible. Presumably they have a very long life. Anyone know of the life-span of a concrete sleeper?

 

[railway0man]

I know network rail replace 600,000 per annum, but can I find any in kent!!!!!

 

[luke_oliver]

I'm curious as to what you want them for. I know that wooden ones can be repurposed quite nicely but concrete ones? I'm just being nosey.

 

[Sir_Clagalot]

I think the concrete ones tend to fall apart after a life of being pounded into the ballast so they go to the recycling sites such as Whitemoor to have the rebar removed

 

[wintonian]

I know network rail replace 600,000 per annum, but can I find any in kent!!!!!

That's an awful lot overnight processed cement runs.

...Is that my hat and coat over there?

 

[cksteam]

I would imagine that the Heritage Railways get most of what Network Rail is finished with. Would it not be worth asking you local one if they are prepared to part with any not yet laid?

 

[Ploughman]

A fair proportion also get purchased by Dealers around the country.
I think K Bounds is one possible, there are others.

 

[DarloRich]

Hi all, I know its a long shot but I'm having real trouble finding some used concrete sleepers in kent/east sussex, any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

what do you want them for?

 

[Cliveblackpool]

I knew a farmer who in the 70's made a decent road across his fields with them. Used them upside down. Cheap back then thanks to Beeching.

 

[DarloRich]

I knew a farmer who in the 70's made a decent road across his fields with them. Used them upside down. Cheap back then thanks to Beeching.

still the approved farming road construction method today!

 

[Trog]

They also make good bollards, even an HGV driver looks twice at a quarter ton lump of concrete buried 4' into the ground. I have also used them as reinforcement in concrete, a dozen F10's buried in the top of a concrete saddle over a culvert adds reinforcing and saves over two tons of concrete in one go.

 

[ian959]

Might that be because unless a concrete sleeper is damaged it doesn't need replacing so the number of used concrete sleepers is negligible. Presumably they have a very long life. Anyone know of the life-span of a concrete sleeper?

50 years is the general design life

 

[railway0man]

Hi all, thanks for all the great advice, I was kind of hoping someone may know of a depot in kent or east sussex where NR store any old sleepers.
Lots of companies in the north are selling but the cost of haulage kills it!

 

[Bald Rick]

All old concretes are taken to Doncaster or Whitemoor for sorting into those that can be reused and those that are crushed.

 

[DarloRich]

All old concretes are taken to Doncaster or Whitemoor for sorting into those that can be reused and those that are crushed.

some scrap ones are sold off rather than crushed.