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CROSSTIES • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2015
7
N E W S S C O P E
The Railway Tie Association Executive
Committee has approved the development
of a pocket sized flip-book on tie
defects/specifications, and RTA needs your
help. There may even be a reward or two in
it for members if their photos are chosen for
the publication.
The concept for the book is to publish
pictures and/or illustrations of the defect.
The style of booklet will mirror RTA Tie
Grading Instructor John Zuspan's pocket
guide entitled "How to Maintain Track"
(see illustration).
RTA is asking members to pull their cam-
eras out and submit their own photos show-
ing tie defects in a manner that can help
others learn the subtleties of tie grading.
Ultimately, RTA will need three photo-
graphs for each tie defect that is called out
on the standard. One photo will need to be
a relatively obvious illustration of the de-
fect. One will need to be borderline, and the
third photo will need to show an example of
the same characteristic in a tie that would
not be downgraded to industrial grade
status or cull.
Pictures submitted should illustrate
defects as published in the RTA/AREMA
specifications:
✔ Wane
✔ Dimension
(this is a hard one, so be creative)
✔ Decay
✔ Holes
✔ Knots
✔ Shake
✔ Splits
✔ Checks
✔ Slope of Grain
✔ Bark Seam
✔ Manufacturing Defects
(mis-cuts, stump pull, etc.)
✔ Fire Scars
"This will be a substantial undertaking,"
said RTA Executive Director Jim Gauntt.
"But I believe it is one that between our
archives and help from RTA members
could be achieved in 2015 with publication
scheduled for 2016."
Members are encouraged to find creative
ways to develop photos that clearly show the
details of dimensions for the actual defect
where appropriate (see example photo). RTA
members that have photos chosen for use in
this new publication will be recognized in
Crossties magazine and be eligible for prizes
to be determined later in the year.
■
RTA To Develop Tie Defects/Specifications Photo Guide
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